The soft glow of the morning sun slipped through the small window of the servants' quarters. Li Xue rubbed her eyes and yawned as the faint sound of the gong signaled the start of another day. Her fingers ached from yesterday's chores, and her back was stiff, but her eyes sparkled with energy.
"Another boring yet exciting day," she muttered, stretching her arms with a groan.
Just then, a voice called from outside, a maid wearing white robes spoke, dripping with sarcasm. "Li Xue, why don't you sleep a little longer?"
Mei Lian stepped into the room with a bucket and mop in hand.
Li Xue pouted, staring at the mop. "I just woke up!"
Mei Lian sighed dramatically. "You should've been up an hour ago. It's your own fault your work is piling up! Be grateful that Li Jiejie is willing to help you."
"Li Jiejie is the best!" Li Xue said with a bright smile.
Annoyed, Mei Lian tossed the mop at her, but Li Xue caught it mid-air with a quick motion.
"See how cool my reflexes are?" Li Xue grinned, to which Mei Lian only rolled her eyes and with a sudden motion slapped the back of Li Xue's head.
"Why so cruel? Have some pity on me!" Li Xue complained, clutching the mop like it was her only friend.
"Get to work already!" Mei Lian snapped before leaving the room.
Li Xue looked at the mop in her hand with a sigh but quickly got to work. She threw on her white robes, combed her hair quickly, and picked up the water-filled bucket. With a mop in one hand and the bucket in the other, she stepped out of the room.
At the entrance to the Chen family's grand courtyard, she paused. There, practicing his swordsmanship, was Chen Yi—the second young master.
His movements were smooth and powerful, almost like a dance. Li Xue stood in the shadows, her heart thumping.
"Don't be silly, Li Xue," she whispered to herself. "He doesn't even know you exist."
But she couldn't take her eyes off him. Chen Yi was like a hero from a storybook. She glanced at her mop and grinned.
"I can do that too!" she thought.
Using the mop like a sword, she tried to copy Chen Yi's movements. But her swings were clumsy, and her balance was off. Determined, she kept trying, moving the mop with all her might.
Just as she was starting to feel a bit more confident and getting the hand of it, a voice startled her. She spun around, lost her balance, and fell—straight into the water bucket with a loud thud.
The newcomer, "....."
The water splashed everywhere, drenching the nearby bushes. The fall made a loud sound. Li Xue sat up, the bucket now stuck on her head. Chen Yi, who had heard the commotion, turned to see what was going on.
Li Yanyu quickly came forward and helped Li Xue to get the bucket off her head. Li Xue's hair and clothes were soaked with water.
When Chen Yi saw her, a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. He quickly looked away, trying not to laugh with all his might, and walked off.
"He laughed," she whispered, staring in the direction he had gone. "I made him laugh!"
Li Yanyu expression froze for a moment before she chuckled softly and sighed. "Yes, yes. He really likes you."
Li Xue eyes beamed with excitement.
"Hurry up and clean this mess before Madam sees it," Li Yanyu warned.
"Before I see what?"
Li Xue froze. That voice—she would recognize it anywhere. Madam Chen.
A plump woman in her late forties appeared, her hair tied neatly in a bun and a fan snapping open in her hand. Wearing bright colored robes.
Li Xue stiffened at the sharp snap of the fan. "N-nothing, Madam!" she stammered, frantically trying to clean up the mess.
However, Two people were not enough to hide such a large mess.
Madam Chen's sharp eyes swept over the mess. "Who is responsible for this?"
Li Xue hesitated, avoiding her gaze. "I-it was…"
"It was me," Li Yanyu interrupted, bowing her head. "Please forgive me, Madam."
Li Xue's jaw dropped. It was obviously her fault! She did not need anyone to take the blame! If there were any consequences, she could bare it.
Madam Chen's eyes narrowed. "Let the head maid know your salary is cut to half." With that, she walked away, her fan snapping shut.
"What an attitude," Li Xue mumbled under her breath before turning to Li Yanyu. "Jiejie, why did you take the blame? It was my fault!"
Li Yanyu just smiled. "It's fine. I'll manage."
"No! I don't need you to cover up for me." Li Xue protested, "I should've faced the consequences! It's not like they give me salary anyways."
"That's precisely why I took the blame," Li Yanyu sighed as she bent down to clean the mess, "You know how unreasonable madam is, what if she kicked you out?"
"Why would she?" Li Xue replied as she also helped to swipe the water from the floor.
"Do I need to remind you, just how much trouble you have caused here?" Li Yanyu gave a look to Li Xue, "Your very popular among the maids, despite your age."
Li Xue only gave a smile, as if she was proud. But then something crossed her mind and she sighed softly. "Not popular enough for Chen Yi to notice."
"Has he not noticed you today?" Li Yanyu replied.
Li Xue blushed with embarrassment, "Jiejie! Just tell me how to make it up to you."
"If you really want to repay me, just wake up earlier from now on so Ii don't have to do your chores," Li Yanyu said, laughing.
Li Xue pouted but quickly grinned. "For you, Jiejie, I'd climb the moon barefoot!"
"Alright, don't make useless promises, why would I make you climb the moon?"
Li Xue only laughed, as she helped Li Yanyu clean up.
"Oh, I just remembered. I need to fetch something from the market. I'll be right back!" Li Yanyu exclaimed, as she got up and ran in a flash.
"Oh...kay?" Li Xue replied, too stunned seeing Li Yanyu's speed. After half an hour, Li Xue successfully wiped the floor clean and dry. She struggled to keep her posture straight, "Argh, my back." She muttered.
Li Yanyu had still not returned, and Li Xue decided to go find her. And so she made her way towards the market place.
However, mid way Li Xue spotted Mei Lian. She stared at her for a while as she instructed the rest of the maids, and then quietly tip toed past her.
Li Xue took each step with care and quietness as she made her way past Mei Lian unnoticed. Just as Li Xue breathed a sigh of relief, a bee landed on her noes.
Li Xue eyes widened in an instant, and before she could think of anything. Her body jerked and she involuntarily screamed, "AH!"