The morning sun streamed through the worn paper windows of Bai Yue's quarters, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Despite the warmth of the morning, she felt a chill lingering within her. Sleep had been elusive, her mind plagued with thoughts of the enigmatic man who seemed determined to entangle himself in her life.
Her fingers traced absent patterns on the wooden desk, her thoughts drifting back to his words. "Because you're mine to protect."
She scoffed under her breath. "Arrogant."
And yet… there was something undeniably unsettling about the way he had said it. The confidence in his voice, the certainty in his eyes—he wasn't someone who threw around empty words. He meant it.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her musings. "Miss Bai Yue?"
Ah-Liang peeked inside, his expression unusually tense. "The mistress has summoned you to the main hall."
Bai Yue straightened, her brow furrowing. "The second mistress?"
"No, the first mistress," he clarified, his eyes widening in worry. "You should be careful, Miss Bai Yue. The first mistress rarely acknowledges your existence."
Bai Yue sighed and stood, smoothing out the wrinkles in her robes. "Then let's not keep her waiting."
The walk to the main hall was long and quiet, the whispers of passing servants brushing against her ears like ghostly murmurs. When she arrived, the grand hall was already bustling with nobles and high-ranking members of the Bai family.
At the center, seated with her usual air of cold authority, was the first mistress—Madam Bai Jiaying.
Bai Yue stepped forward and knelt gracefully. "This humble one greets the first mistress."
Jiaying's sharp gaze bore into her, calculating and unreadable. "Bai Yue," she said, her tone deceptively gentle. "You've been… diligent in your duties at the herbal storeroom, I hear."
Bai Yue lowered her head slightly. "I do my best, first mistress."
A low hum of approval came from the woman, but her eyes glinted with something far less benign. "It seems you have found your place, but I cannot help but wonder… why the sudden enthusiasm?"
Bai Yue kept her expression neutral. "I wish to be of use to the family, mistress. I only seek to repay the Bai family's kindness."
Jiaying's lips curled in a faint smile. "Is that so?"
Before Bai Yue could answer, another voice interrupted.
"I believe Bai Yue's competence should be rewarded, should it not, Madam Bai?"
Bai Yue stiffened at the sound of the voice, turning her gaze to the far side of the hall where he stood—her mysterious shadow.
Clad in his signature dark robes, he stood with an effortless grace, his presence commanding without even trying. His dark eyes were locked onto Bai Yue, but it was the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips that made her stomach twist.
The hall fell into a hushed silence as the first mistress assessed him with veiled curiosity. "And you are?"
The man stepped forward, bowing slightly but never breaking eye contact with Bai Yue. "Li Weishan, an interested party in Bai Yue's… well-being."
Bai Yue's jaw clenched. How dare he…
Jiaying's eyes sharpened. "An interested party? How intriguing."
Weishan smiled, a calculated charm dripping from his tone. "I have been keeping an eye on her progress. It would be a shame to see such potential wasted."
Bai Yue's fingers curled into fists beneath the sleeves of her robe. His audacity knew no bounds. He was putting her in the spotlight, forcing her into a game she hadn't prepared for.
Jiaying leaned back in her seat, an amused glint in her eyes. "Indeed. Potential must not be wasted." She turned her gaze back to Bai Yue. "You should consider this an opportunity, child. You have attracted… attention."
Bai Yue bowed deeply, biting back her irritation. "I am grateful, first mistress."
Jiaying nodded, satisfied, before dismissing her with a flick of her hand.
Bai Yue stood slowly and turned, her movements precise and composed, but as she passed by Weishan, she hissed under her breath, "What are you doing?"
He leaned in, his voice a low murmur only she could hear. "Protecting what's mine."
She shot him a glare before hurrying out of the hall, heart pounding in her chest.
Back in the solitude of her quarters, Bai Yue paced restlessly.
Li Weishan.
At least now she had a name to the face that had been haunting her thoughts. But who was he really? What did he gain from all of this?
A sudden knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts, and she tensed when the familiar figure of Weishan stepped inside without waiting for permission.
"You can't keep doing this," she snapped, keeping her voice low. "You're making things worse for me."
Weishan's gaze swept over her, his expression unreadable. "I'm making things safer for you."
She let out a sharp laugh. "Safer? You're painting a target on my back!"
He stepped closer, closing the distance between them until she was backed against the desk. His hand reached out, trailing lightly against the edge of her sleeve, and she shivered involuntarily at the possessive touch.
"You were already a target, Bai Yue," he said softly. "I'm just making sure they know you're not an easy one."
Her breath caught, trapped in the intensity of his gaze. "I don't need your protection."
His lips quirked. "And yet, you haven't told me to leave."
Bai Yue cursed inwardly. He was right. As much as she wanted to push him away, a part of her couldn't deny that his presence, as infuriating as it was, offered a strange sense of security.
Weishan's fingers brushed against her wrist again, a deliberate and lingering touch. "Be careful, little one. You're walking in dangerous waters."
Bai Yue swallowed hard, staring up at him with defiance. "And what if I decide to drown?"
His gaze darkened, and before she could react, his hand cupped her chin gently, forcing her to look at him. "Then I'll be the one to pull you out. Whether you like it or not."
For a moment, the air between them was charged, thick with tension that neither of them could deny.
Then, with a smirk that sent shivers down her spine, Weishan pulled away and walked to the door. "See you soon, Bai Yue."
And just like that, he was gone, leaving her standing there with a pounding heart and an undeniable realization—this man was trouble, the kind she wasn't sure she could resist.