"Fu Wang Fei, where are you, you silly child?!" the voice of Yu Yan rang out, sharp and impatient. She was a middle-aged woman who carried herself as though she had never worked in her life. Her tone was harsh and coarse, sending chills through the body of anyone that heard it.

The young, sixteen year old Wang Fei rushed towards her mistress, her heart pounding rapidly as she revealed herself before the woman. Yu Yan sat comfortably in the living room, legs crossed and as soon as she set eyes on the child it was as if her day was ruined by bad business dealers. The teenager was beautiful, a gleeful smile lighting up her face with crystal blue eyes that sparkled, and her fair skin seemed almost radiant, outshining any maiden that chose to oppose her in any beauty contest in Yangzhou. Her beauty was also enough to captivate merchants and commoners alike. Wang Fei bowed slightly, her posture respectful as she greeted her mistress.

"You had sent for me, my lady," she said softly, trying her best to sound steady and gentle at the same time, masking any hint of unease. She knew how important it was to maintain this facade—to appear content and loyal, even if the truth was far from it.

Wang Fei was aware of the precarious nature of her situation. Acting pleasant was the only strategy she had in order to survive in a household where nobody cared for her well-being. She remained herself of the harsh realities outside the walls, where monsters disguised as men prowled the quiet streets of Yangzhou. It was a city, bustling with trade in salt and other grains, but it was also notorious for its dangers that thieves and kidnappers posed, preying on the vulnerable, demanding for hefty ransoms from the wealthy.

Wang Fei didn't want that to be her fate and despite her resentment towards Yu Yan, she couldn't deny the fact that it was her patronage that kept her from begging on the streets. Still, she knew all too well that her mistress wouldn't bat an eye if she were to disappear. Yu Yan's indifference was a constant reminder of how little she truly mattered in this household.

"You're properly dressed today, what perfect timing," Yu Yan remarked with a smile, sipping from her favorite lotus tea, expertly brewed by Wang Fei whose mother was good at it before she passed away. She continued, her tone casual yet commanding, "Whe have another job today at the Cheng household. I advise you to put on some makeup. We need to make a good impression."

Wang Fei stood rigid, her heart sinking as she heard Yu Yan's familiar rambling. Secretly, she referred to her as 'Pig,' a small act of rebellion in her thoughts. But when she heard the name 'Cheng,' it felt like the gods had decided to punish her at that moment.

"But…. My lady," Wang Fei muttered softly, her head bowed to the ground before gathering the courage to ask. "Why the Cheng house?" Her voice trembled. The mere mention of the Cheng family filled her with dread.

Yu Yan raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased by Wang Fei's hesitation. "What are you implying?" she asked, her expression filled with annoyance.

Wang Fei took in a few shaky breaths, trying to gather her courage. She could feel the weight of Yu Yan's gaze on her, sharp and unforgiving, as if ready to strike her at any moment. "I… I don't usually like the way Mr Cheng's younger son gets close to me," she admitted, softly hoping Yu Yan could understand the pain of a little girl. Gathering a bit more resolve, she spoke again, louder this time, "I also don't like the way he—"

Before she could complete her sentence, she was abruptly cut off as Yu Yan, without warning, threw the remaining lotus in her cup at Wang Fei's face. The warm liquid splashed against her face, silencing her instantly.

"You should count yourself lucky the crap lotus tea you served was warm," Yu Yan shouted, her voice seething with rage. "Otherwise, I would've dragged your burnt face outside of Yangzhou and shown everyone just how useless you are, then next time you would choose your words carefully when talking about the most prestigious family who's responsible for your stay here" She slammed her fist on the wooden table in front of her, the impact echoing in the room.

Wang Fei flinched, her body trembling as she felt the sting of the tea and the weight of Yu Yan's fury.

Wang Fei's eyes burned with anger as she glared at Yu Yan, different dangerous thoughts flooding her mind. Yu Yan met her gaze, her own expression mirroring the same fierce anger.

"What are you looking at?" Yu Yan questioned, her voice cold. "Leave my sight!"

Wang Fei's rage subsided as reality came crashing back. She bowed slightly, forcing herself to suppress her emotions.

"I apologize, my lady," she muttered, her voice subdued. Without another word, she turned and left the room, her heart still pounding with suppressed fury.

Holding her tears, Wang Fei stepped out of the room making her way towards her room. She slid open the door of her room, walking into the surprisingly neat room which was possible due to her efforts since Yu Yan never really cared about the girl, even one bit.

She sat before her mirror, loosening her hair and trying to take off the lotus leaves from her hair. Just as she picked up the face rag on her dressing table, the sudden knock on her window startled her causing her body to jerk a bit. She glanced at the window, the structure of a male individual seen through the wooden lattices.

She stood from her feet, slowly walking to the window. She hesitated, before opening it only to see that nobody was there, finding such an occurrence strange, she still decided to close the window only for a boy to jump out from the side of the window, an antique mask covering his face.

"Raarr!!" he roared, causing Wang Fei to stumble and fall to the ground.

The boy chuckled as he took off the mask, revealing his face: a young, but quite handsome young man with brown eyes and dark spiky hair. It was Bai Yong, Wang Fei's childhood friend who had just turned eighteen today.

"Yong, what are you doing here?" Wang Fei questioned, standing to her feet. "You're going to get in serious trouble if my mistress finds out you are here"

Bai Yong rolled his eyes, "Don't be ridiculous," he said, before jumping down from the window, his feet landing softly on the wooden floor despite the initial sound it was meant to make. He continued, "I heard you're going out today, so your mistress won't bother you much before the afternoon strikes"

Yong extended a helping hand to Wang Fei, who was still seated on the floor.

"I understand, but you should at least send me a message before visiting. My mistress is very strict about intruders," Wang Fei said as she grasped his hand, allowing him to help her up.

"You're ridiculous," Yong replied with a cocky smile. "Besides, I'm not an intruder if I'm here to see a friend."

Wang Fei smiled, her cheeks warming at his words. The innocent look on Yong's face made her heart flutter. They stood in silence, staring and smiling at each other, lost in the moment. Suddenly, a realization dawned on Wang Fei, and she jerked slightly, as if remembering something important.

"I almost forgot," she murmured, her sudden shift puzzling Yong.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

Wang Fei didn't respond immediately. Instead, she walked toward the mirror, crouching down to open a drawer in the dressing table. Yong watched her closely, his confusion growing. From the drawer, she pulled out a parcel wrapped in a white cloth, his favorite color.

His confusion deepened as she approached, holding the parcel with a smile still gracing her face. She extended it toward him with both hands.

"Happy birthday," she said softly, a gentle giggle barely audible.

Yong's brows shot up in surprise as the realization hit him. His expression turned to shock. His parents, despite their wealth, rarely had time for him on his birthdays. They would often offer him money instead of spending the day with him, leaving him to eventually dismiss the significance of the day. But today felt different.

He slowly took the parcel from Wang Fei, who clasped her hands behind her back, waiting for him to unwrap it. Carefully, he removed the white cloth, revealing a small, heart-shaped locket. His eyes lit up as he opened it, finding a beautifully drawn image of him and Wang Fei inside.

"I believe it's called a locket," Wang Fei said, her expression thoughtful. "No one I know in Yangzhou wears this kind of jewelry, but it just seemed right."

Yong looked up at her, emotion welling in his eyes. A single tear escaped, sliding down his cheek. Before Wang Fei could ask, Yong stepped forward and wrapped her in a tight embrace, a genuine smile now on his face.

"Thank you," he whispered joyfully.

Wang Fei returned the hug, her heart full.

Suddenly a knock on the door echoed through the room causing the two friends to separate.