Yexue had always trusted patterns. People revealed themselves through repetition—their habits, their silence, the small unconscious movements they failed to control.

Strategy was simply the art of observing those patterns and deciding when to act. So when Ru Yi first entered her life, Yexue did what she always did.

She watched her for those couple days they’d stayed together in her chamber. And even in this small beat down house where they seeked refuge, she watched her still.

Yexue knew that Ru Yi automatically relaxed whenever Yexue was close. And that her heart raced whenever their skin accidentally brushed against each other’s. And Yexue liked it.

The only thing that had her face twisted in a frown was the tension between Lieyin and Ru Yi. It was subtle, almost invisible to anyone who wasn’t paying attention.

There were no direct arguments, no direct confrontations. Instead, it existed in restraint—in the distance Lieyin maintained, and the awareness Ru Yi seemed to carry at all times.

Even now Lieyin kept stealing glances at Ru Yi, even though she was having an important discussion with Yexue and Qingyue.

"There wasn’t any attack yesterday," Qingyue said. "Are you sure the footprints didn’t belong to the men you fought?"

Lieyin dragged her attention back to her sister. "Yes. They were noticeably smaller. No way they could’ve belonged to those grown ass men."

"Where did they get the children?" Qingyue mused. "There was no report of anyone being kidnapped. Even the village head seems to think the bandits won’t attack again."

"The old man is useless to us. Those men in the forest clearly suggest otherwise," Lieyin said with a snicker. "Who even put him in that position?"

Qingyue sighed in frustration.

The bags under her eyes had only become worse. Everytime she was close to figuring the situation out, a new problem would always arise.

She pinched the bridge of her nose. "We would’ve had our men follow the tracks..."

"If we still had any," Lieyin said bitterly.

"You’ll continue the patrol," Qingyue told her. "I and Yexue will go ask the villagers if any child has been missing recently."

"Sounds like a good idea. But I’ll have to take Ru Yi to her new workplace first," Yexue said, standing up. "Madam Xiao can’t work as a maid anymore because of her age, so she offered to find Ru Yi something to do."

Qingyue frowned. "What work did Madam Xiao do before now?"

"She was a trader, but it only made her get into debt," Yexue explained. "I told her to just stay at home with Xiao Yi."

Qingyue waved her hand in the air signalling the end of their brief meeting. She relaxed into the chair and closed her eyes.

Yexue and Lieyin shared a look.

They both knew their sister wasn’t the type to share her problems with them, but they’d never seen her this exhausted. And this was only the beginning of their journey.

"Let her be for now," Lieyin mouthed.

Yexue nodded before making her way to where Ru Yi stood. The contours of her face were illuminated by the excitement she felt.

"You’re going there to work," Yexue reminded her. "Why do you look..."

Ru Yi looked at her, all smiles. "Look like what?" She patted down the sleeve of the robe Madam Xiao had given her. "I don’t want to be late. You know first impressions matter."

Why was she eager to clean after someone? Yexue didn’t understand it, but she didn’t want to bring down her spirits either.

"How do I look?" Ru Yi turned around. "The robe is quite big but it’s better than the one I’ve been wearing."

Yexue would’ve preferred if she only wore things that belonged to her, but their options were limited.

"I think..." Yexue’s eyes went to Ru Yi’s hair. "You could use a comb."

"Oh." Ru Yi tugged on her strands. "There was no mirror so I couldn’t do it myself."

"Let’s go to the room, I’ll help you." Yexue put her hands on Ru Yi’s shoulder and led her to the room, even though the smaller woman was protesting.

Ru Yi sat on the floor while Yexue moved behind her without asking.

"Are you sure you know how to comb hair?"

Yexue put her hand on chest in mock shock. "How dare you? Of course I know how to comb hair. Just sit pretty and let me do my thing."

Sit pretty.

Did Yexue think she was pretty?

Yexue took the comb and drew it through Ru Yi’s hair slowly, separating the strands slowly. It was a simple task, but it wasn’t one she was familiar with. She’d always had maids that groomed her.

Yexue’s attention shifted from the texture of the hair between her fingers, to the warmth at the nape of Ru Yi’s neck when her hand brushed too close.

Ru Yi went still at first—not tense, but not resisting either.

"I’ll tie the hair higher," Yexue forced herself to say. "It’ll be more practical since you’ll be working."

Ru Yi nodded, unable to form a word when she was all too aware of every part of her Yexue touched. It was even harder to keep her breathing an even rhythm.

Yexue gathered the hair when she was done combing it, and began twisting it into one braid. At least that was the intention.

From where she was, she could see the faint rise and fall of Ru Yi’s chest. Down to the way her shoulders started to relax, inch by inch.

Ru Yi’s fingers tightened slightly.

"Does it hurt?" Yexue asked, her own voice coming out hoarse and dry.

"No," Ru Yi replied, too quickly.

Yexue didn’t believe her, but she finished the braid, securing it neatly at the back of her head. The braid looked nothing like what any of the maids had done for her in the past, but she was proud of her work regardless.

"It suits you," she said.

Ru Yi turned slightly, touching her hair. "Thank you."

Yexue felt a presence at the door and turned.

Lieyin stood there. Silent, still...watching. Her gaze moved from the braid, to Yexue’s hands, to Ru Yi’s face.

There was no immediate reaction, no visible emotion—but something in the air shifted, tightening without warning.

Yexue did not like it.

She tapped Ru Yi on the shoulder, the smile on her face morphing into a frown. "Let’s go."