Conquer the other worlds with abandon, they've fallen in love with me!

Laughter and footsteps mingled together, drifting down from upstairs.

But people's joys and sorrows are not shared; most girls are happy or carefree.

As long as there is food and shelter, no abuse, and the ability to live together, that's enough.

Only Liuli Chun stood in the far corner, holding the bottle of stimulant potion in her hands.

She didn't speak or laugh; she just lowered her head, looking at the pale blue liquid in her hand.

The potion glowed softly in the candlelight, reflecting on her face and making her eyelashes shine.

She bit her lip, tightened her fingers, and pressed the bottle against her chest.

"Liuli Chun," Holly called her.

Liuli Chun raised her head.

"Aren't you happy?" Holly asked.

"No," Ruri Tsubaki's voice was flat. "I just..."

She paused, not finishing her sentence, and lowered her eyes.

Holly looked at her but didn't ask any further questions.

This girl has been like this ever since she entered the business; she doesn't like to talk, doesn't like to laugh, and always shrinks into a corner.

Like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, it bristles with fur at everyone it sees.

That makes sense, though. After all, unlike the other girls, she comes from a noble family and has a stronger sense of self-respect.

At this moment, Ruri Tsubaki's feelings were indeed very complicated, even somewhat angry.

She was sent from the Viscount's mansion to her aunt's house, sold from her aunt's house to a slave trader, and now transferred from the slave trader to a strange man.

Every time it was just "giving," and every time no one asked her if she wanted it or not.

She thought she had gotten used to it.

They traveled here from the northern border states, enduring many hardships.

She was mocked by her aunt as "a fallen lady is worse than a chicken," going from a noble lady to a lowly slave.

She endured it all.

But this time is different.

Lin Yu is not a bad person.

she knows.

When he gave her the potion, his eyes were clear, without any condescension or condescension.

When he touched her head, his hand was very light, as if he was afraid of breaking something.

When he said "Don't be afraid," his voice was flat, without any fake gentleness.

But she still felt sad.

It's a sorrow that runs to the bone.

It's not because Lin Yu is bad, but because she had no choice.

She had no choice, regardless of whether the other person was a good person or a bad person.

This "lack of choice" is what angers her the most.

Liuli Chun turned her face to one side, looking at the faded oil painting on the wall.

The painting depicts a golden wheat field, with houses and cooking smoke visible in the distance.

She stared at the painting for a long time, until her eyes reddened and her vision blurred.

But she didn't shed a tear.

She hasn't cried over things like this in a long time.

"Ruri Tsubaki"

Holly's voice came from the other side of the counter.

Liuli Chun turned her head.

Holly looked at her with a hint of worry in her eyes.

"What's wrong with you?"

"It's nothing." Ruri Tsubaki's voice was flat, and her face was expressionless.

She tucked the potion into her sleeve and turned to walk towards the stairs.

"Ruri-tsubaki," Holly called out again.

Liuli Chun paused for a moment, but didn't turn around.

"Mr. Lin Yu seems to have a special feeling towards you..."

Ruri Tsubaki's shoulder tensed.

"If you don't want to go to the manor, I can talk to him—"

"Need not."

Liuli Chun interrupted her and went upstairs.

......

By the time Lin Yu left Wind Chime Town, it was already dark.

The fields on both sides of the road turned into dark silhouettes, and the lights of the distant village of Holm twinkled like scattered gold on the ground.

Jasmine walked slowly, the horse's hooves clattering rhythmically on the dirt road.

Lin Yu loosened the reins and let it go on its own.

The moonlight shone on the fields, making the wheat ears appear white.

The lights of Holm village in the distance are getting closer and closer.

...

When Lin Yu got home, he pushed open the gate to the yard and saw that the kitchen window was open, with cooking fumes wafting out, mixed with the aroma of mushrooms and meat.

Arya's voice came from the kitchen, humming an unknown tune, the melody light and the ending note rising.

Lin Yu didn't go in; he stood in the courtyard and listened for a few seconds.

The firewood crackled in the stove, the spatula clattered against the iron pot, and Arya's footsteps echoed back and forth in the kitchen.

He pushed open the door and went inside.

Arya was standing in front of the stove with her back to him, wearing a floral apron around her waist with the strap tied in a crooked bow at the back.

She tiptoed to reach the spice jars on the shelf, the hem of her skirt being pulled taut as she did so, stretching the fabric and accentuating the rounded shape of her hips.

Lin Yu walked over and put his arm around her waist from behind.

Arya's body stiffened, then went limp and she leaned against him.

"You're back?" Her voice was tinged with laughter.

"Um."

Lin Yu rested his chin on her shoulder, watching the movements in her hands.

The soup in the pot was bubbling away, with mushrooms and minced meat mixed together, and oil swirling on the surface.

"Are you tired today?" Arya tilted her head to look at him, her cheek brushing against the tip of his nose.

"good."

"That's good." Arya scooped up a little soup with a spoon, blew on it, and brought it to his lips: "Try it to see if it's salty."

Lin Yu took a sip, and the umami flavor of the mushroom melted on his tongue, perfectly seasoned.

"It tastes good."

Arya smiled, put the lid on the pot, and turned to face him.

She placed both hands on his chest and looked up at him.

"You said this morning that we'd do something fun tonight." Her voice was soft, with a hint of nervousness. "What is it?"

Lin Yu looked down at her.

Arya's face was flushed from the fire, fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, and a few stray hairs clung to her skin.

……

……