"Ah, cruel fate! Why was I not born into the Gong family instead?" Nan Lu groaned dramatically, still sprawled across the bed like a cat that had discovered paradise.
Lin Che rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Because if you were, the Gong family would have gone bankrupt from the noise alone."
Nan Lu made a fake gasp. "How rude! I'll have you know, my voice is full of personality!"
"Exactly my point."
Lin Che laughed quietly, shaking her head as she continued to unpack their small bag. They hadn't brought much—just a few changes of clothes, some toiletries, and a handful of trinkets from the village. After all, they weren't here to stay. A few days at most, and they would return home to their ordinary, peaceful life.
Or so she told herself.
The room was so big that even after she arranged everything neatly on the carved wooden cabinet, the space still looked untouched. It was strange—no matter how many things she tried to put out, it still didn't feel like theirs.
She was just smoothing down her folded clothes when a knock knock echoed from the door.
Nan Lu jumped off the bed and dashed to open it before Lin Che could even say a word.
Standing there was a middle-aged woman dressed in a crisp uniform. Her hair was tied neatly into a bun, and her manner was polite but formal—clearly one of the senior servants in the house.
"Good evening, young ladies," the woman said with a small bow. "I'm Auntie Li, one of the household staff. Madam Gong asked me to let you know that dinner will be served at seven. Until then, you're free to rest or explore the estate as you wish."
"Explore?" Nan Lu's eyes lit up instantly. "You mean we can look around?"
Auntie Li nodded. "Yes, of course. You are Madam Gong's guests. The gardens are open, and tea will be served should you wish to take some. However—" her expression changed suddenly, her tone dropping just slightly—"please do not go near the East Wing."
Lin Che frowned a little. "The East Wing? What's wrong with the East Wing?"
The woman's reaction was immediate. Her eyes widened, and a flicker of horror crossed her face before she quickly composed herself.
"That place…" she began slowly, lowering her voice as if afraid the walls might hear, "…is out of bounds. You must not go there. It is a rule. Please remember that."
Nan Lu blinked. "Why? Is someone living there?"
Auntie Li didn't answer. She straightened her posture instead and forced a polite smile. "Dinner will be ready soon. Please make yourselves comfortable."
And with that, she turned and hurried away, her shoes clicking quickly against the marble floor until her figure disappeared around the corner.
---
The silence that followed was thick.
Nan Lu closed the door slowly, her head already buzzing with wild theories. "Did you see that, Che Che?" she whispered dramatically, turning back toward Lin Che. "The way she looked when you mentioned the East Wing? Like we just said something forbidden! I swear, I thought she was going to faint!"
Lin Che let out a small laugh, but even she couldn't hide the curiosity that sparked inside her. "Maybe it's just a storage area or something private," she offered, though her tone didn't sound entirely convinced.
Nan Lu gasped and leaned in closer, eyes wide with excitement. "What if it's cursed?" she whispered. "Or maybe haunted? No—wait! What if it's like in those stories—Beauty and the Beast! You know, the East Wing, the forbidden rose, the—oh my heavens—maybe the Gong family has a secret prince hidden there!"
Lin Che gave her a flat look. "Nan Lu, you read too many stories."
Besides, it was the West wing in beauty and the beast, Lin Che thought.
"I call it imagination," Nan Lu said proudly. "Besides, admit it—you're curious too!"
Lin Che sighed, turning toward the window where the afternoon sun was spilling golden light across the room. The gardens outside shimmered with calm beauty, yet the words don't go near the East Wing kept replaying in her mind.
Curiosity.
It was small at first, like a flicker.
But it began to grow, tugging at her chest.
It wasn't just interest—it was something else. Something strange. As if the words East Wing had awakened a faint echo inside her.
She didn't understand why, but for a moment, she felt a pulse of familiarity.
As if something that belonged to her was there...
Nan Lu was still chattering beside her, lost in her theories. "What if someone is being kept there secretly? A long-lost heir? A hidden love child? A cursed painting that eats people who stare at it too long—"
"Stop it," Lin Che cut her off, though a small laugh escaped her lips despite herself. "You're making it sound like a ghost story."
"Well, maybe it is one!" Nan Lu huffed, crossing her arms. Then her tone shifted to one of mischief. "Che Che… how about we go take a peek tonight?"
Lin Che immediately turned, eyes widening. "Absolutely not!"
"Oh, come on! We'll just look, we won't go inside!"
"No."
"But—"
"No means no, Nan Lu," Lin Che said firmly, though her tone was gentle. "We're guests here. The last thing we need is to get caught snooping around forbidden places. Do you want to get kicked out before dinner?"
Nan Lu pouted, folding her arms. "Fine, fine. But if a ghost crawls out of that place at midnight, don't come crying to me when I say 'I told you so.'"
Lin Che just shook her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. "You're impossible."
"I know," Nan Lu said cheerfully.
But when Lin Che turned back toward the window, her smile faded slowly.
The golden light outside had softened into a deep orange glow. In the distance, through the layers of manicured trees, she could faintly make out the silhouette of a building—the easternmost part of the estate, shadowed and quiet.
She couldn't see much from here. But still… something about that place called to her.
Like an invisible thread tugging gently, whispering her name.
At the same time,
The East Wing...