Yelan took a small, deep breath. The air in her room felt thick. Heavy with his question. "Does it still hurt? The hand. How bad is it?" Simple words. But they pulled at her. Made her chest tight. She looked down at her loose bandage. The red spot. The skin under it sore and pink. "Yeah," she said soft. "It stings a little bit, my lord."
Her voice came out small. Shorter than she meant. Like hiding the rest. She lowered herself to the floor mat. Slow. Careful. Across from him. As she sat, her dark hair fell loose. Over one shoulder. Soft waves, like a mountain river at dawn—calm and beautiful. Sacred in the quiet. Yet pulling the eye. Mesmerizing. Her gray robe slipped a touch too. From the edge of the futon. Showed a bit of pale skin at her collar. Nothing much. But enough to catch the lamp light.
Jinshi watched. Quiet. He thought she might say more. Open up. Tell the full hurt. The way it burned deep. Or the cold from Xiao Mei that still lingered in her bones. But her answer... so short. Like a door half-closed. It bothered him. Hard to say why. Did he not like the words? Or the way she held back? The suffering she pushed down. Like it was nothing. He leaned forward just a bit. Wanted to pull more out. Gentle.
Yelan's eyes stayed down. On the aloe gel jar. Open on the low table. Green cream inside. Thick and cool. She reached for the cloth strip. The one that fell earlier. Picked it up. Started to wrap again. Slow loops around her palm. Her fingers moved sure. Even with the sting.
Jinshi cleared his throat. Soft. "The sting... is it from the festival oil? Or something new today?"
She tied a knot. Pulled it snug. Looked up quick. Then back down. "Mostly the old one. Oil burns slow. But the run today... made it open up."
He nodded. Watched her hands. Steady. "And the cold? From healing Xiao Mei. Does that add to it?"
Yelan paused. Finger on the edge of the cloth. "A little. Like frost on top of fire. Makes it ache different."
Jinshi shifted. Closer on the mat. Voice low. "You felt it all? Her pain. In you?"
She finished the last wrap. Tucked the end in. "Yes. Just a share. Enough to know what to do. Then it fades. Mostly."
He tilted his head. Eyes on her face. Searching. "Mostly? What stays behind?"
Yelan pressed the bandage flat. Tested it. No blood now. "The echo. A whisper in my head. Reminds me it's real."
The room stayed quiet. Just their breaths. The faint crackle of the lamp flame. Yelan set the cloth aside. Reached for the aloe jar. Scooped a small bit with her good hand. Rubbed it in. Cool on the wrap. Her eyes met his for a second. Then away.
Jinshi sat back. Let the words sink. "You're strong. For carrying that. Quiet like this."
She closed the jar. Lid click. Put it neat on the table. With the wet cloth. The water bowl. All in place now. Her hands folded in her lap. Bandage done. Clean. She looked up. Gave him a small smile. Just a curve of lips. "It's done."
Jinshi stared. For a beat too long. How? Her face calm. Like the talk was nothing. Like a lord in her room at night was normal. No fuss. No wide eyes. Just... this. Simple. He felt a pull. Warm in his chest. She acted so easy. Like they fit here. On the floor. In the mess of herbs and light.
Yelan stood up slow. Tidy habit. Put the bowl away. On the shelf. Cloth folded. Jar capped tight. The room looked better. Less like a storm hit. She turned back. Looked at him. Sat there still. Watching. She tilted her head. Words came light. "My lord... let's have some tea. Talking like this... it's kind of boring. Dry."
Jinshi blinked. No smile. No nod. Just sat. Quiet. Like the words surprised him. Or maybe not.
Yelan kept going. Fast. Before the quiet grew. "Oh—you can't? Because if someone sees you here, then..." She trailed off. Gestured at the door. The hall beyond. Whispers. Trouble.
He stood up then. Smooth. No sound. Hands folded behind his back. Took a step. Toward the screen. Like to leave. But his voice came first. Low. Firm. "It's not about me. I don't care either. But I don't want to drag your name in this mud."
The words hit her. Simple. Sharp. Like a hand on her heart. My name?No one said that. Lords didn't think of maids like that. Protect like that. Her chest warmed. Fast. Deep. This was it. The moment. When something shifted. Fell. For him. The way he stood tall. Cared quiet. Like she mattered. Not just a helper. A person. Her face stayed calm. No show. But inside? Heaven melted a little. Soft.
Yelan didn't think. Took one step closer. Hand out. Caught his arm. Light. Fingers on his sleeve. Blue silk under cloth. Warm from him. "Then, my lord... let's have some tea tonight." Her voice light. Bold now. A big smile came. Wide. Real. Her two small teeth showed. Sharp like little demons. But pretty. Playful. They caught the light. Made her grin sparkle. Like stars in a night sky. Heaven would melt for a smile like that. Pure and wild.
Jinshi froze. Arm under her touch. Warm. His heart betrayed him. Beat hard. Fast. Like drums in a chase. What now?Her change. From quiet to this. Bright. The way she talked. Easy. No fear. The grab on his wrist. Soft but sure. Or his own pulse? Racing. He couldn't pick. One over the other. So... he didn't. No think. Just feel. With this girl. Different. From another world maybe. But here. Real. Pulling him in.