Although Ye and Xi now lived as sisters under the same roof, Yeyue's true appearance had built an invisible wall within their bond. When Yeyue looked at the strange, alien features of her human form and the rough scars borne from a tragic childhood, she felt like an outsider who did not fit into Xi's beautiful life.
Xi paid no mind to any of that. She only wanted her sister. However, Yeyue felt the fear regarding her appearance deeply. Every time she tried to speak of it, Xi would reluctantly brush it aside. "I only have you now, Sister, so your appearance doesn't matter to me. I only want my sister," Xi would say firmly, trying to comfort her.
The old sewing machine in Zhonghe's house became a turning point in both their lives. Wanting to do something for her sister, Xi began to sew clothes. Because of her exquisitely hand-decorated and adorned garments, Xi's name began to be spoken of everywhere.
But along with this success, the number of strangers visiting the house increased. In the face of customers seeking out Xi's talent, Yeyue was forced to remain hidden.
"Sister, why are you staying in this room all alone? Come out," Xi said one day. Yeyue gave a sorrowful smile. "No, Xi... if people see me, it won't be good for your business or your safety. I must stay as it suits me."
Finally, Yeyue made a decision. On days when customers came, she transformed back into the form of an ordinary dog. Even though having to exist as an animal in front of her own sister caused her mental pain, she did it for the safety of them both.
One evening, after finishing her work, Xi sat on the floor beside Yeyue. Stroking the head of her sister who was in the form of a dog, she asked with tear-filled eyes:
"Sister... I am working hard to earn money so that we can live freely. But if because of that, you have to become a dog again and hide in a corner, what use is this success to me? I want my sister, not a secret kept hidden like this."
Xi's tears fell onto Yeyue's paw. Yeyue closed her eyes and felt that touch. Even though she was in the form of a dog, Xi's love gave her the strength to endure all that sorrow. They both secretly realized that their true freedom was still far away.
There was an extraordinary talent in Xi's fingertips. The delicate designs of the Hanfu she sewed and the stylish elegance of the Cheongsams spread through the city like wildfire. Xi's name quickly became famous for Ruqun, Aoqun, and the intricately hand-decorated Xiuhefu garments. Xi's fingertips moved across the fabric as if engaged in a dance. Along with the rhythmic sound of the sewing machine, she created not just clothes, but living paintings.
People traveled from distant regions to find her because of that unique skill she possessed. Along the borders of the Hanfu she sewed, she embroidered floral and vine patterns with delicate thread. They were so realistic that an observer might think real flowers had bloomed upon the cloth. Through the color combinations she used, she conjured images of clouds in the sky, flowing streams, and moonlit evenings. The Cheongsams (Qipao), sewn with great patience, possessed a finish that perfectly highlighted a woman's silhouette while remaining deeply dignified. Even the small frog buttons fixed near the collars were crafted by her hands as if they were minute carvings.
Most exceptional were the Xiuhefu garments she sewed. On these clothes, reserved exclusively for brides, she embroidered wedding symbols and images of dragons using gold and silver thread. When Xi created these works, she poured her entire soul into them. Sometimes, she secretly hid the shapes of the wild flowers Zhonghe loved and the delicate lines of Yeyue's wings within the floral patterns she stitched onto the fabric. Among the wealthy and prominent women of the city, purchasing Xi's clothes became a status symbol. The way the pleats fell on a Ruqun she had stitched was beautiful enough to leave anyone spellbound. Every thread, every stitch was created by Xi's hand, blending the patience of waiting for Zhonghe with her boundless sisterly love for Yeyue.