[Yao Residence · Night]
Night lay heavy, lamplight swaying inside the study.
Luo Ye sat at his desk, files piled high before him, yet he could not read a single page. The brush spun between his fingers, stopping and starting, splashing ink across the paper without forming a single word.
In his mind replayed the scene from the dining hall that day—
the two men's snickering, their teasing, and that one sentence:
"If she weren't wearing men's clothes, I'd think she was a young lady."
And at that moment, Ling Dang had been lowering her head in concentration, her delicate brows and eyes softly lit by the shifting light—so gentle she truly looked like an unadorned young girl.
Luo Ye shut his eyes sharply, his breathing growing unsteady.
"Absurd… utterly absurd!"
He grabbed a teacup and downed the cold tea, yet it did nothing to soothe the agitation in his chest. His fingers tapped harder and faster against the desk, more chaotic with each beat.
He knew perfectly well—
Ling Dang was a man, his clerk, his subordinate.
He should not, must not, harbor such thoughts about him.
Yet—
the moment he recalled that phrase, "young lady," his mind betrayed him, conjuring an image of Ling Dang dressed in women's clothes:
a flowing skirt, gentle eyes, a faint smile, hair ornaments swaying…
The vision was so vivid it made his heart jolt and his breath falter.
Luo Ye sprang to his feet and pushed open the window. Cold night air rushed in, chilling his chest. He slammed his palm against the window frame and muttered fiercely,
"Damn it! How could I be like this…?"
Moonlight spilled across the empty courtyard.
He should have been calm, but instead he was in disarray.
He should have kept a cold distance, yet his eyes kept following that small figure.
Restlessness burned in his chest like fire, leaving him tossing and turning all night.
By the time dawn broke, Luo Ye was still sitting by the window, bloodshot eyes staring into the pale light.
—He knew something was wrong with him.
But this "problem," he dared not ask Sang Qi about, nor tell anyone.
So he crushed it deep inside his heart…
and the more he crushed it, the more tangled it became.
[Morning · Yao Residence]
Cool morning mist drifted through the courtyard, bamboo shadows swaying.
Ling Dang had already finished organizing the documents. Hugging a stack of files, she hurried toward the study. When she pushed open the door, what she saw made her freeze—
Luo Ye sat upright behind the desk, his face stern, yet the dark circles beneath his eyes were impossible to hide.
His clothes were slightly rumpled, as though he had not slept at all. In his hand he still held a brush worn nearly to the nub. Ink lay scattered across the desk, forming nothing of meaning.
Ling Dang's heart clenched.
—Brother Luo… he didn't sleep last night?
"Put them down," Luo Ye said coldly, lifting his eyes as though nothing were wrong.
Ling Dang obediently placed the files down, but couldn't help sneaking a glance at him. Those usually sharp eyes were streaked with red, and even his voice carried faint exhaustion.
Her throat tightened. She wanted to ask, but dared not. Clutching her sleeve, she said softly,
"Brother Luo… would you like to rest a little? I—I can sort today's ledgers for you."
Luo Ye's gaze darkened, though he did not immediately refuse. Looking at her small figure, the chaos and irritation from the night before surged again.
"No need," he said curtly, waving her away.
Ling Dang bit her lip and answered quietly, "Yes."
Her steps were heavy as she left the study. The moment she passed the door, her nose stung and her chest ached.
—Brother Luo works so hard, yet he never tells anyone anything.
She wanted to share his burdens, but was always shut out.
That helplessness pierced her heart like a thin needle, again and again.
[Li Residence · Back Courtyard]
Afternoon sunlight warmed the garden, flowers and trees swaying gently.
Ling Dang cautiously entered the Li residence. When she saw Li Furong, she hesitated for a moment before blushing and approaching her.
"Sister Furong… I—I want to ask you for a favor."
Li Furong was instructing the maids in preparing herbal tea. She looked up, amused.
"Silly girl, what is it that makes you so shy?"
Ling Dang lowered her head, twisting her fingers. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Brother Luo… he hasn't been sleeping well these past days. His eyes are all dark. I want to do something for him, but I don't know how…"
Li Furong paused, a knowing glint in her eyes. With a teasing smile, she raised her brow.
"Oh? So you're worried about your Brother Luo, are you?"
"I—I'm not!" Ling Dang's ears turned red as she waved her hands, though her gaze darted away.
Li Furong's smile deepened. She turned and instructed the kitchen,
"Prepare a bowl of calming, heart-soothing tea. Add a few light, sweet snacks—less sugar, less oil."
Soon a maid brought a lacquered food box. Li Furong handed a small, elegant container to Ling Dang.
"This tea has lily bulbs and sour jujube seeds. It will calm the spirit and steady the heart. If you truly want him to sleep well, take this to him."
Ling Dang accepted it with trembling hands, eyes slightly wet.
"Thank you, Sister Furong…"
Watching her, Li Furong smiled inwardly.
—This girl might deny it, but the concern in her eyes is impossible to hide.
[Yao Residence · Study]
Night lamps burned quietly. Files lay stacked on the desk. Luo Ye's expression was grim, his brush hovering but not moving.
A soft knock came from outside.
"Brother Luo… may I come in?" Ling Dang held a small lacquered box, her voice cautious.
Luo Ye's brow twitched. He wanted to refuse, but finally said, "Come in."
She entered and set the box on the desk.
"The medical shed said the weather's been chilly and people get restless easily… so they sent this calming tea and some snacks. Brother Luo, you should rest a little. No matter how busy you are, you must take care of yourself."
Luo Ye glanced at it—the fragrance was gentle, the pastries delicate. He frowned.
"When did Sang Qi become so considerate?"
His fingers tapped the edge of the cup, eyes suddenly cold. The teaware was exquisitely crafted, clearly from a fine workshop. Sang Qi always used crude pottery—how could he have sent something like this? He recalled the luxurious carriage and the "big sister" Ling Dang had mentioned.
He lifted his gaze sharply.
"Ling Dang. Did this really come from the medical shed?"
Her heart lurched. She lowered her head, voice trembling.
"Y-Yes…"
"Lies!" Luo Ye slammed the desk, making the lamp flicker.
"When has Sang Qi ever used such carved teacups? Do you think I'm blind?!"
Ling Dang shook, fingers clutching her clothes. Tears welled instantly.
"I… I only…" she whispered, biting her lip. "I just wanted Brother Luo to sleep well…"
But Luo Ye, worn down by days of agitation and sleeplessness, and angered by her lie, finally exploded.
"You're just a boy—why all this sneaking about and lying?! When I rest is none of your business!"
Ling Dang stared at him, tears spilling freely. She tried to hold them back, but couldn't speak.
The next moment, she turned and fled from the study.
"Ling Dang!" Luo Ye called out, but his anger rooted him in place, stopping him from chasing after her.
[Night · Yao City Streets]
The street lamps were sparse, cool mist drifting in the wind.
Ling Dang walked alone, wiping her tears. Her chest felt tight and aching.
She only wanted Brother Luo to get some rest.
Why did it end like this?
[Later That Night]
Back in the study, Luo Ye sat alone for a long time. His anger slowly faded, replaced by heavy regret.
Pressing his fingers to his brow, he murmured,
"Did I… go too far?"
Restlessness surged in his chest. At last, he rose and hurried toward Ling Dang's quarters.
Moonlight slanted through swaying bamboo shadows. He stopped at her door, took a breath, and knocked.
"Ling Dang," he said in a low voice, uncharacteristically gentle. "Open the door. I have something to say."
No answer.
His heart tightened. He knocked again, more urgently.
"Kid, it's my fault. I spoke too harshly. Don't take it to heart, all right?"
Still no sound.
Luo Ye frowned and pushed the door open. It wasn't barred. Inside, the room was dark.
He stepped in quickly, scanning the room—
the table was empty, the bed neatly made, not a single lamp lit.
"…She's not here?"
His chest sank.
He spun around and barked at the guards outside,
"She's not in her room. Send people out now—search the entire city! Turn over every street and alley. You must find her!"
Under the lamplight, his face was dark—but his palms were already slick with cold sweat.
—He had never felt panic like this before.