A Moonlit Walk in Silence
"Min! What are you doing out here all alone in the middle of the night?"
Min started, spinning around to find Shaozi approaching through the gloom. The full moon cast a celestial glow over her silken black hair, framing her face in a shimmering halo. There was a haunting purity in her gaze—a look so innocent it made Min's heart skip a beat.
Steadying his breath, Min forced a soft smile. "Shaozi? What brings you out here? It's late."
As she stepped closer, the faint, sweet scent of wild blossoms drifted toward him. "Grandmother was worried," she murmured. "When you didn't return, she sent me to find you. What took you so long?"
"Lost track of time closing up the shop," Min replied. They began to walk, their footsteps the only sound against the crisp crunch of dried leaves beneath them.
Min stole a glance at her. He traced the sweep of her long lashes, the perfect line of her nose, and the stray lock of hair dancing across her forehead in the breeze. If a thousand years passed, would you still look like this? he wondered. This timeless beauty, this cool, distant gaze... would anything ever change?
Beside him, Shaozi's mind was elsewhere. Her fingers itched to touch the decorative hairpin tucked into her bun. Min had spent the afternoon meticulously repairing it for her, a gesture she couldn't shake from her mind. A 'thank you' hovered on the tip of her tongue, but her pride—that stubborn, aristocratic ego—held it captive. Should I thank him? Should I lower my guard? she struggled. He isn't a servant, and yet... he did this just for me. Caught between budding gratitude and old-world pride, her lips remained sealed, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words.
Warnings by the Hearth
Back at the house, Grandma Chi Zhao handed them steaming bowls of soup. In the corner, the fireplace crackled, orange flames dancing rhythmically against the walls. Suddenly, Grandma's expression darkened.
"Shaozi, I've had word," she said, her voice dropping an octave. "Your cousin, Zhi Zhi, will be arriving in a few days."
Shaozi's face instantly lit up. "Truly, Grandma? That's wonderful news! The house will finally feel alive again. I'm so happy she's coming."
But the furrows on the old woman's brow only deepened. "Why are you so delighted?" she snapped, her irritation masking a deeper fear. "Have you forgotten what happens when she's around? My heart is heavy, Shaozi. She doesn't bring peace; she brings ruin."
Shaozi laughed softly, taking the old woman's hand. "Oh, Grandma! You still see her as that mischievous little girl. She's grown up now. Maybe she teases me or gets under my skin, but that's just what sisters do. She's your own flesh and blood. Why are you so tense?"
Grandma sighed, looking at Shaozi as if she were staring at a tragic fate she was powerless to stop. "You are too pure for this world, Shaozi," she whispered. "You have no idea how cruel people can be. Listen to me: when she is here, do not leave her side for a second, yet keep your distance. Do not let her get close enough to hurt you. Do you understand?"
A History Written in Blood
Once Shaozi had retired for the night, a heavy stillness settled over the room. Min noticed a glint of moisture in the corner of Grandma's eyes. He sat beside her, his voice barely a whisper. "Grandma, why do you fear Zhi Zhi so much? Did she truly hurt Shaozi in the past?"
The old woman stared into the embers, her eyes reflecting ghosts from years gone by.
"Zhi Zhi is my daughter's child," she began. "My daughter died giving birth to her, and I raised that motherless girl with all the love I had. But then came that dark day... a day I can never erase. I was in the forest gathering wood when I found a boy hidden behind a thicket. He had been whipped; his body was a map of raw, bleeding gashes. That boy was Shaozi."
Min's heart stopped.
"Shaozi isn't of my blood," Grandma continued, her voice trembling with a mix of rage and sorrow. "I don't know who discarded him like broken glass. But seeing his broken body, my heart broke too. I brought him home. I nursed him back to life, gave him my family's name, and called him my grandson. But Zhi Zhi... she could never stomach it."
Her grip tightened on the chair. "She believed I loved Shaozi more. A poisonous jealousy took root in her soul. She spent her days plotting his end. Once, she even put venom in his food—Shaozi was at death's door for weeks. That was the day I sent her away to her father. She is a viper, Min. A beautiful, deadly viper."
She reached out, gripping Min's hand with surprising strength. "Min, I know how you feel about her. I know you care for Shaozi. You must be his shield. When Zhi Zhi arrives, there will be trouble. Shaozi trusts her blindly, but you... you must not."
Min stared out into the devouring darkness of the night, a silent vow taking shape in his soul. He hadn't known Shaozi's life began in such agony. Tears pricked his eyes, but they were quickly scorched away by a rising heat—a protective fury.
Shaozi, he thought, you see a sister, but if she dares to cast her venomous shadow over you again, I will be your blade. I will not let you bleed ever again.