Upon Her Lips - Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Auntie Dai watched You Ran’s small, fleeing figure from afar, clutching the clothes and shaking her head helplessly.

You Ran had never realized how long the grand staircase was. Her small sprint left her heart racing and her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. When she reached the ground floor, she spotted the Master immediately. Draped in a long black coat, her pale face partially hidden beneath the shadow of a wide brim, the high-born noble stood by the door, speaking with others. Mr. Daolei stood respectfully at her side.

For a fleeting moment, You Ran envied Mr. Daolei—envied that he could watch over the Master at every moment.

A servant placed a luggage bag in Daolei’s hand. The Master was about to leave, flanked by her entourage.

Lady Mu Fei.

With a sudden burst of immense courage, You Ran gripped the small purple flowers tightly and stumbled out from the shadows. In her haste and due to the unfamiliarity of her new shoes, she lost her footing, rolling forward and falling to the ground a mere half-meter from Mu Fei’s feet.

Her fall startled everyone present, especially Yin Silie, who had stepped out just ahead of Mu Fei. Yin Silie looked on with curiosity, a playful smirk dancing on her lips as she hid her smile behind a fan. I’ve come at just the right time, she thought.

Mu Fei turned, her golden-brown eyes staring down coldly at the little creature at her feet. Daolei remained tense. He wanted to help the clumsy girl up, but she scrambled to her feet on her own. He stayed his hand; the business they had been discussing was heavy, and the atmosphere was strained.

“Do you have something to say?” Mu Fei asked coldly, noting the lingering scratches on You Ran’s face. Her gaze fell on the girl’s new shoes, her brow furrowing slightly. Do they not fit? Is that why she fell?

Being the center of such intense focus made You Ran’s cheeks burn. However, she was determined to finish what she had started. She held out the purple flowers with her scarred little hands.

“You… you… you like… flowers. I want… to give… give them to you.”

Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, You Ran simply held the flowers aloft, her eyes filled with nothing but pure, hopeful expectation.

Mu Fei lowered her eyes, masking a momentary flicker of surprise. She did not take them. Instead, she replied with chilling indifference, “Do not do unnecessary things.”

Daolei and Yin Silie could see the girl’s spirit crumble instantly. You Ran lowered her hand, blinking rapidly to force back the tears.

…

“You really are heartless. That girl risked her life to pick those,” Yin Silie teased once she was settled in the car.

Mu Fei didn’t answer. She walked toward the vehicle, a servant holding a black umbrella to shield her from the morning sun. Yet, the shade did not hide the fragile silhouette of the girl still standing by the door.

Mu Fei paused. “Daolei.”

“Yes.”

“Escort Grand Duke Yin Silie ahead.”

“…Understood.”

As Daolei acknowledged the order, he watched as his cold, proud Master turned back and re-entered the manor.

At the entrance, You Ran was looking down at the flowers in her hand, her heart heavy with sorrow. She wiped her stinging eyes with her frost-reddened hands, not noticing the tall, dark figure standing before her.

A cold hand reached out and took the flowers from her grasp.

“I will accept these.”

You Ran froze, looking up in shock. Those few words broke the dam of her endurance. The girl burst into tears, her sobs racking her small frame as she impulsively grabbed the hem of the woman’s coat, burying her face against her legs. “Lady Mu Fei…” she whimpered.

Mu Fei’s eyes widened. No one had ever touched her so without inhibition. No one had ever dared to get this close, let alone cling to her legs while weeping. Yet, she didn’t find it annoying. After a soft sigh, she tentatively placed a hand on You Ran’s small head in a gesture of comfort.

Mu Fei’s hand was freezing—a coldness that seeped through You Ran’s hair—but the girl craved that touch. Her whimpering gradually subsided.

Inside the car idling at the gate, two pairs of eyes watched the scene.

“So, she didn’t want the little one to be sad after all. Tsk, who knew your Master had such a soft side?” Yin Silie’s bright eyes were fixed on the sight—a scene the manor hadn’t witnessed in centuries. She turned to Daolei. “Mu Fei was the one who rescued her from the forest, wasn’t she?”

Putting aside the vital negotiations at the southern estate and exhausting her strength to rush back—all for a mere human child.

Daolei smiled faintly, a silent confirmation.

“I remember Mu Fei saying she would never accept a gift from a human. This… counts as a gift, doesn’t it?” Yin Silie asked, struggling to suppress a laugh.

Daolei arched an eyebrow. Indeed, his Master had said that. No human gifts, no human food, and no concern for anyone’s feelings. How was this to be explained?

“The Master likely hasn’t thought—”

A wave of crushing pressure silenced Daolei instantly. Mu Fei entered the car, bringing the winter chill with her. The purple flowers were held firmly in her hand.

“My, Grand Duke Mu Fei, what a lovely gift. Your sleep is as good as saved,” Yin Silie said, gesturing with her fan.

“Mind your own business.”

Mu Fei’s face returned to its usual distant mask. She glanced at the flowers before stowing them away. It was the first time she had accepted a gift from a human. She looked out the window and saw the child still standing there like a little squirrel, wearing a silly, blissful smile.

Is she truly that happy?

Frail, tiny… yet so sincere.

Mu Fei knew the girl had done something unnecessary, yet she couldn’t bring herself to scold her. In the end, she had taken them.

Yin Silie watched her friend closely. Mu Fei was smiling—because of the flowers, and because of the girl.

…

“Did you give the flowers to the Master?”

Auntie Dai had seen everything from a distance. She walked up to You Ran, who was still leaning against the doorframe, reluctant to go back inside. You Ran turned around, nodding with immense joy.

“Lady… Mu Fei… she… she took them.” You Ran’s face was flushed with happiness, despite the tear tracks still visible on her cheeks.

“Then why were you crying?” Auntie Dai teased.

“Ex… excitement,” You Ran replied, shyly scratching her messy hair.