Upon Her Lips - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Auntie Dai led You Ran through the manor to arrange accommodation for this child of misfortune. No one knew what awaited her; only Mu Fei held the power over her life and death.

You Ran was taken to a room at the far western end of the castle. It had originally been a storage room, but due to the sudden arrival of a human child, Auntie Dai had to settle her there temporarily. This room was the furthest away from the other servants.

In this castle, everyone except You Ran was a vampire. Even the lowliest guard belonged to the kindred. No one could truly resist the physiological urge—the craving for blood. Although the Master had forbidden any unauthorized hunting within her domain, instinct was a powerful thing. To protect the girl from someone like Molly, the young servant who had nearly succumbed to the sweet scent of human blood, Auntie Dai had no choice but to isolate her here.

“You Ran, this is your room. Most of the necessities are here. If anything happens, do not panic and do not wander out. This is no ordinary place,” Auntie Dai instructed as she had servants bring in bedding.

Under Auntie Dai’s watchful eye, the other servants kept their distance. No matter how sweet the child smelled, they did not dare reveal their fangs. You Ran stood trembling in a corner of the storage room, watching the black-clad women move in and out. The way they looked at her—with a cold, predatory intensity—reminded her of her mother.

In her memory, her mother’s eyes held that same gaze before a beating. No matter how much she cried or begged, it never helped. So, You Ran stood stiffly, terrified that one wrong move would bring the whip down upon her.

“You Ran, do you understand?” Auntie Dai frowned. The girl’s vocal cords were fine, yet she remained nearly silent.

“Un… der…” You Ran opened her mouth. Her voice was tiny, struggling to force out the single syllable. Panic surged through her. When Auntie Dai reached out her hand, You Ran squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for a blow.

You useless stutterer! I don’t know why I listened to that old man and kept you. Just stop talking, the sound of it irritates me…

Her mother’s screams echoed in her mind, followed by “discipline.”

Auntie Dai had actually intended to brush a piece of debris off the girl’s hair—the room had been empty for years, and dust was everywhere. But seeing the girl shaking with her eyes closed, Auntie Dai withdrew her hand.

“As long as you understand,” she said simply.

The girl nodded frantically. Auntie Dai looked at her—the pale face, the chilblains on her hands—and truly couldn’t see anything special about her. She couldn’t fathom why Mu Fei would bring such a useless girl here. Was it a momentary lapse into pity? Unlikely. In centuries of service, she had never seen Mu Fei show a soft emotion.

“Do you know what mistake you made today?” Auntie Dai sat down, her voice stern.

You Ran nodded. She shouldn’t have looked directly at the Master. She remembered.

“Listen well. In this manor, Lady Mu Fei is supreme. You must not stare at her like that; it is rude and foolish. You must have the self-awareness of a human. You will encounter many nobles here; if you look at them that way, you could lose your life.”

You Ran nodded, only half-comprehending the weight of the words, but she knew she had to stay in this room. Auntie Dai noted that while the girl looked seven or eight, her records said she was twelve. She was severely malnourished.

“Rest for now. I will assign you chores later. Remember, this place is not as beautiful as it seems.”

After Auntie Dai left and clicked the door shut, You Ran stood alone. The room was small, filled with old tools she didn’t recognize. There was a small bed, a wooden table, and a lamp. Despite being abandoned, You Ran didn’t feel deep sorrow—her mother had never smiled at her, only looked at her with a terrifying loathing.

She had never slept on such clean, white sheets. She gently touched the bed with her small hand but didn’t dare sit on it; her mother had never allowed her on the furniture. Eventually, she curled up on the wooden chair, her exhausted body leaning against the back as her eyes drifted shut.

She dreamed of her mother—frenzied after an injection, pulling her hair and screaming, “I don’t know why I took you in, you thing that can’t even speak! If it weren’t for the money…”

Then, the dream shifted. The blurred vision sharpened into an exquisitely beautiful face. It was Lady Mu Fei. And the lady was smiling at her. It was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. Does this mean, she wondered in her sleep, that there is someone in this world who doesn’t hate me?

You Ran woke up with a start, her sleeves soaked with tears. Hearing a knock, she hurriedly wiped her eyes. Auntie Dai entered with a bundle of clothes.

“Mr. Daolei had these brought in from outside. Change into these, and then I will take you to the backyard.”

You Ran’s eyes lit up. For the first time, she was receiving new clothes. She took them carefully, her hands trembling with a rare, innocent joy. She looked at Auntie Dai, struggling to speak.

“Aunt… Auntie Dai… this… truly…” Is this for me? Can I keep it? She tried so hard to finish the sentence, but the words wouldn’t come.

Auntie Dai found the girl’s stuttering voice somewhat endearing. It was the first time the child had called her by name. “It is likely the Master’s wish. You cannot appear in this manor in unfitting clothes; it would reflect poorly on her. We are all the Master’s face; we must be decent.”

The Master’s wish…

The thought warmed You Ran’s heart. She understood that she must wear these clothes to please that beautiful lady.

“Don’t just stand there,” Auntie Dai prompted.

“I… I’ll… change… now,” You Ran stammered, clutching the heavy, precious clothes to her chest.