Chapter 7: Fainting

She secretly hoped that Lu Huaijin would soon grow tired of her, so she might finally have a chance to escape this place that shackled her freedom.

Lu Huaijin was the sort of man who, once provoked, clung to one like an invisible rope, tightening until it was impossible to break free.

She truly did not want to stay in the capital any longer. She had to leave; even if she were caught again and locked away in that pitch-black room devoid of light, she would not be afraid.

Su Yao, you will always be able to leave these four high walls.

Before she knew it, dawn had broken.

Chuntao brought in water to help Su Yao rise and dress.

"Miss, please wear this new garment today."

Su Yao gently stroked the soft silk, feeling the delicate texture; it was indeed of high quality.

"Where did this come from?"

As soon as she asked, she felt it was a redundant question. Everything here was provided by that man.

"This clothing was set aside by the Master some days ago, specifically to celebrate your birthday today. It is a pity that the Master has been so busy with official duties lately that he likely cannot come to accompany you personally. Miss, what would you like to eat today?"

Su Yao felt an inexplicable bitterness in her heart, and for a moment, many thoughts flooded her mind.

She thought of her late mother. If her mother were still alive, she surely would have prepared new clothes for her and made a bowl of steaming longevity noodles by hand, blessing her with peace and longevity year after year.

At the thought of these memories, Su Yao's eyes could not help but grow damp.

She took a deep breath to steady her emotions and said softly, "Let's have noodles today."

Chuntao smiled in agreement, "Very well, I will make them for you shortly, Miss."

Snow began to fall, feeling cold as it struck her face.

Su Yao stared fixedly at the vast courtyard. This year, she would spend her birthday alone. This loneliness made her chest feel tight, filled with an inexplicable melancholy.

After the birthday came the end of the year, a time when all other families reunited. She wondered if her father and elder brother were doing well.

*Thump, thump, thump.* The gate outside the residence was knocked upon.

Su Yao frowned instinctively. No one knew she lived here.

"Miss, it must be the Master."

Chuntao hurried to open the gate, but then she suddenly paused.

Su Yao could not see what was happening outside the gate and could only wait anxiously for Chuntao's response.

A moment later, Chuntao returned to her side, speaking with hesitation: "Miss, the person... the person outside is the Young Master."

"Him?" Su Yao felt a slight tremor in her heart upon hearing this.

"Tell him I am unwell and not fit to receive guests. Decline on my behalf."

However, Chuntao looked troubled: "Miss, I have already said that, but the Young Master insists on waiting for you in the snow. He says he will not leave until he sees you."

"If he loves to wait, let him wait." Su Yao sighed helplessly, gave the order, and turned back into the house.

I do not know how much time passed, but as Su Yao watched the snow growing more ferocious outside the window, she felt uneasy. She called out softly, "Chuntao."

"Miss, do you have any instructions?" Chuntao appeared as she was called.

"That person... has he left?"

Chuntao shook her head gently, her expression complex: "I went to check just now, and he is still waiting there."

Hearing this, Su Yao furrowed her brows, her heart softening. She stood up and draped a heavy cloak over her shoulders. "How can he be so stubborn, just as he was before!"

Su Yao muttered to herself as she walked.

The door slowly opened to reveal the lonely silhouette of Lu Chuyao.

The swirling snow had long since soaked his clothes, and water droplets dripped from his dark hair, saturating his collar.

Su Yao felt a pang of heartache and quickly took the umbrella from Chuntao's hand, stepping forward briskly.

Lu Chuyao was much taller than her; she had to stand on tiptoe, struggling to hold the umbrella over his head.

"Brother Chuyao, why aren't you holding an umbrella?" Her voice was filled with reproach, yet she could not hide her concern.

Lu Chuyao lowered his head, his gaze gentle: "Sister A-Yao, why are you hiding from me?"

Su Yao's heart fluttered. She dared not meet his eyes, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum: "I... I am not... but Brother Chuyao, you shouldn't have come to find me. I am no longer the Su Yao I once was. We should not meet again."

Before she could finish, the paper umbrella in her hand suddenly slipped, falling onto the snow with a *swish*.

She hurriedly bent down to retrieve it, but just as she gripped the handle tightly, the world turned black before her eyes. She lost her balance and tumbled forward uncontrollably.

She heard a familiar, anxious voice calling out repeatedly: "Su Yao, Su Yao... are you alright?"

The sound of the snow was too loud, and gradually, the voice grew muffled.

Lu Chuyao knelt down nervously and scooped her up into his arms, calling her name over and over. Fortunately, Su Yao had only fainted for a brief moment and soon opened her eyes slowly.

"Put me down, quickly." Su Yao looked toward the gate, where Chuntao was watching with a look of surprise. She knew that today's events would inevitably reach Lu Huaijin's ears.

"Hiss—!"

Only then did Lu Chuyao notice the blood seeping from Su Yao's hand. "A-Yao, you're hurt!"

Su Yao only then felt the piercing pain in her palm; she must have scraped it when she fell. A few droplets of bright red blood stained her new clothes.

To see blood on one's birthday was an ill omen.

Su Yao picked up the oil-paper umbrella from the ground and handed it to Lu Chuyao. "Brother Chuyao, you should go back. Your father... he does not want you to come find me."

"Sister A-Yao, did my father say something to you that day?"

Su Yao pursed her lips gently, her gaze lowered in silence.

Seeing this, Lu Chuyao grew even more anxious. He gripped Su Yao's wrist tightly, his tone softening further: "A-Yao, my father is my father, and I am myself. Do you not know me by now?"

Of course Su Yao knew. How could the man before her, so gentle, be the same as the dark, overbearing Lu Huaijin?

It was simply the cruelty of fate.

She sighed softly and turned to leave, but Lu Chuyao would not let go of her wrist. "A-Yao, look at your wound, it's still bleeding. How can I rest easy letting you leave alone?"

Su Yao smiled. "It's nothing, just a minor scrape."

"A-Yao, you're lying! You have always been delicate; you could never endure the slightest grievance from a bump or a bruise." Lu Chuyao looked at her with concern.

"People change. I have suffered much in these years; this really counts for nothing."

Lu Chuyao surmised that Su Yao's life over these years must have been difficult. She had always been timid, and the upheaval in her family was surely something she could not bear. Now, because of his father's opposition, she was forced to hide from him.

A lump formed in his throat. In the end, he could only take a small box from his bosom and press it into Su Yao's hand, struggling to squeeze out the words, "Sister A-Yao... happy birthday."

Su Yao bowed slightly, offering a formal salute to show her gratitude, then turned and left.

The snow beat mercilessly against Su Yao's face; she could no longer distinguish whether it was tears or melted snowflakes flowing down her cheeks.

The gate closed with a heavy thud. Chuntao hurried to Su Yao's side and asked with concern, "Miss, are you truly alright? Should I call for a physician to have a look?"

Su Yao shook her head gently and managed a faint smile. "It was just a slip on the snowy road, nothing to worry about."

As she spoke, she turned to look at the swirling snow outside the window. "I wonder when this snow will stop."

Chuntao looked at Su Yao with heartache. "Miss, your new clothes are all wet. I will go and prepare a change for you immediately; if you stay in these, you will catch a cold."

Su Yao nodded slightly, her voice sounding somewhat weak. "Fine, go. However, I feel a bit dizzy now; perhaps I was dazed by that fall. Just leave the clothes in my room. I will sleep for a while; perhaps I will feel better when I wake."

It was a pity that Su Yao never did get to eat that bowl of longevity noodles.