The soft hum of the evening breeze was disrupted by a faint ruckus outside Zhou Hanyue’s room.


    Seated gracefully by her writing desk, Hanyue frowned in thought.


    Her evenings were always quiet... but now, the rustling and faint murmurs outside her door stirred her curiosity.


    Setting her brush down, she rose from her chair, her robe flowing elegantly as she moved.


    She reached the door and pulled it open, her gaze scanning the dimly lit hallway.


    Her eyes caught sight of another door slightly ajar, light spilling out, accompanied by muffled voices.


    ’Who is here?’


    With cautious steps, she walked to the room’s door and peeked through the ajar door to see what was happening inside.


    Huh?


    There she saw Lan Shuqin cleaning the room while Zhao Tian was also helping her unpack her things.


    "What is happening here?"


    Hearing a cold voice, Lan Shuqin’s body tensed and she hurriedly turned around to see Zhou Hanyue standing at the doorstep.


    "Lady... Hanyue."


    Zhao Tian glanced at him and smiled "Good evening, dear..."


    Dear? Zhou Hanyue’s eyes narrowed but she didn’t pay attention to him and glimpsed at Lan Shuqin.


    "I asked what is happening here."


    Lan Shuqin who was confident till now, shivered when she confronted Zhou Hanyue directly "I-i uh.. I mean we... this room."


    Looking at her stuttering, Zhao Tian couldn’t help but chuckle in his heart as he found this endearing.


    Zhou Hanyue’s eyes narrowed further "Both of you are going to use this room?"


    H-Huh?@@@@


    Lan Shuqin gasped in shock and hurriedly shook her head "No, No, No Lady Hanyue... you are misunderstanding."


    "This room... we..."


    Looking at her hesitating, Zhao Tian let out a sigh and spoke "Dear, since Shuqin is your maid, I thought it would be good if she stayed close to you."


    "With that, she can take care of all your needs. As your Husband, I am worried about you... so I want Shuqin to be very close to you."


    ’Close to me?’


    Zhou Hanyue glared at Lan Shuqin "So... you started doing things without my permission? Since when did you grow this audacious, Qin’er?"


    "Did that new guy promise you money to act as his doll?"


    Lan Shuqin’s gaze quivered as she lowered her head, her whole body trembling in panic "N-No, I didn’t mean to..."


    Zhao Tian reached out and gently grasped Lan Shuqin’s hand, pulling her behind him as if protecting her from Zhou Hanyue.


    "Why are you scaring my maid?"


    Hm? Zhou Hanyue maintained her indifferent expression "Your maid? She is my maid."


    Hearing this, Zhao Tian shrugged casually and replied "Well, I am your Husband.. so ’our’ maid."


    Our? Zhou Hanyue glared at Lan Shuqin, who was still hiding behind Zhao Tian "I see... in a single day, he has made you defy my orders, huh?"


    "Then answer this... Lan Shuqin, to whom have you pledged your loyalty?"


    Hearing this, Lan Shuqin’s body stiffened and she spoke in a low voice "To... you, Lady Hanyue."


    Huh? Zhou Hanyue was startled to see Lan Shuqin acting against her "Hoh, so you have grown that bold huh..."


    She forcibly grasped Lan Shuqin’s hand and tried to pull it from her finger "Take that off..."


    Lan Shuqin shook her head frantically, tears brimming in her eyes. "No! Please, Lady Hanyue, let me keep this!" she pleaded in a desperate voice.


    "It’s... it’s mine. Just this once, I beg you."


    Seeing this, Zhao Tian stepped forward and pulled Lan Shuqin toward his side "Hanyue... at this point, you are just bullying her."


    Zhou Hanyue’s heart fumed in anger "Bullying? A maid dares to defy my orders..."


    Placing his hand on Lan Shuqin’s trembling shoulder, he spoke "She is your maid, not your slave. You don’t have rights over her personal feelings or belongings."


    "The ring is a gift I gave her.. and she has all the rights to keep it. This has nothing to do with you, Hanyue."


    For a moment, Zhou Hanyue seemed taken aback, her lips parting as if to argue.


    But no words came. Instead, she turned her attention to Lan Shuqin, "Shuqin, if you value this ring so much, then perhaps you no longer value serving me."


    Lan Shuqin’s eyes widened in horror, her hands shaking as she clutched the ring tighter. "No, Lady Hanyue!"


    "Please don’t say that. I-I live to serve you. This ring... it doesn’t change that. It’s just... it’s just..."


    "Just what?"


    Lan Shuqin swallowed hard, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It’s just a reminder," she whispered.


    "A reminder that... that someone else sees me as more than just a maid. But my loyalty to you is unwavering, Lady Hanyue. Please believe me."


    Zhou Hanyue stared at her for a long moment before she turned back with a frustrated sigh "Keep your ring, but don’t think this means you’ve won, Zhao Tian. Or you, Shuqin."


    With that, she stormed off from there, going to her room.


    Looking at her retreating figure, Zhao Tian’s brows furrowed slightly as his eyes caught a subtle movement... Zhou Hanyue raising her hand to her face, swiping quickly at her cheek.


    ’As I thought, she was holding back her tears...’


    He exhaled slowly, his eyes softening with a mix of understanding and sorrow. ’To keep everyone distant from her, she is purposefully acting like a cold woman... so no one would get close to her and die.’


    Zhou Hanyue wasn’t the ruthless, cold-hearted woman she pretended to be.


    Beneath that cold exterior lay a heart burdened by grief, guilt, and an overwhelming fear of losing those she cared for.


    But now wasn’t the time to dwell on her.


    He then turned his gaze to Lan Shuqin, who was already crying.


    With a sigh, he spoke "Forgive me, Shuqin..."


    At his words, Lan Shuqin flinched.


    She shook her head weakly, her lips quivering as she struggled to form a reply.


    But no words came, only a fresh wave of tears cascading down her face.


    Her sobs, which she had been desperately trying to suppress, broke free in soft, stuttering gasps.


    Seeing her in such a state, Zhao Tian’s chest tightened.


    Without hesitation, he stepped closer, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "It’s alright,"


    Feeling his comforting words, Lan Shuqin’s fragile resolve shattered.


    With a desperate cry, she clutched his robes, burying her face against his chest.


    She clung to him, her fingers curling tightly into the fabric of his clothes.


    -----------------------------------------------------


    I hope you guys liked this chapter!