The carpet behind the door was currently being worn thin as a result of Shen Lieyin back and forth with a pained expression.

"She’s with Yexue, there’s nothing to be worried about," Qingyue said from where she sat beside the window. "And did you have to go and create the bond?"

Instead of answering, Lieyin looked away. "I had my reasons. I’m going to look for them if they’re not back by—"

The door swung open and a grinning Ru Yi stepped in with the little boy. Her smile immediately disappeared when she saw Lieyin’s intense gaze.

Everything felt wrong. Heavy. Did the meeting with the village head go wrong?

The boy tightened his grip on Ru Yi’s sleeve, as if he felt it too.

Lieyin’s posture was rigid, her expression dark...like something was simmering just beneath the surface.

The moment Ru Yi stepped in—

Lieyin moved. Fast.

"What happened?" The question came out sharp, lacking the warmth and sympathy Yexue’s voice had whenever she spoke to Ru Yi.

Ru Yi blinked, caught off guard. "What—"

"Don’t lie to me," Lieyin snapped.

The room went still, even the little boy flinched.

Ru Yi frowned slightly. "You haven’t even let me answer the question."

"You were scared." Lieyin took a step closer to her, her eyes blazing. "I felt it. The fear...the disgust...desperation." Her jaw clenched. "Who touched you?"

Heavy silence followed for a brief moment.

"Why do you care? It’s not like it concerns you." The earlier ease and warmth she felt with Yexue was morphing into genuine anger. "Go look for someone else to direct your anger at."

Lieyin felt like she’d been physically slapped. "Unfortunately for me, you’re the origin of my anger." She was feeling beyond frustrated. "You think you can walk around this filthy village whenever you feel like it?"

"I wasn’t just walking around aimlessly, I wanted to—"

"Find someone else to seduce?" Lieyin asked, immediately regretting the words when it left her mouth. But she wasn’t ready to back down. "Want to find someone suitable here and settle down? Is that?"

The image of Lieyin in front of Ru Yi started to blend in with the tears that had gathered in her eyes.

"I’ll advise you not to waste your time. No one wants to be stuck with someone with such cheap looks like you."

Ru Yi couldn’t hold back the tears. They rolled down her cheeks in small streams. "I’ll have you know that I went to work so I could get food for everyone. But since that seems to be what you think of me...so be it!"

"Still..." Lieyin was losing the argument because of the guilt she was starting to feel.

"Remember that you created the bond in the first place," Ru Yi continued. "I didn’t ask for this. Your concern is deeply unappreciated and misplaced. And I’ll have you know that no one will love someone with a bad temper like yours."

Ru Yi took the boy’s hand and walked past Lieyin, their shoulders briefly brushing against each other.

"You were way out of line," Yexue told Lieyin. "Why did you have to go and ask that stupid question?"

"I mean..." Lieyin turned her head away. "It’s not like she hasn’t done it before. Look at how miserable Zhao Chen is. You better be careful too."

Yexue knew her sister usually used anger to mask her concern, but this was unacceptable. "I’ll have you know you went overboard this time. If you hate having to worry about her, why then did you create the bond?"

For the first time since they were kids, Lieyin was speechless, like she always was whenever asked why she created the bond. "I did it to make sure she remained with us. Don’t be ungrateful."

Yexue scoffed. "Ungrateful?" She stood eye to eye with Lieyin. "If anyone is being ungrateful right now, it’s you. The poor girl took the risk to work for food only to be accused of trying to seduce sleazy men."

"How was I supposed to know?"

Yexue pushed her shoulder. "You better go apologize to her."

Lieyin scoffed. "Don’t make me laugh. She practically called me unlovable."

"She was telling the truth. I wouldn’t even be within a mile of you if you weren’t my sister."

"If I’m unlovable, then that means you are too."

Yexue looked at Qingyue who had watched the entire scene with complete disinterest. "Don’t you have anything to say?"

"Absolutely not." Qingyue stood up. "We need to discuss strategy. The village head doesn’t appreciate our presence or our help."

"Why?" Yexue asked, walking over to where Qingyue is. "Shouldn’t he be happy that we’re offering our expertise?"

Qingyue shrugged. "He knows our...circumstances. Doesn’t want to be associated with wanted criminals."

"But he’s letting children get kidnapped in a village he’s supposed to be protecting?" Yexue was in disbelief. "What do we do? We can’t leave them like this?"

Lieyin tried to listen to their discussion but couldn’t seem to get her mind under control. She still remembered it...that pang of fear.

Long before now she’d heard about how powerful the energy bonds between people usually were. It was the reason the technique wasn’t widely practised.

Though her sisters could also feel Ru Yi’s energy, it wasn’t as intense for them. Because Lieyin was the one whose energy was buried deep inside Ru Yi.

Shen Qingyue was still speaking by the time she zoomed back into the discussion.

"We’ll have to mingle with the villagers to gather information. Actually..." Qingyue tapped her chin with her index finger. "Ru Yi might actually be onto something. Getting a job will help us get familiar with the villagers."

Yexue glared at Lieyin. "Seducing their men could work too, since that’s all Lieyin has on her mind. Actually, we should have her do it. It’s time to put her pretty face to good use."

Lieyin glared back. "We have the same face."

"Those striking blue eyes will beg to differe." Yexue leaned in and tapped the tip of Lieyin’s nose just to annoy her. "One look from you and all the men will be falling at your feet."

Madam Xiao received the food Ru Yi had brought him with a huge smile and proceeded to get it ready for dinner.

"I really appreciate your hard work, you didn’t have to."

Ru Yi smiled despite the turbulence in her heart. "It’s the least I can do to help around here." Then she remembered something else that was weighing on her mind. "Is it okay if I give the little boy a name?"

Madam Xiao paused, she’d never actually thought about it. "That seems like a good idea. With everything going on I haven’t really paid much attention to him. I’m such a horrible person."

"Don’t say that." Ru Yi looked at the boy where he sat close to the kitchen. "Rescuing him was brave on your part."

Madam Xiao continued stirring the porridge she was cooking, avoiding Ru Yi’s gaze. "That feels good to know."

Ru Yi thought nothing of it. "How about..." she trailed off, thinking hard about it. She wanted something that would make him feel connected to her at least.

Ah hah!

She got it!

"I’d like to call him Xiao Yi. It’s a mix of both our names, and it means little Yi."

The little boy immediately perked up on his seat. Ru Yi noticed it and turned to him with a bright smile.

"Since you can’t tell us your name, I’d like to give you one myself. If that’s okay." Ru Yi felt like she’d won free teals of silver when the boy nodded.

"You’ll be Xiao Yi from now," Ru Yi told him. "Do you like it?"

He nodded again.

Ru Yi couldn’t help it when she ruffled his head. "Xiao Yi. I’m a genius, aren’t I?

-

-

Dinner was enough for the entire household.

Ru Yi even accepted the second serving Madam Xiao had offered her for giving Xiao Yi her dinner the night before.

It was almost midnight when she retired to the room Madam Xiao had given her and the triplets. Yexue was already lying down on the floor.

"I should probably find a job too so we can buy a mattress at least," Yexue muttered, she laid on her back. "I don’t want to keep sleeping like this."

"We can go back to the market tomorrow." Ru Yi settled on the sheets they were using for a bed. It wasn’t even thick enough to keep them safe from the cold floor.

"Come closer," Yexue. "I need someone close before I freeze to death."

Ru Yi did as she was told, making sure no parts of their bodies touched.

Yexue sighed and moved closer herself. "Don’t take what Lieyin said to heart. She can be hot headed at times."

Ru Yi scoffed. "All the time."

Yexue laughed at that. "I cannot defend that. But...for what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what she said."

Ru Yi turned to the side to look at Yexue. "Are you dying?"

She blinked severally. "Why would I be dying?"

"You’re apologizing...to me." Being shocked was an understatement.

"While we’re on it..." Yexue propped herself up with her elbow. "I also want to apologize for attacking you when I was under the influence of Lover’s Bane. I could’ve hurt you."

Unable to stand the intensity in Yexue’s eyes, Ru Yi looked away. "It’s fine. I’ve even forgotten it."

Yexue put her hand under Ru Yi’s chin and made her meet her gaze. "It’s not fine...I don’t want you to pretend with me."

Ru Yi gulped, her throat becoming dry. "I’m not."

Yexue searched her face, easily making out the fear and uncertainty that Ru Yi was trying to hide. She should pull away now, after all she had apologized.

But...she didn’t want to stop talking to Ru Yi.

"Ru Yi..."

"Mmmm..."

"Can you hold me tight tonight?"