Chapter 1-4

When Choryeong went outside again, only Bai Shixuan and Xuelan remained. But just as before, neither of them spoke. As silence filled the room, Choryeong came back in.

“You two aren’t saying anything this time.”

“Not really.”

Bai Shixuan’s reply made it clear that he had nothing in particular to say. Choryeong smiled and handed him some tea.

“Our Xuelan has never met anyone her own age before. Be a little friendlier with her. I don’t know how long you’ll be staying, but couldn’t you get along with her while you’re here?”

Bai Shixuan accepted the teacup and looked at Choryeong. Then he glanced at Xuelan, who was staring at him with eyes full of expectation, and gave a faint nod. The moment Xuelan saw him nod, her face brightened. Choryeong also smiled and sat down.

“Hmm, come to think of it, where are you going to sleep?”

“I’ll sleep outside.”

“Hm? No, sleep with Xuelan. You’re fine with that too, right, Xuelan?”

At Choryeong’s suggestion that they sleep together, Xuelan’s face instantly turned bright red. No matter how young she was, she had been raised in a pleasure house. Choryeong had not meant that they should share a bed in that sense, but Xuelan’s face still began heating up before she knew it. When she glanced at Bai Shixuan, she saw him shaking his head, his strikingly handsome face turned away. His features were still youthful, but he was undeniably handsome. Perhaps because of his mixed heritage, his brown-tinged hair, bluish eyes, and snow-white skin blended perfectly with his fine features, giving him a mysterious air. Her heart had begun pounding without her even realizing it, intoxicated by that atmosphere, but the moment she saw Bai Shixuan shaking his head, it immediately settled down.

“Why?”

“I’m more comfortable outside.”

“No. You’ll get sick. Stay here.”

When Bai Shixuan refused, Choryeong rejected his refusal instead. At her firm tone, Bai Shixuan found himself nodding without even realizing it, and when he did, Choryeong smiled.

“Choryeong, you have a guest.”

“Yes. I’m coming. Then you’re staying here, all right? Promise this big sister. Well then, I have a guest, so I have to go. Take good care of our Xuelan.”

With that, Choryeong immediately left the room.

‘What does she mean, take good care of her?’

He was younger. On top of that, this room belonged to Choryeong and Xuelan. Shouldn’t Xuelan be the one taking care of him instead? Thinking that, Bai Shixuan looked at Xuelan, who had once again lowered her head deeply.

“Haah. What are you so scared of?”

“H-Huh? Nothing. It’s nothing…….”

At Bai Shixuan’s question, Xuelan jumped in surprise and began stammering. Bai Shixuan watched her for a moment, then took a sip of the tea sitting on the table.

“Are you happy here?”

“Hm? Yes. The madam and all the older sisters are good to me.”

“I see. More importantly, are you good at playing? Let me hear you.”

He could hardly ask what there was to be happy about when she had already said she was happy. If she was happy, then that was enough. For a young girl like her, this place probably seemed wonderful since it gave her food, a place to sleep, clothes, and even money.

“O-Okay. Just a moment……. If I play too loudly, the sisters next door will get angry, so I’ll play quietly.”

“Do whatever you want.”

Xuelan picked up the qin she had placed in one corner of the room and sat down on the floor. Then she began plucking the strings.

‘She’s quite good.’

Her skill was impressive despite her young age. If she matured and improved her skill along with her beauty, Xuelan’s name might one day become very famous. Bai Shixuan quietly lowered his gaze while listening to her play, and before he knew it, he had become so absorbed in the music that he closed his eyes.

“W-Was it all right?”

“Yeah.”

He had simply kept listening without realizing that the performance had already ended. It was only when he heard Xuelan’s embarrassed voice that Bai Shixuan opened his eyes and realized she had finished.

“You’re good.”

“Really? I’ve only ever played in front of the older sisters and the madam. They always say I’m still inexperienced. Hehe, but it feels nice to be praised.”

At Bai Shixuan’s compliment, Xuelan blushed and smiled. She put the qin down again and returned to her seat.

‘She’s pretty.’

To be honest, the sight of her playing had been beautiful. Just as this was Xuelan’s first time talking to a boy around her own age, this was also Bai Shixuan’s first time talking to a girl around his age. That was why he had deliberately been speaking curtly, but even to the young Bai Shixuan, Xuelan had looked exceptionally pretty while she played.

“Are you sleepy?”

“Hm? Aren’t you?”

“Not really. If you’re sleepy, go to sleep.”

It was only the beginning of the Hai hour, around nine to ten at night. Bai Shixuan usually went to sleep later than that, so he was not sleepy yet. Xuelan, however, looked very tired, perhaps because she normally went to bed around this time.

“But if I go to sleep first, you’ll be alone…….”

Xuelan trailed off, then hurriedly covered her mouth with her small hands as she yawned. She had probably been about to say, “You’ll be bored by yourself.” Bai Shixuan watched Xuelan, who was clearly sleepy but still worried about him and unsure what to do, then gave a faint laugh and stood up. He walked over to the small bed and simply lay down.

“Y-You’re going to sleep here?”

“Then what? Should I sleep on the floor?”

Xuelan’s bed was small. Since she was still young, the bed itself had been made small as well. If Xuelan climbed onto it too, the two of them would practically have to sleep pressed against each other. Xuelan was still young, but she already understood enough to feel embarrassed. Bai Shixuan also knew a little from the illustrations in booklets the wandering swordsmen used to read. But because he was still young, unlike Xuelan, he did not feel embarrassed. He simply did not yet understand why a man and woman rolling around together without clothes should be considered shameful. Xuelan stared at Bai Shixuan lying in her bed for a moment with her face flushed, then seemed to make up her mind. She nodded and climbed onto the bed herself. Both Bai Shixuan and Xuelan were small, but the bed was just as small, so it quickly became quite uncomfortable.

“Haah. Lift your head.”

Bai Shixuan sighed and let Xuelan rest her head on his arm. For Bai Shixuan, it was simply because their previous position had been too uncomfortable. Xuelan, however, interpreted it very differently, and her heart began pounding violently. Resting on a boy’s arm! Naturally, her face turned as red as a ripe persimmon, and her heart felt ready to burst from her chest.

‘She smells nice.’

Xuelan smelled pleasant even though she was not wearing any cosmetics. Bai Shixuan had definitely not been sleepy a moment ago, but once he lay down and closed his eyes, fatigue slowly began washing over him.

‘Is she asleep?’

They had barely been lying down for any time at all, yet Xuelan already seemed to have fallen asleep, breathing softly. Bai Shixuan stared at her sleeping face, still faintly flushed, for a long moment before closing his own eyes and trying to fall asleep. The only problem was that the arm Xuelan was using as a pillow had gone so numb that he could not fall asleep easily.