Behind the Mask - Chapter 11
Chapter 11: A Brief Farewell
Chu Ye's waist trembled. She was ashamed of her reaction, but Bai Ning was still kissing her waist, and a strong, unbearable impulse rose within her.
"Second Miss—"
Chu Ye moaned. Her usual tone was always cool and detached, even when she was blushing. But this time, when she called out to Bai Ning, her voice was filled with an irrepressible, gentle affection.
A warmth spread through Bai Ning's chest. She leaned over to look at Chu Ye's face and, sure enough, it was completely flushed red.
Chu Ye didn't know how she had ended up on her back, with Bai Ning pressed close beside her. She caught a glimpse of Bai Ning's cheeks, also flushed red. Her overly loose clothes were in disarray, having slipped down her arm to half-expose her shoulder.
The faint candlelight filtered through the gauze canopy, casting an indescribable, hazy ambiguity between them.
Chu Ye looked at the person above her, her mind muddled, her throat dry.
What did this make them?
She tried to remember her siblings' warning: do not develop feelings. She told herself that even looking at Bai Ning for a moment longer was "making a mistake," yet she continued to stare at her, unwilling to look away for even an instant.
Bai Ning didn't avoid Chu Ye's gaze. On the contrary, she loved it when Chu Ye stared at her like this, and couldn't help but be a little mischievous to make Chu Ye keep looking. She touched an old scar on Chu Ye's shoulder—one that extended from her shoulder to her neck.
A very dangerous wound.
"And this scar, how did you get it?"
"This one," Chu Ye answered distractedly, gazing at Bai Ning's gentle eyes, at her soft, delicate lips. "I got it three years ago. I almost died that time..."
As Bai Ning listened, she traced the rough mark with her fingertip. She lowered her head, her lips landing on Chu Ye's shoulder, then slowly moving up to her neck.
Chu Ye turned her face away and bit her lip, her palms wrinkling the bedding. Bai Ning's warm face pressed into the crook of her neck, exuding a light, warm fragrance.
What is this...
Chu Ye tried to hold back, but the touch of their scorching skin against each other stripped away her last shred of reason. She closed her eyes, turned her head to nuzzle against Bai Ning's hair, her lips unintentionally brushing against Bai Ning's ear.
Bai Ning suddenly seemed to lose all her strength, collapsing against her and taking a deep breath.
Chu Ye stopped wondering what this was. Her arms trembling slightly, she clumsily wrapped them around Bai Ning's waist, wanting only to hold her tighter.
Even if this embrace was just a fleeting, dangerous dream, she wanted to hold onto it for a little while.
"Ye'er," Bai Ning called her.
Her voice was so intimate, so gentle.
"Mm," Chu Ye responded, holding her tighter. Second Miss likes me too. She was happy, but it seemed to be more than just happiness.
Deep in the night, within the gauze canopy, it felt as if they were temporarily cut off from all the world's troubles.
Only them.
They held each other, pressing and rubbing gently. They could feel the small peaks on their chests pressing against each other, and beneath them, both their hearts were racing. Every uncontrollable, ragged breath, every unspoken understanding, exposed their less-than-"innocent" thoughts about one another.
The memory flashed back to when they were surviving in the cave. They had held each other just like this, an instinctual, clinging attachment.
Bai Ning rested quietly on her shoulder, her eyes slightly closed, a smile playing on her lips.
Chu Ye greedily inhaled the fragrance of her hair and the skin behind her ear. She realized that people don't just crave warmth when they are cold; they crave it just as much when their hearts are burning out of control.
Bai Ning turned to look at her, gently tidying her hair. Seeing her thoroughly flushed cheeks, she smiled.
Chu Ye smiled back.
Bai Ning's fingertip touched the slight curve of her lips, her gaze sweeping over those burning red lips.
Chu Ye's heart was in turmoil. She stared blankly, wanting to hook her arm around Bai Ning's neck and kiss her with abandon, but she hesitated, not moving closer, her face just growing redder.
Bai Ning smiled again. So shy. She played with Chu Ye's hair and asked in a low voice, "This trip to Qingzhou, how many days until you're back?"
Chu Ye stared foolishly at Bai Ning's smile for a moment before remembering to answer, "About ten days to half a month."
Her new mission, assigned yesterday, was to go to Qingzhou with Chu Hu and escort someone back to the capital.
"Then..." Bai Ning looked into her eyes and asked softly, "will you come see me again?"
Chu Ye stared at her. "Mm."
Bai Ning smiled.
The next day, the weather was gloomy.
Chu Ye had to set off early in the morning. When she woke, Bai Ning was still sleeping soundly against her. She had taken her medicine last night, which was why she was sleeping so peacefully.
Chu Ye didn't have the heart to wake her. She stared at her in a daze for a long time before quietly slipping out of bed.
With no sun, the wind today was also a bit cold.
As Chu Ye was about to leave the manor, she ran into Chu Hu. Seeing her listless expression, so unlike her usual self, he teased her, "You're leaving the manor, why do you look so unhappy?"
Chu Ye forced a smile.
"Qingzhou has lots of fun things. Big Brother will buy some for you then," Chu Hu said enthusiastically.
The two siblings walked towards the exit.
Chu Ye glanced back at the manor one last time out of the corner of her eye, then turned away, her expression dim.
"Ye'er."
Someone behind her was shouting her name.
Chu Ye thought she must have misheard. She whipped around to see Bai Ning running towards her, with Nuan Hua anxiously chasing after her.
Acting like this, she was once again violating the "proper conduct" of a highborn lady. Chu Ye was both happy and worried she would be punished.
"The wind is so strong, why did you come out?" Chu Ye asked nervously.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Bai Ning was still a little out of breath from running all the way.
Chu Ye lowered her head.
"I have something for you." Bai Ning handed her a bundle.
It was a guqin.
"There are also two music books here. If there's anything you don't understand, come find me at the zither parlor." Bai Ning explained everything to her. "As for the painting I promised you last time, I'll give it to you when you get back."
Chu Ye nodded.
"Also," Bai Ning smiled at her, "take good care of yourself."
Chu Ye looked at her, the longer she looked, the more reluctant she was to leave. "You need to take good care of your health. Don't catch a cold again."
"I know."
After a few simple words of farewell, Bai Ning was pulled away by her maids and old servants. On her end, Chu Ye was also being hurried along by Chu Hu.
Their client this time was the famous courtesan of Qingzhou, Lady Qingliu, whom they were to escort to the capital. It was said that this Lady Qingliu was proud and aloof by nature and had offended many powerful figures in the past, which was why she hired bodyguards for personal protection.
With the snow having stopped, travel was much easier. The journey to Qingzhou was shorter than Chu Ye expected.
After picking up Qingliu from Qingzhou, they were only three to five days away from Jingzhou City.
Riding her horse, Chu Ye gazed at the road leading ever closer to Jingzhou, her mind inevitably wandering.
Chu Hu squeezed his legs, urging his horse forward to catch up with Chu Ye.
"Ye'er."
Chu Ye turned her head to look at him.
"Tell me, which family's dandy is it?" Chu Hu asked resentfully.
Chu Ye was confused. "What?"
"Did you think I couldn't tell? You've been absentminded ever since we left Jingzhou. I want to know, which family's rich young master has stolen your heart?" Chu Hu frowned tightly. He hadn't believed it when Chu Lan told him Chu Ye had someone she liked.
Chu Ye also frowned. "There's no one."
"What do you mean, no one? You're still lying to me." Chu Hu had been watching these past few days. Chu Ye was always staring blankly at a jade hairpin, clearly thinking of someone. Besides, a jade hairpin was a valuable item; not just anyone could afford to give it as a gift.
"Is it a young master from the Bai family?" Chu Hu could only guess, since Chu Ye had been staying at the Bai Manor for some time.
Chu Ye grew annoyed. "If you don't believe me, then don't. I can't be bothered to talk to you."
"Ai..." Chu Hu was anxious but could do nothing.
On the way back to Jingzhou, Chu Hu cornered Chu Ye several more times.
"Ye'er, what have I told you? Those rich young masters are experts at sweet talk. You can't believe a word they say."
"Ye'er, did you take off your mask?"
"Listen to Big Brother. Don't have anything more to do with that person. He can afford to have feelings, but you can't."
"Even if he's sincere with you, he could never marry you in the future. Those great, noble families have countless rules. They look down on people like us."
"Don't think I'm nagging. Big Brother is just worried about you, afraid you'll get hurt. You have to understand, we and those people are from two different worlds. No matter what, it can never work out."
Two different worlds. Chu Ye was secretly distressed. She knew she and Bai Ning were from two different worlds.
Chu Ye also understood why Chu Hu was so worried about her. She once heard from Chu Lan that when Chu Hu was young, he had a relationship with the daughter of a marquis. They had promised to spend their lives together, but in the end, Chu Hu could only watch helplessly as the woman he loved most was carried away in an eight-bearer sedan chair into another man's grand residence.
Chu Hu often said that matching social status was a hurdle that could not be overcome, no matter how hard one tried.
The arrival of Lady Qingliu in Jingzhou caused a small stir in the city, giving everyone more material for idle gossip.
Although she had escorted Qingliu all the way back, Chu Ye didn't know her personally. What she knew about Qingliu, whether true or false, mostly came from outside rumors.
They said that although Qingliu came from a place of pleasure, she was proud and aloof. Even a man of immense wealth might not be able to get close to her; she would only receive those who caught her fancy. There were also rumors that Qingliu had peculiar tastes, preferring young, beautiful women, and that even her personal maids were stunning beauties.
Qingliu was very high-profile when she went out, never trying to hide herself. Naturally, the Drunken Red Mansion had invited her to sing to boost their prestige.
"Lady Qingliu is here."
Qingliu's first appearance in Jingzhou caused pedestrians to gather and gossip on the streets, curious as to what this woman looked like to have so thoroughly captivated so many sons of wealthy families.
Bai Ning was playing the zither when her thoughts were interrupted by the clamor outside. Then, a set of footsteps sounded outside the door. She looked up—
Pushing the door open was a woman in red. She was charming and flirtatious, the corners of her eyes tilting slightly upward, a hint of frivolousness in her expression.
"What's happening outside?" Bai Ning asked Yao San.
"It's that Lady Qingliu. I don't know what's so great to look at. I just peeked out the window a moment ago. She's just average-looking, not as pretty as you or me," Yao San said with a devil-may-care laugh, tossing a candied fruit into her mouth.
Yao San assumed Bai Ning wouldn't be interested in such trivial matters, but then she heard Bai Ning ask:
"Qingliu has arrived in Jingzhou?"
Yao San was incredulous, looking at the young lady before her who was usually so detached from worldly affairs. "No way, even you're curious about her?"
Bai Ning didn't reply. What she was thinking was, Chu Ye is back. She knew Chu Ye's mission was to go to Qingzhou to pick up Qingliu.
"Second Miss Bai, when are you coming next time? I still want to play that new piece you composed."
"I'll come again tomorrow," Bai Ning said.
"Really?" Yao San was delighted. She was a zither fanatic, and it was after opening this zither parlor in Jingzhou that she met Bai Ning.
Using the excuse of arranging music, Bai Ning came to Linglong Workshop again the next day. However, she waited the entire day without seeing the person she wanted to see.
Chu Ye just got back to Jingzhou, she must be too busy to get away, she thought.
Bai Ning started visiting Linglong Workshop so frequently that even Yao San was surprised. Is my zither parlor really that great?
Before she knew it, spring had arrived in Jingzhou. A continuous spring rain was falling, and the withered willow branches were sprouting tender green buds in the rain. Soon, Jingzhou would be a riot of color.
Bai Ning plucked at the zither strings distractedly, but her ears were always listening for footsteps outside.
She suddenly stopped playing.
Someone was coming.
It sounded like familiar footsteps.
The moment the door creaked open, Bai Ning looked over with a beaming smile and called out, "Ye'er."
Miss Yao San froze on the spot, stunned by the smile Bai Ning had directed at her.
Bai Ning's smile vanished.
Ye'er?
Yao San thought about how frequently Bai Ning had been coming to the zither parlor lately, and how she was always looking towards the door. She understood something.
"You've been coming here... to wait for someone?"
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