Behind the Mask - Chapter 9
Chapter 9: To Like
Bai Ning didn't deny it. The circumstances of her first meeting with Chu Ye were still fresh in her memory.
It was a dull and boring afternoon, one that made you drowsy. She was standing in the upper story of the zither parlor, idly gazing out the window, when her drowsy thoughts were captured by a masked woman—
The woman wore a longsword, her posture dashing and heroic. She stood beneath an ancient, gnarled tree, mottled light and shadow falling upon her. Her face was stained with blood, and she radiated a fierce aura, but the moment she lowered her head and removed her mask, she revealed a small, delicate, and pure face.
From that moment on, Bai Ning remembered the face beneath the mask. On the rare occasions she left the manor, she would lift the curtain of her sedan chair and see that masked woman on the street outside the zither parlor.
She just didn't know her name was Chu Ye.
There was also idle gossip on the streets about Chu Ye. People said this woman always wore a mask because she was incredibly ugly, and with her brutish personality, it was feared no man in all of Jingzhou would dare to marry her.
When Bai Ning heard this, she found it amusing. After all, the face beneath the mask was quite lovely.
Later, when she was abducted by ruffians, Chu Ye rescued her at that critical moment. The first time she saw Chu Ye, she recognized her immediately.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Chu Ye remembered how she had pretended to Bai Ning that she had a scar on her face. Bai Ning had just watched her quietly without exposing the lie, surely laughing at her inwardly.
Thinking of this, Chu Ye frowned sullenly in front of Bai Ning.
Brutish personality? Bai Ning thought. The rumors outside really couldn't be trusted. So innocent and quick to blush—how could no one want to marry such a lovely woman? There were plenty of people…
Who would be too busy falling for her.
Chu Ye saw the corners of Bai Ning's mouth curve into a slight smile. "You're still smiling."
Bai Ning had to suppress her smile. She asked Chu Ye in return, "And what about you?"
Chu Ye was confused. "Me?"
"You also didn't tell me that you always came to the zither parlor to secretly listen to me play."
Secretly listening to her play—the secret she had hidden for so long was suddenly exposed. Chu Ye opened her mouth but couldn't speak.
Bai Ning tilted her head to look at her, waiting for an answer.
"I just thought the music from Linglong Workshop was beautiful. I'd never heard zither music like that in Xizhou, so I often went to listen," Chu Ye explained.
Bai Ning thought for a moment, then asked, "So you just like… listening to me play the zither?"
The word "like" made Chu Ye sensitive. What she liked, of course, wasn't just her zither music… Chu Ye felt a pang of regret. Last night, she should have asked Elder Sister again: what should one do when feelings of first love begin to blossom?
But, was Second Miss Bai someone she was allowed to like? She was the young lady of a noble family, while Chu Ye was just a commoner—not to mention, they were both women.
Chu Ye laughed it off, curious. "How did you find out?" She had been so careful when eavesdropping from the tree. How could she have been discovered?
Bai Ning replied lightly, "I guessed." She had never actually caught Chu Ye listening in, but her intuition told her so.
Chu Ye: "..."
The woman had just bluffed, and she'd coaxed the whole truth out of her. Second Miss Bai seemed gentle and easygoing on the surface, but in reality, she was just like a cunning fox.
In truth, it wasn't hard to guess. Bai Ning rarely left the manor, and whenever she did, it was to go to Linglong Workshop to practice the zither with Miss Yao San. But she noticed that on her way back from the workshop, she always seemed to run into Chu Ye. To call it a coincidence would be a bit of a stretch.
"Do you like it?"
"Hm?"
"This painting." Bai Ning saw that Chu Ye was still holding the drawing.
Chu Ye hesitated, then admitted truthfully, "I like it."
"Once I've finished touching it up, I'll give it to you."
"Really?" Chu Ye was delighted.
"It's just a painting." Bai Ning took the scroll from her hands and unrolled it on the desk. She picked up a brush from the brush rest, dipped it in ink, and continued to meticulously sketch on the Xuan paper, occasionally looking up to study Chu Ye's face.
Painting her face-to-face, she added details, and the person on the paper became even more lifelike.
Chu Ye loved to watch Bai Ning when she took up a brush to write poetry or paint; she could stare without blinking. She couldn't have said why before, but after talking with Elder Sister last night, she seemed to understand a little. Was this what it felt like to be captivated by someone?
"Ahem… cough, cough." As she was painting, Bai Ning was overcome by another coughing fit. The brush fell from her hand, spattering ink on the floor. She clutched her chest, her coughs wracking her with a sharp pain.
Chu Ye rushed forward. "What's wrong?"
Bai Ning's face was pale. She had just stood up when her vision swam.
Chu Ye caught her just in time. Looking down, she saw that Bai Ning had fainted in her arms. She hurriedly scooped Bai Ning up, left the study, and went to find a physician.
The physician came, diagnosed her pulse by a thread, and wrote out two prescriptions, giving some simple instructions to the maids.
"Physician, how long until she wakes up?"
"Well, Second Miss likely caught a chill some days ago and is currently suffering from a deficiency of qi. With some rest, she will naturally wake up once her vitality recovers a little."
"It must have been from facing the wall in the attic the other day; it must have harmed her body." Nuan Hua saw Chu Ye's worry and comforted her, "Miss Chu, you don't need to worry. Our lady has been frail since she was a child. This has happened before. There's nothing to be done but take medicine and slowly recuperate."
Chu Ye was deeply unsettled. She had long heard that Bai Ning was sickly. If the rumors were to be believed, Second Miss Bai wouldn't live past the age of twenty-two…
Bai Ning had long reached a marriageable age but remained unwed in her chambers, likely for this very reason. The gossips in the city always said that even if a sickly girl with only a few years left to live was unparalleled in talent and beauty, no one would be willing to marry her.
Two soft coughs came from the bed.
"Ye'er…"
Hearing Bai Ning's murmur, Chu Ye hurried over and sat by the bedside. "I'm here."
Bai Ning recovered a little, finally waking from her stupor. When Chu Ye came over, she subconsciously grabbed Chu Ye's hand.
Chu Ye: "Are you feeling better?"
"Mm." Bai Ning forced herself to rally, but she was still weak.
Chu Ye wanted to ask more, but she couldn't bring herself to. She just sat by her side, keeping her company.
By nightfall, Bai Ning's cough had worsened. That night, she didn't let Chu Ye share the bed with her, afraid of passing on the cold.
Chu Ye slept in the outer room. Hearing Bai Ning's continuous coughing, she couldn't sleep at all. After much thought, around midnight, she pushed open Bai Ning's door.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Bai Ning knew it was Chu Ye who had entered.
"I can't sleep," Chu Ye said, walking over. "I'll stay with you."
Bai Ning coughed lightly, speaking with effort. "There's no need. You should go."
Chu Ye remained silent.
Bai Ning had thought Chu Ye would leave, but instead, she watched as Chu Ye walked straight to the bed, and without asking for permission, lifted the covers and lay down beside her.
She was the employer, and disobeying her employer was against the rules. Chu Ye knew this, but she did it anyway. Under the covers, she took Bai Ning's cool hand and warmed it, just as she had done before.
"Are you cold?" Chu Ye asked her.
Bai Ning guessed what she was about to do and said, "I'm not cold."
Despite this, Chu Ye shifted closer, intending to pull her into an embrace.
Bai Ning didn't let her touch her. "Don't hold me."
Chu Ye stopped, looking at her silently.
As if she were the one being wronged, Bai Ning said helplessly, "When my cold is better, I'll let you hold me then."
What did she mean… let you hold me then? Chu Ye was stunned; the words felt strange. She understood that Bai Ning was worried she would catch the cold too. "I'm healthy. I'm not afraid of a cold."
With that, she pulled the other woman directly into her arms.
Enveloped firmly in warmth, Bai Ning was helpless. She faced Chu Ye and frowned. "I said no. Let me go."
For once, Chu Ye didn't listen to her. She just held her, and even held her a little tighter.
Bai Ning wanted to laugh. "You rogue."
"A rogue is a rogue," Chu Ye said, full of confidence. She also felt she was being quite roguish; when she held Bai Ning, there was always a selfish motive hidden within.
Looking at the shameless person before her, Bai Ning laughed out loud. At the same time, she wrapped her arms around Chu Ye's waist. It was the taste of attachment; a warmth that appeared just in time in the cold was always unforgettable.
After they embraced, they were silent for a long while.
It seemed each had something on her mind.
"When your elder sister's eyes are healed, will you be returning to Xizhou?" Bai Ning's eyes were half-lidded, showing no sign of sleepiness.
Her tone was calm, but Chu Ye could still hear a reluctance in it. She probably wants me to stay with her, right? she thought. She did say she was happy when she was with me.
To this simple and direct question, Chu Ye was surprisingly slow to answer.
Bai Ning didn't wait for her reply and changed the subject. "Why do you always wear a mask?"
The topic of the mask came up again.
Chu Ye had never mentioned this to anyone else.
"When we came to Jingzhou three years ago, Big Brother and Elder Sister told me to wear it. They said wearing a mask would save me some trouble." Chu Ye smiled as she spoke. "Actually, I don't know how wearing a mask is supposed to save me any trouble."
Bai Ning, leaning against her shoulder, seemed to understand something and smiled faintly.
Chu Ye saw her smiling. "What are you smiling at?"
Bai Ning looked up at Chu Ye and told her softly, "Perhaps it's because you are beautiful, and also innocent and easy to fool. Your siblings were afraid that if others saw your face, they would like you so much that they'd get ideas about tricking you."
Chu Ye knew Bai Ning was teasing her, but she still had to act tough. "I'm not easy to fool! If anyone dares to trick me, I'll draw my sword and kill them!"
Speaking the most ruthless words in the most innocent tone.
Bai Ning gazed into her clear, beautiful eyes and suddenly asked softly in return, "And what if it were me who tricked you?"
Chu Ye was taken aback by the question and fell silent.
"Would you kill me, too?"
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