The next days blurred together in rhythm—bells chiming at dawn, chores handed down in clipped tones, the endless scurry of beastkin feet across polished floors.
For most, it was drudgery.
For Lin Xueya, it was a treasure trove.
Every broomstroke, every tray balanced, every bow performed at the perfect angle came with the faint glow of text no one else could see.
> [Task Completed: Serve Madam Xu's tea without spilling.]
[Reward: +1 Grace.]
> [Task Completed: Carry laundry with steady posture.]
[Reward: +1 Endurance.]
> [Hidden Task: Extra Effort – Folding linens thrice for perfection.]
[Reward: +2 Obedience.]
She hid her grin each time, tucking it beneath the mask of meek obedience. On the outside, she was the perfect rabbit-maid: ears drooping, eyes lowered, steps small and unassuming.
But inside? She was counting numbers, chasing loopholes.
---
One morning, she experimented again.
The task: sweeping the courtyard before Madam Xu's morning walk.
The risk: high—Madam Xu had a hawk's eye for imperfection.
Xueya took the broom, then deliberately swept in slow, careful arcs, almost like a dance.
> [+1 Grace.]
She switched hands, sweeping left-handed though it felt unnatural.
> [+1 Dexterity.]
She balanced on tiptoes, sweeping a corner above a lantern post.
> [+1 Agility.]
She even bowed mid-task as if "greeting" the path.
> [Hidden Task Completed: Excessive Formality.]
[Reward: +2 Obedience, +1 Charisma.]
Her heart sang.
The system didn't just reward the task—it rewarded creativity, variation, dedication beyond expectation.
The world thinks strength comes from swords and qi manuals. For me? It's in a broom, a cloth, a bow. That god wasn't lying… this is my path.
She nearly hummed as she swept, though she quickly lowered her ears again as footsteps approached.
---
"Rabbit girl!"
Shu Ling, the dog-maid, bounded toward her, carrying a stack of linens almost taller than herself. She tripped over the courtyard stones, nearly sending cloth flying.
Xueya darted forward, steadying the stack before it tumbled.
Shu Ling's ears flopped as she laughed nervously. "Ha! Saved again. Thanks, Xueya!"
"Careful," Xueya murmured, her meek mask intact. "If Madam Xu saw, you'd be whipped."
"I know, I know…" Shu Ling grimaced, then whispered, "You're different, you know? The others say you'll break soon, but I can tell—you've got… something."
Xueya blinked. "…Something?"
"Mm! Like… I don't know. Rabbits aren't strong, but you've got this… spark. Like you're tougher than you look."
Xueya smiled faintly, then quickly tucked it away. "Don't say that too loudly. The others might not like it."
Shu Ling pouted. "Then they're blind. Anyway—thanks!" She scurried off, tail wagging.
Xueya watched her go, a warmth blooming in her chest despite herself.
An ally… unexpected, but welcome.
---
Not all eyes were kind.
That evening, while carrying trays to the dining hall, she felt it—Mei Yun's gaze, sly and sharp, flicking over her every move.
"Such diligence," Mei Yun purred later, cornering her in the dormitory. "You work harder than anyone else… yet never seem tired. Curious, isn't it?"
Xueya bowed her head. "I—I just try not to slack."
"Mm." The cat-maid's eyes glittered. "Still… I wonder. Perhaps I should mention it to Head Maid Ronghua. She's very interested in rabbits who… stand out."
Xueya's heart skipped, but her face stayed meek. "P–please don't. I don't want trouble."
Mei Yun smirked. "Then perhaps… we can help each other. If you share some of that energy of yours, I'll make sure no one looks too closely."
A game. A threat wrapped in velvet.
Xueya bowed again, letting her ears droop lower. "Of course, Mei Yun. I'll… remember that."
Inside, though, her thoughts cut sharp.
So you want to test me, cat? Fine. Play your games. Just don't cry when the rabbit outsmarts the fox and the cat alike.
---
That night, Bai Ronghua inspected the dormitory. Her fox ears flicked as her gaze swept across the rows of mats, pausing, inevitably, on Xueya.
"Rabbit," she said, voice like ice.
Xueya sat up quickly. "Yes, Head Maid?"
"You've done well… too well." Ronghua's eyes narrowed. "No mistakes, no faltering, no exhaustion. Almost unnatural for a new servant."
A hush fell over the room. The other maids stiffened, sensing the tension.
Xueya bowed low, letting her voice tremble just enough. "I—I only wish to serve properly. Please, if I've displeased you…"
Bai studied her, long and silent.
The tension stretched until it snapped with Ronghua's sharp laugh. "Relax, little rabbit. I was only testing your obedience. Perhaps you'll be useful yet."
She turned, tail flicking, and strode away.
But the unease lingered.
Xueya kept her head down, eyes closed, pretending to rest.
Inside, her thoughts whispered cold and determined:
Suspicion grows. I must be careful. But no matter how closely they watch, I'll keep rising. Step by step. Chore by chore. Until even the fox can't reach me.
And unseen in the dark, the faint glow of system text shimmered once more.