The mansion had finally grown quiet. The halls, once alive with the sounds of cleaning, chatter, and the shuffle of beastkin paws, now lay still, bathed in the pale silver glow of the moon that slipped through the latticed windows. The faint scent of incense lingered in the corridors, mixing with the faint sweetness of the evening tea that lingered in the air.
Xueya's room was small but tidy. A simple mat lay in the center, blankets folded neatly at the side. Her ears twitched as the soft tapping of claws approached the door. She was not expecting anyone; the mansion was supposed to be silent at this hour.
A quiet voice whispered, "Xueya… are you awake?"
Xueya turned toward the door, ears lowering in recognition and surprise.
Shu Ling slipped inside, careful not to creak the floorboards. Her tail swished nervously as she carried a small bundle wrapped in cloth. "I—I brought something for you. Tea… and sweets," she said softly.
Xueya tilted her head slightly, lips curling into a faint smile. "Shu Ling… what is all this for?"
"I… I wanted to say thank you," Shu Ling muttered, stepping fully inside and setting the bundle carefully on the floor. "For yesterday. And… for always being… clever. I—" She froze, ears drooping, embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
Xueya gestured for her to sit. "Sit, Shu Ling. There's no need to be nervous."
The dog-maid eased herself onto the mat, curling her tail around her legs. She watched Xueya with eyes that seemed far too large and earnest for the small creature she was.
"Thank you," she whispered again. "For saving me so many times. For… for always knowing what to do."
Xueya's lips twitched faintly, hiding the warmth that rose in her chest. "You are not helpless, Shu Ling. You simply… lack guidance. But that is not a flaw, only a circumstance."
The two shared a quiet moment, the only sound the soft rustle of the night breeze through the slightly open window.
Shu Ling carefully untied the bundle and poured the tea into two small cups, the aroma sweet and fragrant. She offered one to Xueya with a shy glance.
"Drink," she whispered. "I… I thought it would make you feel better. You've been working so hard."
Xueya accepted the cup, her fingers brushing Shu Ling's lightly. She took a slow sip, letting the warmth spread through her. "It is very thoughtful. Thank you."
Shu Ling sat back, tail swishing softly. "You… you know everything, Xueya. About chores, about manners, about everything. How do you stay so… perfect?"
Xueya tilted her head. "Perfect is merely the mask. One must wear it carefully when the world watches. And sometimes… even masks conceal more than the face beneath."
Shu Ling blinked slowly, clearly trying to understand. She leaned forward slightly. "I… I wish I could be clever like you. I try, but… I can't."
Xueya studied her, ears lowering thoughtfully. "Tell me… can you read?"
Shu Ling's ears drooped further. "I… no. Paper costs too much. None of the servants know how to read or write properly. Only the higher ranks and… sometimes the fox-heads."
A faint smile touched Xueya's lips. So even this loyal, honest heart… cannot express itself fully in words. I can help with that.
Without hesitation, Xueya reached for the hem of her simple uniform and tore off a square piece of cloth. The fibers were coarse but flat enough to write on with careful ink or charcoal. She smoothed it on the mat between them.
"Here," she said softly, placing it before Shu Ling. "It is not paper, but it will suffice. We will begin with letters and common greetings."
Shu Ling's ears perked slightly, curiosity shining through the nervousness. "Letters… greetings?"
"Yes," Xueya replied, dipping a small brush she had kept hidden in ink. "We will begin with simple forms. First, this character," she said, drawing a curved line. "It is 'one.' Repeat it."
Shu Ling mimicked her carefully, the brush trembling slightly in her paws. "O–one," she whispered.
"Very good," Xueya encouraged. "Now try 'good day.' It is written like this…" She drew the symbols slowly, emphasizing each stroke. "Observe carefully."
Shu Ling's eyes widened, watching every movement. "I… I can do this?"
"Yes," Xueya whispered, her own pulse quickening with quiet excitement. "You can. Step by step."
The two spent hours there, writing slowly, laughing quietly at mistakes, sharing small jokes about their lives in the mansion. Shu Ling's admiration for Xueya grew with every passing moment, unguarded and sincere.
"You… you're amazing, Xueya," she whispered finally, resting her head on her paws. "I… I wish I could be like you. I… I want to be smart."
Xueya smiled softly, ears twitching. "You already are smart, Shu Ling. You simply haven't had the chance to practice what your heart already knows."
The conversation drifted, meandering through laughter, small confessions, and quiet stories of their lives before the mansion. Shu Ling told tales of her childhood, her inability to read letters that the world around her seemed to take for granted, the difficulties of being a lowly servant. Xueya listened, offering gentle corrections and explanations, her hands occasionally brushing Shu Ling's as she guided the brush across the cloth.
By the time the first rays of sunlight crept through the window, Shu Ling could write a few simple greetings, even her own name carefully etched onto the cloth. The pride in her eyes was unmistakable.
"I… I did it," she whispered, voice trembling with joy.
"You did," Xueya said softly, bowing her head, ears lowered in humility. "And you will continue to do more. Each day, each lesson, each mark of the brush… you will grow."
Shu Ling pressed her small paw against Xueya's hand, eyes shimmering. "Thank you. I… I'll never forget tonight."
Xueya's smile was faint but warm, a rare light breaking through her usually composed mask. "Neither will I."
As Shu Ling curled back on her mat, the tea cups empty, and the moon waned toward dawn, Xueya glanced at the small piece of cloth. Letters and greetings, crude but meaningful, danced across the coarse fibers.
Even in a world that does not favor the lowly, Xueya thought, knowledge, care, and guidance can build bridges. One small spark can light many fires.
The mansion was still asleep outside, oblivious to the quiet lesson that had taken place within its walls.