I stood there, still holding the teddy bear, not knowing what to say next.
The atmosphere between us became slightly awkward.
Kình Uyên looked at me for a moment, as if noticing my awkwardness, but said nothing more.
Finally, he just spoke indifferently:
"Young master, please rest. It's late."
His voice was as calm as usual.
After saying that, he turned and left, without waiting for my reply.
The door closed.
I was left alone in the room.
I remained standing there.
The teddy bear in my hand… suddenly felt superfluous.
"…really not accepting it?"
I murmured softly, my voice very low.
For some reason, an unpleasant feeling welled up inside me.
Not anger.
Just… a little disappointment.
I put the bear down on the bed, flopped down, and stared at the ceiling.
That feeling didn't disappear.
On the contrary, it became even clearer. I turned over, pulled the blanket up, and tried to force myself to sleep.
But after tossing and turning for a long time… I still couldn't fall asleep.
The image of Jing Yuan from earlier—his eyes, his voice, even the way he turned his back and left—kept replaying in my mind.
"…how strange."
I closed my eyes and mumbled softly.
It's just that he didn't accept the gift.
What's the big deal?
Outside in the hallway.
Jing Yuan didn't leave immediately.
He stood there for a while, as if deep in thought.
The soft yellow light illuminated his face, making his expression difficult to decipher.
After a while, he raised his hand and gently rubbed his temples.
His gaze deepened.
The teddy bear.
The young master's awkward remark.
And that look just now…
It all came back vividly.
But in the end, he only slightly clenched his hand, then released it.
As if he had forced himself to dismiss something.
He turned and walked away, his steps steady, neither fast nor slow, as if nothing had happened.
That night, I slept very late.
I don't know why.
The next morning.
I woke up quite early.
As usual, I glanced to the side.
Empty.
For some reason, I paused for a moment.
Then I slowly sat up.
The room was the same as usual.
Except… something was different.
I looked at the teddy bear in the corner of the bed.
Silence for a while.
Then I reached out and pulled it closer, hugging it to my chest.
"…nothing at all."
I mumbled, as if talking to myself.
But my voice was no longer as natural as before.
The following days.
Kình Uyên was still in the mansion.
But for some reason, the time we spent together decreased.
Even when we met, he still did his duty as usual, speaking just enough.
He wasn't colder.
But the… closeness he used to give me was gone.
I didn't initiate anything further either.
It's just…
occasionally, my gaze would unconsciously linger on him a little longer.
Then, feeling a little awkward, I would look away when he caught my eye.
Once, I was sitting in the living room.
Kình Uyên walked past.
Just walking past.
But for some reason, I unconsciously called out:
"…Kình Uyên."
He stopped.
Turned his head to look at me.
"Young master, is there something you need?"
His voice was normal.
I froze.
My mind went blank for a few seconds.
"…nothing."
I replied.
Kình Uyên looked at me for a moment, as if confirming something.
Then he nodded slightly:
"Yes."
Then he continued walking.
I sat there.
For some reason… I felt a little annoyed.
And also a little… unfamiliar.
But I didn't know…
In a place I couldn't see,
Kình Uyên also paused for a moment.
His gaze darkened slightly.
But very quickly afterwards, he continued walking.
As if nothing had happened.