Rain fell steadily over the palace roofs.
Soft.
Endless.
Xueying stood beneath the edge of a corridor, watching it.
She liked the rain.
It made everything quieter.
It made people disappear.
"…You're here again."
She turned.
Gu Yichen stepped into view, holding an umbrella.
"You always find me," she said before thinking.
Yichen paused slightly.
"…Does that bother you?"
She shook her head.
"No."
A small silence followed.
Then—
He stepped closer, holding the umbrella slightly toward her.
"You'll get wet."
"I don't mind."
"I do."
The words came easily.
Naturally.
Xueying blinked, caught off guard.
Yichen didn't seem to notice.
Or maybe—
He did.
They stood close now, the sound of rain filling the space between them.
"You shouldn't stay in places like this alone," he said again,it's dangerous no one wishes you well my princess.
She smiled faintly.
"You've said that before."
"And I meant it."
Xueying looked at him.
Really looked this time.
At the way his expression never mocked her.
Never looked down on her.
"…Why?" she asked softly.
"Why do you care no one ever does?"
The question hung in the air.
Yichen didn't answer immediately.
For a moment, even he seemed… unsure.
Then—
"…Because you look like someone who has never been protected."
Her breath caught.
"And that bothers you?" she asked.
"…Yes."
Simple.
Honest.
Dangerous.
Xueying looked away, her heart beating faster than she wanted.
"You shouldn't say things like that," she whispered.
"Why not?"
"Because…" she hesitated.
Because I might believe you.
But she didn't say it.
Yichen stepped slightly closer.
Close enough that she could hear his breathing.
"Then don't believe me," he said quietly.
Her fingers tightened.
"…I already do."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Yichen's gaze softened slightly.
And for the first time—
He reached out.
His hand stopping just short of hers.
Not touching.
But close enough.
"Xueying—"
"Princess!"
The voice cut sharply through the moment.
Both of them stepped back instantly.
A maid rushed toward them, slightly breathless.
"Miss Zhao is looking for you."
The air changed.
Just like that.
Xueying lowered her gaze.
"I have to go."
Yichen didn't stop her.
But his expression—
It wasn't the same as before.
—
As Xueying walked away, she didn't turn back.
But she could feel it.
The shift.
The pull.
The beginning of something she didn't understand.
—
From across the corridor, under another umbrella—
Zhao Meilin watched everything.
Every glance.
Every step.
Every second.
Her expression was no longer just cold.
It was dangerous.
"…So it's true," she murmured.
Her grip tightened.
"Then let's see…"
Her lips curved slowly.
"…how long he'll look at you that way."
The rain fell harder.
As if washing away something fragile.
Or—