Silence lingered after the truth between them finally settled, not heavy—but real. It wasn't the kind of silence that pressed down on the chest. It was the kind of silence that stayed… because there was nothing false left to say. Wang Xinyi exhaled slowly, her shoulders easing just slightly, as if releasing something she hadn't realized she had been holding.
For a moment, she said nothing, then suddenly—Her expression shifted, her eyes did not hesitate to hide the words, the tension broke, "…Then take me with you. "The words came lightly, she said with her playful eyes. As if she had just asked for something simple—something ordinary.
Yu Shayue did not react immediately, her gaze remained steady, unmoved, she looked at Xinyi with serious expressions. Xinyi tilted her head slightly, a small smile forming, as though she expected resistance—but not refusal. "I've always wanted to see the Lin Empire with my own eyes up close anyway," she continued, her tone casual, almost teasing, "And besides…" She stepped closer, her voice lowering just enough to soften the edge. "…you'll need someone who can talk back for you. And who can have your side always." A faint silence followed between them, Shayue looked at her.
"…No." The answer came calmly, without any hesitation, without any room for negotiation. Xinyi blink her eyes in surprise, "…Well that... was fast?" Xinyi looked at her with the same smile remained on her face and thought 'expected this answer from her…' she once again thought to herself 'let's try again' then she said with her bright yet mischievous smile, "…You didn't even think about it."
"I did." Shayue said instantly, silence, Xinyi's eyes blinking, her smile didn't disappear—but it weakened. "I'm really serious, A-Yue." Xinyi said softly to her and took a step closer. "I can help you, I can protect you, I will always be beside you, I'm not useless A-Yue, I can also adapt, and I won't interrupt in your matter and I won't cause trouble for you," her voice lowering slightly, more sincere, "I will help you, I will always protect you with all my might."
Shayue's gaze remained steady and unwavering, "That is exactly why you are not coming with me." Xinyi looked at her then she slightly frowned. "…What does that even mean?" Shayue spoke quietly—"You have a family." Silence, "They care about you, they love you." The words were simple and direct. Xinyi stared at her, then—she laughed softly, at first, then sharper. "…Care? And Love?" Her smile changed, Shayue looked her seriously, "…they care so much about me…"
Her voice dropped, Not loud, not in angry—but in edged with something far deeper. "…that they have already… chosen… a husband for me, without even consulting with me or even asking for my permission for this marriage, and you are saying they love me or care about me?… I am not even at the age of marrying anyone right now, I have no intention of getting married at this age, because I want to enjoy my freedom, I want to explore and see new things in my life I am not even grown yet… and they already want me to marry??? And that won't happen!" Silence filled the room, "I have already heard enough of him, I know why they want me to marry him, because, he is older…Influential…Convenient."
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides. "They didn't even ask me what I really want. They spoke as if it was not already decided." Her lips curved faintly—but there was no humor in it. "…as if my agreement, is just a formality." Shayue's gaze lowered slightly, she is understood her state better than anyone…'So that's why…' Xinyi looked at her again. "So yes," she said quietly, her voice more steady from earlier, "I want to come with you." A little pause, "not just for you," Her eyes met Shayue's directly. "…for myself to." Silence lingered between them, for a brief moment—Shayue said nothing. She knew that Duke Wang was a strict but rather a caring father too, but she didn't expect them to decide her marriage this early, she was just two years younger than her, she was just nineteen, so her not wanting to marry is also understandable.
She understood, better than anyone the feeling of being chosen, being decided for, being reduced to something… movable. A faint stillness passed through her eyes. "…Your parents treats you well, don't they?" Shayue said quietly. Xinyi didn't deny this, they did treat her well since she was born till now. "They did. They gave me everything that I needed. But they just never thought to ask what I really wanted." Her voice softened slightly. "…Or maybe sometimes, they did." A faint but bitter smile appeared on her face, "…and decided it didn't matter."
Silence followed. Then—Shayue finally spoke again. The words were softer this time but firmer. "You will not come." Xinyi froze for a moment. She said confuse "…Why?" A pause. Shayue stepped closer to her, "This is not a journey. It is a path you cannot return from." Silence settled heavily. Xinyi's brows tightened. "…but I don't need to return, I don't want to return." Shayue shook her head slightly. "You say that now, but once you step there…" Her eyes darkened faintly. "…you will not even have the choice anymore." Silence filled the space between them. Xinyi looked at her—she knew Shayue what she meant by this, "…You're protecting me." Shayue did not answer. Her silence was enough, Xinyi let out a quiet laugh. "…You're cruel. You won't even let me choose now."
Shayue's voice remained calm. "I am letting you choose. And I am choosing…" Her gaze held steady. "…to not take you with me in this dangerous journey." Silence fell instantly, Xinyi's lips pressed together. "…I hate this…I really do." A longer pause followed. Then, quietly she said— "…But I understand." She turned slightly away, her voice softer now, stripped of its earlier sharpness. "…You're walking into something dangerous." A pause, "…and you don't want to drag me into it." Shayue said nothing, because there was nothing to deny. Xinyi glanced back at her. "…You always do this." A faint smile returned—tired, but real. "You decide everything on your own, and then expect everyone else to simply accept it." Shayue's gaze did not waver. "It is not expectation but a necessity."
Silence lingered again. Then—Xinyi straightened slightly. "…Fine, but don't lose." Her voice lowered—just a little bit. "…because if you do…I won't forgive you." Shayue's gaze rested on her. Quiet, steady and firm "I won't."
Silence returned—but this time, it was different. Heavier and deeper, because both of them knew—this was not just a refusal. It was a separation. Not of distance—but of paths. And once taken—neither of them would be the same again. Silence still lingered between them—not empty, but filled with everything left unsaid.
Wang Xinyi stood there for a moment, watching Yu Shayue closely. Her frustration had not completely faded—but neither had her nature. Then suddenly—her expression shifted. A spark returned to her eyes. "…Wait." She stepped forward, as if a new thought had just taken hold of her. "What if…" She tilted her head slightly, studying Shayue's face with unusual seriousness—yet there was still a trace of mischief hidden beneath it. Shayue looked at her. "…what if this does not turn out the way you think it will?"
Shayue looked at her seriously and said, "What are you trying to say?" she asked curiously. "What if Lin Yechen does not treat you like an enemy…" she took a slight gulp before completing her words, "…but like a real wife?" Shayue's gaze flickered slightly, Xinyi continued—her words flowing, one after another, gaining momentum. "What if you enter that palace prepared for a battlefield…and instead, you find yourself living beside him as a normal person and not as any tool sent by your father, day after day—sharing the same space, the same court, the same life?" She took another step closer to Shayue. "What if, in middle of all your plans and calculations… something changes?"
A took a breath before continuing any further, "What if you actually begin to understand him?" Her voice softened slightly—but her eyes remained sharp. "…and he begins to understand you?" Then—almost casually, yet deliberately—"What if you end up living peacefully there… not as a strategist, not as an enemy…" A faint smile appeared. "…but as his wife?" A single breath passed. "And what if…" She leaned in just slightly, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret—her eyes glinting with mischief as she studied Yu Shayue's calm expression. "You and Lin Yechen become a real husband and wife? Not as strangers bound by politics," but truly—living together, peacefully… like ordinary people."
"What if…you start to like him?" Complete silence, for the first time—Yu Shayue looked… truly caught off guard. Her eyebrows drew together slightly. "…What did you just say?!" Xinyi did not retreat. "I am asking you seriously." A pause, "You have not met him, you do not know what kind of person he truly is." Her gaze did not waver. "So how can you be so certain… that this will remain only a game?" Shayue stared at her. Her eyes trembled, just slightly, a flicker. So subtle it could have been missed—but not by Xinyi.
A faint confusion passed through her gaze… Followed by something almost curious, then—as if realizing her own reaction—her lashes lowered, and the calm returned, but a fraction too late. Xinyi saw it and her smile deepened instantly. Shayue's eyebrows knit faintly. Then—without hesitation she said—"No." Flat, firm and immediate, "…That will not happen, and no way that's going to happen in the future. Don't say nonsense." Her voice was calm—yet just a touch faster than before. "No such thing will happen." Xinyi blinked once… then leaned closer, clearly delighted. "Oh. "That was quick." Xinyi let out a small laugh.
Shayue's expression remained composed, but her voice carried a rare trace of disbelief. "You are speaking of something that has no place here." A small pause, "I have never met him." Her gaze sharpened slightly. "And I do not intend to build a life, based on something as uncertain as 'what if.'" Xinyi circled slightly, folding her arms around Shayue. "Life rarely follows intention." A faint smile returned to her lips. "And feelings are even less obedient." Shayue turned slightly, her sleeves shifting softly with movement. "This is not about feelings." Her voice lowered. "It is about purpose. I am not entering the Lin Empire to live peacefully." Her gaze darkened—just slightly. "I am entering there, because I have something to finish." The words settled heavily. But Xinyi did not step back. "And why are you so certain?" Shayue did not look at her. "And you were the one speaking of rumors just now." A small pause followed, "and none of them described him favorably."
Xinyi waved her hand dismissively. "I said rumors right… they are just rumors." A faint gin appeared on her lips. "How can someone like you believe something so shallow?" Shayue slowly turned her head—and gave her a quiet side glance. Not sharp and not in anger, but this time—there was a faint warning in it, which only made Xinyi more amused. "…Alright, alright, that look says everything," she muttered, barely holding back a laugh.
Then suddenly, "Still…" She leaned closer… "What if something along the way changes?" Her voice softened again—not teasingly this time. "…you no longer want to finish it?" Silence followed…
To be continued...