Chapter 65: Cipher
The faint light outlined her short gray hair, her slightly trembling cat ears, and a pair of startlingly bright blue eyes in the darkness.
She looked about your age, maybe a little older.
You were completely stunned.
Who was she? How did she know I was here? Why did she open the door?
The moment the girl saw you, her bright blue eyes curved, and a smile touched her lips, revealing a tiny canine tooth.
She said softly, "Sure enough, there's a Little Wildcat hiding here."
Then, her gaze truly swept over your emaciated body, your dirty face, and your ragged clothes.
Her smile faded a little, and a hint of pity, or perhaps... a complex emotion of seeing a kindred spirit, flashed in her slightly upturned eyes.
Her characteristic cat-like mouth twitched slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but held back.
She didn't speak, only threw a small cloth bag she was carrying to you.
You instinctively caught it; it felt slightly heavy in your hand.
Opening it, you saw two relatively fresh pieces of bread inside.
You looked up, your golden pupils filled with confusion: "Why?"
"Eat."
She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching you.
You could no longer resist the hunger, grabbing the bread and devouring it, eating so quickly you almost choked. Tears welled up unconsciously, mixing with the taste of the bread, salty and bitter, yet carrying a long-lost warmth.
The girl watched you, sighing softly, a sigh that seemed to hold many things. Her cat-like mouth with the small canine tooth moved, but in the end, she only asked, "Hey, do you want me to close the door for you? Or... do you want to come out?"
Do you want to go out?
1. Go out, leave this place forever.
2. Stay here, you still have things left undone.
Upon seeing the options, Orion barely hesitated.
Go out? While it would certainly free him from his current predicament, would the humiliation and torment he had endured before just be forgotten?
That would be letting them off too easily.
"I choose 2, stay here."
You wanted to go out, desperately.
But you looked at your frail body, then at the dark night outside, and the mansion under the night sky.
You knew it wasn't time yet.
You shook your head, then pointed to the door lock: "Help me... close the door."
"Alright." The girl's blue eyes flickered with surprise at your words, finding you a little strange.
She turned and left, pulling the door shut behind her. Another "click" sound came from outside as the lock was re-secured, but you felt that the door seemed a little looser than before.
The footsteps quickly receded and disappeared.
You leaned against the door, clutching the remaining piece of bread tightly in your hand, feeling the fullness in your stomach. Although you still didn't know her name, you remembered those blue eyes, that figure, and remembered this first faint but warm ray of light that shone into the darkness.
This was the first time you felt kindness from another person, without any strings attached.
Even if this kindness came from a stranger, a thief.
The next day, Uncle discovered that the most precious gem in his treasury was missing and flew into a rage.
The entire mansion was turned upside down. Uncle, with his servants, searched every corner, not even sparing the servants' and guards' rooms, or even your brother's room, but found no trace of the gem.
Uncle furiously questioned the two guards: "What are you good for! You guard things all day and they still get lost?"
The two guards turned pale with fright. One of them suddenly remembered something and quickly pointed in the direction of your room:
"Ah, I remember now! That young master... he often sneaked around in the courtyard at night before!
We didn't bother him because he didn't come near here, but now that I think about it, it must have been him!
It must have been him who snuck in and stole the gem when we weren't paying attention!"
Upon hearing this, Uncle immediately remembered that you had snuck out before, and his anger made him lose all reason.
He rushed to your door, violently unlocked it, and dragged you out.
"Speak! Did you steal the gem? Where did you hide it?!" he roared, spittle almost hitting your face.
You looked up, your eyes filled with stubbornness, remaining silent, just staring at him coldly.
The search began again. Your small dark room was ransacked, and you were roughly patted down, but nothing was found.
"It must have been you who stole it!" Your brother shrieked gleefully from the side, "You golden-blooded monster! Thief!"
Aunt also rushed over, pointing at your nose and cursing: "Tell us! Where did you hide the gem?"
You still stubbornly pressed your lips together and shook your head: "It wasn't me."
"Still talking back!" Your brother, emboldened by his parents' support, was the first to rush forward to hit you!
You instinctively lifted your foot and accurately kicked him in the shin!
He screamed and fell to the ground.
Seeing this, Aunt shrieked and lunged at you!
You deftly dodged aside, then kicked her from behind.
She lost her balance and fell face-first in an undignified heap.
"This is rebellion! Rebellion!" Uncle trembled with rage. He roared, "Grab him!"
A group of servants and guards rushed forward. You struggled desperately, but under the overwhelming numerical advantage, you were quickly pinned to the ground.
Punches and kicks landed on your body.
You gritted your teeth, not making a sound, just letting this humiliation and pain deeply imprint themselves on your heart.
Because they couldn't find the gem, they couldn't do anything to you, and in the end, they could only drag you back to your room and lock the big lock again.
"One month, one month without food for you! Let's see if you'll speak... Starve you to death, you little bastard!" Uncle roared from outside the door.
A day later, night fell again.
You heard that familiar "click" sound.
The door was pushed open, and it was the girl wearing the hood.
She held a small oiled paper package in her hand and offered it: "Here, today's."
You took it and opened it to find two golden honey cakes, emitting an inviting sweet aroma.
You took a big bite without hesitation, the sweet and soft texture invigorating you.
"Why... help me? Who are you?"
The girl leaned against the doorframe and said casually, "Perhaps it's because you, this Little Wildcat, are too pitiful? Or perhaps, I owe you? After all, you didn't expose me... And your golden eyes... are rare, quite interesting."
"My name is Cipher... but you can call me Fei'er, I prefer that name. What about you, Little Wildcat?"