— How long… — Liang Si Yao sighed with melancholy, gazing into the mirror where a girl appeared, as if stepped out of a fairy tale.
She needed neither makeup nor jewelry — natural beauty shone in every feature of her face. However, this flawless appearance seemed like a mask hiding inner emptiness. The cold gleam in her eyes betrayed deep sadness, from which the girl herself suffered no less than those around her.
Her perfection seemed almost unnatural, like precious jade crafted by a skilled master, devoid of the warmth of living stone. In this beauty lay an inexplicable sadness, making her even more mysterious and alluring.
The young maid in an elegant white dress carefully arranged Liang Si Yao's curls, her deft fingers skillfully managing the unruly strands. With every passing minute spent in front of the mirror, the girl's thoughts drifted further away — her gaze became distant, and her movements mechanical, as if she were somewhere far away from here.
— Oh heavens… — the girl whispered in admiration, unable to contain her delight. — You are so beautiful, as if descended from the celestial gallery of fairies. Your beauty is so flawless that it takes one's breath away. No wonder so many men's hearts tremble at just the sight of you!
Her voice carried genuine, almost reverent admiration, and her eyes shone with genuine admiration for the perfection she saw before her.
Liang Si Yao seemed oblivious to the maid's compliments — her gaze was fixed somewhere far away, through her own reflection in the mirror. It seemed that the girl's words dissolved into emptiness, failing to reach her ears.
Carefully inserting an elegant red hairpin into the hairstyle, the maid couldn't resist the impulse and broke the silence again:
— May I ask a question, young mistress… — the maid began cautiously, lovingly arranging strand by strand. — Why don't you wear your hair long? With your ethereal beauty, it would look truly majestic, like a silk veil flowing down your shoulders…
Her voice carried genuine bewilderment — indeed, such perfect features were made for luxurious locks that could enhance her mistress's natural charm even further.
A shadow of deep sorrow and regret briefly crossed Liang Si Yao's usually impassive, icy eyes. Her gaze seemed clouded by flooding memories, and when she spoke, her voice was unusually quiet and broken:
— Once upon a time… — Liang Si Yao began, her voice trembling, revealing the depth of her feelings. — I was hopelessly in love with someone. But not only did he not return my feelings — he avoided me at every turn, hid from me as if I were a stranger to him. Only years later did I learn the terrible truth — he had left this world long ago… — Her voice trembled uncontrollably, but she composed herself and added: — Since then, I have not allowed my hair to grow — it is my personal tribute to the memory of that person.
The maid froze with her mouth open, unable to utter a single word. Her eyes widened in astonishment — she couldn't believe what she had heard. All she could manage to squeeze out was a short, bewildered:
— What?! — her voice carried genuine shock at such an unexpected revelation.
A whirlwind of astonished thoughts raced through the maid's mind. How was this possible? Sixteen-year-old Liang Si Yao, who had never left the borders of Shentou City, speaking about unrequited love and the death of her beloved? Who was this mysterious man? When and under what circumstances had they met?
Questions swarmed in her mind like bees in a disturbed hive. She so wanted to question her mistress further, to learn this astonishing story, but years of service in the clan had taught her — some secrets were better left undiscovered, and some stories were best left untold.
Feeling the heavy silence filling the room, the maid decided to break the oppressive quiet. She tried to infuse her voice with lightness and ease to distract her mistress from sad thoughts:
— Hah… — the maid attempted to lighten the mood, forcing a smile — probably, your future husband is already pacing with impatience. He must be dreaming of getting married as soon as possible, since he loves you so much and fears losing such a treasure.
Her words carried forced cheerfulness, as if she was trying to distract her mistress from heavy memories by shifting the conversation to a lighter topic. However, deep down she understood that there was more to it than just wedding preparations behind the outward bravado.
— My future husband… — a shadow of bitter smile flashed in Liang Si Yao's eyes, and her voice trembled betrayingly.
She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts, and then spoke with icy determination:
— I know nothing about him — neither his name nor his appearance. After the wedding, he will not have the right to even approach me — her words sounded firm, like a verdict, and steel rang in her voice.
In this brief statement, one could sense not only aversion but also some deep inner pain, as if the upcoming marriage was not just an unpleasant obligation for her, but a true tragedy.
The maid suddenly laughed, and her laughter carried genuine understanding. The mistress's words did not surprise her at all — on the contrary, if Liang Si Yao had shown willingness to accept her future husband with joy, that would have been a real shock.
She knew her mistress too well to be surprised by such a reaction. Deep down, she even approved of her decision — it was better to maintain distance from a stranger than to blindly trust him.
— I understand that he doesn't arouse much interest in you — the maid spoke gently — but allow me to tell you something about your future husband. His name is Chen Ge, and believe me, young mistress — she paused, choosing her words carefully — I have never met such a wonderful man before. His appearance is truly divine, and as the heir to the great Chen clan, he is one of the most influential people in our lands.
Her voice carried genuine pride and admiration, as if she were presenting to her mistress not just a future husband, but a true treasure worthy of her hand.
A sudden tremor ran through Liang Si Yao's body, as if she had been touched by the icy hand of a ghost. The maid froze in disbelief — never before had she witnessed such a vivid display of emotion from her mistress.
Typically as serene as a full moon on a clear night, Liang Si Yao maintained an air of regal composure at all times. Her calm demeanour was so ingrained that it seemed nothing could disturb her equilibrium. This unexpected reaction therefore filled the maid with genuine concern.
— Young mistress, what is wrong with you? — her voice trembled with genuine worry. —What has caused this reaction? — she asked urgently, studying her mistress's face intently, searching for clues to this unusual behaviour.
Liang Si Yao's breathing grew rapid, becoming almost erratic. Her chest rose and fell with deep, laboured breaths, and her fingers clenched involuntarily into fists. Only after what felt like an eternity did she manage to regain her composure. With a slight shake of her head, as if trying to shake off some kind of spell, she spoke in a quiet, melancholic voice:
— Nothing… — whispered Liang Si Yao, and a subtle hint of bitterness crept into her voice. — I merely remembered someone who departed from this world long ago.
The maid's eyes widened in surprise, her voice trembled with genuine astonishment:
— A person who passed away? — she asked, making no attempt to hide her shock. A look of bewilderment appeared in her gaze — her mistress harboured too many secrets within herself, the burden of her past was far too heavy.
A sharp, distinct knock echoed through the room, shattering the fragile silence. Three abrupt raps sounded like drumbeats, causing both women to flinch in surprise. The noise was so sudden and insistent that for a moment it seemed as if fate itself had intervened in their conversation, severing the thread of confessions.
*****
— Enter! — the icy voice cut through the air like a blade.
Chen Ge flinched abruptly, as if struck by an electric shock. An image instantly appeared in his mind — a beautiful yet distant girl whose gaze pierced right through him. Her beauty was so striking it almost hurt to look at her.
He remembered her — the one who wouldn't leave him alone, persistently seeking his affection. The one who followed him everywhere, openly displaying her feelings. But her passion only repelled him, making him even more unapproachable.
"It can't be… It's just a coincidence," — flashed through his mind. She was in a completely different place, at the unreachable height of the third heaven. Their paths couldn't possibly cross in this world.
Gathering his composure, Chen Ge took several deep breaths, trying to calm his suddenly racing heart. His hand gripped the doorknob tightly before he stepped over the threshold.
Slowly, almost reluctantly, he entered the room, glancing around warily. The festive decor of the room only briefly caught his attention — bright fabrics, flickering candles, exquisite decorations… But all of this instantly faded into the background the moment he noticed the women present in the room.
A young girl in a snow-white dress, as if descended from a painting, caught Chen Ge's attention with her ethereal beauty. However, his experienced eye instantly determined her true status — graceful manners, respectful behaviour, and the particular nature of her movements unmistakably revealed her to be a maid.
The grace and refinement in the maid's appearance were undeniable, yet she remained merely a shadow of the majestic figure standing in the center of the room. Chen Ge noted to himself that despite her attractive looks, this girl clearly belonged to the serving staff, as evidenced by her posture, expression, and even the way she carried herself in the presence of the other woman.
The blood drained from Chen Ge's face as his gaze fell upon the second woman. He froze in his tracks, forgetting all the words he had intended to say. Time seemed to stand still in that moment.
In the very center of the room sat a young woman whose majestic posture spoke of noble birth. Her head was adorned with an exquisite phoenix crown, sparkling with precious stones in the candlelight. A delicate veil of shimmering beads cascaded down in front of her face, creating a mysterious curtain that concealed her features.
Only two cold eyes, seemingly devoid of any emotion, gazed at him through this veil. They were like two ice cubes frozen in time. Even through the translucent veil, Chen Ge could sense the incredible beauty of this woman, her natural charm that no covering could hide.
He felt a chill run down his spine — something about this woman, her gaze, her aura, provoked an inexplicable agitation, making his heart beat faster.
"Could it be… her… my bride?" — flashed through Chen Ge's numb consciousness. The thought seemed incredible, almost impossible.
He tried to piece together all the fragments of his memories, but there was not a single mention of Liang Si Yao. This alarmed him even more — how was it possible not to know one's own bride? How could it happen that nothing remained in his memory about the woman with whom he was to bind his fate?
Only vague outlines of her figure, a blurred silhouette devoid of distinct features, remained in Chen Ge's memory. These fragmentary memories could not explain such a passionate desire to marry, at least they could not justify the obsession with which the former owner of the body had sought her hand.
He tried to find anything in his memories — a tender glance, a smile, a chance encounter — but everything was in vain. Only a ghostly image, like a reflection in water, eluded his steady gaze.
A genuine feeling of sympathy stirred in Chen Ge's soul for the former owner of the body. Just imagine — spending so much time pursuing a woman without even being able to catch a glimpse of her face, vainly trying to make out her features through the misty veil of uncertainty.
It was like chasing a ghost, pursuing an unattainable ideal that existed only in one's imagination. Unrequited love, seasoned with despair at the impossibility of even just glancing at the object of one's adoration, seemed almost unbearable to Chen Ge.
He couldn't help but wonder what drove a person to spend years pursuing a phantom dream, having not the slightest idea of what the one for whom they were ready to do anything looked like.
Now, having seen her with his own eyes, Chen Ge could not deny that the girl with whom he was about to be bound by marriage possessed truly demonic beauty. Her charm was so powerful that it could make even the hardest heart tremble. However, despite this astonishing sight, despite how her beauty could enchant any man, Chen Ge remained adamant in his decision to annul the engagement.
Not a single spark of desire or attraction ignited in his soul. Cold calculation and carefully constructed plans were more important than any fleeting enchantment, no matter how powerful it might be. He had come here not to succumb to charms, but to resolve the marriage issue once and for all.
Lost in his thoughts, Chen Ge didn't notice the shiver that ran through Liang Si Yao's body when their eyes met. Her face contorted in sudden shock, as if she had seen a ghost.
The next moment she was already flying towards him, as if caught up in a gust of wind. Her movements were swift and impetuous, like those of a wounded bird rushing to its nest.
— Chen Ge! — escaped from her in a hoarse whisper, in which joy and despair were mixed.
Her embrace was so desperate that it seemed as if she was trying to melt him into herself, to become one with him. Liang Si Yao was sobbing, clinging to his chest, her voice trembling with overwhelming emotions:
— You… You foolish madman… Why did you hide from me… They told me you were dead… That you had left this world forever… — her words were interrupted by sobs, and her fingers dug convulsively into his clothes, as if afraid that he would disappear again.