The Faces of This Chapter:
Yena: a young woman carrying the weight of a hidden past | Independent, protective, cautious, and secretive
Miao Miao: yena's childhood best friend | a flower spirit | Playful, caring, innocent but sharp
Jin Yue: Yueye | a young man with an air of mystery | Intelligent, observant, thoughtful, and considerate
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Scene:(While Yena was away...)
As Jin Yue left the inn to buy medicine for Miao Miao, the physician's words echoed in his mind—his conversation with the doctor replaying over and over.
"Doctor, is she alright? Is it just exhaustion?"
The physician had given him a small, reassuring smile.
"To tell you the truth, she is fine and healthy. Her pulse was strong… but, of course, there are exceptions everywhere. Maybe she's just lethargic, as you mentioned—they've been traveling for a long time."
That explanation should have put him at ease. And yet, the more he thought about it, the more something didn't sit right.
Miao Miao had looked too weak. Completely unconscious. If she wasn't actually sick… then why did she faint so suddenly?
"She can't be joking this time. She has no reason to."
Jin Yue shook off the thought.
"Jin Yue, you're overthinking again. Maybe all these investigations are frying your brain."
Pushing aside his unease, he hurriedly bought the prescribed medicine and returned to the inn, heading straight for Yena and Miao Miao's room. By the time he arrived, Yena was already gone.
As he stepped inside, he froze.
Miao Miao, who had looked deathly pale moments ago, was now lying on her stomach on the bed, casually swinging her legs up and down, munching on fruits from a basket.
The second she saw him, she stiffened, her hands freezing mid-motion before she quickly sat up straight.
Jin Yue halted at the doorway, his earlier doubts rushing back. Silently, he shut the door with a soft click.
Without a word, he walked over to a table in the corner of the room and sat down. The room wasn't big, so he wasn't far from her, but he didn't look in her direction. Instead, his gaze settled on the painting across the wall, his expression unreadable.
Miao Miao had no idea what he was thinking.
Hurt? Anger? Betrayal?
The silence stretched.
Miao Miao forced a giggle. "Oh, I was out for… a while. A long while."
He said nothing.
She cleared her throat. "Umm… The medicine works really fast here. I feel alive again!"
Jin Yue exhaled—a long, slow breath. Then, finally, he turned to her. His face remained neutral, but his next words made her stomach drop.
"These are your medicines." He placed the prescription on the table.
Miao Miao's fingers twitched. ["Ah… I haven't taken any medicine…"]
["Miao Miao, you're so stupid! Yena gave you ONE job—to keep him from knowing she left! Seriously, useless!"]
Panicking, she sighed dramatically and clutched her forehead. "Oh, the world is spinning…"
Jin Yue simply stared.
An interesting performance. But unnecessary.
Slowly, he leaned back in his chair. "Miao Miao." His tone was light. "I think I understand now."
She swallowed. "U-Understand what?" Her heart pounded in her chest.
His eyes flicked toward the prescription. "Maybe you're just a natural healer."
Miao Miao smiled awkwardly. "Ahaha… M-Maybe I am! Amazing, right?"
Jin Yue nodded. "Hmm… By the way, I was wondering—Yena hasn't been seen anywhere. She's been gone for quite some time now. You were ill… yet, she isn't here?"
Her mind went blank.
[This is bad. This is really bad. Why is this man so sharp?!]
Frantically, she racked her brain for an excuse.
"She… She…" Then, abruptly—"Huh? How would I know? I was unconscious all this time! Maybe she went to buy vegetables! I like soup, you know!"
Jin Yue's expression didn't change.
"Oh yes," he murmured. "You were unconscious. My mistake."
For a second, Miao Miao relaxed.
But then—
"She should have told me. I could have gone to buy vegetables."
Miao Miao's breath hitched.
"But maybe…" Jin Yue tapped his fingers lightly against the table. "Maybe she just wanted to go alone."
He stood up, dusting off his sleeves. "Oh well. You should rest now." His voice was calm, casual. "I'll be downstairs at the inn's restaurant. If you need anything, just call for me."
Miao Miao smiled awkwardly.
She had made an excuse for Yena, but… had he bought it?
She wasn't sure.
---------------------------------------------------
Jin Yue sat in the dimly lit inn's restaurant, his mind clouded with thoughts.
"They still don't trust me. I'm not surprised—I'm also keeping secrets from them. Then why does it hurt to know they still don't consider me a friend? Am I just someone accompanying them on this journey?"
Fifteen minutes passed. Then—
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Yena silently slipping into the inn.
Jin Yue stood up and moved toward her.
Present:
"Trying to sneak in?"
Yena halted mid-step. Slowly, she turned, her gaze locking onto Jin Yue standing at the bottom of the stairs. Arms crossed, eyes sharp, he watched her intently, his expression unreadable.
Yena let out a small breath and composed herself. "Tch... Sneak? Why would I need do that?"
Jin Yue raised a brow. "I don't know. Maybe you didn't want to get noticed?"
Yena sighed and stepped closer, stopping just a step away. "You're thinking too much. I just went back to that shop from earlier."
Jin Yue studied her face. "Why?... Did something happen?"
Yena hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking her head. "No... I just wanted to ask for guidance. About my spirit weapon."
Jin Yue's eyes narrowed slightly. "You could have just asked me."
Yena shook her head. "How could I? Someone needed to stay with Miao Miao. You were busy looking out for her. Besides…" She hesitated. "This weapon... it is more powerful than I thought. I don't even know its true abilities yet. I figured getting help from the shop owner would be a good start."
Jin Yue murmured under his breath, "Did Miao Miao really need my care?"
Yena blinked. "Huh?"
Jin Yue didn't respond. Instead, he turned and walked toward the inn's backyard. Sensing something was wrong, Yena followed. She stood beside him, watching his profile carefully.
The backyard was quiet, the moon casting a silver glow over the small garden at its end. Jin Yue stood near the low balcony, gazing up at the sky, lost in thought.
After a few moments of silence, Jin Yue finally spoke, his gaze fixed on the moon above.
"Are you okay?"
Yena frowned slightly, caught off guard. She had expected him to press her about her whereabouts—not ask this.
"I am," she answered slowly. "Just a little exhausted."
Jin Yue hummed softly. "That makes sense. Connecting with a spirit weapon takes a toll. Your body needs time to adjust to it."
["Was going to the artifact house really worth lying over?"]
Yena nodded, hesitating. "Hmm… Jin Yue… Thank you."
["I'm sorry. I can't tell you. I wish I could, but the moment I lower my guard… No, I can't. Not yet."]
Jin Yue's gaze flickered. "You still don't consider me a friend, do you?"
Yena tensed. "It's not like—"
"Then stop saying thank you."
He turned toward her, his voice calm but firm. "I may look strong, but things like this… hurt me the most."
Before she could respond, he exhaled. "Speaking of which, Miao Miao is fine now. You both should rest. We'll leave tomorrow—if everything is alright."
Yena studied him, standing so close yet feeling strangely distant. His usual grin was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a quiet, tired smile stretched across his face.
Jin Yue's voice softened. "I didn't have a perfect childhood. I wasn't poor or bullied, but… making friends was always difficult for me." His gaze lingered on Yena. "I'm happy to have you two as my friends."
But in his heart, a small voice whispered—["Are you?"]
With a short, hollow laugh, he said, "People close to me call me Yueye." He tilted his head slightly. "I just said it. When I'm no longer a stranger to you, you can call me that."
["I trust you… Is it really so hard to do the same?"]
Yena stood still, her eyes softening at his unusual behavior. But before she could respond, Jin Yue turned and walked toward the inn's gate.
He lifted a hand in farewell, still facing her—never turning his back.
"I will look forward to that day. Bye-bye!"
With that, he left.
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