The princess looked Lin Yue up and down, her gaze piercing, before finally letting go.
Lin Yue let out a sigh of relief. "I will sleep on the couch," she said, moving to prepare the makeshift bed.
Meanwhile, Qin YinYun, seemingly indifferent, slipped out of her outer robe and sank into the warm tub.
When she emerged, hair damp and clad in fresh nightwear, she tossed a casual remark, "You can take it now... oh, and I'll ask the servant to get you... underwear." Yin Yun rolled her eyes.
Once Lin Yue finished drying her hair, she settled onto the couch, glancing at YinYun, who lay in bed with her long, dark hair cascading over the pillows, turned away and seemingly oblivious. Lin Yue stared at the ceiling, calling out softly, "Princess, are you asleep?"
"Mhm…" came the muffled reply.
"Okay, sleep well." Despite her words, sleep eluded Lin Yue as the scents of candles and the stillness of the night enveloped her.
As dawn broke, YinYun awoke with a polite yawn, her gaze falling on Lin Yue, who was still sleeping on the couch. A glare shot from her eyes, but then she sighed, feeling relieved. Curiosity piqued, she rose and approached Lin Yue, bending down for a closer look. The contours of Lin Yue's face were strikingly delicate, and for a moment, YinYun's thoughts drifted.
Yin Yun took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart as she walked away from Lin Yue.
The way his features had caught her off guard, the delicate lines of his face, the way his lips seemed to hold a secret, made her feel flustered.
She leaned against the wall, her mind racing.
Why was she feeling this way? It was just a moment of curiosity, wasn't it? She told herself she's not interested in men Yet, as she bit her bottom lip, she couldn't shake the warmth creeping into her cheeks.
The princess had always been composed, a pillar of strength, but now she found herself questioning everything.
Lin Yue stirred slightly, and the sound made her pulse quicken. She had to regain her composure. After all, she was just a companion, but why did it feel like there was something more?.
Lin Yue took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing mind and heart.
As she slipped into the red outer robe, she caught a glimpse of the princess through the veil.
Yin Yun was the epitome of grace, her curves and long legs accentuating her beauty.
Lin Yue felt a rush of warmth and quickly turned away, her cheeks flushing.
She hurried to the kitchen, her thoughts swirling. "Bring me some meat and vegetables," she instructed the servant, eager to focus on the task at hand.
As Lin Yue began to cook, the familiar sounds of sizzling and chopping filled the air, grounding her in the moment.
Suddenly, she sensed a presence behind her and turned to find Yin Yun watching her with curiosity.
"What are you doing here?" the princess asked, her tone a mix of surprise and intrigue. Lin Yue kept cooking not awaring that no man typically cooked in the palace.
"Just preparing some food for you princess," she replied, trying to maintain her composure.
From Yin Yun's perspective, the sight of Lin Yue in the kitchen was unexpected. She had some thoughts of men, but now he seemed different, almost ethereal in the flowing robe.
"I didn't know you could cook," she said, genuine curiosity shining in her eyes.
Lin Yue looked nothing like the man she had known; there was a softness to her features that made Yin Yun's heart flutter.
As they stood there, the air thick with unspoken words, Lin Yue told her to go back to the bed as she almost done cooking.