Inside the room.
Xyliana stood frozen for a moment. When she had just come in from outside, the door was perfectly fine and there was no sign anyone had been in the yard. That person must have left... Xyliana guessed quietly to herself.
Looking at the empty room in front of her, the soapberries she used to wash his hair a few days ago were still sitting on the windowsill. She had planned to wash his hair again when she had time.
"How... how could he just leave like that?"
A quiet voice came from inside the room. Xyliana felt a strange emotion rise in her chest, like a sour fruit suddenly bursting on her heart, spreading its bitter taste through her whole body. It also felt like all the care and effort she had poured in over the past half month had suddenly drained away.
She didn't know why, but she felt a bit sad. "Forget it, forget it, it was all his own choice. These past two weeks, I've done what I could with a clear conscience."
Xyliana let out a relaxed smile and looked at the scar cream she had just bought with a lot of money. "What a pity about this medicine. I'll just put it away for now."
After saying that, she stood up and left the room, heading toward the kitchen.
After lunch, Xyliana lay on the lounge chair under the tree in the yard like usual. A gentle breeze passed through, rustling the leaves and branches with a soft sound. The wind lifted a few fiery red petals, and the tree swayed with the light.
Looking at the large, flourishing tree in her yard, its thick branches were covered in bright red blossoms. The flowers bloomed wildly, as if showing off their bold beauty to everyone. She reached out and caught a falling petal.
"Your fiery red color is beautiful. You look so lovely. What a shame.
I don't even know your name. It's been a long time since I've talked to anyone. Let me tell you a secret.
A few days ago, I would whisper things to that little beggar. He couldn't hear me anyway. Now that he's gone, I guess I can only talk to you flowers and plants."
Xyliana spoke with a hint of sadness. She looked at the petal in her hand. The red layers wrapped around a pink center.
She had never seen a flower like this before. Under the sunlight, the red petals seemed full of life. It was as if it were using all its strength to bloom its beauty.
The air carried the flower's fresh scent, soothing and sweet. The wind blew gently, and Xyliana looked up at the green leaves above and the flowers competing to bloom. A wave of tiredness came over her, and Xyliana slowly closed her eyes.
Maybe it was because she had been so busy these days. Finally that tight string in her mind began to loosen. She didn't know how long she had slept, but a soft breeze brushed her ears.
A sweet scent drifted through the air, rich and enchanting. She slowly opened her eyes and caught sight of a figure in the corner of her vision. Xyliana's eyes flew open.
She turned her head slightly and saw a tall figure appear in her sight. A fair, slender hand was gently fanning her with her small round fan. The man didn't expect her to suddenly wake up.
He quickly put down the fan and stood up in a rush. His tea-colored eyes showed a hint of panic, and he awkwardly hid his hands behind his back, like a child caught doing something wrong. His eyes were moist, looking at Xyliana as if he had something to say.
Those eyes were like peach blossoms that could charm anyone, but his gaze was pure, like a deer running through the woods. Xyliana could see him clearly now. Wasn't this the same person who had been lying in her west wing room for half a month?
"You..." For a moment, Xyliana didn't know what to say. "...You're awake?"
As he heard her speak, the man quickly nodded. His simple reaction made him seem a little silly in a way that didn't quite match the moment. His tea-colored eyes, soft like water, stared closely at Xyliana, as if he was afraid she might get angry.
Noticing the intensity in the man's eyes, Xyliana lowered her head slightly, feeling uneasy. Her eyes darted away from his burning gaze. She shifted her eyes again and caught sight of something on the table.
On the small table beside the lounge chair sat the famous pine nut jujube cake from the most popular shop on the street. Next to it was a bright red bouquet of flowers. They looked like red balloon flowers with their leaves carefully removed, stems tied with straw rope, and wrapped in light-colored paper.
Though not as polished as the ones sold at the Blue Star flower shops, it still carried a certain charm and clearly showed the effort put into it. As if noticing where her gaze had landed, the man hurriedly picked up the bouquet and clumsily offered it to her. He had a stunning and captivating face, but his eyes were pure and clear.
His awkward actions gave off a silly air that didn't quite match his perfect appearance. The light fragrance of wildflowers drifted through the air, faint and soothing. The man slightly lowered his head, eyes shifting aimlessly, not daring to look at her.
His chest rose and fell quickly, too nervous to even breathe, as if he was both anxious and hopeful. His long, jade-like fingers clutched the bouquet tightly. A flush appeared at his fingertips, red against the green stems, unexpectedly alluring.
"This is… for me?" Xyliana asked carefully. The man nodded immediately, lifting his tea-colored eyes slightly to sneak a glance at her. His nervousness was clear, and his long lashes trembled, casting shadows beneath his eyes.
He seemed afraid she would refuse it. Seeing his slightly silly look, a smile appeared in Xyliana's eyes. Her curved brows made her look playful and bright.
"Thank you, I really like it." She reached out and took the bouquet with a smile. The moment their fingers touched, panic flashed in his eyes.
As if shocked, he quickly pulled his hand back. Behind his back, he clenched his fist, then loosened it, gently rubbing his fingers. It was as if he didn't want to forget the warmth of that touch or the spark that had just passed between them.
Xyliana stood up and looked at the cake wrapped in oil paper on the table. She turned her head and asked, "Is this also for me?" The man was pulled back from his thoughts by her voice and, remembering what had been on his mind, his face turned slightly red and looked even more shy.
He quickly nodded to her. Now that she was standing, Xyliana noticed how tall he was. "I didn't think you were this tall, you really couldn't tell when you were lying down."
As she said this, for some reason, she remembered the glimpse of his body while changing his bandages. Though slender and fair, it was also strong and well-shaped. Her face flushed and she turned her head quickly, pointing at the cake with some embarrassment.
"Ahem… so… you went out to get these things?" He nodded hard, his clear eyes like a gentle young deer, as if eagerly waiting for her praise. Looking into those innocent eyes, Xyliana suddenly felt a little guilty.
"Thank you. This is actually the first time I've received flowers. And this cake too, I've wanted to try it for a while but never had the chance to go buy it."
Hearing that, a joyful light flashed in his soft peach-blossom eyes. His moist lips curved into a small smile, which lit up the space around them. Xyliana found herself slightly stunned as she looked at him.
Seeing her gaze of amazement, the man smiled even more. Realizing her expression, Xyliana blushed. She calmed herself, looked up and asked softly, "I'm Xyliana. What's your name?"
Without thinking, she gave her name. She didn't know why, but something in her heart said this person could be trusted. He pointed to his throat with his jade-like finger, then shook his hand.
His gentle peach-blossom eyes drooped slightly, and a trace of sadness passed through his tea-colored gaze. As if realizing something, Xyliana suddenly remembered a conversation she had overheard on the street not long ago.
"Ugh, those slave traders always catch people. The ones with stronger bodies get their throats poisoned to silence them for slavery. The weaker ones get their legs broken to beg, and some end up even worse. They're just beasts."
Xyliana froze for a moment, stunned. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "So… they poisoned your throat and…" The man's expression darkened, his eyes creasing slightly as if recalling a painful memory. His tea-colored eyes were full of sorrow.