The sage-green top and reddish-brown skirt—the only possessions Fei owned in this world—were not as ordinary as they seemed. The color combination alone was uncommon. Though the fabric wasn't luxurious or shimmering, it was soft against her skin and pleasing to the eye. Still, it was far from something one would wear for a performance. But Fei had no other choice.
After dressing, she gathered her hair into a simple, practical bun. The hairstyle matched her modest outfit perfectly.
Before leaving, she tidied her small room—the place that would no longer be hers after today. From the wooden shelf, she took the sandalwood incense Xinyan had gifted her and tucked it carefully into her sleeve. Then she stepped outside.
Downstairs, she stopped before Xinyan's room. The door was locked from the inside.
'Maybe she's still getting ready,' Fei thought, raising her hand to knock—just as the door swung open.
Fei flinched, her breath catching in her throat.
The girl who stood before her was almost unrecognizable. No one would believe she had ever been a maid. Xinyan looked like a young noblewoman poised to walk into her destiny.
She wore a peach-colored top, mostly hidden beneath a flowing robe of deep wine-red silk. The skirt reflected her fiery spirit; it blazed from the waist down in a gradient of flame—beginning with the warm glow of embers and deepening into a fierce, passionate crimson at the hem. With the nearly transparent silk robe overlaying it, she looked as if she were wrapped in living fire. The fabric was so fine it seemed to shimmer with the air itself, lending her an ethereal, untouchable grace.
'It's definitely a very luxurious silk… but how did she buy it?', Fei wondered.
Xinyan's hair was equally captivating—part of it braided into a delicate crown, the rest cascading freely down her back like a dark, flowing river.
"Xinyan…" Fei breathed, awe softening her voice. "You look… so beautiful, incredible."
A question burned at the back of her mind—Who are you, really?—but she couldn't bring herself to ask. Instead, she smiled and said, "You look like a princess."
A fleeting shadow crossed Xinyan's face, something between sorrow and remembrance, before her bright smile returned. "But you don't look that great," she said matter-of-factly. "Even if you're not performing, if you look too ordinary, they might not even let you through the gate."
Fei blinked, she hadn't considered that. Worry started to consume her.
Xinyan's gaze swept over her thoughtfully. "You know, I have a black hooded cape. Why not make yourself mysterious—with a cape and a mask?"
Fei could instantly picture it: the deep black cloak against her earthy tones, her face hidden, her presence veiled. It wasn't just a disguise—it was a shield.
"That's a great idea," she said, her anxiety giving way to a flicker of excitement. "Thank you, Xinyan."
With the long black hooded cape draped over her shoulders and a simple mask covering the lower half of her face, Fei was transformed. Her plain dress now carried an intentional intrigue—a glimmer of color beneath a shroud of mystery.
Xinyan clapped her hands together, eyes sparkling. "You can even perform in my act! Let's go as a duo!"
Fei's new confidence faltered. "Please, no. I don't want to be a burden. You've worked so hard for this."
"Don't worry," Xinyan said, waving off her concern. "You won't have to do anything difficult. When I perform, you just have to run across the stage from one side to the other—it'll create a sense of mystery. That's all."
"But… what if I fall? Or mess up? It could ruin everything!" Fei's voice trembled with the thought.
"Then I'll help you up," Xinyan said cheerfully. "It might even make the performance more dramatic."
"Xinyan, please," Fei begged softly. "I don't want to mess this up for you."
"I'm sure you won't. Now let's go! We're running late!"
Before Fei could protest again, Xinyan was already out the door, her silk robe whispering against the frame. Fei followed, her stomach tightening into a knot of nerves.
Outside the inn, an ox-cart waited. It wasn't luxurious, but it looked sturdy—certainly faster than walking.
"Uncle, thank you for the ride," Xinyan greeted warmly.
The driver, a weathered man with a kind face, simply grunted. "Xinyan, you are looking so pretty. I nearly didn't recognize you."
Xinyan smiled beautifully at the complement. The driver added, "let's not waste any more time. get on now."