"Where... where am I?"

Shiyue Zhao woke up. She found herself lying on a soft, comfortable bed—far better than the hard board bed at her home.

She turned her head. The ceiling was unfamiliar. The furniture was strange. The room was unknown. But everything screamed luxurious European decor. To Shiyue, it felt like a princess’s room.

She suddenly realized she’d been brought to a stranger’s house. Hurriedly, she checked her body. Seeing she still wore the dirty clothes from last night’s kidnapping, she sighed in relief. Shiyue got out of bed and observed the room. It was truly lavish, with a light pink theme and feminine touches. She’d only seen such opulence in TV villas. She noticed a gray stain on the white sheets where she’d slept. Realizing it was from her clothes, she felt a trace of guilt.

Shiyue craved a shower. After much hesitation, she entered the bathroom. Hanging on the wall was a pure white dress. Its elegant design and delicate lace looked straight from a high-end boutique. Shiyue swallowed hard. Though she picked decent clothes for her bar job, they seemed cheap compared to this. She imagined herself wearing it—like a princess.

It took effort to tear her eyes away. After showering, as she reached for her own clothes, the white dress pulled her gaze again.

To wear it or not—it battled in her mind.

"Just for a moment," she muttered, slipping into the dress.

"Hey, awake yet?"

The door swung open. Lin Yichen walked in. Since Shiyue hadn’t closed the bathroom door, he saw her immediately in the dress.

Shiyue froze. Her face flushed crimson, spreading to her neck. Lin Yichen blushed slightly too, looking a bit embarrassed.

"You look really pretty."

His compliment made Shiyue’s head feel like it was steaming.

"I-I’ll change right now!" She flapped her hands frantically and rushed toward the bathroom door.

"No need."

Shiyue’s hand on the doorknob paused.

"Huh?"

Truthfully, she hated taking it off.

"I prepared it. Your clothes were dirty anyway. Breakfast downstairs?"

"But..." Shiyue hesitated. Though relieved not to change, wearing a stranger’s clothes felt wrong. She didn’t even know whose it was.

"It’s fine. My sister’s dress. She’s not home and won’t mind."

"Oh. Okay."

"By the way, your name?" Only then did Shiyue realize they didn’t know each other.

"I’m Shiyue Zhao. Yours?"

"Lin Yichen."

Shiyue followed him out. As she walked behind him, she took in the hallway—equally lavish European decor. Through a large window, she saw a garden. They were on the second floor.

"Is this your home?"

"Yeah. My sister and I live here, but she’s away."

"What about your parents?"

"We don’t have parents."

Shiyue felt a pang for his tragic background.

"So... who else is here?"

"Just me."

Lin Yichen answered plainly—neither cold nor warm.

(He really is a rich young master...)

Shiyue’s heart churned. This boy, whose name she barely knew, had cost her the bar job and nearly got her kidnapped. Yet he’d saved her. Her feelings were a mess. Like any girl, she’d dreamed of Cinderella. Waking in luxury, wearing a beautiful dress, with a boy her age—it felt like the fairy tale.

A hallway mirror reflected her image. Shiyue had never imagined herself in such finery, walking through what felt like a palace.

At the dining table, simple food waited: egg sandwiches, fruit salad, two glasses of orange juice. They sat across from each other. Shiyue eyed the food like a TV scene.

"What’s wrong?"

"Did you make this?"

"Yeah. Woke up late. Just a quick meal. If you hate it, I’ll cook something else."

"No, no! It’s fine." She waved exaggeratedly and took small bites. The taste was good—she could try this for her mom and siblings.

As she ate, she stole glances at Lin Yichen. His face wasn’t drop-dead handsome, but his brows held a delicate charm. His deep eyes felt calming.

"Why stare? Something on my face?"

"N-nothing." She shook her head frantically and ducked back to her food.

"Can I ask something?"

"What?"

"Last night, why didn’t you take my money? Weren’t you working there for cash?"

"Huh?" Shiyue froze, then anger flared.

"What’s that supposed to mean? Looking down on me?"

"I didn’t mean that."

Lin Yichen’s tone was flat, as if her taking money last night was perfectly normal.

Shiyue shot to her feet. She’d misjudged him—he wasn’t good. Just here to humiliate her. Bringing her home was rich kid entertainment. Worse, she’d just praised him in her heart.

"I need money desperately, but I won’t sell my dignity! I’ll earn what I need through hard work! What right do you spoiled rich boys have to judge me? You’re just parasites living off your families!"

She nearly shouted, breathing hard, glaring. She felt ready to punch him.

But Lin Yichen didn’t get angry. His eyes lowered, lost in thought.

"Everything I have comes from my sister... I’m just a parasite on her."

Shiyue watched him mutter, unable to read his thoughts.

"What are you really thinking?"

She realized he wasn’t mocking her—he genuinely wanted to know. And he seemed troubled.

"Hey... how do you work hard?"

Shiyue couldn’t grasp his odd question.

"What do you want to work hard for?"

"I don’t know."

"Then what do you want?"

"My sister."

Shiyue stared blankly. She didn’t understand.

Lin Yichen’s eyes burned with frustration. He bit his lip.

"Why ‘get’ your sister? Is she ignoring you?"

"She loves me. Gives me everything. But she feels so distant. There are things she doesn’t know. I’m afraid she’ll leave me."

"Then stop taking everything from her."

The words slipped out. She thought she was getting his meaning.

Lin Yichen looked up, stunned.

"You depend on her for everything. Of course you fear what happens when she’s gone. Work hard to gain your own ability. Become independent. Only when you stand at her level can you understand her and keep her from leaving."

A light sparked in his eyes, but confusion remained.

"But how do I...?"

"How should I know? But at our age, we study hard to gain knowledge. Without it, you can’t stand in society. I’m working so hard just to afford high school tuition."

Shiyue stopped herself. The last part sounded like she was hinting for him to pay her tuition.

The haze in Lin Yichen’s eyes cleared.

"Can I... really do it?"

Shiyue felt a surge of irritation.

"How will you know if you don’t try? What good is asking me?"

She felt like a scolding teacher.

Lin Yichen looked lost.

"How will I know if I don’t..."

Suddenly, he smiled. He nodded firmly.

"Right. How will I know if I don’t try? Shiyue Zhao, thank you."

"Ah, um, you’re welcome."

Her anger faded. Feeling awkward standing, she sat back down.

"But you made me lose my job. Without money, I can’t go to school. What now?"

Lin Yichen looked troubled, as if solving her problem. Shiyue didn’t know either. Find another job? Regular work wouldn’t cover it. As a minor, bar jobs were hard—she’d only gotten the last one through connections. Finding another seemed impossible. Then she remembered Lin Yichen was a true rich kid. Maybe he could help. A faint hope stirred.

"How about this? My house needs a cleaner. Work here? Only an hour and a half a day, flexible hours. I’ll pay triple your bar salary. Sounds good, right?"

Lin Yichen grinned brightly.

Shiyue’s eyes widened in shock.

(Damn it! He’s really just playing with me! This bastard!)

"If you don’t want to, it’s fine."

"Wait."

"What is it?"

Shiyue hesitated. Then she gritted her teeth and nodded slowly.

"Okay... fine."

This was Shiyue and Lin Yichen’s first meeting.

***

Unconsciously, Shiyue had walked out of the school campus.

Looking back, it seemed almost funny. At the thought, she smiled. A young man stealing glances saw her smile. His heart skipped a beat. His face flushed. Afraid she’d notice, he ducked his head and hurried away.

But Shiyue’s smile vanished.

She clearly remembered her own words.

"I desperately need money, but I won’t sell my dignity!"

"I'll earn what I need through my own hard work! What right do you spoiled rich boys have to judge me? You're just parasites leeching off your families!"

Back when Shiyue worked at the bar, she’d once had a wealthy client buy her rounds of expensive liquor. To push him to spend more, she’d endured his wandering hands while sitting beside him. Such incidents were rare—she’d never crossed the line of leaving with a guest. Each time, she’d slipped away with an excuse once she sensed it was enough. Her rejection of Yichen that day stemmed more from believing those boys wouldn’t actually pay; they were just toying with her.

She’d lied to Yichen. She wasn’t as noble as she claimed. Deep down, she *was* someone who’d trade her body for money.

This truth haunted Shiyue.

Worse still—she’d accepted the maid job at Yichen’s house primarily because he was rich. Even wearing the maid uniform had been a ploy to win his favor. She trembled at the thought of him discovering her true self and recoiling in disgust. The unease coiled through her chest until she hugged herself tightly, seeking a trace of comfort.

When had she realized her own worthlessness? Shiyue couldn’t recall. Only that it began near the end of her first year of high school.

Yichen’s back, straining to catch up to Zixuan, had seemed so towering to her then. She’d felt utterly unworthy of standing beside him. That was when she’d deliberately distanced herself, burying herself in studies and club activities.

Yet somehow, without warning, her heart would flutter like a trapped bird at the mere sight of Yichen or the sound of his voice. Alone with him, she’d ache to draw closer, her body betraying her with overly intimate gestures—each followed by waves of shame and regret.

Spotting Yichen waiting outside the cram school, Shiyue broke into a light jog.

*I want to see his smile. I want to talk to him more. I want him to hold me, kiss me, touch me.*

*Ask him out first thing,* she resolved.

"Yichen! Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Haha, it’s rare I get here before you."

"A guy should wait for a girl sometimes. How long have you been here?"

"Just stepped out. Oh, Shiyue—my sister’s coming back tomorrow!" His grin was blinding.

"Eh? R-really?"

"Mhm. I’m going to a banquet with her tomorrow."

"A banquet?"

"Some business event. First time she’s invited me. I’m kinda excited."

His radiant smile struck Shiyue’s heart like a hammer.

"Ah... I see. Congratulations."

*Of course. I’ll never compare to Zixuan in his eyes.* She forced her lips to stay curved, terrified her smile would shatter the moment she relaxed.

Back in her locked room at Yichen’s house, the faint smile vanished from Shiyue’s face.

"Haaah..."

She exhaled wearily. Her gloom must have made her seem distant earlier—had he noticed? She’d longed to see his smile, yet now it tasted bitter. *Because it’s for another girl.*

"Yichen... can’t you look only at me?" she whispered to the mirror on the wall. Her reflection showed undeniable beauty. She might lack Zixuan’s dazzling aura, but as the school’s acknowledged beauty, she wasn’t far behind. Yet she was just someone clinging to Yichen for selfish reasons—while Zixuan was the one he chased.

Fear slithered through her veins again. *What if he abandons me?*

That night, Yichen sensed Shiyue’s subtle melancholy. He asked if she was alright, but she only shook her head with a smile. Though worried, he let it go when she left without explanation. Soon, his concern for her was overshadowed by his anticipation for Zixuan’s return.