"It's too cold here. I'll go outside to grab some firewood to warm up. You take your time searching—"

Yihan’s voice cut off abruptly. Lia lifted her head, tears blurring her vision. There he stood, arms full of firewood, staring at her in stunned surprise.

He hadn’t left—he’d gone to gather wood! Lia’s heart leapt with joy. She quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and beamed a bright, cheerful smile.

Yihan’s attention wasn’t on her face. Unaware of her own appearance, Lia couldn’t imagine how bold she looked. Her pale, long legs were fully exposed, spread in a wide V-shape. He could easily see her absolute territory—and beyond…

Staring longer would cross into rudeness. Not wanting to seem like a creep, Yihan lowered his gaze, searching for a spot to build a fire. "It’s freezing," he reminded her gently. "Put your clothes back on."

Lia hurriedly grabbed her stockings. After a brief pause, she slipped them on. Her slender legs looked even finer wrapped in black silk, the snug fabric hinting at the soft, supple curves beneath. Yihan couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances.

He couldn’t help it—he was a leg enthusiast. Beautiful female legs were among the world’s finest sights, after all.

With the headmistress away and only the two of them here, Lia forgot the no-fire rule entirely. They scrambled to light the fire and sat side by side on the nearest bed edge, shoulders brushing.

Black stockings covered Lia’s delicate feet, shielding them from the icy floor. She swung her legs lightly, her pinkish toes round and slender, arches elegantly curved.

Yihan’s sudden departure had ruined Lia’s plan to show off her new look. Sometimes interruptions were strange like this—just as praise was about to flow, something else barged in, scattering focus.

Yihan admitted the long dress suited Lia beautifully. Its mature style made her seem years older, transforming the sweet girl into a pure-yet-alluring young woman. The black stockings added sensuality. Her dark gold hair, neatly combed, fell over her back, revealing the pale, slender neck where faint blue veins traced beneath the skin.

He cleared his throat. "Lia… you look… really nice like this."

Forgive him—he couldn’t summon poetic verses to describe her beauty. She might not even understand them. He just felt the mood turning heavy and wanted to lighten it.

He knew his assumption had disappointed her. Now, no amount of praise could match that first awed gasp.

A soft smile played on Lia’s lips, her cheeks flushed a lovely pink.

She didn’t blame Yihan at all. Though his trick had crushed her spirits, his return felt like a wonderful surprise.

Especially learning he’d fetched wood because he worried she’d get cold while searching—it warmed her heart deeply.

She’d never felt such thoughtfulness before, not in all her years at the orphanage.

How could she stay angry with him?

"Yihan…"

"Hmm?"

"When do we leave here?"

"…We can go anytime you want. The travel money’s enough to get us out of these mountains. We’ll earn the rest along the way."

Lia tilted her slender neck, her lily-pale face blooming with joy. Her long, thick lashes usually veiled her pretty emerald eyes, but now they lifted fully. Yihan saw bright sparkles dancing in her pupils.

He sighed inwardly. Did she hate this town so much? Was she that eager to escape? He knew little about the area, and Lia even less—maybe in her mind, "outside" meant a whole different world beyond Soul Valley Town.

"We’ll go together, right?" She gave his hand a little shake.

Yihan paused, then nodded. He grinned. "You trust me that much? What if I sell you off once we’re out of town? There are bad people out there, you know."

Lia didn’t flinch. Her expression turned serious. She fixed him with unwavering eyes and shook her head firmly. "I’m not afraid."

"I’ve never told you where I live or what I do."

"It doesn’t matter."

"I’m broke, with no skills. I even stole that roasted chicken and apples."

"I’ll go with you."

Yihan sighed. "Why do you trust me so much?"

"Because you’re a good person." Lia answered without hesitation.

Huh? Another "nice guy card"? The reply caught him off guard. He quickly realized this wasn’t that kind of card—girls here probably didn’t know the meme. Maybe this sweet, naive girl simply saw his help as selfless kindness.

*Sigh*. Of all reasons, she had to call him "good." Yihan stroked Lia’s smooth, silky hair, a faint sadness welling in his chest.

Lia twisted her hands together nervously, thighs pressing tight, restless.

She had one more thing she couldn’t say: *I want to stay with you.*

Even as a girl just discovering love, she knew the weight of those words—the resolve they held. They weren’t meant to be spoken lightly.

Worse, she feared Yihan would think her loose, someone not worth cherishing.

The orphanage taught little. Many kids couldn’t read or write.

The headmistress, barely more educated, never did proper lessons. She’d half-heartedly taught whatever the town demanded, then rambled about her wild past—how she’d charmed men into her palm.

She’d stressed that women must stay reserved. "Talk like undressing," she’d say. "Tease and hide. Make them curious. That’s how you keep them."

Most importantly: hint at your feelings, but never confess outright. Or they’ll see you as cheap, a toy to discard.

Lia, only half-understanding, concluded she should hint at liking Yihan—but never say it plainly.

He’d completely missed the point.

The firewood crackled and popped. Flames danced like lively sprites, warming the room as darkness fell outside.

Lia still worried about tonight’s performance. Reluctantly, she stood to leave. "I have to go. Our show’s at the Grand Theater tonight."

"Okay. I’ll be there." Yihan picked up her discarded old clothes and draped them over her shoulders one by one.

Lia gave him a shy smile, turned up her collar, pulled on her boots, and dashed out into the snowstorm.

The road was freezing, but her heart soared like a joyful bird.

She’d already decided: after Christmas Eve, she’d pack her things, slip away quietly, and start a new life with Yihan.

If all went well, by next spring, she’d climb a mountain peak with the boy she loved, make wishes to the stars, and shout into the deep wilderness.