Chapter 5

Xue Chiying could not suppress her amusement. She leisurely walked over to Li You and gestured with her chin. “Step back.”

Li You obediently retreated. She watched Xue Chiying raise a hand and grasp the long silver piece resembling a latch. With one twist, it produced a crisp click.

“This is called a security door.” Xue Chiying withdrew her hand and looked at her. “What I just did was unlock it. Would you like to try?”

Li You blinked. Meeting Xue Chiying’s smiling gaze, she found such a warm invitation difficult to refuse and nodded. “Mm.”

Xue Chiying smiled even more brightly. “All right. Then I’ll give you a more detailed lesson.”

She first pressed down the handle and pushed the door open a crack. “I’ve unlocked it, so now it can be pushed open.” She closed the door, turned the lock, and pressed the handle again. “Now it’s locked again, so it won’t open. Here, try opening it.”

After speaking, Xue Chiying stepped half a pace aside.

Li You immediately stepped forward and stared intently at the lock. She turned it, lightly grasped the handle, and pressed it down. The door opened with ease.

Beside her, Xue Chiying gently applauded. “Mm! That’s right! Exactly like that!”

Hearing Xue Chiying’s praise, Li You smiled, her eyes and brows curving. She then closed the door, turned to Xue Chiying, and said softly, “Many thanks, my lady. After I return, I shall remember everything I witnessed today and never forget it for all eternity.”

Xue Chiying had originally thought that chatting about this and that would make Li You temporarily forget about returning. But when the other woman opened the door immediately after thanking her, she could only reach out and grab her wrist. “Li You, there’s no point in going there now.”

The princess turned her head in confusion. “Why?”

“That place has entry restrictions,” Xue Chiying casually fabricated. “Um… it’s like your curfew. You can’t enter after dark.”

Xue Chiying spoke with such a solemn expression that it was almost impossible not to believe her. After being persuaded to return to the living room and sit down, Li You frowned and pondered the matter alone for a long time. Only half an hour later, when Xue Chiying finally finished showering and returned wearing a pearl-white nightdress, did she raise her head.

Then her entire body visibly jolted.

Xue Chiying’s face was covered with a dark brown algae mud mask, leaving only her eyes and mouth exposed. Seeing that Li You seemed afraid of her, she deliberately smiled gently. “Don’t worry. I’m not a ghost.”

This was even more frightening than a ghost. Li You’s heart quaked. Although she was deeply grateful that Xue Chiying had taken her in, she could not accept such a terrifying appearance. When Xue Chiying sat down nearby, Li You quietly shifted several centimeters farther away.

Xue Chiying did not notice. She picked up her phone while cheerfully humming Stefanie Sun’s “First Day.”

The fresh fragrance of the algae mud mask soon spread throughout the living room. Li You’s nose twitched, and a look of certainty appeared on her face.

In the group chat, Xue Chiying briefly mentioned that she had temporarily allowed the “princess” to stay at her home for one night. Her friends reacted differently. Some praised her for being an exceptionally kind person, while others warned her to be careful not to get scammed. As they chatted, the mud mask on her face gradually hardened into a shell. The moment her skin began to feel tight, Xue Chiying suddenly remembered something and glanced from the corner of her eye at Li You, who sat quietly beside her.

The next moment, Xue Chiying asked, “Would you like to put on a face mask too?”

Li You immediately waved her hands. “I don’t—”

“We have nothing else to do anyway. Let’s put one on!” Without waiting for her to finish, Xue Chiying stood and walked cheerfully toward the bathroom.

Staring at her back, Li You quietly finished the second half of her sentence. “I don’t need one…”

Xue Chiying moved quickly. In less than ten seconds, she returned with the container of mud mask, sat down in front of Li You, and began preparing it. “It isn’t a particularly expensive brand, so don’t mind that. I actually think it works better than many major brands.”

Li You remained silent. Her gaze drifted from Xue Chiying’s brown, cracked face, which resembled parched earth, to the moist, muddy substance inside the container.

“Oh, your skin looks amazing up close. It’s especially soft and dewy.” Xue Chiying raised her hand and spread the mud mask across Li You’s face, softly praising her.

Li You held her face rigid, her lips pressed tightly together. Only her eyelashes fluttered rapidly, and occasionally, she swallowed.

After covering the left side of her face, Xue Chiying moved on to the right, clicking her tongue in amazement. “No blackheads, no clogged pores, and your skin is so fair. Is it because you didn’t have phones in ancient times? Did everyone go to bed early and wake up early?”

“M-my lady…” Li You suddenly called out indistinctly.

“Mm?”

“My face… feels somewhat uncomfortable.”

Xue Chiying looked at the nervousness in Li You’s eyes, lowered her head with a smile, and continued applying the last of the mask. “Oh? What kind of discomfort?”

“It feels as though I am wearing a mask.”

“Haha, a mask? This mask is moisturizing and repairing your skin.” Xue Chiying paused. “Does it itch?”

Li You shook her head. “It does not.”

“Then it’s fine.” Xue Chiying set down the now somewhat emptier container, checked the time, and said with a smile, “Wait patiently. In ten minutes, Big Sister will take you to remove your mask.”

Li You blinked, then forced herself to smile and nodded.

A while later, Xue Chiying went to the bathroom first and removed the mask from her own face. After splashing herself with the last few handfuls of clean water, she looked up and suddenly frowned, leaning her entire upper body toward the mirror.

“Am I getting older, or have I stayed up too late these past two years?” she muttered softly to her reflection. Although her skin was still in excellent condition—clean, smooth, and without dark circles—it remained considerably inferior to Li You’s. “It looks like I really should spend less time on my phone and go to bed earlier.”

A minute later, Xue Chiying led Li You into the bathroom by the hand and had her stand before the sink. She pulled out a soft disposable cotton towel, dampened it with warm water, wrung it out, then unfolded the slightly warm towel and gently pressed it against Li You’s face while explaining, “This softens it first so it can absorb better.”

Whether Li You understood or not, she nodded anyway. “Mm.”

Hearing that obedient response, Xue Chiying paused for a second. “Have you thought about what you’ll do if you return and encounter that Xue Lanjing again?”

Li You fell silent for two seconds before hesitantly saying, “I…”

“Forget it, forget it.” Xue Chiying turned around, soaked the cotton towel in warm water again, and rubbed it between her hands. “We’re merely strangers who met by chance. I shouldn’t ask so much.” After wringing it out, she continued wiping Li You’s face and changed the subject. “I need to go out first tomorrow morning to send some packages, then buy you… Anyway, wait for me here. Once I return, I’ll take you back there.”

That night, the two squeezed together on one narrow single bed.

Xue Chiying was accustomed to staying up late. After lying down with her back to Li You, she dimmed her screen to its lowest brightness.

The sound of cicadas rose in waves outside the window.

Li You stared blankly at the night sky for a while before softly saying, “My lady, there appears to be a red star flashing in the sky.”

Xue Chiying responded with a puzzled “Huh?” She turned around, propped herself up on one elbow, and looked outside over Li You. Suddenly understanding, she said, “Oh~ That’s a red aircraft warning light, not a star.”

“An aircraft warning light?”

“It warns airplanes—” Xue Chiying abruptly stopped speaking.

This time, Li You quickly followed up. “A ‘flying chicken’? What connection does it have to a ‘hand chicken’?”

“Uh… there is a slight connection… It isn’t actually a chicken either. It’s a kind of… mount that can carry people through the sky? Mm…”

“Through the sky? Like the immortals in storybooks who ride upon clouds and mist?”

“Mm…” Xue Chiying slowly nodded. “You can understand it that way.”

“To think such a thing is possible.” Li You sighed wistfully. “Everything in my lady’s world resembles the wondrous immortal realms found in storybooks. It fills one’s heart with longing.”

“Would you like to stay and experience it for a while longer?”

Li You’s answer was clear. “No.”

Stubborn child… Is she really that determined to go back and die?

This was the second time that night Xue Chiying had thought this, and she felt somewhat helpless. But Li You was so resolute, and they were only strangers who had met by chance. Xue Chiying had no right to force her to remain against her will. She could only feel regret and wish her well, imagining the dangers of ancient times, which seemed so unreal, and praying that good fortune would watch over Li You, Princess Qile.

Early the following morning, Xue Chiying went out and finished her own errands before quickly taking a detour into a supermarket.

She selected a telescopic stun baton for the car and a bottle of insecticide spray… As she pushed her cart toward the checkout, her gaze passed over the various kinds of puffed snacks. Compelled by some unseen impulse, she began acting as though she were preparing supplies for her younger sister’s spring outing and bought additional food and drinks. In the end, she returned to the apartment carrying two large bags filled to the brim.

Princess Qile had already changed back into yesterday’s clothes. She had neatly folded the clothes she had taken off and held them in her hands as she sat upright on the sofa.

“…” The moment Xue Chiying entered and saw Li You sitting there so obediently, she thought about how she would soon be sending her off “to die.” Her heart softened with reluctance. As she closed the door, she lowered her head, unexpectedly unable to look Li You in the eyes.

When she was young, she had once found a kitten and kept it for around a week. The kitten had gone from puffing up its fur whenever it saw her to peacefully sleeping beside her head. Later, Xue Chiying found it a good home. When it was time to send the kitten away, she picked it up, and the furry little creature continued nestling in her arms and purring. The moment she handed over both the cat and its carrier, her heart ached with an indescribably sour feeling.

Now, as she entered the living room and placed the pile of things before Li You, that same aching, unpleasant feeling suddenly filled her heart.

“I bought you some things.” She pursed her lips, her voice somewhat subdued. “I don’t know whether you’ll be able to take them with you. Just bring everything anyway, in case you can.”

Li You stood and bowed to her with utmost solemnity.

During the taxi ride to the film studio, Xue Chiying gazed out the window and silently sighed several times. She repeatedly considered staying with Li You until the other woman truly returned. But if she did, there was no possibility of making it to the Green Trees audition on time…

You already brought her home and let her stay the night. You took care of everything you could, offered all the advice you could, and bought her everything she might be able to take with her…

Xue Chiying, stop interfering so much.

Facing the window, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

You’ve already done everything you could.

Xue Chiying escorted Li You, who had no ID, into the film studio. After explaining which way she should go, she smiled and said goodbye. Princess Qile nodded and bade her farewell before turning and disappearing into the crowd. Xue Chiying remained where she was, watching the blue figure grow increasingly distant, then let out a long sigh. For a moment, countless emotions filled her. She wondered whether Li You might successfully return, only to face a dangerous road ahead. She also wondered whether Li You might fail to return and become lost alone within the enormous film studio.

Her fingers curled inward, clenching tightly for two seconds.

At that moment, her phone rang. It was a call from the directing team of Green Trees.

Xue Chiying steeled her heart, turned around, and walked toward the exit with a smile. “Hello, Director Zhang. Yes, that’s right, I’m just about to head to the station. Haha, all right, all right. See you this afternoon!”