Chapter 11

The voice was soft as fresh snowfall, but Bai Jin reacted as if struck by thunder. Her fingertips trembled, hovering over Gu Nianxi's back for a long moment before slowly lowering.

She continued to gently stroke Gu Nianxi's spine. "...I like you too, sis."

She knew Gu Nianxi hadn't meant it that way.

It was just a childish remark—a coquettish plea for sisterly affection and friendship, nothing to do with romance.

But the words still left Bai Jin utterly disarmed, and she had to muster every ounce of strength to hide her reaction.

She wanted to kiss Gu Nianxi. She wanted to kiss her damp hair, her flushed ears, her mouth that always said such sweet, silly things, and her trembling fingertips. Desire surged like ocean tides, wave after wave crashing onto the shore, washing over her until her whole body shuddered and tingled.

Afraid that her longing would show in her eyes, Bai Jin could only hold her tighter, hiding her yearning gaze behind Gu Nianxi's back.

Gu Nianxi's limbs were still trembling uncontrollably. Bai Jin sighed inwardly: such a pitiful soul.

Someone so delicate—if she didn't protect her, she would surely wither away.

"Sis, let's eat first," Bai Jin said. "I brought some food up."

Gu Nianxi gave a weak shake of her head.

She pulled away from Bai Jin's embrace, grabbing her sleeve. "I don't want to eat right now. Bai Jin... I need your help."

"Alright. What do you need, sis?"

"Bring me my sketchbook... and pencils..."

Bai Jin was surprised. "You want to draw? ...Here?"

Gu Nianxi was still trembling. "Mm. Please... It's all I want to do right now."

Only this could save her.

Bai Jin had no idea that her mind was now flooded with frenzied imaginings—each one beyond what words could express—and only drawing could release that overwhelming passion.

Half of her trembling was from crying so hard, and the other half was excitement. She felt her soul detach from her body, floating in midair. She felt anxious, hungry, as if standing in a blaze of creative fire, desperate to create.

She looked at Bai Jin pleadingly.

Bai Jin was silent for a moment. "Come with me, sis. Let's go to the attic to draw. There's no light here, and it will strain your eyes."

"No, no, right here." Gu Nianxi grabbed the lamp beside her. "With this, I can see fine."

It was a lantern, the kind the servants carried when crossing the garden at night.

Gu Nianxi clutched it like it was the sun, her tear-streaked face faintly reflecting the light. She knelt weakly on the carpet, smiling at Bai Jin. "Please, Bai Jin."

Bai Jin brought her the drawing supplies.

She watched as Gu Nianxi's eyes lit up, shining like stars in the lamplight. Her hands moved, fervent and absorbed, using the simplest tools to pour out wild visions.

Lines twisted, charcoal dust flew, and her limbs, which had been so frail moments before, now burst with incredible strength.

She was like a deity beginning creation on a blank page—each stroke law, bringing life to the creatures in her drawing with her fingertips. Her spirit was so high, yet her movements were so calm, the intense fervor compressed within that small body, startling Bai Jin, who stood watching.

Bai Jin didn't understand art, but she was awed by the Gu Nianxi before her. Standing behind her, she stared without blinking.

One after another, Gu Nianxi produced more than a dozen sketches. The fresh drawings, dusted with charcoal, fell one by one to the floor before Gu Nianxi finally set down her pencil, drained.

She must have spent a great deal of energy, but oddly, she looked more spirited than before.

She gathered the sketches, stood up from the floor, her eyes smiling and her silhouette glowing in the lamplight. "Bai Jin! Thank you."

Bai Jin swallowed softly. Her face was a little stiff. "Are you done?"

"The small drafts? I've drawn a few." Gu Nianxi smiled shyly, looking like a well-fed cat. "That piece I'm submitting to the exhibition—I've decided to change the subject."

Bai Jin didn't understand these things, but she went along. "To what?"

"The human body."

Gu Nianxi licked her lips.

That was her inspiration from a moment ago.

Bai Jin glanced at the time.

It was almost ten o'clock.

Gu Nianxi had been drawing for nearly two hours, and Bai Jin had watched for two hours as well.

She remembered the tray outside. The food on it must be cold by now.

She looked back at Gu Nianxi.

Gu Nianxi's face was smudged with charcoal again, her fingers almost completely dirty, her clothes scratched and torn, looking utterly disheveled—yet she wore a satisfied smile, none of her usual fussiness in sight.

"Sis, you should rest now." Bai Jin lowered her eyes, her fingertips trembling slightly. Fortunately, the lighting was dim, and she stood in the shadows, so nothing showed.

"I'll rest right here." Gu Nianxi blinked, as if just realizing where she was, and her tone took on a hint of defiance:

"If they want to lock me up, let them. I don't care—"

Bai Jin grabbed her hand.

Her light-colored eyes were deep, unreadable:

"Sis, come back to my room with me. You need a good bath, a change of clothes, something to eat, and a good night's sleep."

"Be good."

Gu Nianxi pouted. "Do you think I'm still some young miss? I'm a bad child who talked back to the elders now. Don't talk to me, you good child."

Bai Jin sighed softly. "I'm not a good child."

With that, she ignored what Gu Nianxi might think and, with a firm tug, half-guided her into the light. "Sis, don't hurt yourself for people who don't care about you."

Gu Nianxi gritted her teeth at that. "Easy for you to say. But who cares about me?"

"I do," Bai Jin said. "I care about you, sis. I worry about you."

Half her face was still in shadow, but her light eyes were as gentle as ever, like a tranquil lake.

All her emotions were restrained, buried deep at the bottom of that lake, only occasionally reflecting a sliver of light to the surface—a faint glimmer that was enough to make one's heart race.

Gu Nianxi was stunned.

Bai Jin actually... cared about her.

Could it be that someone as good as Bai Jin really existed in this world?

Her heart was in turmoil. Her resistance weakened, and she let Bai Jin lead her out of the confinement room.

It wasn't until she was brought to her own room that Gu Nianxi snapped back to reality. "If Butler Ye finds out, he'll tell... your father..."

"He won't."

Bai Jin paused. "Though, we do need to be discreet. Your maid is in the next room—don't alert her."

She took the sketches from Gu Nianxi's arms, set them neatly on the table, and gently nudged her toward the bathroom.

Away from the dark confinement room, Gu Nianxi's fussy nature returned. Now she really did feel dirty all over, and everything smelled.

She glanced at Bai Jin's shirt.

There were no tear stains, and the white shirt had dried without a trace.

Remembering their embrace earlier, she felt a bit flustered. She hurried into the bathroom, telling Bai Jin to go back to her room and rest.

Bai Jin didn't move. She glanced at the towel hanging nearby and waited calmly.

She listened to the sound of water rushing, starting and stopping, then a small voice came out cautiously: "Bai Jin?"

Bai Jin stayed silent.

The person inside must have thought she'd left. The sound of slippers padded closer, stopped by the door, and then the door opened a crack. A wet head poked out and met Bai Jin's gaze.

Bai Jin's lips curved.

Gu Nianxi startled, then slammed the door shut in annoyance.

She knew Bai Jin hadn't left!

But she'd left her towel outside...

At this point, either she walked out boldly to get it, or she asked Bai Jin to bring it to her...

Compared to the former, the latter was easier to accept.

She retreated to the back of the bathroom, pulling the shower curtain closed, and called out, "Bai Jin."

"Hmm?"

"Could you... help me... bring my towel over?"

Gu Nianxi's voice was soft. She was always like this—whenever she asked for something, she'd unconsciously act cute. She probably didn't even realize it.

Bai Jin couldn't help but smile. She rubbed her numb fingertips, took down the towel, and opened the door.

Steam filled the bathroom, and the silhouette behind the curtain was indistinct. Bai Jin caught the faint fragrance in the air, set the towel on the rack, and said, "I'll leave it here."

She was about to leave when she caught sight of the rumpled clothes piled in the laundry basket.

Gu Nianxi had worn a sky-blue pleated top and dark gray trousers during the day, and now those delicate garments were scuffed by thorns and smudged with charcoal.

The undergarment on top was still clean, tossed carelessly among the pile, with a corner peeking out.

A soft pink, with small white flowers embroidered on the side... a very cute style.

Bai Jin swallowed quietly.

*

By the time Gu Nianxi finished her bath, Bai Jin had already left.

Though she'd left, she'd also left a bread roll and water. Gu Nianxi noticed her phone had been retrieved from the attic and placed on the table.

She sat on the edge of the bed in her pajamas, holding a warm cup, and took a sip—it was honey water.

She sipped it slowly, lost in thought.

Bai Jin was right—now that she could leave, why should she stubbornly stay in that confinement room? Coming out, having a nice bath, changing into dry clothes, and lying in a soft bed to make herself comfortable—that was much better.

She touched her face. Her skin had always been delicate, and today she'd cried so much that it was chafed, especially the area under her eyes—even the lightest touch made it itchy.

Today she'd shed more tears than ever before. But after crying, she didn't feel depressed; instead, there was an indescribable lightness, as if all the bitterness of this life and the last had flowed away with her tears.

It was all Bai Jin's fault for comforting her and making her cry so hard...

Thinking of Bai Jin, Gu Nianxi's face flushed—partly embarrassed, partly annoyed. Embarrassed that she'd cried so miserably in front of Bai Jin, and annoyed that she'd acted like a little child—anyone would think she'd been greatly wronged!

She drained the cup in one go, flopped onto the bed, and wriggled herself into the blanket. She'd expended so much energy today, and both her body and mind were exhausted. She soon fell asleep in the warmth.

On the other side, Bai Jin was still awake.

In her hand, she clutched a piece of Gu Nianxi's clothing.

Gu Nianxi often wore perfume—expensive and ever-changing according to her mood, so the scent differed daily.

But perfume wouldn't soak into something so private.

The fragrance on it was Gu Nianxi's—belonging to her alone...

Bai Jin set the fabric down.

She shouldn't have taken such a private item in the first place, shouldn't have brought it back to her room, and definitely shouldn't have brought it to bed as she slept, indulging her fantasies unchecked.

Gu Nianxi trusted her, relied on her, treated her as a friend. She couldn't betray that. Her desire, no matter how uncontrollable, had to have a limit. Surely she wasn't going to be like an animal in heat, doing something so despicable as fantasizing over a stolen object?

She closed her eyes and thought she caught the faint fragrance again.

With her senses dimmed, her imagination only grew bolder. In her mind, she pictured Gu Nianxi opening the bathroom door and peeking out cautiously—that clean, pure face, already lovely without a smile, and when she smiled, it was like the first thaw of spring, radiant and bright.

Then she recalled the moment in the dark room when Gu Nianxi looked up at her, fragile and vulnerable. That look shook her to the core, making her almost believe the person inside was a spirit sent to steal hearts.

Scene after scene flickered past: the first time she saw Gu Nianxi and was struck by her beauty; at "Drifting Emerald" when she met her eyes against the light... Bai Jin was startled to realize how many images of Gu Nianxi she had stored in her mind. If printed into a book, they would make a thick, weighty volume.

The pages turned and finally settled on the image of Gu Nianxi drawing in the dim light.

Thinking of that scene, Bai Jin's heart began to race uncontrollably again.

Bai Jin had never appreciated art. She was a practical person, caring only whether things worked, not whether they were beautiful. Looking at Gu Nianxi's drawings, she couldn't see anything special—she only thought they were pretty and lovely because Gu Nianxi had made them, just like their owner.

But that day, Gu Nianxi showed her what art truly was—not through her drawings, but through herself. In that moment, she radiated an incomparable power, a vast and boundless vitality like mountains and seas, sky and earth. Gu Nianxi was like a fish or a bird, swimming freely in her ocean and clouds—a realm Bai Jin could never touch, yet she was fortunate enough to witness it. Her body trembled, and for the first time, she felt the impulse to kneel before Gu Nianxi.

Her fingers touched the fabric—first the edges, then gripping it entirely, as if resigned yet eager.

She had to admit: when the thought of "kneeling before her" crossed her mind, her first fantasy was to violate Gu Nianxi—starting by kissing her ankle.