Chapter 1
"Ah Zhi, you've fallen asleep here again. Be careful not to catch a cold!"
The afternoon sun shone lazily through the delicate window lattices, casting its rays onto the corridor.
The girl leaned against the wooden railing, her smooth, black hair loosely tied back with a ribbon, a few strands playfully clinging to her serene profile.
It's like a painting embedded in light and shadow.
Hearing the familiar voice, she slowly opened her eyes. Because she had just been awakened, there was still a thin layer of mist on her pupils.
Looking over in a daze, she had a charmingly trusting look in her eyes.
The unexpected eye contact caused Li Xia's eyes to glaze over for a moment before she snapped back to reality.
She shook her head helplessly, leaning against the door frame, but unconsciously slowed her steps, afraid of disturbing the tranquility: "Get up quickly."
Azhi blinked, took a moment to process what she was saying, and her voice, still slightly nasal from just waking up, sounded like she was pouting: "...But I'm so sleepy..."
She even subconsciously raised her hand and lightly covered her ears to avoid the situation.
Li Xia's gaze swept over the low table beside her. Only a small piece of the pastry on it had been touched; the rest remained there, already completely cold and hard.
This is very unusual.
Although Azhi is not greedy, she is not wasteful either.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Li Xia asked with concern, reaching out to touch Azhi's forehead. It was cool to the touch, with nothing unusual. She asked with some confusion, "Did you stay up very late last night?"
She carefully examined the girl who was still yawning, noticing the obvious weariness on her face. She paused for a moment, then suddenly seemed to remember something, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
"While it's good to practice diligently to improve your piano skills, you also need to take care of your health. Overworking can be counterproductive."
Li Xia drew her own conclusion, still remembering how Azhi played the zither when she first arrived.
The young girl, still quite naive at the time, followed the proprietress with timidity and restraint. But the moment her fingertips touched the strings, the entire room fell silent.
The music flowed from her fingertips like moonlight, and even the well-informed instructors held their breath, their eyes filled with amazement.
From that day on, everyone knew that this girl named Azhi possessed an innate talent for playing the piano.
Over the years, Azhi's piano skills have become increasingly refined, and many guests come from far and wide just to hear her play a piece.
However, Aori's position in the Tokitoya was somewhat special; compared to the others, she seemed rather "leisurely."
Azhi didn't flinch from the hand covering her forehead; she even welcomed the warm touch, squinting her eyes and speaking in a slightly dazed voice, "No..."
There was indeed no practice.
Yesterday, a cat slipped onto the windowsill, and she secretly took some food to feed it, which delayed her sleep.
However, it's difficult to explain the reason in detail.
Aori blinked, not fully awake yet, and instinctively snuggled closer to Koi Natsu, like a little animal seeking warmth.
"You..." Li Xia sighed helplessly at A Zhi for the umpteenth time. In this corridor with its many rules, it was rare to find someone who could maintain such a pure nature, let alone have such an enviable talent.
Besides... Koi Natsu always felt that A-Zhi was out of place here.
Yoshiwara is built on desire and money, filled with all sorts of transactions and calculations, except for Aori, who seems to be independent of all of this.
Her piano music was so clear and pure, and so was she.
He simply stayed peacefully in his own world, playing the piano, daydreaming, and basking in the sun, and found contentment in it all.
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Yoshiwara's vibrancy and bustle belong to the night.
As night falls and the lights come on, lanterns illuminate the doors of various houses, and the sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments fill the air—this is when the land truly awakens.
Yoshiwara, however, is unusually deserted during the day.
Azhi especially loves this time of day in the afternoon, and loves the feeling of the warm sun shining on her body.
She often finds a quiet corner, like today, to rest for a while in the corridor.
Perhaps feeling that no one was around, two young servants who were passing by carried miscellaneous items and talked as they walked, their voices clearly audible in the empty courtyard.
The topics they were discussing were topics that were strictly forbidden in normal times.
"Have you heard? At Kyogoku-ya... another courtesan has 'run away'..."
"How many is this this month? This is happening way too often..."
"I heard some inside information, it's said that he offended the courtesan Warabi-hime, and then..."
"Shh, don't talk nonsense. I think she ran off with her sweetheart..."
They walked in a hurry, not noticing that there were people in the pavilion, and continued to speculate without restraint.
Li Xia had already frowned deeply. She coughed lightly, and the discussion stopped abruptly, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps fading into the distance.
Azhi, who had been leaning slightly forward, silently stepped back and looked at Koi Natsu.
"..."
Li Xia didn't speak, but every time she heard something like this, her heart would tighten.
In this magnificent cage, "disappearance" always carries an inexplicable shadow, exuding an unsettling chill.
She sighed softly and took A-Zhi's hand: "Let's go, it's getting a bit chilly here."
We're not hearing any more news.
Azhi obediently let her lead her, but with her other hand she reached out and her slender white fingers grasped the hem of Lixia's clothes, shaking it slightly: "Sister Lixia, I'm hungry."
His tone carried a natural dependence.
As the most sought-after courtesan of the Tokitoya, Koika's daily meals are more refined than those of others, often featuring trendy pastries that taste exceptionally good.
In addition, she was gentle and kind, and was well-liked by everyone in the household at the time.
Azhi also likes to freeload meals; who wouldn't enjoy a delicious meal with a gentle and considerate older sister?
"Okay, I have some snacks that just arrived." Koi Natsu responded gently, raising her hand to tuck A-Zhi's messy hair behind her ear.
She took Aori's hand and slowly walked towards the room. Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she teased gently, "By the way, is Mr. Tomioka coming soon?"
Because the two of them were close, Koika knew a little more about Aori's affairs.
For example, Mr. Tomioka, whose expression is always cold and serious, is someone that Aori keeps in mind.
Sure enough, upon hearing that familiar name, Azhi instantly snapped out of her daze.
She blinked, her eyes brightening, and leaned closer to Li Xia, her eyes sparkling with undisguised joy: "Yes, he'll be back soon."
According to the information received, the Demon Slayer Corps members who have completed their mission will indeed pass through the vicinity tomorrow.
The girl, who usually seemed uninterested in many things around her, now seemed to have been infused with vibrant energy.
Li Xia covered her mouth and chuckled, noticing Azhi's obvious excitement.
Azhi didn't notice Koi Natsu's teasing, her face full of pure anticipation: "He said he brought back a gift this time."
She wondered what interesting thing it would be, and just thinking about it made her look forward to it.
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled into the courtyard, gilding the desolate scene and dispelling the chill brought on by the news.
A peaceful and beautiful scene.
Looking at her bright, carefree smile, Li Xia's eyes crinkled involuntarily: "In that case, we should prepare well and greet her with full spirits."
Upon hearing this, Azhi nodded obediently.
That look made Li Xia unable to resist ruffling her hair again.
She silently prayed that the girl's innocence and talent would remain forever and not be swallowed up by the night in Yoshiwara.
A note from the author:
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This story is a complete soap opera, full of twists and turns [please]
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