"Miss, the person hasn't left yet."
Upon hearing Gao Yuan's words, Xiao Liyan paused in her drinking.
"You haven't left yet?"
“I told her to leave, but she wouldn’t listen. She just sat by the door…”
"Understood," Xiao Liyan nodded, drank the tea in her hand, and stopped before taking a second cup. She picked up her cloak and walked outside.
The girl sitting by the door heard the door open, turned around, and saw the person she wanted to see. She immediately stood up.
"Miss," the girl looked at Xiao Liyan, feeling flustered and unsure what to do.
Why stay here?
"I don't want to go home. I just want to stay with Miss, even as a slave or maid."
As the girl spoke, her eyes were fixed on Xiao Liyan. After a moment, Xiao Liyan sighed, and then the girl draped her cloak over Xiao Liyan's shoulders.
"I don't need servants, you stay by my side and keep me company."
The girl visibly cheered up, and followed Xiao Liyan somewhat awkwardly.
After the girl finished getting ready, she was brought before Xiao Liyan. Xiao Liyan looked at the girl, who had darker skin but pretty features, and asked, "What's your name?"
"I..." The girl stopped mid-sentence, her eyes lowered as she looked at the floor, feeling ashamed of her name for the first time.
"Um?"
"I...I... am called, Bitch."
After the girl finished speaking, she lowered her head even further, not daring to look at Xiao Liyan, afraid to see the same mocking look in Xiao Liyan's eyes as in everyone else's—a look that disgusted her.
"Who gave you that name!" Xiao Liyan's voice sounded slightly angry.
"My...my dad"
"My mother was a courtesan in a brothel. She became pregnant with me, redeemed herself, and married my father."
Not long after my mother gave birth to me, she started having affairs with men in the village, and eventually ran off with an older, wealthy man. From then on, my father called me a slut.
Xiao Liyan hadn't planned to ask, but the girl brought it up on her own initiative.
"That's enough. From the moment you left the slave trade, you became a completely new person. Let your past name be buried."
"Why don't you give yourself a new name?"
The girl shook her head, looked at Xiao Liyan, and said, "I don't know what name I want, but I like the clouds in the sky. Pure white, free and unrestrained."
"Can...I call you Ayun?" the girl asked cautiously.
"Your name, your choice"
“But…” the girl lowered her head even further, “I…I want…to take your surname…”
"No"
Upon hearing what the girl said, Gao Yuan immediately spoke up, "Miss, she is a servant and should not use your surname."
Xiao Liyan looked at the girl without speaking, and for a moment, the only sound in the house was breathing.
After a while, Xiao Liyan spoke up, "Fine, but I don't tolerate any injustice. If you do anything to wrong me that day, you will never be allowed to use my surname again, and you will be punished accordingly—in severe cases, even your life."
"Are you willing?"
I do.
Gao Yuan was surprised that Xiao Liyan had agreed, and frowned. "Miss, she's just a servant, she can't..."
"Stop. She's not a servant in this household. Besides, I don't need maids. If she causes trouble, I'll handle it myself. Just let her come with me."
Gao Yuan didn't say anything after hearing this, after all, compared to Xiao Liyan, he was practically a servant.
"Then from now on, your name will be Xiao Liyun."
"Thank you for bestowing this name upon me, Miss." Upon hearing this, Xiao Liyun wanted to kowtow, but Xiao Liyan waved her hand.
"You don't need to call me 'Miss.' Since I've let you use my name, just call me 'elder sister' or 'older sister.'"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Liyun couldn't hide her joy. "Thank you, elder sister."
————————
"You still kept her after all."
Just after Xiao Liyun and Gao Yuan left, Qin Jue walked in from outside, speaking with a somewhat lazy air.
"The way she looked at me then was the same way Shida looked at me."
"I helped her, and I hope that different people can also help my brother so that he can live a safe life."
"Hmm," Qin Jue replied, recalling how Xiao Liyan had always been so affectionate towards her, a person who was both composed and lively.
"I've come to see you about something. My master consulted a fortune teller, and the date three days from now is auspicious. On that day, he will adopt you as his goddaughter, and there will be a banquet for guests."
"A maid will bring you clothes and jewelry shortly."
Xiao Liyan was surprised to hear this. "Uncle Qi is going to hold a banquet?"
Qin Jue nodded, then handed the small box to Xiao Liyan. "I'll be going on a mission tomorrow, and it'll be at least half a month before I can get up again, so I'm giving you this gift in advance."
Xiao Liyan smiled and took it. "Thank you, Brother Qin."
"I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now," Qin Jue said, having finished delivering the gift, before making his departure.
After everyone left, Xiao Liyan walked to the table and sat down. She opened the box in her hand and saw a pair of earrings inside.
The earrings are silver, consisting of three strands of different lengths. The thin silver chain closest to the ear features a small, openwork flower, about the size of a mung bean, followed by a blue butterfly in full bloom. Below the other two thin silver chains of different lengths hang teardrop-shaped white pearls.
Xiao Liyan took out one of the earrings, walked to the bronze mirror, sat down, put it on, looked at herself in the mirror, smiled, and then reached out to touch the earring on her ear.
"It actually looks quite good. I didn't expect Brother Qin to wear all dark clothes all day. I thought it was a matter of poor taste, but it turns out it's actually quite nice."
Xiao Liyan then put the other earring on her ear.
Then a maid brought clothes and jewelry to Xiao Liyan for her to try on. At the banquet three days later, Qi Xin invited all the prominent figures in the city.
——————
Four years later
"These earrings are old, why are you still wearing them?"
Xiao Liyan sat in front of the bronze mirror, looking through it at the person dressed in a navy blue outfit with a high ponytail.
"Naturally, it's because I like these earrings. As for you, Brother Qin, even though you're wearing less black clothing, you're still as cold as ever."
"But you're still talking to me, aren't you?" Qin Jue crossed his arms, watching the person in the bronze mirror touching the earring on his ear.
Four years have passed, and Xiao Liyan's appearance has begun to blossom. She looks bright and lively, yet there is a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Pfft—" Unable to suppress a laugh, Xiao Liyan lowered her hand from her earring, stood up, turned around, and looked straight at the person who had been standing behind her. "I never expected Brother Qin to be so joking."
Qin Jue lowered his head slightly, looking at Xiao Liyan, who was only slightly taller than him. He watched as Xiao Liyan tilted her head back, her eyelashes fluttering as she blinked. Then, he turned his head towards the window, speaking casually, "So, what do you see now?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
