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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 — The Wall named Yuèya

Chapter 3 — The Wall named Yuèya

"There are faces that we forget.

And then there are those who get stuck like a splinter in memory. "

She didn't say anything.

Not a word.

She just looked at him. Only once.

And Nail felt his world change.

The rumour was about a strange girl in the inner courtyard.

A girl with hands stained with herbs, simple clothes, hair tied without care.

Nothing elegant.

Nothing refined.

But a look was enough. Only one.

To understand that this girl... knew everything.

His name: Yuèyao.

Formerly called otherwise. Today, she was a silent mystery.

Neither concubine nor noble lady.

An untitled apothecary.

A servant of invisible corridors.

But everyone feared her.

Not because she was talking.

Because she saw.

And because his body itself had become a weapon.

It was said that his blood could dissolve the flesh.

That his sweat was toxic, his strange breath.

That she had saturated her own body with poisons, drop after drop, year after year.

Not to die.

But to become untouchable.

She was the poison turned woman.

Xū Fang - aka Nail - crossed her in the medicinal garden.

He was passing.

She turned around.

Their eyes met.

Not a heartbeat.

But in his eyes, he saw something.

No contempt. Don't be afraid.

Of the judgement.

And even worse: indifference.

He remained frozen. Like stung.

And she, calmly, resumed what she was doing.

As if he didn't exist.

It was the first time we didn't see him as a dog...

But like nothing at all.

That night, he didn't close his eye.

It wasn't her beauty.

It wasn't his voice — he hadn't even heard it.

It was this invisible wall that she had erected in front of him.

As if even knocking on his door was already too much.

The next day, he asked Liyan:

— "Who is Yuèyao? "

Liyan smiled.

— "A curious girl. Dangerous. You shouldn't get close to her. "

— "Why? "

- "Because she never needed anyone to become what she is.

And she hates those who want to shine. "

But Nail didn't back down.

He wanted to know.

He wanted to understand.

Not to love him.

Not to impress him.

To surpass it.

Because he had understood one thing:

She was a wall. And he, a dog.

And to break this wall, you would have to become a wolf.

He felt it: she too, deep down, refused her destiny.

No matter his lower rank, even Liyan accepted his whims.

They were the same. Two silent rebels.

The day after tomorrow, he took his courage with both hands.

He appeared before her, in the herb pavilion.

- "Miss Yuèyao... am I bothering you? "

She looked at him. Cold.

— "Yes. You're disturbing. "

Then she narrowed her eyes.

- "Ah... you are Liyan's dog.

What are you doing here?

You have nothing to do away from your master. "

He wanted to get closer.

- "I just wanted to see what you were doing with this tree -"

- "No. Get out. You're bothering me. "

He walked away, without saying anything.

Then in a whisper, for himself alone:

"It's just the beginning. "

End of Chapter 3

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