Zhuang sat in a dimly lit corner of a bustling restaurant, sipping her tea and watching the flow of patrons moving in and out. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, assessing each individual, until her gaze caught sight of a familiar figure ascending the stairs to the second floor. Long Yiren, the youngest daughter of the prestigious Dragon Clan, moved with a grace that contradicted her strength, her presence commanding attention even in the crowded establishment.

Zhuang’s curiosity was piqued. What was Yiren doing here, of all places? The opportunity seemed too perfect to pass up—perhaps she could take advantage of the situation, or even relieve the dragon princess of some of her precious possessions. She smirked at the thought and followed Yiren up the stairs, keeping to the shadows.

She slipped into the room after Yiren, ready to strike from the shadows and capture her. But as she looked around the room, she froze. By the window stood an unknown figure, the dim light casting an ominous silhouette. The figure moved calmly, closing the window with a soft click before turning around.

To her shock, the figure was none other than Xiuying.

Xiuying’s eyes met Zhuang’s hidden presence in the shadows, a faint smirk playing on her lips. She had sensed her the moment she entered, her sharp instincts always aware of her surroundings. With a subtle wave of her hand, she sealed the room, ensuring that even if Zhuang wanted to leave, she wouldn’t be able to.

Zhuang’s heart raced as she watched Xiuying sit down at the table, her demeanor relaxed and casual, as if she hadn’t just trapped her in the room. Yiren joined her, sitting across from Xiuying with a pout on her lips.

“They have me cultivating day and night,” she complained, her voice laced with frustration. “I barely have time to see you anymore.”

Xiuying listened, her expression softening as Yiren continued to vent her frustrations. Zhuang watched, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion and jealousy. She thought that Xiuying was interested in her, that there was something special between them, but now she wasn’t so sure. The way Xiuying looked at Yiren, the way her eyes softened with fondness—it was a side of Xiuying Zhuang hadn’t seen.

As the conversation between the two women continued, the tension in the room shifted, heating up in a way that made Zhuang’s breath catch. She watched, helpless and unseen, as Xiuying leaned across the table, her hand trailing along Yiren’s arm in a gesture that was far too intimate for mere friendship.

Before she could fully process what was happening, Xiuying swept the dishes off the table with a single motion, the porcelain shattering on the floor. In one quick movement, she had Yiren lying on the table with a giggle, her mouth descending to please her in a way that was both masterful and deliberate.

Zhuang’s eyes widened in disbelief. A sharp pang of jealousy stabbing through her. She had never seen Xiuying so passionate, so openly affectionate. The sounds of Yiren’s pleasure filled the room, each moan a knife to her heart. She wanted to look away, to escape this torturous scene, but she couldn’t. Something in her was compelled to watch, even as the jealousy and hurt twisted within her.

Frustration bubbled up inside her, and she decided to leave—only to find that she couldn’t. The room was sealed, and her body was trapped in the shadows, unable to move. Panic mixed with her jealousy, creating a wind of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Desperately, she tried to exit the shadows, to reveal herself to Xiuying, but even that was beyond her control.

Terrified and humiliated, she retreated to a corner of the room, sinking to the floor and covering her ears to block out the sounds of Yiren’s pleasure. She closed her eyes tightly, pressing her head against her knees, trying to shut out the world and the painful reality of what was happening.

*

Yiren reluctantly left the room, her goodbye filled with longing as she gazed at Xiuying, who lingered by the door. Xiuying watched her go, her expression unreadable, before her gaze flickered to the corner where Zhuang was hidden. For a moment, it seemed as though she might say something, might acknowledge the emotions she had so ruthlessly stirred, but instead, she turned away.

Why should she comfort Zhuang? It was Zhuang’s own fault for sneaking into places she didn’t belong.

She left the room after paying the bill, leaving Zhuang alone with her tear-streaked cheeks and shattered pride. As soon as the seal on the room lifted, Zhuang fled, her heart heavy with anger and regret. She stumbled out into the street, the bright sunlight harsh against her tear-stained face.

As she wandered aimlessly, lost in her thoughts, she caught sight of Xiuying sitting at a small food stall, casually eating a bowl of medicinal chicken. The sight made Zhuang’s blood boil. It was as if Xiuying was waiting for her, as if she expected her to come crawling back.

With a scowl, she marched over to the table and sat down across from Xiuying, her glare icy and unrelenting. Xiuying barely glanced at her, her expression indifferent as she pushed a bowl toward Zhuang, placing a chicken leg and thigh in it.

“Eat,” Xiuying said, her tone almost bored.

But Zhuang had no appetite. She stared down at the chicken, the memory of what had just happened still fresh in her mind. The jealousy, the hurt, the humiliation—it all swirled within her, making it impossible to even think about food.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The tension between them was thick, almost suffocating, but Xiuying seemed entirely unfazed. She continued to eat; her gaze occasionally flickering to Zhuang, but she said nothing more.

Zhuang’s hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to control the whirlwind of emotions inside her. She wanted to scream at her, to demand an explanation, to vent her frustration and pain, but the words wouldn’t come. All she could do was sit there, staring down at the untouched bowl of chicken, her mind a chaotic mess.

Xiuying’s eyes flickered with something unreadable as she watched Zhuang push the bowl away, untouched. As she finished the last of her medicinal chicken, she signaled for wine. The server, sensing the intensity at the table, hesitated before quickly complying, bringing a small jug and two cups.

Pouring the wine into the cups, Xiuying pushed one toward Zhuang and took a sip from her own. She studied her, her gaze piercing and direct. “What’s wrong?”

Her anger, which had been simmering beneath the surface, finally boiled over. Without thinking, she lashed out, her hand connecting with Xiuying’s cheek in a loud, resounding slap. The sound echoed through the food stall, silencing the hum of conversation around them. Xiuying’s head snapped to the side, her hair falling across her face, covering her expression.

A collective gasp rose from the other patrons as all eyes turned to the two women at the centre of the storm. The madam of the stall, a stout woman with a nervous disposition, hurried over, wringing her hands in distress. “Please, ladies, could you take this outside? I don’t want any trouble here…”

Xiuying didn’t respond to the madam. Instead, she slowly turned back to Zhuang, her eyes dark and stormy, a dangerous calm settling over her. The red mark on her cheek was the only indication of the strike, but her expression showed that this wasn’t over. She tossed a few coins onto the table to pay for her meal.

Before she could react, Xiuying grabbed her by the arm, her grip firm. The world around them blurred, and in an instant, they disappeared from the stall, leaving behind shocked patrons.

They reappeared inside a cave; the walls glowing faintly with the soft light of dragonflies that flitted about, their wings casting ethereal shadows. The air was cool and damp, the silence heavy. Zhuang barely had time to catch her breath before Xiuying pinned her to the ground, straddling her waist. Xiuying’s hands held Zhuang’s wrists down above her head, her eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and something more primal.

“What the hell is your problem?” she demanded, her voice low and dangerous.

She struggled against Xiuying’s hold, her heart pounding in her chest, but it was useless. Xiuying was too strong. Her body pressed against Zhuang’s with an intensity that was both terrifying and intoxicating. Tears welled up in her eyes as frustration and helplessness washed over her.

“Why did you do that to me in the middle of the street when you’re already seeing someone?” Zhuang’s voice broke as she fought back a sob, the words spilling out in a desperate plea for understanding.

Xiuying’s expression shifted, her anger giving way to a cold amusement. She tilted her head slightly, a mocking smile on her lips. “Seeing someone? I’m not seeing anyone.”

Zhuang’s breath hitched as she stared up at Xiuying, disbelief and confusion fighting within her. “What about… what about the Dragon Clan’s daughter? I saw what you did with her, how you touched her—” Her voice faltered as the memory of what she witnessed flooded back, the images vivid and painful.

Xiuying’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Yiren? That was just a bit of fun. Nothing serious.”

Her tears spilled over her cheeks as she looked up at Xiuying, her heart breaking. “Then why… why did you do what you did to me? Why would you make me feel that way if it meant nothing to you?”

Xiuying leaned down, her face inches from Zhuang’s, her breath warm against her skin. “Because I knew you’d enjoy it. I know what you like, Zhuang. I know what you need.” Her voice was soft. But there was an edge to it, a cruelty that cut deeper than any blade.

She turned her head away, avoiding Xiuying’s lips as they hovered dangerously close. “I watched everything you did with the Dragon Clan’s daughter,” she whispered, the words choked with pain and anger.

Her eyes darkened, and for a moment, she simply stared down at Zhuang.“You can only blame yourself for being in the wrong place,” she finally said, her voice devoid of sympathy.

The words were a slap in the face, harsher than the physical strike Zhuang had delivered earlier. She squeezed her eyes shut; the tears coming faster now, her body trembling beneath Xiuying’s weight. The reality of her situation crashed down on her, the realisation that she had been nothing more than a passing amusement to Xiuying, a toy to be played with and discarded.

Xiuying released her wrists, but the pressure of her presence didn’t lessen. She remained straddling Zhuang, her eyes still locked on her, watching every emotion that flickered across her face. “Is that what you wanted to hear?” Her voice was calm, but there was a challenge in her tone, as if daring Zhuang to break, to lash out again.

But Zhuang had no fight left in her. She was too drained, too hurt. All she could do was lie there, her breath coming in ragged sobs as the remnants of her pride crumbled away.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she processed Xiuying’s cold words. The gravity of her mistake in trusting—or even entertaining—Xiuying, pressed heavily on her. She had to get out. She couldn’t stay here, not with someone so unpredictable and dangerous.

“If there’s really nothing between us, then let me go,” she demanded, her voice trembling slightly as she fought to regain her composure. “There’s no need for me to be here, and you shouldn’t go around messing with people when you aren’t prepared to take responsibility for your actions.”

Xiuying’s gaze softened for a fleeting moment, and she loosened her grip on Zhuang’s wrists. Without another word, she got off of her, allowing Zhuang to scramble to her feet. She backed away slowly, her eyes never leaving Xiuying, wary of any sudden movement.

As she neared the entrance of the cave, something inside her hesitated. Despite everything, there was a magnetic pull that made it hard to walk away. Something about Xiuying called to her, a dark allure that promised both pleasure and pain. But Zhuang shook her head, forcing herself to break free from the spell Xiuying seemed to cast on her.

“No,” she whispered to herself. “She’s not worth it.”

Zhuang turned and fled the cave, her footsteps echoing in the silent night. She ran until she was certain she had put enough distance between herself and Xiuying. But just as she thought she was safe, ready to take flight and leave this nightmare behind, she felt something tighten around her body.

Invisible magic wrapped around her, constricting her movements and lifting her off the ground. Panic surged through her as she was hauled back into the cave, her body thrown violently against the stone wall. Pain shot through her, and she coughed up blood, the metallic taste filling her mouth.

Dazed and disoriented, she looked up to see Xiuying standing over her, her expression predatory, like a cat toying with its prey. The smirk on her lips sent chills down her spine.

“What are you doing?” She gasped, her voice weak from the pain.

Xiuying crouched down beside her, the smirk never leaving her face. “I changed my mind,” she said, her tone deceptively sweet. “I’m not letting you go.”

The last thing Zhuang saw was Xiuying’s cold, calculating eyes before everything went black.