The boy silently washed Li Chyou’s hair. Other than the occasional splashing and sloshing of water, there was a calm silence in the room.

The boy smacked his lips and spoke, “I think it was three or four days ago when I gave Young Miss a bath like this.” Li Chyou stayed silent.

Without waiting for her, he continued, “Last time, Young Miss, liked the shampoo massage and detoxification. And speaking of the detoxification, I should really apologize. I’m sorry for lying.” Once again, there was no response.

“That detoxification therapy, massage, or whatever you want to call it was not meant to expel impurities from within you. It was meant to do exactly as it was named, that was to expel the poison in you!” Her muscles tensed. As he was scrubbing her, he could feel it through his hands. He smiled slightly.

“When I showed the poison to the Mistress, she looked…” The boy paused before saying, “terribly aggrieved. I never thought that the always collected and playful Mistress would be reduced to tears like that!” She started quivering. He bit his lips when he felt her shaking. This feels…

“When I told her the culprit responsible for poisoning you, she…couldn’t help but feel bad for you. So much so that she might’ve cried once I left.”

…terrible.

After that, the boy fell silent again. A minute passed by, yet the boy just silently washed her. He knew what he was doing and if he was right it should work-

“So, who was the culprit?” Li Chyou unable to hold her curiosity asked.

-right about now. The boy clicked his tongue internally. Li Chyou was too easy to read!

“It was…” the boy paused and let the suspense build-up, “Young Master Murong!”

“Impossible!” Li Chyou suddenly stood up, splashing water everywhere. The boy spat to the side. Bleh, pfft, I think a bit got into my mouth. This is not my kink!

“Why not?” the boy resisted the urge to spit again and asked calmly.

“That’s because-” she wanted to continue but was cut off by him.

“Because Young Master Murong is a gentle and kind man, right?” though it couldn’t be seen because he was wearing a blindfold but he was definitely asking this with his eyebrows raised.

“…t-that’s right,” maybe it was because her momentum got disrupted but Li Chyou slowly sat down as her previous anxiety was reduced. She hugged her knees and sat in the tub, soaking in the water.

“And why do you believe that?”

“That’s because I’ve talked with him, spent time with him, and ate with him,” Li Chyou said quietly but resolutely. She saw him gesture and got up from the tub.

“But what’s stopping him from only acting like that in front of you?” the boy no longer wore that small smile and instead asked solemnly. “Can’t he just hide his true self from you?” The boy paused and said, “…just like how he hid the fact that Young Miss Wang was his fiancée!”

Once again, Li Chyou started shaking, both from anger and an immense feeling of loss. The boy paid no heed to her feelings and started drying her with a towel.

“Young Miss, every time I saw you laughing or having fun with Young Master Murong, I used to feel incredibly sad,” the boy lifted his face and looked at where her eyes were supposed to be. Li Chyou shifted her eyes away. Even if he was wearing a blindfold, she could feel his ocean-blue eyes seeing right through her.

“W-Why is that?”

“Because it was the first time other than with your family that I saw the Young Miss genuinely having…so much fun!”

“You-!” Li Chyou looked at him.

The boy shook his head, “Having to ask myself, ‘Do I really have to do this?’ was a really painful thing.”

Lies.

The boy asked with a sad smile, “Is he really someone worth holding onto?” He got up and brought her dress. “Why not try opening your eyes? There are so many things to experience, so many people who love you.” He helped her wear the turquoise dress and stepped back, taking his blindfolds off. Staring at her, he wore a sunny smile and said in a whisper, “The world is huge; maybe you can find the one you truly love and the one who’ll reciprocate your feelings! So, why not give it a chance? What do you have to lose?”

With every sentence, her eyes shone more and more. After he finished, she looked as though she wanted to say something yet she stopped and suddenly fell into deep thought. The boy said nothing and simply started walking slowly. Subconsciously, she followed him.

After a while, her train of thought was broken by his gentle voice, “We’re here!” Li Chyou jolted as she looked around. She was in front of her…room! The door was opened by him and she saw him making a ‘go ahead’ gesture. She walked inside and sat on one of the chairs that were placed in front of a round table.

The boy smiled slightly and said, “I’ll bring some tea shortly.” He knew that bringing up training would put a dampener on her thoughts and what she needed now was to ponder on herself alone. He promptly closed the door and left.

Seeing the closed pair of doors, she could only think of his words and the heartbreak she experienced. What if…?

On the other hand, the boy walked through the halls. As soon as he turned a corner, he suddenly plopped down and sat on the floor. Hugging his knees, he scratched his neck frantically.

This feels terrible. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this. I don’t like this.

“Are you satisfied?” the familiar voice asked once again.

“Is it that obvious?” said the boy with a vigor-less voice without raising his head.

“It is, regrettably so.”

“Brutally honest as always, Butler Yu!”

“Really?” Butler Yu asked with an eyebrow raised, “I’d say that I was being comforting!”

“Haah~” the boy sighed and scratched his neck.

“You say it’s a birthmark but with how you’re scratching your neck, I’m led to believe otherwise,” Butler Yu remarked.

“Can’t do anything about it!” the boy raised his head and shook his head, revealing his blue yet hollow eyes. “And to answer your earlier question, no.”

“Then shouldn’t you do something to remedy that?”

“I am.”

“And that is?” Butler Yu asked with interest.

“And that’s to never to let myself fall into such a situation,” the boy replied resolutely.

“Even though you’ll have to do exactly what you feel so terrible about?”

“Then, won’t I just have to stop feeling bad about it?”

“That’s wrong.”

“Is it?”

“It is. That guilt you’re feeling is your mind telling you that you’ve gone wrong. That feeling is very important. Guilt comes from morals and it also helps separate the right from wrong.”

“And what is right or wrong? Aren’t they judged by the collective?” the boy counterasked, “In ancient times, there were no laws; we killed each other over even smaller things. But suddenly someone decided that this was wrong? Things we did got separated into good or bad. Then isn’t this all a matter of perspective?”

“You’re not wrong. But can you go against society and the collective?” Butler Yu asked with a smile.

“This is a martial arts world,” he looked at Butler Yu like the latter was a retard, “with enough strength, even beating the collective into submission is possible.”

“Haah~” Butler Yu sighed and scratched his head which had a bit more white hair than Li Yan, “It seems we’ve moved from our original topic. I just wanted to say that you should exercise patience. With enough time, anything can heal and anything can improve.”

“There’s not enough time,” the boy shook his head, “there’s never enough time.”

“Then why not start now? Change yourself, change your methods. Enough to not feel terrible about your actions anymore.”

“And then?”

“Then you’ll be living the way you want; living each day to the best of your abilities. Gain some strength as well. You’ll need it.”

“Guess I’m not the only one…”