I stood there for a while before finally moving.
The bowl in my hand suddenly felt heavier than it should.
I walked back slowly, my steps steady, but my mind was anything but.
In my past life... this kind of thing was not new.
It was not something people whispered about in corners like it was a crime.
In many places, it was accepted. In some countries, it was even protected by law. People lived their lives openly, without fear of being judged or cast aside.
Of course, there were still places where it was not accepted, where people had to hide who they were.
But it was not something unheard of.
Not like here.
I was not someone who looked down on it.
At one point in my life, I had even questioned myself. There was a time when I thought I might like girls too.
But later, I understood it was just confusion... emotions I had not fully figured out yet. It passed, and I moved on.
So to me, it was never something strange.
But this place and this time...
It was different, very different.
Never, not even once, did I imagine that I would encounter someone like that here.
In ancient times...
In a family like this...
My steps slowed slightly as I reached the courtyard.
Fu Teng.
The image of him appeared clearly in my mind.
He did not look like someone who carried something like that.
He looked... composed.
If anything, he looked like the most proper person in this entire family.
Tall and straight, with sharp but gentle features.
His black hair was always neatly tied, usually in a simple style, without unnecessary decoration. Today, it was packed into a clean ponytail, smooth and without a single strand out of place.
He wore a burgundy robe earlier, plain but well-fitted, making him look even more put together.
There was nothing messy about him.
Nothing loud.
Nothing that would make people look twice and think something was different.
And undeniably good-looking.
If someone described him, they would call him a scholar..
Not once would anyone think of anything else.
And yet...
I let out a slow breath.
There were no obvious signs.
No exaggerated behavior.
No soft gestures or anything people would label as "feminine."
He did not act differently.
He did not speak differently.
He was just... himself.
Which made it even harder.
Because in a place like this—
That truth was not something that could be accepted easily.
I stepped further into the courtyard, my gaze drifting slightly.
"...This is going to be a problem."
Not because of who he was.
But because of where we were.
And the kind of people around.
....
I walked into the house and went straight upstairs.
The hallway was quiet. Everyone was already in their rooms resting. I pushed the door open and entered the room, then closed it behind me.
I stood there for a moment before walking to the bed and sitting down.
My thoughts were still unsettled.
What I heard earlier... it was not something small.
I lowered my gaze.
There was no way I could tell Fu Sheng.
Not because I did not trust him.
But because it was not my place.
This was Fu Teng’s matter. His truth. If anyone was going to say it, it had to be him.
Not me.
I let out a quiet breath.
"I will not say anything," I said softly to myself.
Just then—
The door opened.
I looked up.
Fu Sheng walked in.
His hair was still slightly wet, and he had changed into a simple inner robe. It looked like he had just washed up.
He stopped when he saw me.
"You are back," he said.
His voice was calm.
Then he added,
"You should wash up too."
He walked further in and pointed lightly to the side.
"I kept some clean water for you," he said. "There is also a fresh set of inner clothes."
I looked at him for a moment.
Then I nodded.
"Alright."
I watched him for a moment.
His hair was still damp, a few strands falling loosely near his forehead. Without the outer robes and formal posture, he looked... different..
My eyes stayed on him a second longer than they should have.
He noticed.
"What?" he asked.
I shook my head slightly.
"Nothing."
But I did not look away immediately.
Then, without thinking too much, I leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss against his lips.
It was light.
But enough.m to turn him red.
He froze for a second.
Then his ears turned red.
I almost laughed.
Before I could pull away, his hand came up and held my waist. There was a faint smirk on his lips now, something rare for him.
"Since you started it," he said quietly.
Before I could react, he pulled me up from where I was sitting.
"Fu Sheng—"
I did not even finish.
He lifted me easily, holding me without effort as he turned and carried me toward the inner room.
"That was unnecessary," I said, though my voice did not sound serious.
He did not answer.
Inside, a large water basin had already been prepared. The steam rising from it showed it was still warm.
He set me down carefully.
Then he looked at me.
"Do you want me to help you undress and bathe?" he asked.
I blinked.
For a moment, I just stared at him.
"...Since when did you start saying things like this?" I asked.
He did not look embarrassed anymore.
"If you need help, I can help," he said simply.
I shook my head immediately.
"I can manage on my own."
He watched me for a second.
Then he smiled slightly and shook his head, as if he had expected that answer.
"Alright."
He stepped back, giving me space.
But before he left, he paused.
"What did Fu Teng say?" he asked.
His tone returned to normal.
"About the job."
I looked at him.
"He has not decided yet," I said.
Fu Sheng nodded slowly.
"And earlier?" he asked. "Did he tell you why he was acting strange during dinner?"
There was a brief pause.
I held his gaze for a moment.
Then I shook my head.
"He did not say much," I replied calmly.
It was not a complete lie.
He studied my face for a second, as if trying to see if there was more.
Then he looked away.
"...I see."
He did not press further.
"Wash up first," he said. "We can talk later."
I nodded.
He turned and walked out, leaving me alone in the room.
The steam from the water rose slowly.
I stood there for a moment, then let out a quiet breath.
"...This is getting complicated."