Day had barely broken when Yunxiu's fingers trembled uncontrollably.
Her pillow was icy cold, soaked through with cold sweat.
Three nightmares had tormented her all night: the bone-deep humiliation, Qin Ruhai's cruel line "Help me destroy her," and the most terrifying scene of all —
Miss looking at her with disgust, saying: "You're filthy. I don't want you anymore."
She had been orphaned since childhood, with nothing to her name.
Wealth meant nothing. Men meant even less.
Only Miss was her whole life.
Her body still ached faintly, but she did not even have a moment to rest.
They were meeting Qin Ruhai today, and she had to guard Miss with every ounce of her being.
"Yunxiu, are you ready yet?"
Su Liwan sat before the mirror, eyes bright with anticipation, like a child waiting to go out and play.
"Coming, Miss."
Yunxiu hid all her panic and stepped forward to comb her hair, movements gentle and steady, though her fingertips tensed subtly.
"Do you think Young Master Qin will really be there today?" Miss tilted her head, innocent and direct.
"He will," Yunxiu said softly, her tone unreadable. "The teahouse is quiet, with a nice view."
"How lovely!" Su Liwan smiled, then tilted her head again in confusion. "Strange, why have Father and Mother never brought me here, or even spoken of it?"
Yunxiu's hand paused almost imperceptibly, then she smiled naturally.
"Elders think young ladies shouldn't wander into the busy southern district. But Miss… promise you won't tell Lord and Lady about our outing today, alright?"
"Why not?" Su Liwan tensed up at once.
"If they find out you're meeting Young Master Qin in private, they'll be furious and say you're behaving improperly.
You'll be confined to the manor, and… you might never see him again."
Su Liwan paled and nodded without hesitation.
"I won't tell! Not a word to anyone!"
She had trusted Yunxiu her whole life — clever, loyal, and would never harm her.
Yunxiu's heart ached bitterly, but her expression remained gentle.
She was too smart, too good at soothing Miss… and too aware she was leading her straight toward Qin Ruhai.
On the way out, she claimed the wind and dust were harsh, tying Miss's veil securely, leaving only a pair of clear eyes visible. She stayed firmly on the outer side, half-blocking her with her body, guarding her completely.
As they headed deeper into the southern district, the streets grew louder.
Vendors called out, and idlers lingered by the road, eyes darting toward the Cloud Rain Brothel, their voices playful and knowing.
"Heard Lotus girl from the brothel's performing today — whole streets are rushing to listen!"
"That's how you live! Laughing, having fun, no rules tying you down!"
"We follow rules our whole lives and end up more miserable than them."
Su Liwan grew curious and gently tugged Yunxiu's sleeve.
"Yunxiu… what do they mean by happy?
Why can Miss Lotus live so happily?"
Yunxiu's heart tightened, but her face remained soft, not avoiding the question at all.
"It just means she lives easily, is cared for, and doesn't have to work hard. Common folks talk nonsense — don't take it seriously.
You're a noble young lady. A peaceful, respectable life is true blessing."
She spoke naturally and sincerely, but Su Liwan tilted her head, only growing more curious.
Easy… cared for… no hard work…
It sounded… really quite nice.
They entered the Lingyan Teahouse and climbed to the second-floor private chamber, a world away from the noise below.
A pearwood table was spotless, a celadon vase holding two fresh lotus stems, faint tea fragrance floating in the air. The wide wooden window was half-open, offering a clear view of the brothel below without being disturbed.
Qin Ruhai was already waiting.
Clad in plain long robes, tall and gentle, he rose slowly as they entered, every gesture perfect and polite.
Only the three of them were inside.
Su Liwan lifted her veil slightly and gazed curiously outside.
Figures moved around the brothel, brightly dressed. She could not see clearly, but the women all smiled brightly, lively and joyful.
"They… look so happy," she whispered.
Qin Ruhai stepped slowly to the window, standing beside her, his voice warm and clear, without the slightest vulgarity.
"They are performers, entertaining others with song and dance. The world judges them harshly, but look, Miss — their happiness is real."
He paused, his tone soft but piercing.
"They are not trapped in mansions, not bound by rules, not forced to keep a noble appearance at all times.
Laugh loudly when happy, enjoy life freely.
This is not immorality. It is happiness unchained by rules."
Su Liwan froze, her curiosity exploding.
That word — happy — the same one from the street.
"Then… why won't Father and Mother let me near this place, or tell me about any of this?"
"Because the world has too many rules." Qin Ruhai smiled faintly, his gaze gentle but sharp.
"You have been protected your whole life, but also imprisoned. Like a bird in a cage — seemingly noble, but without the freedom to truly live.
You are not so different from livestock in a pen.
Tamed, forced to live by others' wills, unable to choose your own joy or sorrow —
a life like this… can never truly be happy."
Su Liwan trembled, her face turning pale. For the first time, she doubted her entire life.
Was she living like an animal?
Was that why she had never laughed like that?
At that moment, a scene below caught her eye —
a woman leaning in a man's arms, smiling brightly as he lowered his head, brushing her hair. They looked at each other, intimate and unashamed, ignoring the crowd.
By all her upbringing, this was lewd, improper, shameless.
Su Liwan blushed furiously, her heart racing, hurriedly looking away, her ears burning.
Qin Ruhai watched every fluster and crack in her composure, his voice still gentle, yet shattering her beliefs completely.
"You find it indecent? But look at their joy — real, unhidden.
No hiding, no holding back, no suffocating rituals.
Like when you like someone, you draw close. When you're happy, you enjoy it. That is what it means to be alive."
He turned slightly, his gaze falling on her blushing cheeks, his voice like a soft, fatal whisper.
"Miss… do you want to know what that kind of wholehearted happiness feels like?"
Su Liwan's mind went blank. She stiffened, lashes trembling, unable to speak.
The room fell silent.
Qin Ruhai leaned gently forward, no force, no violation —
only an extremely light, brief touch.
On her lips.
Like a feather brushing past — pure, gentle, yet powerful enough to break every taboo she had ever known.
He pulled back at once.
Su Liwan froze completely, her heart pounding so hard it felt ready to burst from her chest.
No disgust, no fear — only a light, floating joy spreading through her body from that single touch.
So this… is happiness.
Qin Ruhai stepped back, his gentle composure unchanged, speaking calmly as if nothing had happened.
"It's growing late. You shouldn't stay out much longer. Best head home."
Yunxiu exhaled sharply in relief and immediately stepped forward to hold Su Liwan's arm, her voice urgent.
"Miss, let's go quickly."
She bowed hastily toward Qin Ruhai, distant and formal.
"Farewell, Young Master Qin."
Without another word, she half-led, half-escorted the still dazed, blushing Miss out of the chamber.
The tension that had gripped her all day finally melted away.
It… had not been as terrible as she feared.
After they left, Qin Ruhai stood by the window, watching their figures disappear.
After a moment, a faint, cold, beautiful smile curved on his lips.
No violence. No coercion. No traps.
With one scene, one sentence, one light kiss —
he had gently, completely shattered all the rules, morals, and beliefs a noble young lady had held for over a decade.
He whispered to himself, so softly only he could hear:
"Su Liwan. You have tasted the sweetness of taboo."
Step one — complete.