In the villa, Fu Ruxue was enjoying the Seafood Feast the Butler had prepared for her, sitting with her legs crossed, leisurely scrolling through her phone.
She opened the White-collared APP and checked her ranking.
A satisfied smile appeared on her delicate face as she savored the freshly peeled shrimp fed to her by the Housekeeper.
Not bad, she had moved up several places.
Ah, the only downside was that she couldn’t remember Xunian’s phone number.
There was still no information about Xunian on the leaderboard.
She didn’t even know where to look for Xunian.
Nor whether Xunian had returned yet.
……
In a rented room of only twenty square meters, half the space was piled with clutter.
A small black dot appeared in midair, gradually expanding into a vortex that seemed to suck in the surrounding space.
Suddenly, bursts of multicolored light erupted from within, flashing brilliantly before the vortex widened and spat out a person.
She fell right onto the bed.
Xunian stared blankly at the familiar ceiling, her body feeling like it was about to fall apart. Dizzy and disoriented, her mind lingered in another world.
The Duke’s Daughter’s final disappointed gaze replayed repeatedly in her mind, slow-motion and inescapable.
She raised her hand, watching the light filtering through her fingers on the ceiling, suddenly realizing something was wrong.
Her wrist was bare.
A flicker of confusion appeared in Xunian’s dark eyes.
Wasn’t there an Iron Ring on her wrist before?
One that the Duke’s Daughter had personally locked on her?
Could it all have been… a dream?
Her heart jolted, panic rippling through her like waves, her throat suddenly dry as she instinctively denied it.
Impossible, it can’t be.
“Ding-ling-ling, ding-ling-ling—ding-ling—”
The alarm abruptly stopped midway as a hand slapped it away.
She had forgotten.
Today, she was supposed to go to the hospital.
Xunian struggled to her exhausted body and stood before the mirror.
The reflection showed a disheveled collar, strands of hair clinging to her temples, and a noticeable weight loss—she looked utterly worn out.
For a moment, she thought she was still in the castle, almost mistaking the reflection for a ghost, nearly slapping her own face in a reflex.
Only then did she notice a faint, unclear mark on her neck caused by the open collar—a reddish imprint.
Her face flushed hot as she examined it closely, ears reddening.
She casually straightened her clothes, hiding the mark.
Hmm… that confirmed it was definitely not a dream.
She awkwardly covered her face with her hands but couldn’t hide her reddening ears.
……
The Duke’s Daughter silently looked at the two Handcuffs lying on the ground, then opened a Box and carefully placed both pairs inside.
Inside the Box, a neatly folded Handkerchief that Xunian had lent the Housekeeper, still faintly fragrant, lay alongside a Brush, Bell, and various other small items.
She lowered her gaze, casting shadows under her lashes, regret evident in her eyes.
Such a pity; they hadn’t been fully used yet.
Next time, she’d make better use of them.
……
The hospital was permeated by the sharp scent of disinfectant, making the atmosphere uncomfortable.
A figure in a trench coat hurried through the crowd, heading deeper into the corridor.
A passing Nurse noticed her and greeted, “You’re here?”
Xunian held a bouquet of Blue Roses, still with dew drops, and replied softly, “Yes, I’m here.”
She calmly asked, “Still no signs of waking?”
“No.”
She let out a quiet sigh, so soft only she could hear it.
The Doctor had said it was highly likely she’d never wake up, but every visit, she couldn’t help but ask.
She made her way to Room 309, standing at the door and peering inside.
The person in the bed was as still as always; from her angle, only a pale arm was visible.
A wave of bitterness surged in her chest. She thought she wouldn’t cry anymore, but her eyes still reddened.
Xunian lingered by the door for a long time, clutching the handle but hesitating to enter.
After gathering her courage, taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.
A sudden light washed over her, followed by dizziness.
Inside the room, a gentle, not overly bright light flickered.
The person who should have been there was gone.
The bouquet dropped to the floor, a few petals drifting in the air, twirling with the breeze stirred by passing medical staff before settling down.
Unnoticed, on the bed, a hand slipped out from under the blanket and suddenly twitched.
……
Reentering the Instance.
A flash of light blinded her eyes, then everything fell into darkness.
Xunian slowly opened her eyes, but all she saw was an oppressive blackness.
A cloth was tied over her eyes, blocking her view of the outside world, leaving her unaware of her location.
She moved and discovered her body was bound, unable to move.
She stood there, back against something long and metallic, her hands and feet tied behind her.
Feeling carefully, she realized she was leaning against a railing, her hands bound with hemp rope.
Suddenly, a warm, soft sensation wrapped around her, enveloping her body.
Her heart surged like a storm.
It seemed to be a person’s embrace.
Goosebumps rose on her skin. Blindfolded and lacking security, strange emotions swirled in her heart, and her stiff body inexplicably relaxed.
“Who are you?”
No answer came.
The warmth on her body carried a faint fragrance, pleasantly subtle.