"Xabrina, do you like anyone?" Zhiyina, a little drunk, looked at the moon in the sky and asked softly.
Xyliana was caught off guard by the question.
She had grown up in an orphanage and often hid her face from others. Her life in the past twenty years was not a happy one.
Luckily, the head of the orphanage always treated her like her own child. This gave Xyliana a sense of warmth and family.
In those vague memories, was there anything truly worth holding on to?
Looking at the bright moon like jade, the pure moonlight shining down and scattering stars... Xyliana suddenly felt a wave of sadness.
Later, as she grew older, she understood some truths.
Once in high school, the class organized an outing. She begged the head of the orphanage for a long time before getting permission.
That was her first time joining a group activity, going on a trip to the beach of Yue City with her classmates.
She was very excited that day.
Thinking of the strong sun on the beach, Xyliana didn't put on thick makeup but only wore a sunshade veil.
She found a quiet, remote corner on the beach to wander alone. Though lonely, she felt free.
Somehow, she fell asleep on the sand.
When she woke up, she was lying on the beach, feeling dizzy.
The salty air blew in, and the sun was low, reminding her she had slept for a long time.
Her head trembled with a strange feeling.
A hard object was under her hand. Xyliana looked at it groggily.
A black shell-like thing lay quietly under her palm, shining with colorful light. Its colors were beautiful.
She picked it up carefully, thinking it looked like a shell but also not quite.
Before she could examine it further, a sea breeze blew, and the shell flew away.
Although the wind was gentle, the shell floated into the air and disappeared into the sea and sky.
"Hey!"
Xyliana stood and took a few steps chasing after it, watching it vanish before her eyes.
The wind lifted her veil. Even though it was just for a moment, showing only a side of her face, Yano saw it from afar.
He was a famous cold and ruthless figure at school and the class monitor.
Before, classmates mocked and bullied Xyliana for her dark, scarred face, and he ignored it all.
But after that day, Yano followed Xyliana constantly, trying to win her favor.
He was ruthless and obsessive.
His crazy pursuit scared Xyliana and became a heavy burden on her heart.
For half a year, she lived in fear of him.
Fortunately, after half a year, he was sent abroad to study, and Xyliana finally relaxed and escaped his crazy chasing.
After that, Xyliana became even more careful to hide her face.
She was extremely afraid of that frightening person and his eyes. She never wanted to see them again.
This made Xyliana uneasy. She fell into a strange state.
She always felt she might never find love in her life.
When she was young, like all girls, she dreamed of pure and perfect love.
She wondered when her true love, the one who loved her most, would come.
But after Yano, she was too scared.
In the quiet dark night, she suddenly realized maybe no one would ever truly love her.
Everyone might go crazy for her face, but she didn't know if that was really love.
She was a sensitive girl.
At that time, in her teens, Xyliana often thought if she didn't have this face, would anyone love her?
Slowly, Xyliana stopped caring about these things.
She only wanted to live quietly and support herself with what she knew.
"Xabrina, Xabrina! What are you thinking about? You look so lost."
Zhiyina waved her hand in front of Xyliana's face.
Xyliana's thoughts were pulled back.
"Oh, nothing. Maybe I am a little dizzy from the wine," Xyliana smiled lightly.
"Xabrina, you haven't answered me yet!"
Zhiyina frowned slightly, pretending to be annoyed but looking very cute, unlike her usual self.
"I don't like anyone…"
She no longer had any illusions about love. Besides, now she was in this strange place. It was better to focus on her future life.
Xyliana smiled quietly.
"Ah... what a pity... I was hoping to chat with you more..." Zhiyina said with a bit of disappointment.
Looking at the already slightly tipsy Zhiyina in front of her, Xyliana slowly spoke.
"Zhiyina, I have a question I want to ask you."
"Go ahead, Xyliana, just ask." Zhiyina lifted her cup and downed the drink in one go.
"Mm...
Zhiyina, haven't you always liked Zehun? Then why do you have so many beast husbands?
...Doesn't that make it even more impossible for you and Zehun?"
Xyliana thought carefully and spoke the doubts that had been bothering her.
"Mm... Xyliana, I'll tell you a secret..."
Zhiyina narrowed her eyes, glanced around sneakily, then leaned close to Xyliana's ear and whispered.
"See all those followers of mine...
Actually, they're fake...
I bought them on purpose just to annoy Brother Zehun..."
Xyliana was shocked by what Zhiyina said. "What about Xayan? Isn't he your beast husband?"
"Xayan and I are childhood buddies!
My brother and mother were pushing me hard, and I really wanted to get back at Brother Zehun,
So... I became a couple with Xayan.
But I guess it's more like a fake bond?"
Zhiyina reeked of alcohol and spoke dizzily, pouring wine into her empty cup.
Fake couple?
Before Xyliana could react, she heard Zhiyina continue speaking to herself.
"Xayan really is my best friend, he's amazing!
We agreed that after I win over Brother Zehun, we'll break up and end the contract.
But I'll give Xayan a lot of money then!
Even though he's not short on money anyway... ah... haha..."
As she talked, Zhiyina yawned and leaned over, falling asleep on Xyliana's shoulder.
Xyliana smiled and shook her head, looking at Zhiyina who fell asleep the moment she leaned on her.
"She said my drinking tolerance is low, but she's the one who passed out first."
She then put down her wine cup and reached out to help Zhiyina up.
At that moment, a pair of clearly defined hands reached out in front of Xyliana and lifted Zhiyina up first.
Xyliana looked up.
The person was Xayan.
"I wonder how long he's been here..."
Thinking of what Zhiyina had just said, Xyliana quietly pondered in her heart.
It was a little awkward.
"Ah, well...
Zhiyina drank a bit too much just now and said some silly things..."
Xyliana smiled awkwardly as she spoke to Xayan.
"Thanks, Miss Xyliana. Zhiyina rarely gets this cheerful while drinking. I'll take her back to her room first.
You should head back and rest soon too."
Xayan's steady voice came through.
"Alright, you go first. I'll head back now." Xyliana replied.
Xayan gave Xyliana a small nod.
Then he carried Zhiyina downstairs.
Watching how careful Xayan was with Zhiyina, Xyliana couldn't help but smile lightly.
Looks like those two still have a long way to go.
But it doesn't really concern her. Looking at the bright moon in the sky, she wondered what the days ahead would be like.
Xyliana smiled and shook her head, downed the last of the wine in her cup, tidied up, and walked downstairs.
Somewhere in Wanling City
"Ah... mm..."
A low, hoarse voice came from inside the house. Moonlight passed through the window lattice and spilled down like frost.
Inside, a man sat on the ground, trembling and covered in cold sweat.
His pale face, furrowed brows, and the sweat on his forehead showed the pain he was enduring.
Broken sounds escaped from his tightly clenched teeth... chilling to hear...