When the other servants in the manor crossed paths with Zhu Zhuqing, the looks they cast toward her were filled with complicated emotions.
Some showed undisguised pity.
Some kept a cautious distance.
But most carried a chilling gaze of scrutiny and calculation, judging how much value this Second Young Miss, whom fate had sentenced to a "stay of execution," still possessed, and whether she was worth even the slightest bit of kindness.
Whispers spread like moss in dark corners after Zhu Zhuqing passed by.
"How long can she keep acting proud…"
"With such a useless fiancé…"
"Her future days probably won't be easy…"
"Shh lower your voice, don't let her hear…"
These changes were subtle, yet everywhere.
Like icy needles, they stabbed again and again at that silent little figure.
What made Lin Xia's heart turn coldest was that Zhu Zhan, the family head, was not unaware of it.
At times, he would pass by Zhu Zhuqing's courtyard and see the slightly messy scene outside her door, or hear the servants' disrespectful muttering.
Yet he would only pause briefly, frown slightly, sweep his gaze over it and in the end, say nothing. do nothing.
Then leave directly. To let things drift unchecked. That was a signal even crueler than direct punishment.
It silently declared that within this family, where strength and marriage value were everything, a daughter destined for a failed political marriage and perhaps even death because of it was no longer worth his attention or resources.
The moment she awakened the Hell Civet and was designated as Dai Mubai's fiancée, most of her value to the family had already been "spent."
What remained was merely the countdown to that brutal competition.
The servants' snobbery was simply an instinctive reaction after smelling the cold scent emanating from the center of power.
Lin Xia saw all of this.
He wanted to change something, yet was burdened by deep helplessness.
He could not change the Zhu Clan's rules.
He could not shake the iron laws of the Star Luo Empire.
He could not bear that heavy shackle of fate in Zhu Zhuqing's place.
Leaning by the window of the Blacksmith Association workshop, Lin Xia gazed in the direction of the Zhu residence.
His fingertips unconsciously tapped against the cold metal frame, producing faint clicking sounds.
Larvitar seemed to sense his low mood. It rubbed its little head against his cheek and let out a questioning cry.
"Larvitar?"
"We can't help her fight fate right now."
Lin Xia spoke softly to his partner, though it sounded more like he was organizing his own thoughts.
"But at the very least, we can't let these filthy maggots keep disgusting people here!"
His gaze suddenly turned sharp, a cold gleam flashing through his dark golden pupils.
He could not change the larger picture.
But he could interfere in these nauseating "small matters."
Thus, outside Zhu Zhuqing's silent world, Lin Xia became a soundless, vigilant shadow.
Using his identity as a "child" and his special standing as the young master of the Blacksmith Association within the Zhu residence, he quietly began helping her.
One afternoon, Lin Xia was "coincidentally" playing along a garden path when he saw a servant woman in charge of delivering meals carrying a lunch box with obviously reduced portions and dishes several grades worse than before.
With an impatient face, she headed toward Zhu Zhuqing's small courtyard while muttering:
"…What a hassle, coming all this way to deliver this lousy meal…"
Lin Xia seized the opportunity.
Holding Larvitar, he suddenly rushed out from the nearby flower bushes like a genuinely mischievous child, "accidentally" crashing straight into the servant woman.
"Ah!"
Caught completely off guard, the lunch box flew from her hands.
The food inside instantly scattered all over the ground in a complete mess.
"I'm sorry, Auntie!"
Lin Xia immediately put on a panicked expression, as if he were about to cry. His little hands tightly gripped the hem of his clothes, while his wide eyes were filled with "innocent" apology.
"I was playing hide-and-seek with my friend. I-I didn't see you! I'll make it up to you! I'll ask the kitchen to prepare another meal for Second Young Miss!"
Seeing how "frightened" Lin Xia looked, and remembering that he was an honored guest, the servant woman could only forcefully swallow the anger boiling in her stomach. Her face alternated between green and white, and in the end, she could only accept her bad luck and curse under her breath as she headed back to the kitchen to prepare another meal.
Lin Xia, meanwhile, stood there with a "guilty" expression until he saw her return carrying a meal that was clearly much more generous and refined before she once again headed toward Zhu Zhuqing's courtyard. Only then did he casually leave.
Perched on his shoulder, Larvitar smugly shook its little head at the servant woman's retreating back.
Another morning, Lin Xia was "passing by" near Zhu Zhuqing's courtyard when he saw the rough servant girl in charge of cleaning standing with her hands on her hips, speaking rudely to Zhu Zhuqing, who stood at the doorway holding several changes of clothes.
"Second Young Miss, take them to the laundry room yourself! I'm busy right now! The golden chrysanthemums in Eldest Young Miss's courtyard have bloomed, and I need to hurry over to attend to them. If I delay, can you bear the responsibility?"
Zhu Zhuqing held the clothes tightly. Her little face was tense, and her lips were pressed into a pale line. She said nothing, but her eyes grew even dimmer.
At that moment, Lin Xia walked over carrying several dirty clothes of his own, looking like a curious child, and asked brightly.
"Huh? Big Sister, where's the laundry room? My clothes are dirty too. Can you take me there? I don't know the way!"
As he spoke, he "clumsily" stuffed his own clothes, clearly dirtier and harder to wash into the servant girl's empty hands. His face wore the pleading smile unique to children, one that was hard to refuse.
The servant girl stared at the suddenly added pile of greasy clothes in her hands, then at Lin Xia's innocent face. Her chest tightened so much she nearly fainted from anger.
She dared to mistreat the "fallen" Second Young Miss, but she did not dare offend Lin Xia, whose status was special.
She shot Zhu Zhuqing a vicious glare, as though she were the cause of this trouble, then unwillingly grabbed Lin Xia's dirty clothes in one hand and roughly snatched Zhu Zhuqing's laundry with the other before storming off in fury.
Zhu Zhuqing remained standing there, looking at Lin Xia.
Lin Xia winked at her and gave her a playful smile that said no need to thank me, then turned and left as though he had truly only gotten lost by chance.
Zhu Zhuqing watched his back disappear around the corner. Holding her now-empty hands, she stood there for a very long time.
Deep within her icy eyes, in that deathly still frozen lake, it was as though a tiny pebble had been dropped.
A faint ripple spread outward, so slight it was almost impossible to notice.
Lin Xia's actions did not stop there.
He would "accidentally" share some exquisite pastries brought from the Blacksmith Association treats unavailable outside with the cook responsible for Zhu Zhuqing's small kitchen, in exchange for her putting a little more care into Second Young Miss's meals.
When Zhu Zhuqing was being intentionally or unintentionally isolated in a corner by children from other branches of the family, Lin Xia would "happen" to run over carrying Larvitar, using childish playfulness to break the cold silence.
Although Zhu Zhuqing still did not join in, at least she was no longer the lonely center of isolation.
Lin Xia even used Larvitar's extraordinary senses to keep watch over Zhu Zhuqing's area late at night, guarding against anyone attempting something even more malicious.
Larvitar was extremely sensitive to ill intent. In the darkness, its crimson eyes shone with vigilance like the most loyal sentinel.
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