Little Purple

The grey clothed man, watching from the bushes, guessed that Hu Ye was trying to save his young mistress.

I guess the miss should be alright now?

Suddenly, a voice came from behind. It was the voice of a drunk gardener. The grey-clothed man jolted and leaped onto the roof once more. From above, he observed the whole manor and saw Qing Li's magnanimous room. He suddenly thought of an idea.

He fished for something in his pocket: a purse full of green dust.

The grey clothed man had lived in the mountains with his mother when he was little. At the time, she was working with medicine; though she was no doctor, her knowledge was sufficient enough to classify her as a herbalist.

Now, the grey clothed man murmured to himself, "Mother, the deceased Madam saved you when you were attempting to bring me into this world. Finally, the knowledge you gave me will be of use to her children!"

The grey clothed man smirked and jumped down, just in time as there came a flurry of footsteps.

He needed to hide!

He slipped into Qing Li's room and managed to squeeze himself beneath the bed before he heard her coming in with a maid.

"This is the healing ointment?" Qing Li said as she gingerly touched her still red cheek.

"Yes, Young Miss."

"Hmm…" Qing Li sniffed the ointment before putting it back down. "I'm going to look for Mother for something. Put this ointment on the table beside my bed," Qing Li said before she went out again.

"Yes, Miss." Once the maid finished her given task, she too left.

"How lucky." The grey clothed man smirked. Taking out the purse, he poured bits of the dust into the ointment bowl. "Oh, spoiled, cursed, and retarded daughter of Hong, you will find out that this dust is not called the pimple dust just for show, heh!"

-----

Meanwhile, in the shed.

"No! Don't come in!" She panicked and backed herself in a corner.

"Too late." Hu Ye already closed the door behind him and advanced toward her.

"Leave, now!"

"...Guang…" He spoke softly when he saw her and what she was trying to hide.

"Wha… What? Why are you staring at me like that?! Are you pitying me? Do you think I'm miserable?"

After a long silence, he finally uttered two words. "Nice haircut," he said with a smirk.

"What the—" She sputtered. "You've gotta be kidding me."

A scoff appeared on her face. Hu Ye must have seen them, the shackles that bound her, so she couldn't come near the door. Right now, she was handcuffed in a sitting position, a chain connecting her handcuffs to the ceiling.

"Are those chains a new hobby of yours?" Hu Ye titled his head. "I'm joking, don't give me that murderous look." Closing the gap between them, he sat before her and offered her two chopsticks. "Here, eat up. It has turned cold but I think the taste is still good."


"..." Qing Guang looked at the food that Hu Ye held toward her. "Do you do this often? Feeding someone, I mean? It almost feels like you are used to pointing the chopstick the opposite way."

"I have a sister who is blind at home. Now enough talking, and open your mouth. Your stomach is growling, so you haven't eaten dinner yet, have you?"

The ice princess flushed with embarrassment at being fed by him like this. She slowly opened her mouth and took a bite of the meat.

"How is it?" he said, watching her as she slowly chewed.

Swallowing her food, she said, "...Not bad."

"Just be honest."

"Fine, it is good, okay. Happy now?"

A contented smile appeared on Hu Ye's face.

"Huh? Who left the door open like this?" The drunken gardener wobbled over. "It must be those new servants again. I always have to remind them to lock it after, tch!"

"How irresponsible!" he said before locking the shed's door.