Liu Yiyi walked out of Chen Yang's residence, her heart still tangled with the doubts brought by what she had just seen and heard.

Chen Yang's eyes filled with pain and humiliation, the chaotic scene inside the room, and the unmistakable scent of desire.

None of it seemed like the aftermath of a consensual encounter.

As she lowered her head in thought, a small figure hurriedly ran over from the direction of the Herb Garden—it was Little Douzi, who often worked next to Chen Yang.

"Sister Liu!" Little Douzi stopped in front of Liu Yiyi, panting and looking anxious, "Did you just come from Brother Chen's place? How is he?"

Liu Yiyi was slightly taken aback, "How is he? Did something happen last night?"

Little Douzi stomped his foot and lowered his voice, "I was woken up by some noise before dawn this morning. I secretly got up to take a look, and it was unbelievable! Senior Brother Yang was carrying Sister Zhao out of Brother Chen's room, and they were so intimate... Sister Zhao's clothes were all disheveled!"

Liu Yiyi immediately understood, her heart sinking, "You mean... last night in Brother Chen's room it was..."

"Wasn't it Sister Zhao and Senior Brother Yang!" Little Douzi said angrily, "The whole Servant Office is talking about it! Senior Brother Yang, taking advantage of his status as an Inner Disciple, often troubles Brother Chen. This time he went too far, actually... actually doing it with Sister Zhao right on Brother Chen's bed..."

Little Douzi couldn't continue, but Liu Yiyi already understood completely.

She recalled Chen Yang's pained expression, the collapsed wooden bed inside the room, and the strong scent mixed with the desires of men and women.

It wasn't a consensual encounter at all, but a blatant humiliation.

"Brother Chen is so pitiful," Little Douzi sighed, "Sister Zhao was originally his wife, but now she's someone else's Dao Companion, and was even brought to his own bed... Anyone would find that unbearable!"

Liu Yiyi stood there, a wave of bitterness surging in her heart.

She suddenly remembered her days at the Spring Red Mansion, those guests she once sincerely treated, those men she naively believed would take her away from her plight, only to be discarded once they grew tired of her, turning to embrace others.

She was all too familiar with the feeling of being treated as a plaything, despised and trampled upon.

"I understand." Liu Yiyi softly said to Little Douzi, "Thank you for telling me this."

She turned and walked back towards Chen Yang's residence, her steps much heavier than before.

This time she didn't knock, but pushed the door open directly.

Chen Yang was still sitting there, his face buried in his knees, like a frozen statue.

Hearing the door, he slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot and face bewildered.

"Miss Liu?" His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible, "Is there something else?"

Liu Yiyi didn't answer, just walked up to him, crouching down to meet his gaze.

Her eyes held no pity, no curiosity, only a deep understanding and empathy.

"Brother Chen," she spoke softly, her voice gentle yet firm, "I... I know everything."

Chen Yang's body visibly stiffened, shame and pain flashing in his eyes, "What do you know?"

"I know about Sister Zhao and Senior Brother Yang being here last night," Liu Yiyi looked directly into his eyes, "I know how they humiliated you."

Chen Yang abruptly turned his face away, his voice suppressed with anger, "This is none of your business."

"I understand that feeling," Liu Yiyi's voice remained calm, "When I was at the Spring Red Mansion, I once truly liked a guest. He promised to redeem me, to marry me. I believed him, even gave him all the money I had saved over the years."

Chen Yang was slightly startled, turning to look at her.

Liu Yiyi gave a bitter smile and continued, "And what happened? He disappeared with my money for three months, and when he reappeared, he had another girl with him. That night he still came to call on me, even praised his new love in front of me."

Her voice trembled slightly, "It was then I realized, in his eyes, I was always just a lowly prostitute, to be discarded once he was bored. Those vows of eternal love were nothing but his momentary whims."

The room fell into a brief silence.

Chen Yang looked at Liu Yiyi, the wariness in his eyes gradually dissipating, replaced by a shared sense of sorrow.

"We are the same kind of people," Liu Yiyi said softly, "Abandoned, despised, treated as if we can be trampled on at will."

She reached out and gently embraced Chen Yang's shoulders.

The gesture held no ambiguity, only pure comfort and understanding.

Chen Yang's body was initially as stiff as stone, but in Liu Yiyi's gentle embrace, he gradually relaxed.

The humiliation and pain accumulated over countless days and nights seemed to find an outlet at this moment.

He didn't speak, but his shoulders trembled slightly.

Liu Yiyi just held him quietly, just as she had once hoped someone would comfort her when she was abandoned.

Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

After about ten minutes, Chen Yang slowly raised his head, his eyes still pained, but now with a hint of calm.

"Thank you, Miss Liu," he said softly, his voice no longer so hoarse.

Liu Yiyi released him, smiling slightly, "If Brother Chen doesn't mind, you can come to me to talk anytime. I know what it's like to have no one to confide in."

She paused, as if making a decision, her voice lowering, "If... if Brother Chen wants to do anything with me, that's okay too. Although I'm no longer a woman of the dust, I know how to help someone temporarily forget their pain."

Chen Yang shook his head abruptly, his tone firm, "No, I would never treat Miss Liu that way."

Liu Yiyi's eyes showed a hint of sadness, "Does Brother Chen despise my background? Think I'm dirty and lowly?"

"Absolutely not!" Chen Yang quickly denied, his expression earnest, "In my eyes, what matters is a person's kindness and character, not their past. Miss Liu is hardworking and kind, I've seen it all these days. You are far purer than many so-called 'noble' people I've met."

Liu Yiyi stared at him, her eyes gradually welling up with tears.

During her time at the Greenwood Gate, though she had left the world of dust, her status as a servant still subjected her to disdain.

No one had ever said such words to her, no one had ever truly seen the value of her heart.

"Brother Chen..." her voice choked, unsure of what to say.

The two looked at each other for a moment, a strange sense of understanding flowing between them.

Liu Yiyi wiped the corners of her eyes and suddenly said, "If Brother Chen doesn't mind, I would like to recognize you as my sworn brother. I've been alone since childhood, never having siblings."

Chen Yang was slightly surprised, then warmth appeared in his eyes, "I too have no siblings. Having a sworn sister like Miss Liu would be my fortune."

"Then from now on, I'll call you Brother Chen." Liu Yiyi smiled through her tears, her smile particularly bright in the morning light.

"Sister Yiyi." Chen Yang also managed a genuine smile.

Sunlight streamed in from the door, stretching their shadows long and intertwining them.

In this cold cultivation sect, two souls that had been despised and hurt finally found a bit of warmth to rely on.

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan