The Phantom Heiress: A Tale of Survival

The air inside the storeroom was thick with the mingling scents of dried herbs, musty parchment, and lingering secrets. Bai Yue sat on a wooden stool, poring over an old ledger by the flickering light of an oil lamp. Each number scribbled across the pages was a piece of a puzzle, and with every passing moment, the picture became clearer.

Her fingers traced the entries carefully, noting the discrepancies that were now impossible to ignore. The second mistress had been siphoning off valuable herbs for months, if not longer. And yet, the Bai family remained oblivious—or perhaps willfully ignorant.

A soft knock at the door broke her concentration. She didn't look up. "Come in."

Ah-Liang slipped into the room, his small frame tense with nerves. "Miss Bai Yue," he whispered, glancing around as if expecting someone to overhear. "I overheard something today… something important."

Xinya finally looked up, interest flickering in her eyes. "Go on."

The young boy hesitated, then leaned in closer. "The second mistress's maid… she said there's a meeting tonight. Outside the estate. She's delivering a special order to someone important."

Xinya's eyes narrowed. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for. If she could catch the second mistress red-handed, she would have leverage.

"Where?" she asked.

"Near the south gate," Ah-Liang said quickly. "I can show you."

Xinya considered it for a moment before nodding. "We'll go together. But stay quiet, and stay behind me."

Night fell swiftly, and Xinya moved silently through the shadows of the Bai estate, Ah-Liang trailing closely behind. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft glow over the tall stone walls.

Near the south gate, they found cover behind a dense patch of bamboo, crouching low as they watched the entrance. Moments later, the familiar figure of the second mistress's maid appeared, clutching a cloth-wrapped bundle to her chest. She glanced around nervously before slipping through the gate.

Xinya tensed. This was it. She was about to step forward when a firm hand suddenly grasped her wrist, pulling her back sharply into the shadows.

"Too reckless," a deep voice murmured close to her ear.

Xinya's heart leapt into her throat. She turned sharply, her gaze meeting a pair of dark, piercing eyes. The man standing beside her was tall, clad in dark robes that seemed to blend seamlessly with the night. His grip on her wrist was firm but not painful, and there was a certain authority in the way he held himself.

"Who—"

"Quiet," he whispered, his gaze flickering toward the gate. "Do you have any idea what you're walking into?"

Xinya narrowed her eyes, ignoring the way her pulse quickened at his proximity. "Let go of me."

Instead of releasing her, his grip tightened slightly, his expression darkening. "You're not in a position to be giving orders, little one."

A flicker of annoyance sparked in her chest. "Who are you?"

The man studied her for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh. "Someone who doesn't want to see you get killed."

Xinya stiffened. Was he implying that this was more dangerous than she had anticipated?

Before she could argue, the sound of voices carried from the gate. She turned her attention back just in time to see the maid speaking in hushed tones to a cloaked figure. The exchange was brief—a bundle handed over, a few whispered words, and then the figure melted back into the darkness.

Xinya clenched her fists. She had been so close.

"You need to be more careful," the man murmured, his thumb grazing lightly against her wrist before he finally released her.

She pulled back instinctively, glaring up at him. "I don't need your help.

His lips curved into a slow, almost amused smile. "Of course you don't. But that won't stop me from giving it."

Xinya bristled, but before she could respond, Ah-Liang tugged at her sleeve anxiously. "Miss Bai Yue, we should go."

Shooting one last glare at the stranger, she turned and slipped back into the shadows, Ah-Liang following closely behind.

But as she disappeared into the night, she could still feel the weight of his gaze lingering on her.

Back in the safety of her small quarters, Xinya paced the room restlessly, replaying the encounter in her mind. Who was that man? And why did he interfere?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Ah-Liang spoke up hesitantly. "Miss Bai Yue… do you think he was a spy?"

Xinya shook her head slowly. "No. He didn't seem like one of the second mistress's people."

"Then why did he help you?"

Xinya sighed, rubbing her temples. "That's what I need to find out."

Whoever he was, one thing was certain—he had a vested interest in her well-being. And in a place like this, interest often came with a price.

She had barely begun uncovering the web of secrets within the Bai estate, and now, a new player had entered the game.

And Xinya had no intention of being anyone's pawn.

Meanwhile…

In the shadows of the estate's outer walls, the dark-robed man watched as Bai Yue disappeared into the distance. His eyes lingered on the path she had taken, a frown tugging at his lips.

"Foolish," he murmured to himself. "Does she even realize how dangerous this game is?"

He had expected to find a weak, insignificant girl, but what he encountered instead was someone with an uncanny sharpness—someone who didn't shy away from danger.

His fingers curled slightly, remembering the feel of her delicate wrist beneath his grip. It had been too easy to hold her in place, to prevent her from running headfirst into trouble.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

"Interesting."

And for the first time in a long while, he found himself intrigued.

With the introduction of this mysterious figure, Xinya's carefully laid plans were about to take an unexpected turn. But whether he was friend or foe… that was yet to be determined.