Maybe My Soulmate! (GL)

Shen Mingyue's gaze swept over the scene, and then, in a gesture so subtle it was almost missed, she reached out and gently took hold of Mother Lan's free hand. Yuxin and Yubing both saw it. They saw the way Mother Lan's breath hitched for a second, and a soft, girlish blush bloomed on her cheeks—a blush that she tried to hide by fussing with her sleeve. It was a quiet, secret romance hiding in plain sight, and it made the courtyard feel even warmer.

Su Yubing took a deep breath, her expression firming with resolve. She looked at Mother Lan, then at Yuxin, her eyes full of love and determination.

"Auntie Lan, you're right. Things must be done properly. I will go home today and speak with my parents. I will tell them everything." She squeezed Yuxin's hand. "Once I have, we can arrange a day for you all to visit. This week, if possible."

"This week?" Yuxin's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "That's fast."

"I've waited long enough," Yubing said simply, her gaze locked with Yuxin's. The unspoken words to be with you hung between them, as clear as if they'd been shouted.

Mother Lan clapped her hands together, her face beaming. "Wonderful! But first, breakfast! All this talk of swords and marriage has made me hungry. Come, come inside. I've made congee and steamed some buns."

Breakfast was a lively, happy affair. The large, round table was laden with food. There was a big pot of steaming hot congee, with an array of toppings in small bowls: pickled vegetables, salted duck eggs, fried shallots, and chopped spring onions. Bamboo steamers were piled high with fluffy white pork buns and delicate, sweet red bean buns. There was also a plate of youtiao—deep-fried dough sticks—perfect for dipping, and a large pot of warm, fresh soy milk.

The atmosphere was relaxed and familial. Mo Feng, having decided Yubing was her new favorite person, insisted on sitting between her and Yuxin. She chattered away, asking Yubing a million questions about her training, her travels, and her sword. Yubing answered each question patiently, occasionally placing a piece of a steamed bun on the little girl's plate.

Meanwhile, Mother Lan was subtly taking care of Shen Mingyue, placing the choicest pieces of youtiao in her bowl and making sure her cup of soy milk was never empty. Mingyue, for her part, remained quiet, but her eyes never strayed far from Lan—a silent guardian watching over her queen.

Yuxin, ever the agent of chaos, was in her element.

"Yubing, you're eating too slowly," she said, picking up a piece of salted egg with her chopsticks and holding it to Yubing's lips.

Yubing simply opened her mouth and accepted it, her eyes crinkling in a small smile. A moment later, Yubing retaliated, pouring Yuxin a cup of soy milk and saying, "You talk too much. Drink this. It will keep you quiet for a moment."

Their flirtation was a constant, low-level hum beneath the surface of the conversation, a series of shared glances, light touches, and private smiles that wove them together in their own little world.

After the leisurely meal, the time came for Yubing to leave.

"I should go," she said, standing up. "The sooner I speak to them, the better."

"I'll walk with you," Yuxin said immediately, already on her feet.

"You don't have to," Yubing started to protest.

"I want to," Yuxin insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll walk you to your gate. It's the least I can do for my future wife who is about to face the dragons for me."

Yubing rolled her eyes, but the fondness in them was undeniable.

They said their goodbyes. Mo Feng hugged Yubing tightly around the waist. "Come back soon, Big Sis Yubing!"

"I will," Yubing promised, patting her head.

Mother Lan gave her a warm, encouraging smile. "Don't be nervous, dear. Your parents love you. They will understand."

Yuxin and Yubing walked out of the Mo family's cozy, welcoming courtyard and into the open space that separated it from the neighboring property. The Su family villa was a world away in style. Where the Mo courtyard was warm, rustic, and built for comfort, the Su villa was an imposing, fortress-like structure of dark wood and grey stone, surrounded by a high wall. It was elegant and powerful, but it lacked the heart of the Mo home.

As they approached the massive, ornate gate, two guards in crisp, dark uniforms stepped forward, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords. They were new faces, men Yubing didn't recognize from her childhood.

"Stop," one of them said, his voice flat and impersonal. "This is the Su residence. State your name and purpose."

Yuxin tensed slightly, ready to speak, but Yubing put a calming hand on her arm. She looked at the guards, her expression unreadable. She had changed so much in the past year. She was taller, her features sharper, her presence honed by life-or-death battles. She no longer looked like the sheltered young miss who had once lived here.

"I am here to see Lord and Lady Su," Yubing said, her voice even.

"Do you have an appointment?" the guard asked, his eyes scanning her and Yuxin with suspicion. "The lord and lady do not see unscheduled visitors."

A faint, wry smile touched Yubing's lips. She reached into a small pouch at her waist. Yuxin watched, curious. Yubing's fingers emerged holding a small, flat token made of pure, white jade. It was cool to the touch, and carved into its surface was the intricate image of a snow leopard, its head thrown back in a silent roar—the Su family crest.

She held it out.

The moment the guards' eyes fell on the emblem, all their suspicion and arrogance vanished, replaced by shock, then dawning recognition, and finally, profound awe. Their faces went pale. In a single, swift, synchronized movement, they dropped to one knee, their heads bowed low, their swords clattering against the stone ground.

Their voices, trembling with reverence, rang out in the quiet air.

"Welcome back, Young Miss!"

..

..

The reverence in the guards' voices was absolute, a sound that cut through the quiet morning air and seemed to echo off the high stone walls. Their words carried the kind of weight that could make even the birds in the garden pause their singing. Mo Yuxin tilted her head, and then, slowly, a grin spread across her face. Oh, she could get used to this. Watching the world bow to her Yubing was a pleasure all on its own.

Su Yubing, however, remained impassive. Her gaze, cool as a winter lake, fell upon the two kneeling men. She didn't need to raise her voice or soften it; her tone was steady, calm, and carried an innate authority that didn't require any embellishment.

"Rise," she said.

It wasn't loud, but it sank into their bones. The guards scrambled to their feet, their movements almost frantic, their faces pale with a mixture of shock and relief.

The rumors had been getting worse lately—whispers in the corridors and gossip in the servants' quarters. That the young miss had fallen to a demonic beast. That she had vanished into a treacherous realm and wouldn't return. That the Su family's direct line, the pride of their bloodline, had been broken. For a year, a heavy cloud of anxiety had hung over the estate, pressing down on even the strongest hearts.

Now, the sun had broken through.

One of the guards, quicker on the uptake, gave a sharp bow. "Forgive my impertinence, Young Miss! I will announce your return at once!"

Without waiting for her reply, he turned and sprinted through the now-open gate, his boots slamming against the stone like drumbeats announcing a royal arrival. His shouts echoed down the long corridors and gardens of the Su estate, frantic and joyous, impossible to ignore:

"The Young Miss has returned! The Young Miss is home!"

The second guard, still standing straight as a spear, gestured respectfully. His eyes shone with awe, as though he had just seen a spirit descend from the heavens. "Please, Young Miss. Allow me to escort you."

Yubing gave a small nod and stepped across the threshold. Her hand, cold and elegant, reached back for Yuxin's, squeezing gently. It was a simple gesture, but it grounded her.

Yuxin squeezed back, her chaotic energy momentarily tamed by the sheer gravity of the moment. She followed Yubing into the heart of the fortress, her grin softening into something more tender.

The Su estate stretched before them like a world unto itself. It was a masterpiece of controlled power, every stone and tree arranged with intention. Meticulously raked gravel paths wound through the gardens, where every pine tree had been trimmed into exact shapes, and every rock seemed placed by the hand of an artist obsessed with symmetry. Streams that should have run wild were redirected into sharp, angular channels, their natural chaos subdued into straight lines. It was beautiful in a cold, austere way—a sharp contrast to the vibrant, messy warmth of the Mo courtyard Yuxin had grown up in. This place didn't try to comfort you. It tried to impress upon you a simple truth: power lived here.

They hadn't even reached the central courtyard when the main hall's massive, carved doors burst open.

A woman stood silhouetted against the light, robes of deep blue silk embroidered with silver cranes flowing around her tall frame. Lady Su. Her face was usually a mask of serene aristocracy, trained over decades of political maneuvering. But today, it was etched with a year's worth of sleepless nights. Her eyes, wide and searching, scanned the path like a hawk desperate for its chick.

.

.

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To be continued.