THE REAL PROTEGE

"But you're my present." Fatty declared.

Lily blinked, taken aback, then touched his hand. "That's the sweetest protest I've ever heard."

Fatty leaned forward slightly, voice low and raw. "You're always so calm. So collected. Like it doesn't hurt. Like it's just another item on a schedule."

"It does hurt," Lily admitted. "I just choose to carry it differently."

Fatty searched Lily's face for a crack, any sign that she'd break her resolve — but she was steady. Not unfeeling, just enduring.

"We don't have to be beside each other every second to walk the same path, Ye," she said. "We both have things to build. Yours is in Belgium. Mine's on the stage. But we'll meet again — stronger. Not apart. Just… apart for now."

"Can't I just cancel everything and live in your suitcase?" Fatty whined.

Lily laughed — finally — and pressed her forehead to his. "You're ridiculous."

"I'd even wear leotards if it meant being close," Fatty said with a pout.

"Please don't," Lily teased, her nose crinkling.

He sighed dramatically. "So this is how it ends… heartbreak and gym socks."

"It's not the end," she whispered. "It's a stretch. Like a perfect extension. Hold it for a while… and we'll be back in sync."

Quan Ye held her gaze, then finally sighed with reluctant acceptance.

"Still gonna sulk, though."

"Allowed," Lily said. "Just not while I'm trying to balance on one leg."

Lingering Affection

Fatty pulled Lily gently into his arms, holding her as if shielding her from the breeze curling through the corridors of the estate. His breath slowed as he rested his forehead near her shoulder, inhaling the lavender notes still clinging to her from rehearsal — the scent grounded him more than he expected.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The garden around them was alive but hushed: wind stirring plum blossoms, koi rippling through the pond like liquid brushstrokes.

"I wish time bent for moments like this," Fatty murmured, voice low and wrapped in quiet awe.

Lily tilted her head, eyes searching his face. "But it doesn't. Which means we have to make them count."

She brushed a strand of hair from his cheek, her fingers lingering just long enough for him to close his eyes. "You're always so calm when things shift. It makes it easier for me to breathe."

Fatty opened his eyes, his smile soft but sincere. "Because when I look at you, I forget the world is spinning too fast."

They sat together beneath the bamboo archway, wrapped in sun-dappled shadows, speaking little — but saying everything. The hours didn't rush. They folded around them gently, like old friends allowing space to dream.

And as the sky melted toward gold and the estate began its quiet descent into the evening, the two stayed there. Just lovers, just time, just breath.

Fatty couldn't help but count the remaining days he could spend with Lily, and his heart truly ached.

==========

Back at Otako's Dungeon

Under the cloak of darkness, Butler Oda and the five Samurai made their way back to the damp, stone-walled dungeon, the flickering torches casting elongated shadows that danced ominously along the corridor. Their mission was clear: to unravel the mystery surrounding Nina, who had inadvertently become a pawn in a game of deceit.

As they descended into the chilling depths, the stale air was thick with anticipation. Memories of the night she had been cast into the ravenous pack of wolves haunted their thoughts. They were determined to uncover the identity of the enigmatic savior who had intervened that fateful evening.

Their inquiry would lead them to uncover the truth behind Nina's shocking appearance at Ling Li's wedding, where she had orchestrated chaos by masquerading as Chu Yan's ex-lover, hidden behind a lifelike silicone mask. The stakes were high, and the truth lay shrouded in the shadows of the dungeon, waiting to be unveiled.

"Wake her up!" Butler Oda commanded, his voice sharp and urgent.

A guard approached Nina's cell, shaking her gently at first, then more forcefully as she stirred from her restless slumber, her dreams invaded by the harsh reality of her confinement.

As her eyes fluttered open, Nina's heart raced when she saw the imposing figures surrounding her. Instinctively, she pressed herself into the cold, damp corner of her cell, seeking refuge in its shadows.

"We are not here to harm you," Butler Oda reassured, his tone a mix of authority and gentleness. He took a step closer, his expression softening. "We only want you to answer a few important questions."

Fear surged through her as she narrowed her gaze, suspicion creeping into her voice. "Who are you? I don't know anything! Just let me out of here!" Nina shouted, her desperation echoing off the stone walls.

Butler Oda remained calm, his demeanor unwavering. "If you cooperate," he proposed with a hint of promise, "I can help ease the pain that haunts you, that attacks you with the darkness. What do you think?"

Nina blinked, the memories flooding back like a sudden storm. She recognized the group standing before her, the very people who had snatched her from the sanctuary of the church. Their leader, a figure of authority and intensity, had been particularly harsh, mercilessly chastising her brother, Four Eyes, with a scowl that could freeze fire moments earlier at the altar.

A flicker of hope ignited in Nina's gaze. 'Could they be on my side? Might they assist me in exacting revenge on Ling Li and my brother?'

Butler Oda, with his kind demeanor, attempted to be gentle with her, knowing the bonds of family that tied him to Four Eyes. Yet, here she was, her thoughts swirling with treacherous fantasies of retribution against those she once thought to trust.

"Who are you?" Nina demanded, masking the tumult within her with an air of indifference. Her voice was steady, but a spark of defiance simmered beneath the surface. "What do you want from me?"

Butler Oda spoke with an air of calm authority, his voice steady as he addressed Nina, "Nina, we have no intentions of asking anything from you, and the specifics of our identities hold little significance. What truly matters is your story — the night you were rescued from that menacing pack of wolves. We seek to uncover who came to your aid and the sequence of events that unfolded afterward." His gaze pierced through the dim light, urging her to reveal the truth hidden within her memories.