— First Floor of the Inn —
Seven in the morning, bathed in bright sunlight.
Mary, the maid, had gotten up early. The moment she stepped into the inn, she spotted a trail of filthy, pitch-black footprints across the floor, making her groan in despair.
“Madam, Madam! Since when did our inn start taking in vagrants?”
Kneeling on the floor with a rag in hand, she grumbled to the older woman approaching. Just scrubbing away a tiny patch of those foul little footprints already had her dripping with sweat.
“The customer is paramount. You can’t just refuse their requests.”
The older woman slid on her reading glasses, settled leisurely behind the front counter, and pulled out a book. “Besides…”
“Good morning, ladies.”
Just then, He Ye greeted them as he came down the stairs.
His spirits had completely returned to normal, free of yesterday’s gloom. Seeing the maid before him, He Ye, fancying himself an English gentleman, even tipped his hat with a courteous bow.
Beside him walked a black-haired girl wearing a sour, bitter expression, completely drained of the lively vigor she had displayed the previous night.
At some point, Nicole had changed back into her ragged hooded robe. Wearing those tattered clothes instantly exposed her true social standing—a vagrant.
The maid immediately grasped what the madam had meant. Wiping the complaint from her face, she softened her tone into something far more ladylike:
“Good morning, sir.”
“I hope you have a wonderful, sunny day as well.”
“Thank you.”
After that brief exchange, He Ye led Nicole out of the inn.
He could no longer hear whatever the two women inside were discussing, and the notion that had sprouted in his mind the night before was about to be put into action today.
“The sun is wonderful, isn’t it?”
He Ye smiled gently, glancing at the girl beside him.
“Ah… hahahaha…” Nicole laughed hollowly.
Her expression shifted between light and shadow, resembling a hesitant mouse staring at a block of cheese fastened to a spring-loaded trap.
What on earth am I supposed to do…?
Nothing of what she had imagined had taken place last night. That left Nicole feeling immensely relieved—and yet quietly bewildered. She had escaped unharmed, but she couldn’t help pitying this old gent’s tragic impotence.
She had originally planned to sneak around and rob him once he fell asleep, but deep into the night, the gentleman had simply stared at the ceiling with a glazed, entranced look, occasionally wearing an intoxicated smile that scared Nicole half to death.
Could this guy sleep with his eyes open?
In the end, she had drifted off from pure exhaustion. By the time she opened her eyes again, morning had arrived. Nicole had just slipped out of bed and quietly changed into her own clothes, intending to abandon the job—
Only to find Mr. Leon already awake, sitting on the bed with his hands pillowed behind his head, smiling at her with radiant warmth.
“Why are you changing clothes?”
Nicole had trembled, stammering in fright.
“Th-th-these clothes belong to you, sir. I-I-I’m planning to leave, so I won’t take your things with me…”
Her words had reached Mr. Leon’s ears like a tragic confession, seemingly striking a chord deep in his heart. Heartbroken and deeply moved, he had immediately gotten dressed and decided to head out.
Which had led directly to their current situation.
— Narcissus Street, Clothing Store —
After a ten-minute walk, He Ye and Nicole arrived outside a clothing boutique. The shopkeeper was just yawning as he pulled back the door curtain. The moment he saw potential business, his expression did a complete hundred-and-eighty-degree flip.
“Welcome! …Er, vagrants are prohibited from entering, sir.”
The shopkeeper rubbed his hands together, his face caught in hesitation, until He Ye tipped his hat, bowed, and offered a compassionate, sorrowful explanation of the girl’s tragic background. Only then did he earn the man’s sympathy and permission to enter.
“All right, all right, fine.”
The store offered garments for men, women, young, and old alike—from coats and furs to padded cotton jackets. Through a transparent glass partition, one could even see mannequins adorned in opulent evening gowns.
“Sir, why did you bring me here?”
Nicole had calmed down considerably. Weighing her options, she had decided to keep following He Ye while staying alert to her surroundings. Today was the last day of the week; she had to pull off a score to settle her account, or she would be thrown straight into prison.
“Isn’t it obvious? To get you a proper set of clothes,” He Ye replied calmly. Although he didn’t have many coins left in his pocket, buying a set of clean clothes was still well within his means.
Soon enough, the shopkeeper returned holding his nose, carrying a fashionable ladies’ dress. The ragged coat she had on smelled far too pungent.
He cleared his throat repeatedly and backed away, pinching his nose tightly.
Nicole was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. She had never imagined this was his intention!
“Sir, you… you’re truly too kind!”
Having changed into the dress inside the fitting room, Nicole spoke from the bottom of her heart. She stepped out, stopped in front of He Ye, and placed a hand over her chest once more, her voice thick with emotion as though taking a solemn oath.
“I have to paint your name onto a portrait, frame it, hang it in the most prominent spot in my house, and then—”
“All right, all right, stop.” He Ye raised a hand. “Spin around.”
Nicole complied clumsily. “Oh, sure!”
The hem of the dress fluttered gracefully.
As expected, she looks much more like a lively, youthful girl now.
He Ye rubbed his chin, satisfied with the outfit, and walked to the counter to pay. He also asked if there were a smaller size available, but the shopkeeper firmly insisted that any clothes Nicole had worn had to be purchased—after all, they now carried her scent.
“Are you sure you want to try a smaller size?” The shopkeeper clicked his tongue, scrutinizing him sternly.
He Ye glanced into his wallet and suddenly decided that a slightly larger dress was just fine. The girl would grow into it eventually anyway.
Leaving the clothing store.
“Do I really smell that bad?”
Once outside, Nicole tugged at her collar, sniffing inquisitively.
He Ye couldn’t be bothered to answer. The girl lacked any self-awareness, and his nose had practically gone numb to the stench anyway. Looking at Nicole in her clean white dress, the old saying proved true—clothes make the man. She certainly didn’t look like a vagrant anymore.
The orphanage should be able to accept her now.
“Speaking of which, I’m getting hungry. Let’s grab some breakfast,” He Ye said, rubbing his neck. The inn’s pillow had been a bit too flat for his liking.
“Really? You’re even going to treat me to breakfast?! Heavens, may God bless you with a hundred years of life!”
Nicole cheered and bounced on her heels.
Credit where credit was due, she certainly had an endless supply of flattery.
He Ye felt his mood brighten considerably. Helping others wasn’t about seeking personal redemption; it simply felt good, and he wanted his new life to have a decent start.
Yesterday was already in the past. He wouldn’t look back.
He Ye wiped his nose. “Give me two more compliments.”
“Wheee! Sir, you’re so kind and handsome! You’re the gentlest soul I’ve ever met in this entire world! Truly, nobody has ever treated me this well!”
Nicole pranced about like an excited little squirrel, looking ready to climb onto He Ye’s shoulder and bounce from side to side in praise.
The sunlight was warm and radiant as fallen leaves drifted from the branches. People bustled past along the street, each occupied with their own life’s journey. He Ye tossed a coin from his change, stepping lightly with a faint smile. Beside him, Nicole munched on a roll of bread, her cheeks puffed out full.
“Sho good, sho good!”
“The sun is wonderful, isn’t it?”
It seemed a senseless line to repeat, yet He Ye turned toward her with such a gentle gaze that a subtle hesitation flickered across Nicole’s face. She looked up, torn with inner conflict. Careless though she was, she knew that if she repaid such kindness from this gentleman grandpa with betrayal, she would probably go straight to hell.
Heh…
Whatever, eat first!
