As everyone knows, the wealthy Feiyun Commerce Guild of Liyue Harbor has two sons... or rather, in the public eye, there are two young Masters.
The Elder Brother is steady and capable, having long assisted their father in managing the guild's affairs; he is the undisputed heir.
Meanwhile, the Second Young Master Xingqiu, whose whereabouts are occasionally mysterious and who often avoids guests under the pretext of "secluded study" or "traveling for learning," is the most praised "jewel" of the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
Of course, the word "jewel" must be placed in quotation marks, for it is actually a carefully woven dream that has lasted for over a decade.
The public only knows that Young Master Xingqiu is handsome and elegant, fond of reading, and gentle in nature; although the son of a merchant, he lacks any air of mercantilism, appearing instead like a refined Childe from a scholarly family, further blessed with exquisite swordsmanship—truly a genius of both pen and sword.
Yet few know of the delicate curves hidden beneath those flowing male clothes. That clear voice, with a bit of modification, could transform into a spring-like feminine tone. Those eyes that occasionally look up from a book to gaze out the window are as clear as water, holding not just literary thoughts and sword intent, but also the faint sorrow and cunning of a Damselette in the inner chambers who must temporarily hide her beauty.
Why is this so?
Rumor has it that when the Matriarch of the Feiyun Commerce Guild was pregnant, a Master divined that if the child were a girl, her destiny would be extraordinary, but she would need to present herself as a male until age sixteen to avoid a fated calamity. Only after reaching adulthood could she return to her true self and enjoy lasting blessings.
Out of love for their daughter, the Master and Madam of the guild preferred to believe it. Coupled with the fact that Xingqiu had shown great interest in male clothing and tales of chivalry since childhood and didn't resist much, this plan of "substitution" was quietly implemented.
The character "Qiu" carries poetic and peaceful meanings, and the pronunciation of "Xingqiu" sounds delicate and soft yet with a hint of neutrality. Thus, the name for this Second Miss was decided.
Everyone in the guild kept their lips sealed, only announcing to the outside world that they had a second son, successfully deceiving the entirety of Liyue Harbor.
Thus, our "Second Young Master" Xingqiu grew up in this strange situation of being both male and female.
She didn't read elegant poetry or literature, but rather martial arts novels and biographies of chivalry. She didn't practice embroidery or cooking, but the family's Fast Rain Sword Technique.
At times, she had to play the role of a gentle young Master in public, yet in the privacy of the inner courtyard, she could change into light silk dresses before her personal Maid, apply makeup, and complain, "This chest binder is truly more exhausting than a whole day of sword practice."
[Chapter 2: The Me in the Mirror]
The candlelight flickered gently in the exquisite bronze lamp, casting light on the intricate carvings of the window frames.
Xingqiu closed the chivalrous novel she had just acquired, her fingertips unconsciously brushing over the words "roaming the world with a sword" on the page, and let out a soft sigh. This sigh was as light as a falling feather, yet it carried complex emotions that could not be shared with outsiders.
His, or rather, her gaze fell upon the smooth glass mirror on the dressing table. Reflected in the mirror was a delicate, slightly feminine face of a youth. The upturned corners of the eyes and the thin, pale lips combined to create the image of a handsome and likable young gentleman.
Xingqiu would sometimes stare blankly into the mirror.
When she was young, she didn't quite understand what "destiny" and "calamity" meant; she only felt that wearing boys' clothes made it easier to move around—climbing trees to raid bird nests or going into the river to catch fish without being scolded for being "improper." Her father and mother's eyes were a mix of worry and affection, while her Elder Brother silently took on more responsibilities and quietly helped her avoid unnecessary social interactions, allowing her to stay more freely in the study or the backyard.
But as she grew older, that haziness gradually became clear.
She began to realize her difference from those around her.
It wasn't just a difference in clothing and hairstyle, but a deeper awareness of "self" that was quietly sprouting.
She loved reading, losing herself in the martial arts dreams and chivalrous sentiments built by words; those stories of vendettas and wandering freely with a sword made her heart surge. She also loved practicing the sword, feeling the vibration of the air passing over the blade and experiencing the beauty of combining strength with skill.
These hobbies were considered elegant pursuits for the "Second Young Master," but for the "Second Miss," they might be seen as rebellious.
The image in the mirror was both a protective color and an invisible shackle.
She occasionally imagined what she would be like now without that prophecy. Would she be wearing the latest dresses from Ni Chang Pavilion, learning flower arrangement and tea tasting, and discussing the latest jewelry patterns with other young ladies of noble families in Liyue Harbor?
Such a life didn't seem bad, but... she always felt something was missing.
Perhaps what was missing was that sense of freedom and rebellion hidden beneath the secret.
In her identity as "Young Master Xingqiu," she had read too many books a girl shouldn't read, practiced too much swordplay a girl shouldn't practice, and even secretly composed martial arts stories that might not be considered sophisticated but brought her joy.
"Which one is the real me?" Xingqiu would occasionally wonder.
Was it the gentle Second Young Master she had to play? Or the Damselette with a chivalrous dream in her heart who occasionally felt a hint of curiosity about rouge and powder?
This confusion could be told to no one; it became a secret buried deep in her heart, carefully hidden away along with her true gender.
Only in the stories flowing from her pen could she slightly release her bound soul, letting her thoughts become characters in a book to experience and feel on her behalf.
[Chapter 3: Close Friends]
Time passed, and "Second Young Master Xingqiu of the Feiyun Commerce Guild" gradually gained fame among the younger generation of Liyue Harbor. Although he didn't often attend bustling banquets, his reputation for being humble, polite, and well-read, as well as his impressive swordsmanship, still spread.
By chance, Xingqiu met several friends of similar age. Among them was a young man also from a merchant family who had little interest in the family business but was passionate about archaeology and history, as well as practitioners from ordinary families with cheerful personalities and good martial skills.
Being able to associate with like-minded people was one of life's joys, and Xingqiu felt delighted at first.
They discussed books, sparred in martial arts, and occasionally went on outings together, talking about naive yet passionate dreams.
Among them, Xingqiu could often temporarily forget the secret about her gender, feeling that she was just "Xingqiu," an ordinary youth longing for friendship and recognition.
However, the secret always revealed its sharp edges unexpectedly.
When her friends took off their shirts and jumped into the stream to play because of the heat, Xingqiu could only make excuses like being "physically weak and sensitive to cold" or "unable to swim," sitting in the shade on the bank and using a book to hide her slightly flushed cheeks and a hint of panic.
When everyone put their arms around each other's shoulders and called each other brothers, Xingqiu's body would always stiffen for an imperceptible moment, then she would skillfully use actions like turning around or handing something over to diffuse the overly intimate contact.
When discussing which young lady was beautiful or being teased by friends about "which girl would be lucky enough to marry into the Feiyun Commerce Guild in the future," Xingqiu could only lower her eyelashes and brush it off with an awkward yet polite smile, while a sense of indescribable bitterness and absurdity welled up in her heart.
Among her many friends, one was particularly special: the young Taoist Practitioner, Chongyun, who took it upon himself to exorcise evil spirits.
Chongyun was straightforward and pure-hearted. Due to his Pure Yang Constitution, he was easily disturbed by heat evil and often needed popsicles to suppress his body heat and calm his mind. Xingqiu's acquaintance with him began with an "evil spirit" incident, and they gradually became close due to shared interests (at least Xingqiu unilaterally believed that studying swordsmanship and discussing ancient texts together counted as shared interests).
Spending time with Chongyun, Xingqiu felt a different kind of ease.
Perhaps it was because Chongyun was simple-minded and never doubted her, treating her only as a like-minded "good friend," with words and actions that were open and natural, devoid of any probing.
Or perhaps it was because Chongyun's own constitution was special, making him better able to understand the troubles of being "different," even if the manifestations were completely opposite.
One needed ice to cool his body, while the other needed clothes to hide her form.
Xingqiu quite enjoyed teasing this serious Little Daoist Priest. She loved seeing him blush and become flustered because of her few words of banter; this became a bright spark of fun in the oppressive life brought by her hidden identity.
But that Taoist Practitioner Chongyun, who was often by the Second Miss's side and seemed oblivious to romance, had actually long since developed feelings without realizing it.
Every time he saw her, his extremely yang Pure Yang Constitution would become uncontrollably restless, his blood would surge, and his face would turn red. Yet he only thought it was the work of evil spirits or caused by the heat, hurriedly seeking those popsicles to cool this "heart fire."
Little did he know that this "evil spirit" was right before his eyes—the "Second Young Master" with hidden long hair and a smile like a flower.
What his eyes saw was a graceful young man, but what his heart felt was the stirring of ignorant affection. Such a contradictory struggle, like the intertwining of ice and fire—is it not enough to make one sigh in regret?
The most agonizing part was that as their friendship deepened, Xingqiu had to weave one lie after another to cover the initial one. Every concealment was like a tiny, invisible scratch on the smooth surface of their friendship.
She gained a close friend but also built another invisible cage for herself.
The happiness was real, but beneath it always lurked the shadow of fear—fear of the secret being exposed, fear of seeing the surprise or even possible disgust in her friend's eyes upon learning the truth.
This "difference" that had to be hidden made her feel occasionally lonely amidst the excitement.
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