Something Beautiful and Wicked

…     

The only thing Shi Yen packed and took from home on moving day was most of her clothes, leaving the rest behind. She had ordered new furniture to arrive at the estate before she was ready to move in.     

Shi Yen didn't want to move out of her childhood home completely, knowing that she'd heartbroken to empty her bedroom, the room she'd known most of her teenaged and early adult life.     

It was a space that her mother would come to help her choose a dress for a special event; it was the place her mother taught her about makeup, and that it doesn't give her confidence, it only adds onto what she already has.     

Her father occasionally visited her room, only when he'd notice that she had a bad day. Then he'd come in, sitting on the edge of her bed, and call her "Yenni" in a gentle voice before he asked about it.     

Shi Yen had to remind herself that she was leaving to protect her sister. She spaced out when her sister broke her thoughts, entering the room.     

"It seems weird that you're going," Shi Ailin said.     

Shi Yen smiled grimly as she rose from the ground. "I'm sorry if I'm leaving you alone."     

Shi Ailin shook her head. "It's normal to want your own space," she said. "We see each other at work, anyways. I'm just surprised you're giving me the house."     

"This is your home, too," Shi Yen said. "Even if father gave it to me."     

Shi Ailin smiled. "I miss him. Even if he did terrible things."     

Shi Yen took a deep, staggering breath. "Me too."     

She then picked up her things to carry down to her car and Shi Ailin helped her load up the trunk before she sent Shi Yen and Shizi off.     

Arriving at the estate, Shi Yen found a group of men moving in and out of her neighbour's house with furniture, the one that was unfortunately attached to hers.     

She opened her car door, and Shizi hopped out. Shi Yen then went to unload the trunk when two sweaty men stepped into her view.     

"Need some help?" Fang Qi asked.     

"I only have a few things," Shi Yen replied. "I can do it on my own."     

"It'd be done faster if we helped you," said Yuan Shun flatly.     

Shi Yen grinned at him sarcastically. "Fine."     

Since Shi Yen only needed renovations done in the house, most of her furniture was already set up. Fang Qi and Yuan Shun followed her inside the house, and she instructed them to leave the boxes at the top of the staircase.     

Yuan Shun looked at the interior, realizing that Shi Yen went for a palace-themed look fit for a royal.     

He thought that maybe Shi Yen thought highly of herself, but he couldn't help but think it suited her. The walls were painted gold, adorned with silver chandeliers. The seating room had white furniture, and the kitchen and dining room had red tablecloths. The living room between their homes had a simple style to compliment their contrasting tastes.     

Yuan Shun then realized this was really happening. At the time he looked at the estate, he only wanted to buy it to spite Shi Yen ever since she lost him a major deal. However, he ended up sharing it with her and moving out of his home.     

He didn't know what compelled him to do this, but he supposed it was to discover new ways to torture her since she was his most threatening enemy. Indeed, there was that one saying…keep your friends close and enemies closer, and they took it literally.     

After he finished helping move her things, he went back to his side, walking through the living room entrance.     

The living room had two double doors on each side with a common area in between. Each pair of doors have locks, but Yuan Shun had nothing to hide, so he kept his doors unlocked, in case she'd ever need to cross over.     

Shi Yen, on the other hand, thanked Yuan Shun and Fang Qi for their help before she locked her doors on her side. She then went to the front door, locking it too.     

Shizi was lying down on the floor when Shi Yen called her into the kitchen to feed her.     

Afterward, Shi Yen made her way up the stairs into her bedroom.     

She had requested half of her closet to be closed up with a coded password door, hidden by a vast tapestry of a Lion. Inside, she hung up some of her clothes from the Underworld. Some of them were red and black leather-clad pants and jackets.     

She hung her facemasks: some of them were gold-plated lionesses, others were of Chinese opera masks with various facial expressions, the same ones people would use to perform at theatres.     

She kept her sword enclosed in a brown-leather case. She had kept her knives and guns covered in their sheaths.     

Knives were easier to use, soundless and quick, but complicated if you're not close in range with your target. Guns are loud, and they raise the alarm, but necessary when you're up against many that want to kill you. Swords help deflect your opponents' attacks, and it can do damage to many if you can wield it properly.     

However, Shi Yen had left that world behind, hoping that no one would find her. And she'd be prepared if they do. Part of her wanted to leave Shi Ailin alone to protect her.     

If they come for Shi Yen, she'd be alone. No one else would have to get hurt. She could fight, but if she were to go down, then at least she'd be brave to face it. Perhaps Yuan Shun would be the one to find her body and he'd be glad of it.     

Shi Yen knew she brought this upon herself, but she had no regrets. During her time, she saved a lot of women who were kidnapped to do some explicit work without their consent. She had raided many houses to save them, claiming to be killing the owners due to some debts to the Queen. She had regulated the Underworld in some way, monitoring each organization so that they didn't go to war or create chaos, and she punished people who attempted to.     

After some reminiscing, Shi Yen stepped from the vault, locking it shut. She then went to change into a short chemise.     

Afterwards, she left her room, stepping down the stairs, leaving Shizi, who had fallen asleep behind.     

She heard mellow music escaping from the shared living room, and Shi Yen hovered behind the doors, unsure if she should open it, knowing Yuan Shun was behind it.     

A knock then startled her from her thoughts.     

"Yen?" she heard Yuan Shun call for her.     

Shi Yen figured she could ignore him and leave while she still could. But she realized that she was wearing something that wasn't very modest. He had seen her in a chemise before, but this particular one was not good at covering everything. She flushed.     

Shi Yen didn't understand why she suddenly felt conscious of her body. But she took a deep breath, realizing this was Yuan Shun, and she shouldn't care what he thought of her. So she opened the double doors and stepped through.