Reborn Daughter: The Young Lady Wants to Make a Trouble

"You came too suddenly, just like always." Li Xueyue finally said after a comfortable silence between the two.

"I just wanted to see you." Yu Zhen hummed, burying his head in the crook of her neck, his breath caressing her bare skin. She trembled in response, reaching out her fingers to grasp one of his arms.

"Commander, don't you find it strange?"

"Well, what is that?"

"We barely know each other," Li Xueyue whispered. "I don't know your background, and you don't know mine."

"Well, is there anything you want to know about me?"

Li Xueyue changed her position and turned her head to see him clearly. He looked up and found that their faces were only inches apart. Her eyes widened as they got closer, but he didn't mind. What he really minded was the innocent look on her face. She let her guard down again in front of him.

Yu-jin wondered if she was like this to everyone or just him. The thought of the latter, whether true or not, brightened his mood.

He could easily capture her lips if he moved his face closer, but she would never respond to such a kiss. So he kissed her forehead lightly, stayed there for a moment, and then left.

"How's that going, Sunshine?" he mused.

Li Xueyue snapped back to her senses and looked away. Her fingers itched to touch the place where his lips had touched, the place full of his love. He stood up, and she immediately missed the heat radiating from his tall body. She thought he would offer her a helping hand, but he grabbed her hands and lifted her up easily, and despite her hearty breakfast, she was like she weighed nothing.

Li Xueyue was comfortable around him, not noticing their proximity or realizing how easily he could take advantage of her. She nestled comfortably in his arms, her hands pressed against his chest, but he was never the type to push her boundaries unnecessarily.

"I want to know about your childhood," she said, her gaze moving from his dark, mischievous eyes to his lips. He licked his lower lip with his tongue and bit it slowly.

"Which part?" he whispered.

"Any parts you're willing to share," she said, her eyes focused more than ever on his lips. Her heart skipped another beat when his lips curved into the smile he always gave her.

"To put it in the most cliché terms, my childhood was very black and white. I lived in my brother's shadow, and my younger siblings lived in my shadow."

Li Xueyue blinked, realizing that they had the same miserable childhood. It was a miracle that he could smile easily around her despite their similar backgrounds. If only she could be as cheerful as he was… but she didn’t know that he was only like that around her.

"I was never my father's favorite. With his treatment, you would have thought I was a servant's bastard, but he was never a kind man to his sons. To him, sons should be disciplined and daughters should be loved."

She saw the anger flash in his eyes, coming and going as quickly as it came. Was he frustrated with his father? Or was he angry at how he had been treated?

"That's all I can share," Yu Zhen concluded, slowly raising his hand to cup the side of her face. His thumb stroked her face, his expression softening. She looked at him not with pity or sympathy, but with empathy, as if she had been in his shoes.

Li Xueyue opened her mouth, wanting to share her childhood, but hesitated. If she was going to tell him about her childhood, she would have to tell him that she was not raised by the Li family. He would probably ask her more sensitive and personal questions, which she was afraid to answer. But it would be unfair if she didn't tell him the truth. He had done his duty. It was her turn to do the same.

"Can you tell me about your childhood?" Yu Zhen asked, his tone a little more hopeful than he expected. He really wanted to know more about her.

What kind of child did she grow up to be? Was she still as arrogant as she is today? Or maybe she was the troublemaker who blamed her siblings for breaking vases?

Li Xueyue licked her lips nervously. Maybe asking about his childhood wasn't the best idea.

He must have seen the panic in her eyes. So, he added, "Of course, you don't have to tell me if you're uncomfortable. You can always share something else."

Li Xueyue didn't need to look at him to know that he was somewhat disappointed with her behavior. She felt guilt spreading in her chest, but fear made her even heavier. What if he found out that she was an illegitimate child and looked at her as if she was inferior to him?

Originally, Xueyue thought that the Viscount was her biological father. It was not until she had a fierce quarrel with Bai Tianai when she was a child that she learned the truth. "Your disgusting father raped our mother, and you were born like this! You are not your father's daughter, you are an illegitimate child!" Bai Tianai yelled at Xueyue during the quarrel.

The abused Xueyue no longer needs to speculate on Bai Tianai's words. Of course, this will be the truth. Otherwise, why would Viscount Bai Sheng treat her so badly? No one is born evil.

"You mentioned that your father treated you like a bastard. What do you...think of them?"

"who?"

"Illegitimate children, what is your stance on them?"

Yu Zhen didn't answer her. He didn't need to. He already knew what was going on.

"Did the Duke leave you unmarried?"

Li Xueyue blinked. She immediately shook her head. “No, he would never betray the Duchess’s trust like that.”

"Then why do you call her Duchess? Shouldn't you call her Mother?"

Li Xueyue fell into a heavy silence. He no longer stroked her face with his thumb. He looked puzzled, his brows furrowed into three lines.

"What's wrong?" he finally asked, placing his hands on her face. She felt her heart drop to the bottom as he lost touch. She jumped when he bent a finger and lifted her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

Li Xueyue thought his face was full of confusion, but she didn't expect that his eyes were full of worry. He stared at her, as if he was worried that she would collapse at any time.

"No...no problem."

"Are you sure?"

She didn't answer him.

Yu Zhen was willing to give everything just to see her inner thoughts. He didn't understand the fear in her eyes, nor the panic in her smile.

"…Is the Duchess your mother?"

She is, but not by blood.

Li Xueyue wanted to hide from him, but his strength would not allow her to leave. She panicked, thinking that he would not let her go until she gave him an answer. But she still underestimated what kind of man he was.

Yu Zhen put his hand down and gave her the space she needed. Seeing the terrible expression on her face, he felt his heart tighten, as if he was frightened by something. What frightened her? The truth?

"You'll underestimate me," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper, hugging her elbows and looking down at the ground.

"I won't."

"You will!" She stepped back in exasperation as he took a step forward.

Yu Zhen's expression became more serious. He rushed towards her, not giving her a chance to retreat. He grabbed her arm and forced her to look up at him.

"I never would," he said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

"That's only because you don't know the truth!" she shouted, her eyes trembling.

Li Xueyue didn't want to lose him. It wasn't like that. But she couldn't force herself to tell her deepest secrets. It would destroy both of them and his respect for her. Even though it was a fact that couldn't be changed, people would still belittle her for it.

"Then tell me the truth."

"Yu Zhen I——"

“I can’t judge what I don’t know.”

Li Xueyue swallowed and cast her eyes toward the door, praying that someone would come in. They fell into a long silence, long enough to put a normal person off. But he didn't. His grip on her upper arm remained the same, steady, but evil.

He had no intention of leaving here until he heard the truth.

Li Xueyue finally couldn't hold back. Not with his urgent eyes and belly stare.

"Neither the Duke nor the Duchess are my biological parents."