Know Your Place

The laughter hadn’t fully faded.

But the tension in the room had already shifted.

Fang Jia kept her head lowered, her fingers tightening around the tray in her hands.

She shouldn’t be here.

She knew that better than anyone.

And yet—

she couldn’t leave.

“Stay close to me.”

Li Wei’s voice was soft beside her.

“Just in case.”

Fang Jia gave a small nod.

But before she could respond—

“Of course.”

A gentle, elegant voice cut in.

Too gentle.

Too perfect.

Li Lan’er stepped forward, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor.

Her smile was flawless.

But her eyes—

cold.

Sharp.

Judging.

“I was wondering why the atmosphere felt… strange tonight.”

She stopped right in front of Fang Jia.

Looking her up and down.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

“Turns out…” she continued, tilting her head slightly,

“we have someone here who doesn’t quite belong.”

The room fell silent.

All eyes turned.

Fang Jia’s grip tightened.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I’ll leave—”

“Oh no.”

Lan’er interrupted gently.

“Why would you leave now?”

A soft chuckle escaped her lips.

“We’re all curious.”

A pause.

Then—

“How far can someone like you go?”

A few people laughed.

Quiet.

Mocking.

Fang Jia felt the heat rise to her face.

But she didn’t look up.

Didn’t react.

Didn’t give them what they wanted.

“Lan’er, that’s enough.”

A cold voice cut through the room.

He Yichen.

He stood not far away.

Watching.

His expression unreadable.

Lan’er turned to him, smiling sweetly.

“I’m just having a conversation.”

Her gaze shifted back to Fang Jia.

“Aren’t we?”

Fang Jia stayed silent.

Because anything she said—

would only make things worse.

Lan’er took a glass of wine from a nearby tray.

Then, slowly—

she stepped closer.

Too close.

“You’re shaking,” she said softly.

“Is it because you’re nervous…”

A pause.

“…or because you’re guilty?”

Fang Jia’s heart skipped.

What does she mean?

Before she could think further—

Lan’er’s hand tilted slightly.

Red wine spilled.

Straight onto Fang Jia’s uniform.

A soft gasp echoed in the room.

“Oh—”

Lan’er covered her lips lightly.

“I’m so sorry.”

Her tone was light.

Careless.

Not sorry at all.

Fang Jia froze.

The cold liquid soaked into her clothes.

Staining everything.

Humiliating.

Exposing.

“I—It’s fine…” she whispered.

“Of course it is.”

Lan’er smiled.

Because to her—

it was nothing.

Just a game.

“Clean it properly.”

Lan’er handed her a napkin.

As if she were nothing more than a servant.

A tool.

“Or do you need help with that too?”

Laughter followed.

This time, louder.

Crueler.

Fang Jia lowered her head further.

Her nails dug into her palm.

Hard.

So hard it almost hurt.

But not as much as this.

Not as much as standing here—

being treated like she didn’t matter.

Like she was invisible.

Like she was nothing.

“Enough.”

The word came cold.

Sharp.

Cutting through everything.

Silence fell instantly.

Yichen stepped forward.

Slowly.

Every step heavy with authority.

Danger.

His gaze landed on Fang Jia.

Just for a second.

Then shifted to Lan’er.

“Apologize.”

The room froze.

Lan’er blinked.

As if she had misheard.

“…What?”

Yichen’s voice didn’t change.

“I said—apologize.”

His eyes were dark now.

No warmth.

No hesitation.

Just command.

Lan’er laughed lightly.

Trying to brush it off.

“Yichen, don’t joke like that.”

“I’m not joking.”

The air turned heavy.

Suffocating.

“You humiliated her.”

A pause.

“So fix it.”

Lan’er’s smile slowly faded.

Her pride cracked.

“You’re defending a maid?”

Her voice dropped.

Cold.

Sharp.

Dangerous.

Yichen didn’t answer immediately.

Instead—

he reached out.

Grabbing Fang Jia’s wrist.

Pulling her slightly behind him.

A protective stance.

Clear.

Undeniable.

“I’m correcting a mistake.”

The room was dead silent.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Because everyone understood one thing now—

This was no longer a joke.

Fang Jia’s heart pounded wildly.

What is he doing…?

This will only make things worse…

“Yichen…”

Lan’er’s voice trembled slightly now.

A mix of anger and disbelief.

“You’re embarrassing me.”

Yichen’s expression remained cold.

“Then don’t give me a reason to.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Lan’er clenched her jaw.

Her nails digging into her palm.

But she forced a smile.

Because she couldn’t lose here.

Not in front of everyone.

“…Fine.”

She turned to Fang Jia.

Her eyes filled with something dark.

Something dangerous.

“I apologize.”

The words were soft.

But empty.

Completely empty.

But Fang Jia knew.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.

Yichen released her wrist.

Slowly.

As if nothing had happened.

But the damage—

had already been done.

Across the room—

eyes watched.

Judging.

Whispering.

And in that moment—

Fang Jia realized something terrifying.

Being protected by him…

might be worse than being ignored.

Because now—

everyone was watching her.

And none of them… were on her side.