With their recent small victory of foiling CQ’s plan, SJ brings CX to the celebration dinner he’s holding with his secret men at arms.

The group of young men is very welcoming to “Lady Boss”. They’re excited, ever since SJ formed their group ten years ago, he’s never brought a woman alive before.

CX doesn’t know what to make of that last part but a wide smile spreads across her face.

They’re all likable, very much like a family. The young men make quite a few toasts to Lady Boss.

“Over the years, you’ve planning so much,” CX addresses SJ later in the night as the two look over the group of sleepy, drunken young men.

He’s had no other choice, LS’s family is considered an imperial merchant family so it’s difficult to bring them to justice.

Fortunately, he’s had the company of the young men who are orphans just like him. They wandered everywhere before meeting, all rootless with no attachments yet all are like brothers.

CX wonders about SJ’s life before his family’s death. Since he was the only son in his family, he must’ve lived a happy and comfortable life what with this family’s flourishing wealth. After they were ruined, he must’ve been alone and helpless. How could it have been easy?

“Compared to never having had happiness, having it and then mercilessly robbed of it, it’s even more cruel,” CX candidly states.

It’s all in the past now, they can only move forward.

After all this mess is done, SJ wants to take care of all the young men who’ve been following him, revitalize his family, and make the best fireworks once again.

What about her?

“I’ve never dared hope for the future. Do you believe in past and present lives and karma?” CX asks SJ.

“I had a very long dream. In that dream, I loved the wrong person. I willingly stood beside him, diligently plotting everything for him and giving him my all. In the end, time and again, he burned through my heart. He cursed me to never have a good end. A great fire burned away all my obsession with him, completely awakening me,” she looks up at SJ’s listening face.

She wants that man in her dream to know exactly how it feels to shed all tears with only the taste of blood left. How’s this not karmic retribution?

SJ takes her hand in his wanting to comfort her. “Don’t think about it anymore. You just have to believe that with me, there will be a future. In the future, you don’t need to shed any tears. You’ll only have laughter”.

If there is such a future, CX wants to make fireworks that carry her name and to have a small home that shelters her from wind and rain with her children as she ages happily and ordinarily.

CX looks at SJ with a smile and hope in her eyes. Initially, she planned on using him. Unexpectedly, they’ve come to this.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

Someone leaves a note outside her door mysteriously. It’s allegedly from SJ asking to meet.

As CX makes her way to the designated meeting spot, she cautiously looks around the room, covers her nose, and uses a pitcher of water to douse the burning incense. It’s tampered with as she anticipated.

A while later, SJ walks into the same room finding CX seated by the table. However, all isn’t good, she seems out of it.

He rushes to her side and holds her as he realizes their relationship is seen through by others. Whatever incense CX put out when she entered must’ve been potent enough to warrant her reaction.

Outside their meeting room, CQ is waiting for LS to arrive. She pretends she’s looking for CX though all this is yet another plan laid out to trap her half-sister.

Meanwhile, in the room, SJ tries to place the collapsed yet lucid CX on the bed only to find out just what incense she must’ve inhaled—an aphrodisiac.

CX wrestles him down on the bed, “SJ I like you so much but I can only stash you in my heart,” she confesses.

“Didn’t you say that we’re only uncle and niece, that we’re just allies, merely using each other?” he inquires while gently pushing a strand of hair from her face as she lies on top of him.

“I don’t want to be just allies with you but I’m afraid of giving my heart to the wrong person again. What I told you wasn’t at all a dream,” an anguished CX continues, “It was the fate of my previous life. Your kindness to me may be a simple gesture but, for me, it’s the warmth I’ve never felt in life”.

SJ gently caresses her, she’s not done. “I really like you but I’m afraid in the end I’ll lose you too. If we don’t start, then there’s no loss to fear”.

Right?

“Once started, then there’s no need to fear loss,” SJ corrects her with certainty. He makes to get up knowing they’re about to have unwelcoming company. However, the drugged CX isn’t ready for him to leave her.

She pulls him in for a searing kiss but SJ grabs her arms and holds them down to prevent her from continuing.

He implores her to see who he is because he needs to know she knows who it is she’s kissing right then and there, that she has enough awareness.

CX looks at him hovering over her and whispers his name before letting out a true smile. Even if this is a trap, SJ doesn’t care anymore, he goes in for a kiss giving in to both their desires. But just as CX starts pulling her dress off exposing part of her collarbone, he sees a tattoo of a butterfly, a remnant of the branding she endured in her past life before burning alive.

Suddenly somewhat in control, SJ pulls away once more vowing it would be the last time he lets go of her.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

CQ slowly walks with LS toward the room where CX is supposed to be waiting. She shares with LS her suspicions after hearing from her father recently that CX has been learning about the business from Uncle.

They often meet alone outside, she’s just worried CX…

“No need to beat around the bush,” LS interrupts. CX is usually straightforward and bold, she’s not out of virtue. He can’t doubt her every time because of CQ.

LS makes to go but a pissed CQ heads towards the room on a mission to prove him and her stupid favored sister wrong.

Walking in, the two come across CX and SJ each lying on the same bed asleep on different sides.

There, does he see them? The two are lying so close together it’s bound to be due to an indecent encounter.

She makes a go to get her father to witness the scene but LS stops her. Agitated, CQ heads towards the bed, and just as she approaches, SJ as the Uncle wakes up.

CX follows suit. “It really is you who arranged this meeting,” SJ addresses CQ.

Father sent her to look for her sister, Uncle has done such a disgraceful thing and he even dared to slander her.

CX cuts in showing the letter she received asking for the meeting that imitates Uncle’s handwriting rather poorly. SJ pulls out his own note imitating CX’s handwriting just as badly.

If they were meeting in secret, why would they write notes and provide leverage upon potential discovery?

They were also drugged, if they get a doctor they can verify that’s the truth. Their clothes are neat, nothing happened at all in this poorly staged setup.

LS, who’s said nothing the entire time, has no doubts about the situation. CQ’s plan once again crumbled to dust.

Are their feelings for each other a blessing or a curse?

Outside, in the carriage heading back home after narrowly escaping the recent incident, CX comments on how SJ looks rather satisfied.

She thought he wouldn’t harm her, she just didn’t think her “Uncle” would be untrustworthy. Of course, she says this with a smile.

He issues an apology but is reluctant to promise there won’t be a next time unless she can recount what happened between the two of them before CQ and LS arrived at the scene. Only then he’ll assure her there won’t be a next time.

CX vividly recalls pulling him in for their shared searing kiss.

“You’ve clearly taken advantage of me today, I can’t just let it go,” SJ maintains.

That was the result of the drug, he was responsible too!

“I’m a straightforward person, since you started it you have to see it through,” he tells her.

“Hmm, but what if a charming man falls in love with me?” CX flirts.

“You dare? Don’t even think about it,” SJ says with a tap on her nose as he pulls her close to him. This moment of shared joy between them is rare and precious.

Once home, LS catches up asking to speak to CX. He assures her the rumored accusations about her and her Uncle are baseless.

CX looks at LS’ earnest face unable to help the recollection of her past life when a similar event took place.

CQ had framed her back then too and LS had walked in very much the same way. Only back then he’d easily believed in her alleged indecency. He’d slapped her, called her cheap, and denounced their marriage as the greatest regret in his life.

The present CX sardonically smiles before commanding her “Uncle” to beat him up. SJ complies until she stops him.

“This bit of grievance is nothing compared to me being dishonored. Just now, I thought you’d be on my side but only now you recall I’m talented with fireworks so you see through it. You don’t trust me at all, you only think of benefits,” she clarifies for the shocked LS who hadn’t expected the beating.

True trust is in the heart and actions, not in words. CX has been alone and helpless since childhood, only Uncle has shown her care and goodwill.

Today she was framed yet LS suspected her so she vented her anger. From now on, they’ll part ways as if they never knew each other.

LS makes for a desperate attempt to stop her. He’s always trusted her, he just doesn’t know how to express his feelings.

Truly, he’s never doubted her, he’ll go home and beseech his father to issue the proposal.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

True to his word, LS shows up with the marriage proposal.

Surprising SJ, CX accepts the terms, telling her father she’d initially wanted to test LS’ sincerity and now is satisfied.

As she walks to her room, SJ pulls her against the wall inside. How could she consent to the marriage? He won’t allow it!

“Who are you to ask me? My uncle? Accomplice? Ally? Or what?” she replies. What the heck are they?

She was determined long ago. Even if she marries him, she may not get the real formula but if she doesn’t marry him, when can they get what they desire?

What he wants is just a pawn to enter LS’ family and success is within sight. Why does he, as the player, have second thoughts? He’s plotted for years with so many subordinates, if he could get the formula would he need to disguise himself as her uncle?

“LS isn’t a good man,” SJ tells her, “I’m afraid if you have to live with him, he’ll hurt you”.

But CX feels she needs to cleanse herself of all the filth before she can start over clean.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

SJ finds out the man he’s impersonating, CX’s real uncle, died from poison. Upon learning this, he sets out quickly to find CX.

Seated in silence in a room full of the recent betrothal gifts, CX doesn’t ask questions or pull away when SJ approaches, takes her hand, and pricks her finger with a needle.

He’s testing her blood to see if she’s poisoned but it doesn’t sit well with him that she’s not protesting at all. What if he wanted to hurt her?

CX can’t help it, she laughs. SJ’s concern is extremely touching and thoroughly adorable.

She assures him that even though she shared an estate with her uncle, the man was seriously ill and lived in seclusion.

The relief brought from those words is but temporary. As soon as one challenge is conquered yet another materializes.

SJ is summoned by CX’s father for a fake brotherly chat. In fact, the man is suspicious of this brother of his who acts neither sick nor scholarly.

It’s when he suggests (or, more like demands) SJ show the mark his “brother” has on his chest, that a sudden fire bursts in the mansion.

Everyone rushes to put out the fire before it spreads, SJ heads to find CX and ensure she’s doing well what with her fear of fires.

However, the fire was CX’s doing. The chaos it causes provides a chance for CX to inform SJ of the mark her father is demanding he show and the location of it.

Sure enough, after the fire is controlled, SJ is summoned back as Uncle to continue where they left off.

Undressing in the room, SJ shows the man the scar and tells him how it was acquired (for his “brother” feigns surprise and asks about the story even though he’s aware of how it happened since he was the cause).

“Most of our family lives to be a hundred. It’s okay for a man to have a few scars. I was thinking that you’ve reached the age to get married (for Uncle is many years younger than his brother), how about I…” SJ interrupts the man for all this pathetic attempt at pretending to care.

Just as SJ tells his “brother” not to worry about his marriage status, CX walks into the room eyes glued on the exposed parts of bare chest in front of her.

Her father clears his throat causing both CX to avert her eyes and SJ to cover his chest.

CX thanks Uncle for saving her betrothal letter. Her father insists there must be no more mishaps before the wedding (though from whom he makes demands no one knows).

It’s not until much later when they regroup that SJ exclaims his surprise at how quickly her father responded. This uncle must have had secrets unknown to others.

“My father sent me to the estate and ignored me. Every birthday and festival, only my uncle would send me gifts. Although I seldom met him, he was kind to others. He always gave with care and left something for me. Even if he’s gone,” CX continues, “his gifts remind me of him”.

Then in the future, SJ must be even kinder to her to live up to the status of an uncle!