After returning to the Manor, as expected, he got scolded again.
The Butler started right off the bat:
“Young Master, you really are too much trouble.”
“These childish antics are just bringing shame to the Luo Family, aren’t they?”
“Miss Luo is already asleep, so you’d better not disturb her.”
After having a late-night snack that finally lifted his mood a bit, Lu Yunze lost all desire to take a shower after being lectured, and instead went out to the balcony as the rain eased up.
Lu Yunze looked at the night sky, which was gradually clearing, and couldn’t help but mutter to himself:
“Is my whole life really going to pass by like this?”
No way. If he really lived an ordinary life, how could he face his late parents?
Lu Yunze had sworn to investigate the cause of his parents’ deaths and avenge them.
Feeling tired from standing, Lu Yunze sat down on the chairs set out on the balcony. Anyway, his clothes were already wet, so he didn’t have to worry about the water pooled on the seat.
He placed the last third of his drink on the table, and his mind wandered back to the girl he met at the Hotel.
Mysterious, alluring, and even a bit dangerous.
Who was she, really? Why did she help me?
She helped me and didn’t ask for anything in return. Was she just a kind person? She didn’t seem like it.
More importantly—
“Did she get home safely? I hope nothing happened to her because of me.”
Recently, Lan City hadn’t been peaceful at night. Young men and women had gone missing frequently. That girl was so pretty, the odds of her being targeted were high.
“This can’t go on. I’ll end up disappointing those who still have hopes for me.”
Lu Yunze patted his cheeks.
“If the heavens hadn’t given birth to me, Lu Yunze, the Luo Family would remain in eternal darkness!”
When feeling down, shouting at the sky could be a great way to vent. Simple and direct.
Lu Yunze shouted several times in a row, feeling more and more pumped up, his confidence returning with every shout.
“Alright, time to shower!”
“If the heavens hadn’t given birth to me, Lu Yunze~ the Luo Family would remain in eternal darkness~”
“WC, who’s there?!”
Suddenly, someone repeated his words. Lu Yunze spun around, startled, but saw no one.
Just as he was about to get up in confusion, he found someone standing right in front of him, nearly making him fall off his chair in shock.
She looked so familiar…
“It’s you?!” Lu Yunze’s eyes widened. “Why are you in my house?”
“I told you we’d meet again, Young Master.”
Jiang Sui wore a gentle smile on her face.
“I kept forgetting to introduce myself. My name is Jiang Sui, and I’m the new maid at the Luo Family.”
“Jiang Sui?”
“Jiang, as in the Yangtze River. Sui, as in rice ear.”
That name…
“Nice, isn’t it?”
Lu Yunze quickly coughed twice and straightened up.
“Alright, I get it now. You helped me because Luo Yao told you to.”
“Why must that be it? Can’t I just want to help you myself?”
“Then why did you copy what I said?”
“I just thought Young Master was interesting, that’s all.”
Another person who wants to mock me?
Lu Yunze’s face turned extremely unpleasant.
Jiang Sui seemed not to notice his expression, still smiling. “Young Master, it sounded like you just mentioned me. Were you worried about my safety?”
“Worried? You misheard.”
Lu Yunze waved his hand.
“Really?”
A sly glint flashed in the girl’s eyes.
Maybe it was the way she looked at him, but Lu Yunze felt a chill and had to let out a long breath:
“Alright, I admit I was worried about you, but that’s just because you’re our family’s maid. If they found out something happened to you because of me, I’d get a serious scolding again.”
“Young Master is still lying. So cute~”
Jiang Sui could already tell that Lu Yunze was worried about her. She thought her little act had been useless, but it turned out to be quite effective.
Jiang Sui deliberately leaned closer to Lu Yunze. Having just showered, she carried a complex scent. Besides the fragrance of her body wash, there was a natural floral aroma unique to her, lingering at the tip of Lu Yunze’s nose.
When he turned his head, her playful face was right in front of him, her warm breath brushing against his skin.
Lu Yunze’s cheeks reddened, and he quickly pulled away.
“Even if I was worried about you, that’s not so strange, is it?”
“No, I’m very grateful, Young Master.” Jiang Sui’s tone softened. “I’m just a lowly maid. For Young Master to care about me, that’s my honor.”
“Doesn’t your family care about you?”
“Family? Does Young Master mean the father who ran away from his debts, or the mother who spends her days living it up?”
“…How much do you owe?”
“One point eight million.”
That number made Lu Yunze’s eyes widen.
The bright moon reappeared, its light shining on her face. Only then did Lu Yunze speak again:
“Then why do you care about me? There are plenty of people richer and more powerful than me, and you know I’m not well-liked. If you stick with me, there’s no future for you.”
“Do I need a reason to help someone?”
With that one sentence, Jiang Sui left Lu Yunze speechless again.
“I haven’t given up, so why should you?”
Jiang Sui took his hand, her tone gentle.
“If you ever have worries, you can come to me. I’m willing to help Young Master with anything.”
The girl let go of his hand and gave him a hug, arms wide open. Having just showered, she wore only pajamas, and Lu Yunze could clearly feel her steady heartbeat.
Even after she let go, Lu Yunze was still frozen in place.
He hadn’t seen such a gentle smile in a long time.
The last time, he remembered, was back in his hometown, when he met a girl who once helped him.
Who would’ve thought he’d see such a smile again, and in the Luo Family…
Who would’ve thought I’d be moved by a new maid.
Embarrassed as he was, Lu Yunze felt reinvigorated. He properly thanked Jiang Sui and even wanted to pay her back for the hotel and late-night snack.
“If Young Master insists on giving me something, can I choose?”
Jiang Sui’s words made Lu Yunze pause.
“Young Master, could you give me your jacket? I’ll wash it for you tonight, and you can get it from me tomorrow.”
“Uh, sure, that’s fine.”
Just as Lu Yunze handed over his jacket, still dirty from vomit, Jiang Sui spoke mysteriously again:
“Young Master, I hope you can keep tonight’s events a secret. Otherwise, if I don’t see a perfectly healthy Young Master come pick up his jacket tomorrow, I’ll be very sad.”
“Huh?”
What does that mean?
Jiang Sui gave him no chance to ask. Taking his jacket, she ran off like a mischievous kitten.
Still confused, Lu Yunze went straight back to his room. He’d barely sat down when someone knocked at the door again.
He thought it was Jiang Sui, but when he opened the door, it was someone else: Luo Yao.
She was a girl one year younger than him, the biological daughter of his adoptive parents—Luo Yao. Ever since he joined the family, the two had been inseparable, practically childhood sweethearts.
He hadn’t thought much of it when they were young, but as they grew older, Lu Yunze noticed the growing gap between himself and Luo Yao. If Lu Yunze was a weed, then Luo Yao was a vibrant rose.
The moment Luo Yao saw Lu Yunze, the emotion on her face turned into clear tears, welling up in her eyes.
“I thought something happened to you, that you wouldn’t come back.”
“How could that be? I just went out for some fresh air.”
Lu Yunze couldn’t help but comfort her.
“Sorry for saying things that upset you today. I should’ve realized how close you and Nanny Liu are, like mother and child.”
“It’s all in the past, I don’t care anymore. I wasn’t mad at you.”
“As expected of Brother Lu, I knew you weren’t the kind of person to be easily knocked down.”
A radiant smile bloomed on Luo Yao’s face, as beautiful as a flower.
“Can I hug you?”
“Ah, sure.”
Luo Yao hugged him at once, but after taking a sniff, her sweet smile suddenly froze.
“Brother Lu, you smell so nice. What scent is that?”
“…”
Lu Yunze raised his arm and sniffed. Sure enough, there was a fragrance.
This scent was so familiar… Jiang Sui!
Luo Yao’s gaze turned sharp.
“Uh… I’ll go shower now!”
Sweating, Lu Yunze hurriedly sent Luo Yao off, then shut the door tight.
“That maid, no wonder she said all that.”
Thinking back on what she did for him tonight, Lu Yunze couldn’t even stay mad. He could only mutter that she was a real troublemaker.
“How long has it been since I’ve seen a smile like that?”
That girl who had once helped Lu Yunze, his white moonlight, was actually Luo Yao. But ever since they reunited, he hadn’t seen that smile on her face.
“If Luo Yao isn’t you, then where are you?”
While Young Master Lu was muttering, in another room on a different floor of the Manor, a gray-brown-haired girl couldn’t help but sneeze.
“Which jerk is cursing me?”
Tonight’s harvest was better than she’d expected. She had to seize the moment and plan her next move.
Heehee, I must survive no matter what!