Chapter 49: I’m Pretty Capable Too!

However, Ni Wei was not intimidated by His’s sudden seriousness.

“I’ve caught you two how many times now? I should remind you, Young Master His, you’re an engaged man.”

Ni Wei crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe, looking at His like she was interrogating a criminal.

“She just came to report on her work…”

For some reason, having Ni Wei point it out like that made His feel a bit guilty, and even his rebuttal sounded weak and feeble.

“Hmph, reporting on work again. Must be pretty complicated work that requires reporting from on top of the bed?”

Tsk.

Why did it feel like the little maid’s attacks were a bit more intense today?

No, he couldn’t keep being so passive.

Being grilled like this by his own little maid—wasn’t that the world turned upside down?

“What did I tell you during the day?”

His said with a serious expression.

“What?”

“Don’t ask too many questions about your master’s business.”

With that, His walked up to Ni Wei and flicked her on the forehead.

“Alright, what do you actually need coming over here this late?”

“What, can’t I come see you if there’s nothing wrong?”

“Hey hey, your master needs his rest too. Where’s your sense of duty as a maid?”

His yawned.

“If there’s nothing important, you should head back to bed too.”

Ni Wei pouted, scuffing her toes lightly against the floor, as if hesitating about something.

Seeing her look like she wanted to say something but couldn’t, His let out a helpless sigh inwardly.

“Come in and sit down to talk. Don’t just stand there.”

His walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, then patted the spot beside him, gesturing for Ni Wei to come over.

Ni Wei shuffled over reluctantly and sat down beside him.

His’s bed was quite tall, and the girl’s feet dangled off the edge, barely reaching the floor, her calves swinging gently back and forth.

“Are you… planning to move to the Royal Capital later?”

After a long pause, Ni Wei finally spoke up.

“Huh?”

His was caught off guard.

He hadn’t really given it serious thought.

Move to the Royal Capital…

Well, to expand his Gray Crystal Industry, he would indeed need to maintain a certain presence in the Royal Capital’s social circles.

And if he wanted to keep growing his business, the amount of work involving the Royal Capital would only increase.

From that perspective, it did seem like he should have a long-term base there.

“Why do you suddenly ask that?”

“It’s just… I’ve been getting this feeling lately…”

Ni Wei turned her head and looked into His’s eyes, her gaze unusually serious.

“You’ve been to the Royal Capital how many times recently? And…”

The girl paused for a moment.

“That fiancée of yours is in the Royal Capital too, right? I think you’ll eventually go there to be with her…”

Whenever she brought up His’s fiancée, Ni Wei’s tone sounded a bit sour.

“After you left last time, sister stood at the door every day waiting for you to come back. I’m really worried that one day, you’ll keep running off to the Royal Capital more and more, and then one day… you just won’t come back…”

Ni Wei’s voice was soft, but when it reached His’s ears, it felt inexplicably heavy.

“Don’t worry.”

His went along with her topic.

“Even if I do move to the Royal Capital someday, you two can still work here. I’ll need people to stay and watch over the place for me, after all.”

Ni Wei lifted her head, and the uneasy look on her face suddenly shifted into a sly grin.

“Then… if you really do move to the Royal Capital, you’ll need to bring a maid along, right?”

The leap in logic was so abrupt that it completely short-circuited His’s brain.

What was she even talking about?

Seeing His looking completely lost, Ni Wei pressed her advantage.

“Think about it—someone’s got to tidy up the house you live in at the Royal Capital, right? Someone’s got to cook your meals, wash your clothes…”

Ni Wei rattled off a long list, her words getting faster and faster.

“You’re such a young master, there’s no way you can take care of yourself. If nobody’s looking after you, you’d definitely starve to death in the Royal Capital.”

“I don’t think that would happen…”

“It would, it would!”

Ni Wei nodded vigorously.

His’s mouth twitched, too exhausted to keep arguing with the girl in front of him.

“So, what are you trying to say?”

Ni Wei took a deep breath, as if steeling herself for something.

“I can go with you!”

“You go… do what?”

“Go to the Royal Capital with you and keep being your maid!”

As soon as she said it, a blush quickly spread across Ni Wei’s face, but she still stubbornly held His’s gaze.

This time, it was His’s turn to be at a loss for words.

“You?”

His barely suppressed a laugh.

“Come on, even if I did want to bring a maid to the Royal Capital, your sister would definitely be the better choice, right? She’s way more capable than you.”

“I can do it too!”

Ni Wei hopped up from the bed in a flash, but forgot how tall the bed was in that moment, nearly tripping.

Luckily, His caught her in time, steadying her.

“I… I’ve been learning to cook from sister lately. You ate dinner today, and you even complimented it!”

“Wait a second…”

His rubbed his temples.

“You’ve been learning to cook from Rafina, just for this?”

“Not entirely…”

Ni Wei smoothed down her skirt.

“Sister has to do so much every day, and I wanted to help share the load, it’s just…”

The girl twisted the hem of her skirt in her hands, not finishing her sentence.

But His already understood what she meant.

This girl…

“Ni Wei.”

“What?”

“Actually, I don’t have any plans to move to the Royal Capital.”

“What?”

“My roots are still here in the Domain. As for the Royal Capital, if there’s ever a need, I can just make a trip there. No need to relocate.”

Ni Wei’s big eyes blinked in confusion, still processing his answer.

“But… isn’t that such a hassle?”

“Nah, it’s nothing.”

His smiled.

“I’ve got my business here, subordinates I trust, and… well… people I care about.”

Seeing that Ni Wei still wasn’t reacting, His continued on his own.

“Anyway, I think I’d be more comfortable living here.”

“Really?”

Ni Wei finally lifted her head, and it seemed like her eyes were getting a little red.

“Really.”

“You’re not lying to me?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

His reached out and ruffled Ni Wei’s hair.

“You can rest easy. I’m not going anywhere.”

This time, Ni Wei made no move to dodge, and even leaned into his hand a little.

However, this heartwarming scene didn’t last long.

“Hmph!”

Ni Wei pulled her head away from his hand, lifting her chin with that familiar smug expression back on her face.

“Who cares if you go or not! I was just worried that if you left, sister would be sad!”

“Oh, I see.”

“Don’t look at me like that!”

Ni Wei turned around, ready to leave.

But just as she reached the door, she suddenly stopped.

“If you… ever decide to move to the Royal Capital in the future, make sure you bring me along.”

With that, Ni Wei yanked the door open and dashed out like the wind.

bang!

The door slammed shut behind her.

His sat on the bed, staring at the door that was still trembling slightly.

Hey hey…

So she didn’t take in a single word he’d just said, huh.

His lay back on the bed, hands behind his head, closing his eyes.

For some reason, the images of his two little maids floated through his mind.

Gentle and capable, never giving him a moment of worry—Rafina.

Tough on the outside but soft inside, always making him worry—Ni Wei.

Hmm…

That wasn’t so bad either…

***

Out in the corridor, Ni Wei hurried back to her room.

Her cheeks were still burning, and her heart was still pounding wildly.

How on earth did she manage to say all those things just now?!

Ni Wei shook her head, burying her face in her hands.

But he said he’d stay here, that he wouldn’t go to the Royal Capital.

And he even said something about “people he cares about” being here…

She was definitely included in that, right!

Hehe.

“Ni Wei?”

A figure holding a candle appeared in front of her.

“Si… Sister?”

Rafina suddenly appearing in the corridor startled Ni Wei.

“What are you doing here?”

“Isn’t it because you said you wanted to go to the kitchen for a drink of water, and then you never came back? I was worried, so I came out to look for you.”

Rafina’s voice carried a hint of drowsiness.

“You didn’t go to the kitchen, did you?”

“I…”

“And judging by the direction you’re coming from, you didn’t go see Young Master Xisi, did you?”

“No… no I didn’t…”

Ni Wei squeezed out an awkward smile.

“Ni Wei.”

“Fine… yes, I went to see him.”

“This child.”

Rafina let out a soft sigh.

“Young Master Xisi just got back from the Royal Capital. He spent over a day traveling, and you run off to see him at this hour? Do you want him to get any rest or not?”

“I know, I’m sorry…”

Ni Wei mumbled.

“Don’t do this again next time. If you have something to say, wait until daytime to talk to him.”

“Okay…”

Seeing her sister’s “sincere” attitude in admitting fault, Rafina nodded in satisfaction.

“Alright, let’s head back.”

“Mm.”

With that, the two held hands and returned to their room together.

***

“Sister, are you asleep?”

Ni Wei tossed and turned in bed.

The late-night talk with His had left her inexplicably excited, making it completely impossible to fall asleep.

“What is it?”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

Rafina replied calmly.

“Where are you and Young Master His… at right now?”

“Huh?”

Rafina shot up from the bed in an instant.

“Wh-wh-wh… what are you talking about? What do you mean where are we at?”

“Sister, I saw everything…”

Ni Wei sat up as well, facing her sister directly.

“I heard him compliment you on tonight’s performance, and you’re telling me there’s nothing going on?”

“How did you hear that?”

“It’s just…”

Ni Wei’s words caught in her throat.

She couldn’t exactly say she was spying on them, could she…

“Anyway, I heard it! Sister, come on, tell me!”

Realizing she couldn’t explain her way out of it, Ni Wei decided to resort to her tried-and-true method of acting cute.