Hearing the baby’s voice, I couldn’t be bothered to gossip with Shangguan Xiyue any longer. After hurriedly saying a few words to her, I slipped away alone into a toilet stall.
As for whether the baby’s personality was similar to mine, I honestly didn’t care in the slightest.
It’s just that she talks a bit more sharply, that’s all—what does it matter.
Doesn’t this just prove she takes after me?
I’m happy about it, if anything.
At this moment.
Xi Zhiruo was using the replay function of her Dao arts to review everything that had happened recently in her mind.
In fact.
She’d already started replaying before she even spoke.
Even her way of speaking was learned from her mommy.
Of course, she didn’t watch just anything.
For example, whenever Si Xinyan was being intimate with Su Liumeng, or when Si Xinyan was bathing or sleeping, Xi Zhiruo would always behave herself and obediently play little games deep within her sea of consciousness.
“Baby, why did you sleep for so long this time?”
Xi Zhiruo sat cross-legged, pouring her consciousness into her own body. “Because I’m growing rapidly! In another month or two, I’ll be able to practice kicking inside mommy’s belly.”
She was talking when she suddenly glanced outside and couldn’t help but complain, “Are these people blind or what! Mommy’s belly is already starting to show, and not a single one of them has noticed.”
I was momentarily speechless, still searching for a response, and then weakly explained, “Maybe they noticed, but because of my work badge, no one dares to say anything.”
For university students, as long as you’re not afraid of gossip, it’s actually pretty common to get married while still in school. You can even get two extra credits for it.
“Su Liumeng went home?” Xi Zhiruo asked.
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“So what if she left? Who cares about her. Zhizhi can keep mommy company too. Heh, if she dares to get all flirty and ambiguous with someone else while she’s away, I’ll be the first to rush over and bash her head into a hornet’s nest—literally, with holes everywhere, leaking from all sides.” Xi Zhiruo revealed her little devil side, standing up with a sudden stomp as she spoke.
The little one’s attitude was so serious, it was as if she really meant it.
Hearing this, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
This child’s brash and fierce personality is just innate—it’s not something I can change in a short time.
Back in the hallway, Shangguan Xiyue was still waiting for me. After I apologized, I heard her say, “Xinxin, do you think the inspection methods are a bit too rough?”
I was taken aback, and didn’t answer right away—which was answer enough.
“You probably don’t know, but most of the dorms were built in the early part of the century, and the wiring is decades old. With so many students in one building, if the voltage gets too high, something’s bound to happen. There was a famous case in university news a few years ago—someone was charging an e-bike in the dorm and almost burned their roommate to death.”
“A lot of rules only change after there’s been bloodshed. Just like what you saw today—if the school isn’t a bit heavy-handed, people won’t let you check their lockers, or they’ll just hide things. What good would it do?”
“Mm.” I answered softly, “I think the dorms could be renovated, or at least there should be more education about this stuff. That’s important too.”
“You have a point.”
The student council members walking with us kept glancing between me and Shangguan Xiyue, but mostly chose to listen in silence.
The rest of the process went much more smoothly. Some dorms didn’t even need much explanation and handed over piles of small appliances on their own.
In the afternoon.
I yawned, said goodbye to Shangguan Xiyue, and headed home to take a nap.
By the roadside in the villa district, Shangguan Xiyue suddenly said, “There’s a big assessment in your department in the middle of this month.”
I paused mid-step. “Are you… asking me to participate?”
Shangguan Xiyue suddenly smiled. “Not really, just thought I’d mention it.”
My mind filled with question marks as I stared at her sly gaze, unsure what to say.
Why do I feel like Shangguan Xiyue’s real personality is nothing like the gentle one she shows in front of me?
There’s even a bit of a mischievous edge to her.
She stuffed a pack of beef jerky into my arms. “Take this and eat it. Be careful on your way home.”
“No worries, it’s just a few steps. If I managed to get into trouble, I’d have to be the biggest fool in a thousand years.” I chuckled, my eyes curving with amusement, feeling quite cheerful.
As I spoke, I glanced ahead.
Whoever did the cleaning here did a great job—the road used to have lots of little stones, but now there’s not a single one left, not even a stray weed.
“Alright, get some rest.”
At the villa entrance.
Miss Lin seemed to have a portable walkie-talkie—whenever I showed up in the area, someone would notify her to come out and wait.
She still wore her crisp black-and-white maid uniform. Time had left some traces on her temples, but her capable image remained unchanged. The slight curtsy she gave looked like she’d done it hundreds or thousands of times, and the smile at the corner of her lips was just right, as warm as a spring breeze.
“Little Miss, you’re back.”
“The food is all ready—fresh from the kitchen.”
“Thank you.” I smiled sweetly, and Miss Lin, a woman in her fifties, was momentarily stunned. “Little Miss, you flatter me. This is just what I ought to do.”
I frowned slightly and asked instinctively, “You’re with the Su Family, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” Miss Lin kept her head lowered, eyes on the ground, “I’m a hereditary servant of the third branch, now under the direct management of the Eldest Miss.”
Hereditary servant? My beautiful eyes went round.
Isn’t this a bit much? What era is this, almost 2100, and I’m still hearing this kind of title.
If I’m not mistaken, this term refers to the descendants of those who signed indenture contracts centuries ago.
Once a servant, always a servant—unless their status is restored, their descendants are branded for generations.
Miss Lin noticed my mood and softly explained, “My ancestors sold themselves to the Su Family, so their descendants naturally belong to the Su Family too.”
Ancestors?
How far back does that go?
“What’s the deal with the Su Family, anyway? Has everyone else entered the new century except them?” I couldn’t help but complain, “Still running this kind of thing in secret—doesn’t anyone care?”
Miss Lin frowned slightly, pulled me aside, and looked around warily, lowering her voice even more. “Little Miss, some things you should just keep to yourself—never say them out loud.”
“The Eldest Miss saved my life. My life belongs to her. It’s fine to say these things privately to me, but never say them outside. After all, walls have ears.” The terror of the Su Family had long since left an indelible mark on her heart.
Speaking of the Su Family, Miss Lin’s arm, which was holding mine, was trembling.
I glanced down and saw her fingers shaking uncontrollably.
“Alright, I won’t say anything more.”
It’s not that I’m afraid for myself.
I’m afraid that if someone else overheard, it would bring disaster to Miss Lin.
“A mere Su Family—once I’m born, I’ll wipe them out.” Xi Zhiruo muttered, grumbling, “So annoying, this detestable Su Family, always lurking everywhere and interfering with everything mommy does.”
There are three great families in the world, with the Su Family being the strongest, followed by the Han and Mo families.
The Mo Family is the one betrothed to Shangguan Xiyue.
After centuries of accumulation, the Su Family is now just one step away from surpassing all the others and reaching an unprecedented level of dominance.
“How many True Self Realm experts does the Su Family have?” I asked her.
Miss Lin looked conflicted, but after some thought, she replied, “I really don’t know—I’m just a nobody, with no access to the core. But fifteen years ago, when I passed by the ancestral home, I once heard a particularly clear dragon’s roar. When I looked up, I saw a Qinglong nearly a hundred meters long soaring into the clouds. Unlike the illusory dragons others ride, this Qinglong looked like a real dragon. It only appeared for a moment, but the natural dragon might it exuded left me completely paralyzed on the ground, until other servants found me and helped me up.”
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