Out of politeness, Jiang Miao smiled. ”Welcome.”
“The oven in my Dormitory Building is broken. Could I borrow yours here?”
“Sure, no problem.” Jiang Miao led her into the kitchen. Nan Xi followed, and the two of them leaned against the doorframe, their eyes settling on Qin Songya.
Nobles all loved handmade food, so the kitchen was fitted with plenty of old-fashioned, non-smart appliances.
Qin Songya walked up to the oven, her fingers finding the switch, and pressed it.
The light came on, and she let out an ”Ah,” glancing back at Nan Xi.
Then she opened the oven door, let out another ”Ah,” and glanced back at Nan Xi again.
After shoving her things inside, she lowered her head to look up instructions on her Astrarium, her voice drifting out at just the right volume: “Oh dear, what temperature should this be set to…”
Jiang Miao understood. She didn’t know how to use the oven.
Pathetic. Can’t do anything, yet still forced to work.
She shot Nan Xi a look. Nan Xi stepped forward.
“This cocoa cake you’re making needs different temperatures for different stages. For the first twenty minutes, the temperature can’t be too high—keep it at…”
Qin Songya’s face darkened on the spot.
She turned around, pointing her finger straight at Jiang Miao, her voice rising: “You maid, if you’re helping, then help! Who asked you to lecture me? I’ve never seen such a rude maid! Later, send her over to my place, and let my maids properly teach her some manners!”
With that, she kicked the cabinet panel. “I’m not doing this anymore! I’m furious!”
Jiang Miao and Nan Xi exchanged a glance.
So this person wasn’t a servant. She was a young lady.
So those glances earlier had been her waiting for someone to come take over the whole job and hand it to her ready-made.
Hah, what nerve!
Jiang Miao opened the oven, took out the tray of something burnt into a shapeless mess, flipped her wrist, and dumped it straight into the trash. The charred lump hit the bottom of the bin with a dull thud.
“Where’s that clever, capable, and polite maid of yours?” She brushed the crumbs off her hands. “How could we trouble a young lady to do it herself?”
Qin Songya’s mouth opened, then closed, her face flushing from white to red: “I’m making it by hand as a gift for a friend! To show my sincerity! What would you know?”
“Fine. If you’re not doing it, then hurry up and leave.” Jiang Miao jerked her chin toward the door.
“Leave then I will!”
Qin Songya turned and headed for the door.
The doorbell rang again.
Jiang Miao stepped past her and opened the door.
A girl stood outside. White dress, long hair braided loosely over one shoulder, the garden behind her receding into a mere backdrop the moment she came to a stop.
A line of poetry surfaced in Jiang Miao’s mind—Her robes like clouds, her face like flowers; in spring breeze by the railing, dew glistens bright.
The girl smiled, the curve of her lips just right, and extended a hand toward Jiang Miao. “Hello, I’m Fu Ange, Earl of the Kingdom of Heim. I live to your left. You’re Jiang Miao, aren’t you? I’ve heard so much about you.”
Jiang Miao let out a small gasp.
The campus belle.
In person, she was several levels more beautiful than her photos—so stunning Jiang Miao nearly lost herself staring.
She hurried to usher her inside.
The one at the door suddenly refused to leave. She turned around, walked back in, plopped herself down on the sofa, and reset her smile to sweet mode: “Earl Fu~ I’ve come to visit so many times and you were never home. Today we finally meet. Could we take a photo together?”
Fu Ange turned her head, smiled, and spoke in a soft, courteous voice: “Another day. What I’m wearing today isn’t appropriate.”
Qin Songya’s smile froze on her face.
Fu Ange turned her gaze back to Jiang Miao, the smile in her eyes deepening: “I never expected to get to speak with you at such close range. You look much more approachable than in your photos. Could the two of us—could we take a photo together?”
Jiang Miao’s eyes lit up. Who would have thought the campus belle was a fan of hers? “No problem.”
Fu Ange opened her Astrarium, stepped closer, and, as if a little shy, gently took Jiang Miao’s arm and snapped a photo.
Qin Songya, standing nearby, rolled her eyes as if she were so furious she might spit blood.
Fu Ange studied the photo for a long while, clearly very pleased with it.
Hesitating a moment, she spoke softly: “I know this is presumptuous of me. I’m hosting a banquet tomorrow night and I’m short-handed—would it be convenient to lend me your attendant for a while? As a token of thanks, would this amount be acceptable?”
Jiang Miao took a look—the conversion came out to one hundred thousand Nie Yuan.
Her eyes lit up instantly, and her expression switched in a second to the reverent mode reserved for valued clients, her voice going sweet: “Of course, of course! What do you need us to do?”
“Help make desserts. Three hundred portions.” A flicker of embarrassment crossed Fu Ange’s eyes. “Sorry, I forgot to ask—your attendant can make desserts, right?”
“Guaranteed!”
Fu Ange transferred the money on the spot.
Jiang Miao stared at the payment notification, feeling as if this woman were glowing all over—pure gold light.
Fu Ange added gently, “The Dormitory Building is too cramped to work in. I’ll have someone deliver the ingredients here, and your attendant can bring the finished desserts over. Would that be all right?”
“Perfectly fine, leave it to us! I’ll have the attendant send you the shopping list later.”
“You’re so kind.” Fu Ange handed over an invitation with both hands. “This is an invitation to my banquet. I hope you’ll come too.”
Jiang Miao figured Nan Xi would never manage all that work alone—she’d have to pitch in herself—so she politely declined: “Oh dear, the timing doesn’t work for me, I happen to have something on. Next time for sure!”
Qin Songya immediately sidled up: “Count Fu, I’m free! I can do it! I can!”
Fu Ange’s smile remained perfectly composed: “I’m sorry, Miss Qin. I didn’t know you were here, so I didn’t prepare one for you. I’ll be sure to invite you next time.”
Qin Songya’s face fell again. Right in front of Fu Ange, she rolled her eyes and moved her lips, muttering without the slightest courtesy: “What are you acting so high and mighty for? What’s so great about you?”
Fu Ange’s smile stiffened for an instant, but she said nothing, exchanged a few pleasantries, and politely took her leave.
The moment the door closed, Qin Songya crossed her arms and glared at Jiang Miao: “Hey, are you seriously going to make your attendant work for her for such a pittance?”
She glanced around the room: “There isn’t a single new thing in this house, and you look shabby from head to toe. I can tell you’re short on money. But poor as you are, you can’t have no backbone! Everyone is equal. What does she have going for her besides a powerful, rich family and a pretty face? Acting like she’s above the heavens.”
Her eyes gleamed smugly: “Just pretend to agree with her, then when the banquet comes around, don’t deliver the desserts. That’ll make her furious for sure! And it’ll show her you’re not to be pushed around.”
Jiang Miao looked at her as if she were looking at an idiot.
Was she joking? The sanctity of a contract must never be defiled.
She pushed Qin Songya toward the door: “We’re busy now. Not seeing you out.”
Qin Songya stomped her foot in fury and snorted coldly: “Spineless thing. I can see this is as far as you’ll ever go in life.”
Before turning to leave, she kicked the robot nearby, sending it spinning in a teary-eyed circle, and only then departed.
The world was at peace at last.
Jiang Miao turned and pulled Nan Xi over to start preparing a dessert list.
Back when she was a corporate drone assistant, her Female Devil boss had required her to be skilled in the kitchen, so she was quite good with desserts. But the desserts of the Kingdom of Nie belonged to an entirely different system from what she’d mastered—fortunately, with a solid foundation, learning them wasn’t hard.
Besides, Fu Ange had both fame and money, and latching onto that thigh came with plenty of benefits.
This project had to be delivered.
She pulled an all-nighter and submitted the ingredient list. The moment the ingredients arrived, the two of them got straight to work.
Watching her precise technique and swift movements, Nan Xi’s eyes were full of admiration: “Miss Jiang, you really do learn everything so fast.”
“You’re not bad yourself. Great at fighting, and a dab hand at this too. Having you around is my good fortune.”
Just as they were trading compliments, Qin Songya showed up again.