“Who upset you?” he asked.
Yun Manxia glanced at him resentfully.
“…No one.”
Watching her walk away, Bai Hedu hesitated for a long time before asking Lin Shen beside him, “Why is Madam unhappy?”
Lin Shen was slightly surprised—Ninth Master actually cared about someone?
But how would he know? He wasn’t her husband!
That’s what he thought, but he didn’t dare say it out loud.
“Sometimes you don’t need to know why someone is unhappy. You just need to cheer them up,” he said, pretending to be experienced.
Bai Hedu thought about it and found it somewhat reasonable. “How do I cheer her up?”
Lin Shen racked his brain and suddenly thought of something—
“Madam seems to be a student at University A, right? Isn’t University A about to send you flowers recently? Just give them to Madam!”
University A, a century-old prestigious school, had a famous rose garden. Every summer when the flowers bloomed, people would flock there. Among them were a few rare varieties cultivated by the school, and cut branches would be given out as gifts.
Of course, not everyone could receive such a gift. Because of the limited quantity, they were usually given to well-known alumni or outstanding students. Many people took pride in receiving one.
University A had been trying to contact Ninth Master, hoping to invite him to an event. He had no interest, so Lin Shen had been handling it.
Just yesterday, they had called again, respectfully asking what variety Ninth Master preferred. Others could only receive whatever they were given, but Ninth Master could choose freely.
But what was an honor to others meant nothing to Bai Hedu. Lin Shen hadn’t taken it seriously and had casually said Ninth Master wasn’t interested.
“Since Madam is also a student at University A, she probably wants the flowers too. If you secretly give them to her, she’ll definitely be surprised.”
Bai Hedu thought for a moment and nodded. “Arrange it.”
Lin Shen responded and immediately called University A.
Receiving the call, the university was both surprised and delighted. “Rest assured, it’s our honor that Ninth Master likes it. We’ll send it over right away!”
Yun Manxia had no idea Bai Hedu was secretly preparing a surprise to cheer her up. She was currently answering a call from her stepmother, Xia Lian.
Next week was Xia Lian’s birthday, and she was hosting a banquet. She specifically called to invite Yun Manxia and tentatively asked, “I wonder if Ninth Master will have time then?”
Yun Manxia almost laughed.
What kind of status did Bai Hedu have?
In Yang City, many powerful figures celebrated their birthdays, yet none could invite him. What made Xia Lian think she could?
“I’m afraid Ninth Master won’t attend,” she said directly.
Xia Lian replied, “Why? Didn’t you speak to him properly? I know our Yun family may not be worthy of inviting Ninth Master, but now the relationship is different…”
“Of course I spoke to him,” Yun Manxia said. “Ninth Master said if it were my biological mother’s birthday, he would definitely go. But the problem is—you’re not.”
At the Yun residence, Xia Lian’s smile instantly froze.
After hanging up, her expression turned gloomy. It felt like she had been stabbed in the chest, yet she couldn’t tell if Yun Manxia had done it on purpose.
The Yun Manxia she had raised before would never speak like this. But now, things were different. Ever since marrying into Yujing Garden, that girl had changed!
At Yujing Garden.
Looking at the ended call, Yun Manxia let out a mocking smile.
Meanwhile, in a nearby guest room.
Wu Xiaoya was actively chatting in the University A freshman group, fitting in perfectly.
She went to the window, took a photo of the garden outside, and sent it to the group.
[YaYa: It’s so sunny outside, I don’t even want to go out.]
The photo showed rare flowers and plants, clearly well cared for. Combined with the size, layout, and facilities of the garden, anyone could tell that Wu Xiaoya’s “home” was extremely wealthy.
It immediately drew admiration.
[Guoguo: Wow, Xiaoya, your garden is so beautiful! Where is this? Can we visit someday?]
Seeing the flood of envy and flattery, Wu Xiaoya felt extremely pleased.
After a while, the attention shifted to another topic.
[Liu Yun: The school’s annual flower-giving event has started again. A senior I know received some—so jealous! Someone like me probably won’t get it in this lifetime!]
[Sui: It’s not just about grades. If your family has power and influence, you can find ways to get it too. Someone among the freshmen already received one.]
[Guoguo: Really? @YaYa Xiaoya, did you get one? If you did, can you give me a branch? Please~]
Wu Xiaoya didn’t respond at first. She tossed her phone aside, then picked it up again, about to type that a bouquet was nothing special—her family had everything anyway—when the maid Xiao Mei knocked on the door.
“Xiaoya, University A sent flowers! Are they for you?”
Wu Xiaoya’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes lighting up as she jumped to her feet. “Where?”
She ran downstairs and indeed saw someone delivering flowers. However, they didn’t mention her name, only saying, “We hope Ninth Master likes them.”
“These are for Ninth Master?”
“Yes.”
Xiao Mei was extremely excited. She nudged Wu Xiaoya and whispered, “Ninth Master must have specially requested them for you! You’re the only one in the house connected to University A!”
Wu Xiaoya’s heart raced.
Xiao Mei added, “When you got into University A, Ninth Master said he’d reward you. But your room was taken by that woman. This must be his compensation!”
Wu Xiaoya felt sweet inside and reached out. “Ninth Master is out. I’ll take the flowers.”
After the delivery person left, the surrounding servants smiled and flattered her.
“Ninth Master still cares about you. Look, he even thought of a way to make you happy.”
“Exactly. He didn’t give them to Madam—he gave them specifically to you. Isn’t that obvious?”
Someone said even more bluntly, “I think one day, Xiaoya might become our Madam!”
Wu Xiaoya blushed, both proud and shy, lifting her chin. “Alright, that’s enough. Go back to work!”
She hugged the bouquet and happily went upstairs.
Back in her room, she took several photos from different angles and sent them all to the group.
[YaYa: Got the flowers~]
[Liu Yun: What the—such a huge bouquet?! It’s more than three times what that senior got! And if I’m not mistaken, these are all the rarest variety?!]
[Guoguo: Ahhh Xiaoya I want one! Can you give me a branch, please!!]
Wu Xiaoya didn’t understand the details, but seeing everyone so excited and envious, her lips curved upward proudly.
[YaYa: Is mine different from others’? I didn’t know.]
Feeling pleased by the praise, she readily agreed to Guoguo’s request for a branch.
At the same time, Yun Manxia received a call from Bai Hedu.
“Did you receive the gift?”