When I returned to Mapleview Manor, it was lunchtime.
Eva Liu greeted me respectfully when she saw me.
I glanced at the meal, which still looked and smelled delicious, but the thought of Hugh Pei and Lila Wei made me lose my appetite.
I didn’t even pick up my chopsticks before heading upstairs.
“Ma’am, are you not feeling well? Should I call a doctor?” Eva Liu followed me up, her voice full of concern.
Ever since I had forgiven her for breaking the skincare bottle, she had become even more attentive.
If she weren’t Lila Wei’s mother, I might have really liked having a maid like her.
“No, I’m just not hungry. You can have the other maids eat it,” I replied irritably, lying down on my bed.
Eva Liu didn’t dare say more and quietly left.
I drifted off to sleep amidst a whirlwind of thoughts.
If it weren’t for the barrage of calls from Ginny Deng and the others, I could have slept until the next day.
Ginny Deng’s loud voice was filled with excitement.
“HOLY CRAP!!! GODDESS!!! The Cello Goddess of A-University has returned to the world!!”
“Huh?” I was still groggy and didn’t understand what she was talking about.
“I sent you the link! Look at it, right now, immediately!” Ginny Deng hung up.
I checked my phone’s missed calls.
Tilly Ouyang and Ella Li had both called three times.
I had missed them all.
A notification popped up from WeChat.
Ginny Deng had sent me a link.
I squinted and clicked on it.
It was a video of today’s performance at the A-University concert hall.
I was seated in the far-left position.
I don’t know who filmed it, but the camera kept zooming in on me, as if the person behind it had a crush on me.
Then came a flood of comments from netizens, praising me to the skies—calling me a “goddess of elegance,” the “former cello goddess of A-University.” I was so thrilled my sleepiness vanished completely.
Who doesn’t like being praised?
This was the first time I had ever enjoyed this kind of attention.
Plenty of people had praised me growing up, but most of it was because of my father’s status.
This was the first time I had attracted so many admirers purely because of my own charm. Get faster updates on g.com.
Ginny Deng, timing it perfectly, called again right after I finished watching.
“So? Didn’t expect that, did you? Suddenly famous, hahaha…”
“It is a bit unexpected,” I said, feeling delighted.
“Looks like your girl’s still got it!”
“Of course! You were just blinded by Hugh Pei back then. So many guys were chasing you, but you had to go and be his pathetic little follower.” Ginny Deng was still indignant about it.
“The past is the past. I’ve seen the light now, haven’t I?” Thinking back on those days, a sense of melancholy washed over me.
“If you’ve seen the light, then come out for a drink! I’m free, I might as well package you into a huge online influencer.” Ginny Deng started fantasizing.
“Then the four of us can form a band or something. Ella Li on lead vocals, the three of us on backup instruments. Perfect!”
I felt like Ginny Deng was getting bored out of her mind to be coming up with such unrealistic ideas.
“Never mind the future. Where are you? Let’s get a meal. No drinks, though.”
I had been hungry all day.
My weight-gain plan couldn’t be interrupted.
Ginny Deng agreed without a second thought.
“Sure! I know a teahouse. The tea is great, and the food is even better than any five-star hotel I’ve been to. I’ll send you the address!”
After getting the address, I changed and headed out.
Unexpectedly, I ran into my dad at the teahouse entrance.
He was chatting with a few friends, looking like they had just finished their meal.
“Dad!” I called out.
“Zoe, what are you doing here?” My dad was surprised to see me, and his friends all turned to look at me.
One of the uncles had sharp eyes and immediately spoke up.
“Old Xu, isn’t your daughter that beautiful cellist from A-University today? She’s all over the internet right now!”
My dad must have seen it too.
A hint of pride crossed his face, but his tone was restrained.
“Hah, famous? She majored in cello in college. She’s been out of practice for years!”
“Out of practice for years and still this good? Old Xu, your daughter is amazing!”
“And she’s beautiful, too. She has the look of wealth and fortune.”
Listening to all this flattery, I felt both proud and a little embarrassed.
How did my gaunt figure look wealthy and fortunate?
Just then, Ginny Deng called to hurry me along.
I quickly said to my dad, “Dad, my friends are waiting for me. I’m heading in!”
“Go on, go on. I’m about to leave too,” my dad said with a wave.
I nodded and started to walk into the teahouse.
I suddenly remembered I wanted to tell him I was coming over for dinner in a couple of days.
I turned back, only to see a woman in her forties getting out of my dad’s car.
She was standing under a streetlight, the lighting bright.
She wore a classic black-and-white, scoop-neck, form-fitting dress that was both alluring and sophisticated.
My dad said something to her, then got into the back seat.
The woman got into the driver’s seat.
Wasn’t his previous driver a man?
Had my dad gotten a female driver now?
A sense of unease crept into my heart.
“Zoe, what are you doing at the door? Are you the new greeter?” Tilly Ouyang had just arrived.
Seeing me standing there in a daze, she patted my shoulder jokingly.
“Waiting for you, of course. Your personal greeter. Aren’t you touched?” I snapped out of it, smiling as I linked arms with Tilly.
“Let’s go, Ginny’s about to kill me!”
Tilly and I chatted as we walked to our reserved private room.
Pushing the door open, we were greeted by the soft, fragrant aroma of tea.
A hidden speaker in the corner played elegant classical music, making one feel refreshed and serene.
Ginny Deng was striking a pose with a teacup, having Ella Li take pictures of her to post on social media and tease her flock of admirers.
I used to think Ginny was a heartless flirt who didn’t understand the magic of love.
Now, I increasingly felt she was the one who was truly clear-headed.
“Zoe, Tilly, you’re here!” Seeing us, Ginny dropped her sultry pose and finally sat like a normal person.
She grinned and waved us over.
“Quick, sit down! I’ve already ordered the food. Trust me, it’s absolutely first-rate!”
Tilly and I sat down at the tea table.
“Alright, we trust you!”
The four of us fit perfectly around the table.
A beautiful tea artist in an elegant, pale green qipao, her hair held up with a white jade pin, had a certain charm.
I ordered a cup of Jin Jun Mei, a sweet black tea.
The tea artist performed the brewing ceremony for us, explaining the price, origin, and flavor profile of the tea in a soft, pleasant voice.
It was a very enjoyable experience.
As we drank our tea, the food began to arrive.
Every dish was indeed delicious.
In the brief moment the waiter opened and closed the door, I saw Hugh Pei and Evan Yu walk past outside.