Monica kept her lips sealed, “At the Heaven-Earth Gala, just a prey of the master.”
“Is that so?
Then why wasn’t she sent to the small dance floor?
And, I also heard that the study caught fire today, and that surely can’t be unrelated to this girl, can it?” Susan said somewhat haughtily.
Monica frowned slightly, “Why ask so many questions about things that don’t concern you?”
“Monica, don’t forget, I’m the butler of Mandara Manor, I have the right to know about every person who enters the manor!”
Susan, rather infuriated, Monica was just the master’s personal manservant after all, her status here lower than Susan’s, but his consistently aloof demeanor was extremely aggravating to her.
Unperturbed by Susan’s anger, Monica retorted, “You are merely a butler, and you have no right to intervene in the master’s affairs.
If you know what’s good for you, keep silent, or ask the master yourself.”
Leaving the conversation there, Monica turned and walked away.
Susan crossed her arms, her face flushed with anger, her chest heaving with fury, yet she dared not argue with him…
She touched the hard metal in her pocket and snorted disdainfully, “You won’t tell me, but I’ll find a way to uncover the truth myself.”
Xia Yanxin slowly awoke from unconsciousness, opening her eyes, her whole body drenched in sweat, remembering the details of the dream vividly – the resolute look on Chu Sihao’s face as he left her, the pain was heart-wrenching, and it hurt even to breathe.
She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with her hand, reaching reflexively for her chest – a long-standing habit; whenever she faced troubles or pain that seemed insurmountable, she would clutch her heart, feeling as though Chu Sihao was always by her side, giving her the courage and strength to overcome anything.
Her fingers searched her chest, but found nothing, panic rising as a cold sweat coated her back, she hastily sat up, lifted the blanket, and searched thoroughly—It was truly gone!
It must have been that bastard who took it!
Such a pervert!!
Xia Yanxin paced restlessly around the room…
“Oh dear, miss, your body hasn’t recovered yet!
Why are you up?” Aunt Zhou said as she pushed the door open and came in.
Xia Yanxin rushed forward excitedly and grabbed Aunt Zhou’s arm, “Dear Aunt Zhou, where is my necklace?”
Aunt Zhou looked at Xia Yanxin carefully, then shook her head, “I didn’t notice, is it a valuable necklace?
After all, no one here should be stealing!”
Xia Yanxin shook her head sorrowfully, “It’s not anything valuable, but it’s more precious to me than anything!”
“I’ll ask Monica later and search for it, don’t worry, nothing gets lost here!” Aunt Zhou reassured her in a gentle tone, and Xia Yanxin felt significantly less distressed. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping dot com.
“Come, miss, drink this medicine, you’ve caught a chill and had a fever all last night…”
Xia Yanxin was still feeling a bit weak, her steps unsteady, as she obediently took the hot water and pills brought by Aunt Zhou.
“Miss…”
“Aunt Zhou, my name is Xia Yanxin, you can call me Yanyan or Yanxin…”
Could it be that in this dreadful place there was someone who actually cared about her?
She kindly shared her name with Aunt Zhou.
Aunt Zhou nodded, “Alright, I’ll call you Xiao Xia!
The incident yesterday where you set fire to the study, it really worried people!
The master was furious, and several maids suffered because of it, as the lighter was found in a drawer and no one knows which maid left it there.
Alas, getting punished isn’t what’s important, what’s crucial is you!
If you keep antagonizing the master, I’m afraid there won’t be any good outcomes for you!”
Yanxin lowered her head to drink water, tears falling into the cup.
She missed home, her mother, Brother Sihao, she didn’t want to stay another day in this horrific place.
Upon reflection, setting the fire had been impulsive, and it seemed not to have intimidated him at all.
That wasn’t his Achilles’ heel, and luckily there was an automatic fire sprinkler system, otherwise, she wouldn’t even know how she died.
She nodded seriously, “Thank you, Aunt Zhou, I understand.
I won’t do anything foolish again!”
“Good, go ahead and rest in bed then!
If you need anything, just ring the bell by the bedside.”
“Aunt Zhou, I’ve slept for more than ten hours, slept until my whole body’s gone soft.
Could you take me out for a walk?
“This…
I’m not sure if the master would agree.
I need to ask for permission!”
“There’s no need to bother him with such a small matter, he might be in a bad mood, throwing a tantrum right now!
How about you find me a maid’s outfit to wear, take me out for a stroll.
It won’t draw any attention.
Didn’t you say the security here is tight, and I can’t escape anyway?
Just half an hour outside and then we come back, how about it?”
Unable to resist Xia Yanxin’s asking, Aunt Zhou nodded in agreement.
Half an hour later, Xia Yanxin stood under a towering tree, facing the enigmatic Mandara Manor.
The heart of the entire manor was a grand white castle, over ten stories high, twice the size of Downton Abbey’s castle, lavish and noble like an awe-inspiring palace.
In the morning light, it stood between heaven and earth, ancient, time-worn, and majestic, inspiring reverence in those who beheld it.
“This castle has a history of over five hundred years; it’s said that it was built by an Earl.
After the Earl passed away, he bequeathed this estate to the master’s ancestors, and it has been passed down through the generations…”
“Oh, it seems like he’s very rich, such a big house must be worth a lot!” Yanxin thought of the one-bedroom apartment she shared with her mother, bedroom and kitchen combined, which might not even be as big as one of Long Yutian’s bathrooms.
It was truly sad…
“Hehe, the Long Family is among the elite of high society, the wealth of the master is not something that can be described with a specific number; this castle is merely one of his residences around the world…
So you see, Xiao Xia, if you could win the master’s favor, him casually giving you a painting would set you up for life.”
Aunt Zhou kept chattering on, but Xia Yanxin’s thoughts were wandering far away; her gaze keenly taking in the surrounding terrain…