Shen Lingwei was awakened by a series of soft sobs. The sound was like that of a frightened kitten, tightening her chest with every note.
“Mother… wake up… An’an is scared…”
She struggled to open her eyes. What came into view was the familiar blue floral canopy above her bed. An’an was leaning over the bedside, her large eyes filled with tears.
Seeing her finally awake, An’an could no longer hold back. Tears rolled down in large drops.
“Waa… Mother! You finally woke up. I thought you were going to leave me like Father did.”
“Silly girl… Mother is here.”
She tried to raise her hand to stroke her daughter’s head, but as she moved, she realized the back of her right hand was wrapped in gauze, faintly carrying the smell of medicine.
In an instant, the memories before she lost consciousness flooded back.
The Old Madam’s panicked face… and a pair of dark eyes filled with unrest.
Shen Lingwei tried to sit up, shaking her head.
She must have seen it wrong.
How could someone as composed and aloof as the Marquis be worried about a mere servant like her?
Her head still felt dizzy. She comforted An’an, telling her not to cry.
At that moment, the curtain was lifted, and Yinxing entered carrying a tray.
“Lady Shen, you’ve finally woken up. If you hadn’t, An’an would have cried enough to soak all the bricks in this courtyard.”
She placed the medicine bowl on the small table, her round eyes narrowing into a smile.
“An’an, see? I told you your mother would be fine. Everyone outside is saying your mother’s good fortune is still to come.”
Those words startled Shen Lingwei. “Everyone outside?”
Yinxing nodded matter-of-factly. “Of course! You don’t know? Yesterday, the Marquis personally carried you back and even called for a doctor. Many people in the residence saw it. Now everyone is saying the three young masters might soon have a new lady of the house.”
Shen Lingwei froze on the spot, her mind buzzing, completely unable to think.
The Marquis personally carried her?
And summoned a doctor?
So the pair of eyes she saw before fainting… were real?
But as the thought settled, Shen Lingwei suddenly understood something. Her heart began to sink—deeper and deeper—until it hit rock bottom.
“Yinxing! Do not speak nonsense!” she warned firmly.
“We are servants, and the Marquis is our master. The rules of the residence are as strict as the heavens—how could we dare entertain such thoughts?”
Though she said this, unease had already begun to stir within her.
Rumors were frightening. Even if she had no such intentions, gossip could spread from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred.
Moreover, her face bore a resemblance to the late Marchioness.
Shen Lingwei knew clearly—the Marquis must have shown her a trace of compassion only because she resembled his deceased wife.
It seemed that in the future, she would have to avoid him as much as possible.
Yinxing nodded, half understanding. She urged Shen Lingwei to drink the medicine and then brought up another matter.
“Oh right, congratulations, Lady Shen. The Old Madam has ordered that from today onward, all affairs of Jinghe Courtyard will be under your management. You’ve been promoted to stewardess.”
Yinxing looked delighted, leaning closer. “Um… Lady Shen, can I call you Sister Shen in private from now on?”
Shen Lingwei could easily see through her thoughts. She reached out and lightly pinched her soft cheek.
“Of course you can. But…” she added, her tone shifting, “you may eat food from the kitchen, but it must not affect the Second Young Master’s meals. If the Old Madam finds out, I won’t be able to protect you.”
Yinxing immediately beamed. “Don’t worry, Sister Shen. I know my limits—I won’t cause you trouble.”
Shen Lingwei smiled.
She knew Yinxing was gluttonous. But as long as she was diligent and loyal, she could accept such imperfections.
After all, if she was to manage the entire Jinghe Courtyard in the future, she would need to cultivate a few trusted people.
That evening, Shen Lingwei felt a bit better and couldn’t resist getting out of bed.
But suddenly, Yinxing rushed in. “Oh no, Sister Shen—An’an is missing!”
“What?!” Shen Lingwei was shocked. Without even putting on her shoes, she rushed outside.
“Wait, Sister Shen—your shoes…” Yinxing grabbed them and hurried after her.
“An’an! An’an!”
It was already dusk, and darkness was approaching. They searched the nearby woods and the kitchen area, but there was no sign of An’an.
Shen Lingwei was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan, breaking out in cold sweat.
Though her soul had transmigrated into this body, after half a year together, she had long treated An’an as her own daughter.
Now that she was missing, a deep, instinctive fear surged within her—worry and countless dreadful possibilities overwhelming her mind.
“Sister Shen, we’ve searched all of Jinghe Courtyard. Tuanzi isn’t there either.”
“Now there’s only the bamboo grove behind the Second Young Master’s residence left. Should we…?” Yinxing said, panting.
Shen Lingwei hesitated.
The bamboo grove behind the Second Young Master’s residence was a forbidden area. He never allowed anyone to enter—not even Chen Shitou.
If An’an had accidentally wandered in and encountered him…
Shen Lingwei’s heart leapt to her throat. Images flashed in her mind—Pei Ke’s past violent outbursts when triggered.
“Quick! Yinxing, come with me to see the Second Young Master!”
If An’an had offended him, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Because it was a forbidden area, they did not alert anyone else.
Shen Lingwei told Yinxing to wait outside while she quietly passed through a moon gate. The bamboo grove lay ahead.
But when she stepped through and saw the scene before her, she froze.
The setting sun filtered through the bamboo leaves, scattering golden light over the ground covered in dry leaves.
An’an was crouched a few steps away, holding Tuanzi in her arms, gently stroking its fur.
And a few steps beyond her—was the Second Young Master.
He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t crying or making a fuss. He simply stood there quietly, staring intently at the cat in An’an’s arms, lips slightly pressed together.
At that moment, An’an spoke. “It really doesn’t bite. It feels very nice to touch. Big brother, do you want to try?”
Shen Lingwei paused mid-step, carefully observing his reaction.
Pei Ke still said nothing, only swallowing nervously.
Then the cat in An’an’s arms let out a “meow” and jumped down, slowly walking forward until it reached Pei Ke’s feet.
Shen Lingwei’s heart rose to her throat, not missing a single change in his expression.
Pei Ke’s body stiffened noticeably, as if frozen. His eyes didn’t know where to look. His small hands clenched tightly, his teeth biting down—clearly at a loss for how to react.
“Look! It really likes you!” An’an exclaimed happily, crouching down and pointing at the cat.
The cat simply lay down at Pei Ke’s feet, exposing its white belly, letting An’an pet it while purring contentedly.
Pei Ke stood there, stunned, staring at the little creature that had suddenly appeared by his feet.