Chu Ningwu really did sleep all the way until evening.
She was only awakened by the greedy hunger in her stomach.
Her nose twitched.
The little woman opened her watery eyes.
It smelled so good.
Had her roommate gone to the cafeteria and brought back her favorite sweet and sour spare ribs?
Then her gaze suddenly landed on the enormous dazzling crystal chandelier above her.
Chu Ningwu jolted upright in utter shock.
Before her was a bed nearly five meters wide, layered with silk bedding and velvet curtains cascading from the headboard to the floor. Above her, the ceiling was adorned with carved reliefs of Western deities, with pure white angels so lifelike they seemed almost real.
Holy crap.
Had she transmigrated again?
Had she finally become some European royal princess this time?
Now fully rested, Chu Ningwu excitedly climbed out of bed, slipped on the fluffy slippers placed beside it, and rushed to the vanity.
She eagerly sat down, hoping to see the reflection of a blonde haired, blue eyed Western beauty in the gorgeous diamond studded mirror.
Instead…
Wait.
Wasn’t this Huo Zhi Chuan’s ex girlfriend?
Damn it.
So this was Yun Bang Shui Wan.
Chu Ningwu instantly deflated again.
The male lead really was absurdly lucky.
Living every day in a giant palace like some emperor.
Would it really kill the world to let one more person be rich?
Suddenly, her phone alarm rang.
This was the only thing she had brought from home, now neatly placed on the bedside table by the servants.
Chu Ningwu picked it up and immediately felt her vision darken.
The alarm label read:
“Work.”
The original host’s shift started at seven in the evening.
And now it was almost seven already.
She quickly checked the map for Yun Ding MK’s location.
Even by car, it would take at least an hour from Yun Bang Shui Wan.
Which meant she was unquestionably late.
Chu Ningwu instantly lost all mood to explore the luxurious mansion.
Work was more important.
As a diligent girl who had never even skipped class in university, calling in sick did not even occur to her.
All she could think was that this job was the original host’s only source of income.
If she somehow lost it too, then she really would starve to death without the male lead even needing to intervene.
She hurriedly got dressed.
As she rushed downstairs, the extravagant living room nearly blinded her, and she almost tripped on the spiral staircase.
There were at least four or five servants preparing dinner in the grand hall alone.
All wore spotless uniforms with hats and masks, moving with practiced efficiency.
As the aroma of sweet and sour spare ribs drifted from the kitchen, Chu Ningwu could not help swallowing.
Huo Zhi Chuan really did live like an emperor.
He practically had an imperial kitchen in his own home.
How could anyone cook something this fragrant?
She had no choice but to hold her breath and hurry past before she lost control and sneaked into the kitchen like a little mouse.
Chu Ningwu was petite and delicate.
None of the busy servants noticed her coming downstairs.
But even if they had, no one would have said anything.
Because their master had already instructed them that whatever she wanted in the villa, they were to accommodate her as much as possible.
She crossed the courtyard and reached the grand double carved bronze gates at the villa entrance.
This time, the bodyguards stopped her.
“Miss Chu, the president has not said that you are allowed to leave.”
“Ah?”
Only then did Chu Ningwu realize.
She had been imprisoned by Huo Zhi Chuan.
She had thought his relatively gentle demeanor during the day meant he did not intend to pursue the matter of her climbing into his bed.
Turns out it was not that retribution would not come.
It was simply waiting for the right time.
Her entire body instantly turned ice cold.
She strongly suspected she would not survive the night.
Well then.
No need to go to work anymore.
Chu Ningwu silently canceled her taxi order and returned to the villa’s living room.
As she passed the kitchen, the scent became absolutely unbearable.
And besides…
This was probably her last meal anyway.
Forget it.
Who knew what punishment Huo Zhi Chuan had planned for her?
What was wrong with eating one of his meals first?
Jiang Shen was startled when she saw the young woman Xiao Liu had delivered earlier suddenly appear before her.
“Miss, why didn’t you call someone after waking up?”
Chu Ningwu frowned delicately.
Call someone for what?
So they could report to Huo Zhi Chuan that she was awake and ready for execution?
Immediately abandoning all other concerns, she tugged pitifully on the kind looking maid’s sleeve.
“Auntie, I’m so hungry. Could you let me eat first?”
Jiang Shen’s heart instantly softened hearing such a sweet and gentle little beauty call her that.
At that point, forget dinner.
She would have handed over the whole kitchen.
“Oh my, why didn’t you say so sooner? We’ve been preparing for ages. Let’s serve dinner!”
Jiang Shen called into the kitchen.
Soon, exquisitely plated dishes were brought out one after another.
Each white porcelain plate held only small portions, leaving Chu Ningwu clicking her tongue in amazement.
She had assumed with so many people in the kitchen, they were cooking for a large household.
Turns out all of them had been preparing a single meal for Huo Zhi Chuan alone.
Originally, sneaking a little food would not have mattered.
But with dishes this artistically arranged, one missing bite would definitely be noticed.
How could she possibly steal any?
Just as she was about to ask if there were leftovers in the kitchen, Jiang Shen pressed her shoulders down into a seat at the dining table.
The long dining table was covered in a pristine white tablecloth.
Then a pair of chopsticks was respectfully presented before her with both hands.
“Miss, please enjoy your meal. We wish you pleasant dining.”
Chu Ningwu hesitated and did not take the chopsticks.
“Wait… wasn’t this prepared for Huo Zhi Chuan? If you let me eat it, won’t you get scolded?”
“Miss, this dinner was specially prepared for you. Sir will not be dining at home tonight.”
Chu Ningwu pointed at herself.
“Me?”
The servant nodded again.
“Absolutely.”
Then she gratefully accepted.
She assumed perhaps the Huo Family had some ancestral rule about making sure prisoners ate well before being sent on their way.
And since Huo Zhi Chuan seemed rather old fashioned, perhaps he strictly honored such traditions.
Whatever the case…
The food was incredible.
The chefs Huo Zhi Chuan hired were simply too good.
At first, Chu Ningwu ate carefully, mindful of table manners in someone else’s home.
But soon enough, her head was practically buried in her rice bowl.
Chew chew chew.
How could even stir fried cabbage taste this good?
So when Huo Zhi Chuan entered the house,
he saw Chu Ningwu’s tiny figure seated at the enormous dining table, eyes shining brightly as she relentlessly stuffed Qianlong cabbage into her mouth.
Her cheeks were puffed out like a starving little rabbit.
The warm golden dining room lights bathed her softly.
Her thick black hair spilled behind her like luxurious silk, glowing gently and seeming almost to emit its own faint fragrance.
The exhaustion and stress from an entire day of work seemed to vanish at this sight.
All that remained was a rich sense of warmth.
For the first time, he seemed to understand why his mother, Madam Li, loved that Persian cat so much.
At night, she would rather sleep holding the cat than sleep beside his father.
And why she constantly urged him to hurry and start a family.
Without one, no matter how many servants a house employed, it would still lack true warmth.
“Ah!”
A short startled cry was immediately followed by violent coughing.
“Cough, cough cough…!”
Chu Ningwu had suddenly noticed someone standing in the doorway.
She was already badly frightened.
Then she realized it was Huo Zhi Chuan.
He had come to claim her life!
A mouthful of food instantly lodged in her throat.
She bent over coughing desperately, unable to breathe.