Translated by newbienoona

Edited by anks

Jiang Yuan kicks the door open, and the maids bow their heads as she pa.s.ses by with a less than perfect appearance. She looks like she has just come out of a henhouse. Her hair is messy, her silk pajamas are conservative but loose, and mismatched slippers that no one dares to point out.

With her hands on her hips, she kicks the door in and shouts, “Brat! How dare you come home and make trouble!”

She was woken up by the two maids when they heard Han Qilu was summoned by Han Liuhai to the study, and An Chuxia went in to rescue Qilu.

But when she got to the study, Han Liuhai had already left for the office without eating his breakfast, and only he and steward Han were aware of An Chuxia's injury. Jiang Yuan wasn't aware Chuxia was hurt.

Han Qilu frowns and looks at Jiang Yuan. Her lips are pressed firmly together, seeming like she had nothing to say. She's about to scold him when she hears steward Han.

Steward Han appears near the door, surprised to see so many people present. Earlier, he was concerned about disturbing Han Qilu and An Chuxia's privacy. It seems he's more attentive [than the Madame].

“Well?” Jiang Yuan casts a doubtful gaze at steward Han. “Why did you summon the doctor?”

“Because… .” Steward Han hesitantly looks at Qilu. He was going to conceal his intent before coming clean. “When the master threw the ashtray at the young master, Xiaonainai ran up and got injured… .”

“Is that so?” Jiang Yuan nods. The steward wonders why she's so calm until she sees her eyes widen in bewilderment.

It's not that she's indifferent. It's that she's just pondering. Steward Han is ashamed for concealing the event.

She pulls Han Qilu away so she can stand next to An Chuxia. She stares at her forehead with concern. The scent of antiseptic and the sight of the ugly band-aid is too much.

“Are you alright? Is it painful? Has your wound been treated?” Jiang Yuan asks a series of questions.

An Chuxia scratches her head in embarra.s.sment. “It's alright. It's not a big wound, not something to worry about.”

“You…,” Jiang Yuan mutters, her eyes filled with distress. “He's tough skinned, and should be able to take a blow. Why should you protect him? Besides, [the punishment] is for his own good. He knows this!” She may not be standing in front of him, but she means for him to hear her scolding. Han Qilu isn't stupid. He knows his mother is protecting An Chuxia.

He frowns and looks at An Chuxia over his mother's head. When their eyes meet, An Chuxia hurriedly lowers her head, feeling uncomfortable for a moment.

“Han Qilu, you're grounded and not allowed to go anywhere!” Jiang Yuan focuses her attention on him. When he nods in agreement, she says, “Okay.”

Jiang Yuan wants to continue scolding him but she's at a loss. Her son is amenable! “You better be honest. Otherwise, I won't forgive you.”

Then, she pulls An Chuxia away.

Everyone but steward Han and Han Qilu leave the room. Qilu reaches for the top b.u.t.ton of his s.h.i.+rt and says, “Liu shu, do you have something to say?”

The housekeeper didn't expect the young master to be so direct. He never consciously watches his master undress, but he feels the urge to come clean at this point.

“I should tell you… ,” the butler says uncomfortably, “Ms. Xiang Mankuai is willing to sell herself [to you] to keep the old Xiangjia home. There's a reason why the Master and Madame reject her. You need to see who's really good for you.”

“Drama?!” Han Qilu says to the butler without a trace of surprise on his face. He doesn't seem surprised about Xiang Mankuai's actions.

But if he knows this, why is he still with her? The master isn't usually this dizzying.

But the housekeeper couldn't figure it out at all.

“I didn't rest well last night. I'm going to sleep. Thank you for telling me, Liu shu.” Han Qilu stands in place, and with the housekeeper daring not to say anything, he leaves and closes the door behind him.

Outside the room, An Chuxia goes through a thorough examination by the doctor.

“What do you think?” Jiang Yuan sits beside her anxiously. “It's bleeding. Does she need st.i.tches? No, wouldn't that leave a scar? Forget it. The wound needs to be attended. I guess she has to get st.i.tches?”

Looking at Jiang Yuan's madness, An Chuxia calms her down. “Ma, it's not that serious.”

“What's not serious?” Jiang Yuan glares at her before turning toward the doctor.

The doctor smiles as he looks at An Chuxia's wound intently. “Fortunately, you called me early. Otherwise… .”

Jiang Yuan jumps up quickly as her heart skips a beat. “Otherwise what?”

The doctor looks at both of them before deepening his smile. “Otherwise the blood would stop.”

Jiang Yuan is speechless. Pretending to be furious, she says, “Well, for that, I'll garnish your wages!”

“Ah, no! I hurried over and I've yet to have breakfast!” The doctor waves his hand before teasing Jiang Yuan and An Chuxia. “There shouldn't be any problem with the wound. Be careful. Once it scabs, don't pick it. Otherwise, it will leave a scar.”

“Okay.” An Chuxia nods her head. She doesn't care if a scar forms. If there's one, she can hide it by cutting her hair and having bangs.

“I'll see you out, doctor.” Jiang Yuan opens the door to the room before sitting next to An Chuxia. “Mommy knows you have a deep relations.h.i.+p with Qilu, but can't you take care of yourself a bit more?”

“I will.” An Chuxia nods again.

When she first moved in, she didn't expect the person whom she calls “Ma” would care and worry over her like her own mother.

“Ah.” Jiang Yuan pats her head. “Have you had breakfast yet?”

An Chuxia chuckles, her eyes full of warmth. “I've eaten, but Mommy, you better clean up and go down to eat.”

Jiang Yuan looks at her outfit and walks in front of the mirror in An Chuxia's room. She screams. “Ah, I ran out with two different slippers!”

* * *

An Chuxia turns as she deliberates whether she should put back the bandage over her wound.

She walked to the mirror to look at it. The bandage is still ugly, but it covers the wound.

When An Chuxia returns to the main floor, Jiang Yuan is dressed neatly, sitting like a gentle lady filled with knowledge, slowly sipping her millet porridge on the table.

“An Chuxia,” she says before finis.h.i.+ng her porridge and standing up. “You're injured. Do you want us to change the time?”

She blinks for a few moments until she realizes Jiang Yuan was asking her if she wanted to go shopping.

The wound hurts, but it's such a minor injury. An Chuxia shakes her head and says, “It doesn't matter. Let's go.

Jiang Yuan nods, her eyes can't help but exude joy. Picking gifts for her An Chuxia shows her love.

They quickly leave the house and enter the car. Steward Han isn't accompanying them but he hands over Jiang Yuan's bag and circles over to the driver's side to instruct, “Be sure to take care of Madame and Xiaonainai.”

Once he receives the driver's acknowledgement, steward Han returns to the Madame's side to say, “The master wants to take you out for entertainment tonight. He said to bring along the young master and Xiaonainai.”

Jiang Yuan's face flashed with surprise. “I don't seem to recall any recent commercial cooperation.”

She is puzzled. A major project has just ended and a celebration party has already occurred. There are no big gatherings the family has to attend. Jiang Yuan nods and looks out of the window.

It is a bit cold this morning. It's past nine o'clock, but the sunlight isn't strong, and remains invisible.

“You're taking me as well?” An Chuxia looks at her, restrained. “I wouldn't know what to do. I won't go.”

“That's impossible. Your father won't allow it.” Jiang Yuan's eyes are filled with brilliant light. She doesn't know what's going on, but since Han Liuhai arranged this, he must have something up his sleeve.

An Chuxia gives up arguing. She thinks she'd be bored, but with Jiang Yuan beside her, she's relieved.