“No, Xiao Ya, you misunderstood. Actually, Young Master has a good heart; he just doesn’t know how to win a girl’s favor. If he’s done anything wrong to you, Wu Ma apologizes.” Wu Ma quickly explained, even bowing to her.
“Don’t… it’s his fault. He should apologize to me personally. There’s no need for Wu Ma to apologize.” Luo Yaling helped Wu Ma up. It was his fault, and he shouldn’t let others apologize; only then can he be forgiven.
“Didn’t Wu Ma say Shen Yixuan has something to tell me?” She wanted to see what he had to say. If it wasn’t good, she’d make him pay!
“Xiao Ya doesn’t need to scare Wu Ma. I was worried for nothing. Young Master wants to know if Xiao Ya is interested in working at his company?” Wu Ma hoped Xiao Ya would accept to have more contact with Young Master.
“What? Work at his company? This is clearly telling her to leave Sky Magazine! How roundabout! It infuriates her. Does being a reporter disgust him? What does it have to do with him? He said they’re ‘not very familiar,’ yet he’s interfering with her work? Is he going to send someone to beat her up if she doesn’t resign? Damn! He can do his thing, and she’ll do hers. Even if she resigns, she won’t work at his company. Disgusting! Spending all day with him would bring her nothing but bad luck.
“Yes! This way, Young Master can take care of Xiao Ya.” Wu Ma was plotting her scheme.
“No, why doesn’t he come and tell me personally? Take care? More like add trouble! Does he think she’s easy to bully? She’s not doing it! She’d rather die than go,” Luo Yaling muttered to herself.
“This…” It seems this plan won’t work. Wu Ma felt discouraged.
“Never mind, I’ll leave when he returns.” She didn’t want to be killed if he found her displeasing.
She still wants to live a few more years!
“If Xiao Ya waits for Young Master, it might be a long wait. He leaves early and returns late…”
“Forget it.” She’ll go back first. Anyway, that guy doesn’t care about her and might even want her to leave quickly!
“Is Xiao Ya leaving?” Wu Ma was reluctant.
“Oh! Wu Ma, you seem to know Shen Yixuan for a long time?” Luo Yaling wondered why Wu Ma always spoke up for him.
“How could that be? I’ve only known Young Master for a short time.” Wu Ma thought to herself that Xiao Ya is perceptive and deserving of Young Master.
But Wu Ma calls him Young Master, not Mr. Wouldn’t that raise suspicions? Wu Ma doesn’t seem like an ordinary housekeeper. Ah! No use thinking more. She’s just a ‘guest’ and has no right to inquire about others’ private matters since she’s ‘not familiar’ with Shen Yixuan.
“Wu Ma, I don’t have serious injuries, so I don’t want to trouble you anymore.” She doesn’t want to be thrown out by him, which would be embarrassing!
“No trouble at all. Wu Ma hopes Xiao Ya can stay and be well-fed.”
Luo Yaling shook her head: “Wu Ma, you’re joking. I still need to work! How could I stay here forever?”
Staying here forever?
Luo Yaling knows he likely brought her here on a whim or out of guilt for a night. Regardless, she isn’t his wife, so staying here could make her a laughingstock. She doesn’t want to seem clingy and insists she’s no longer interested in him—she hates him and wants to release her anger, but she doesn’t dare to act rashly.
“Work?”
“Of course I need to work, or how would I eat?” Luo Yaling replied, amused.
“Then stay here. Wu Ma will support you.”
“Huh?” She was stunned by Wu Ma’s suggestion.
“If not, then work at Young Master’s company. This way, Wu Ma can take care of Xiao Ya!” Wu Ma disapproved of her working elsewhere.
“I love this job and won’t resign easily,” she reassured Wu Ma for now, planning to quit later. She was doing fine and could slack off occasionally.
“But…”
“Wu Ma, since this is Miss Luo’s decision, don’t force her. Let her go.” Shen Yixuan coldly interrupted, appearing at the door.
“Young Master, how can you say such things? She’s just being polite. Can’t you hear that?” Wu Ma quickly defended Luo Yaling.
“Polite? Miss Luo probably doesn’t know how to write those two characters!” he retorted, recognizing the provocation.
Don’t think that just because he felt guilty towards her, she could run wild. He wanted to check on her condition early, but she still didn’t know better. If she was eager to throw herself into Shen Shixuan’s arms, he wouldn’t ruin her good intentions. He had long stopped using that name; now he was Shen Yixuan. It was his mother’s doing, saying he could go out and start a company. She would let him go as long as his name was changed.
Changing ‘shi’ to ‘yi’ was infuriating. Before he fully invested in this industry, she had already altered it. Hearing this name angered him. Why specifically change it to ‘yi’? His mother claimed it represented being close and loving. She also mentioned Shen Yiming, who was only eight years older than him, suggesting he should get along with him like brothers.
He knew he wasn’t Yiming’s biological father, but he treated him well, like a son. His mother wanted a better relationship between them, but he didn’t understand how his name had any bearing on it. For his own sake and to avoid worrying his mother, he felt he had no choice but to agree.
He didn’t know how his mother met his father, who was five years older than her, and when he asked, they never disclosed anything.
He only knew he came to his father’s home when he was three years old, with only vague memories of the event. Why didn’t they have their own child? Perhaps they were considering him, but he didn’t ask, fearing it might hurt their feelings.
“Wu Ma! President Shen is right. I don’t understand ‘politeness’ or how to write it. I’d better leave quickly to avoid embarrassment. I’m no longer interested in President Shen, so you can rest assured! Thank you for the clothes. Excuse me for the trouble; I’ll pay you back,” Luo Yaling said angrily to Shen Yixuan.
A sentence snapped Shen Yixuan back to attention.
“So you were interested in me before?” Shen Yixuan paused, then continued: “Keep the money; consider it a gift to a beggar.”
“You……” She was furious. How could he compare her to a beggar? Although she had struggled in recent years, she wasn’t dirty enough to be like one! Despite his handsome appearance, he constantly mocked and bullied her. What was in his heart? Even the thickest skin would feel pain from such treatment.
He was truly one of a kind, never offering her a kind word, as if he saw her as a bad person.
Little did he know, even if hurt, she would bravely get up. Nothing in the world was insurmountable. But…
“Can’t you two talk calmly?” Wu Ma was distressed by the situation, wanting them to get along. She never expected the young master to speak to Xiao Ya like this. It seemed hopeless. When would the young master open his heart? Wu Ma worried.
“Wu Ma, forget it. Talking calmly is impossible. Thanks for lunch, but I’m leaving.” Luo Yaling stood up and walked towards the door.
“Young master, are you really letting Xiao Ya go? Her injury isn’t healed. She can’t go back like this.” Wu Ma was genuinely concerned for Xiao Ya, whom she had grown fond of, especially since Xiao Ya once expressed wanting to be the young master’s bride. The young master had been likable in his youth but had grown cold and unpredictable, leaving Wu Ma frustrated.
“Wu Ma.”
“Hmm… do you want me to call Xiao Ya back?” Wu Ma perked up.
“The car keys are there; please drive her back. I don’t want her dying at my doorstep.” The young master was angry, but there was no car here.
“Okay!” Wu Ma’s initial enthusiasm deflated, but she quickly rallied her spirits.
The young master wasn’t good at expressing himself, but he still cared about Xiao Ya. There might still be hope.
Picking up the car keys, Wu Ma quickly caught up with Luo Yaling.
“Xiao Ya… wait for me.”
