The electric heater was a rare Western item, reportedly even scarce in a metropolis like Qianhai. She had only heard about this miraculous thing last month – no need to burn coal and fill the room with coal smell, just keeping the room warm.
Unfortunately, her body was fundamentally strong. Despite hoping to recover slowly, she had already broken her fever by the next day.
Yu Yi consoled her: “Madam, this isn’t a bad thing. Although the commander will be more concerned when you’re sick, if you remain sickly, he might grow tired of you.”
Ding Jingman thought this made sense and became happy, thinking about how Yu Tao’er’s face would look when the electric heater arrived!
Yu Yi couldn’t be happy, though. These past few days, she had begun to sense something was wrong. Although Tu Feibai was ostensibly staying with Ding Jingman because of her illness, his gaze often fell on Yu Yi when sitting in the room. Once, when she went to the table to pour water for Ding Jingman, Tu Feibai reached for the teacup and coincidentally grasped her hand.
Yu Yi’s expression changed, and she immediately pulled her hand away forcefully. Tu Feibai hadn’t been holding tightly, so she easily withdrew her hand. When she looked up at Tu Feibai, he acted as if nothing had happened.
She coldly poured the water and brought it to the bedside. Ding Jingman, due to her position, couldn’t see the scene before Yu Yi and only noticed her unusual demeanor, asking: “A Ju, what’s wrong?”
Yu Yi could only smile: “Nothing.” Although for the rest of the day she never looked at Tu Feibai again, she could constantly feel his gaze, making her uncomfortable.
After the meal, Tuo Feibai still went to Ding Jingman’s room. Yu Yi found an excuse: “Madam, you’ve been saying these days that your waist and back ache from sitting on the bed for too long. I’ll go find a hot water bottle to warm you up, and it’ll be more comfortable.”
At this time of year, it wasn’t yet the season for hot water bottles, so she would go downstairs to the storeroom to look for one. Ding Jingman was happy to have her go out, giving her and Feibai time alone, so she said, “Go ahead.”
Yu Yi went downstairs. She originally wanted to take advantage of Tuo Feibai being upstairs to explore the study’s secret room, but she encountered Gong Shi downstairs. Yu Yi frowned, lowered her head to avoid his gaze, and walked towards the storeroom.
She entered the storeroom and was looking for the hot water bottle when she saw a black shadow flash in the corner of her eye. Turning back, she saw Gong Shi had followed her in.
Gong Shi asked, “A Ju, what are you looking for?”
Yu Yi ignored him, opened a cabinet, and saw the hot water bottle, but it was placed on a high shelf.
She reached out and couldn’t quite reach it, so she looked around for something to stand on. Gong Shi walked over, reached up, and took down the hot water bottle, handing it to Yu Yi: “Is this what you want?”
Yu Yi said softly, “Thank you, Gong Lieutenant.”
Gong Shi pulled his hand back: “Just saying thank you is enough?”
Yu Yi’s face turned cold, and she turned to walk out of the storeroom, saying, “This is for the madam to use. Does Gong Lieutenant think it’s not enough to hear A Ju say thank you, and wants to hear the madam say thank you herself?”
Gong Shi rushed forward two steps, blocking Yu Yi’s path, blocking the doorway with one hand on the door frame. Yu Yi pondered how to escape. If she really fought, he might not be her match. Moreover, he thought she was just a maidservant and would be unprepared, so she could likely subdue him with one strike. But if she wanted to continue staying here, she couldn’t reveal that she knew martial arts.
Seeing A Ju not speaking, Gong Shi thought to himself that country girls indeed had little experience, and continued to tease, “It’s not like I want much, just a kiss would be enough.” He pointed to his cheek.
Yu Yi looked up and smiled slightly. This smile stunned Gong Shi. He had originally just been teasing, wanting to see her embarrassed and angry, but unexpectedly, she smiled.
Chapter 23 Warlords of the Republic (5)
Gong Shi momentarily thought A Ju might actually kiss him.
Unexpectedly, Yu Yi said, “Gong Lieutenant has been pestering me. If the Commander finds out, won’t he be angry?”
Gong Shi, caught off guard, said, “How would the Commander have time to care about a mere maidservant’s affairs?”
Yu Yi said, “Didn’t the Commander scold Gong Lieutenant for A Ju last time? Later, the Commander even drove a car and took A Ju out. If Gong Lieutenant continues to pester A Ju, be careful about your future!”
Gong Shi saw her hinting that Tuo Feibai was interested in her. Remembering the previous time in the living room when Tuo Feibai pointed at his nose and told him to get lost, his eyes narrowed and he coldly laughed, “You’re counting on getting close to him? You’d be better off with me. He’s finished…”
Yu Yi’s heart stirred. She felt his words might be related to the document she found in his study’s secret room yesterday. She was about to ask Gong Shi what exactly he meant when she heard a distant ring, coming from the study’s direction.
Hearing the phone ring, Gong Shi frowned and hurriedly turned to walk out of the storeroom towards the living room. Yu Yi also took the opportunity to leave the storeroom. Gong Shi walked a few steps, remembering he was still holding the hot water bottle, and tossed it towards Yu Yi: “Catch.”
Yu Yi instinctively reached out and caught it, her movement clean and swift.
Gong Shi was unexpectedly surprised: “Quick reflexes!”
At this time, Tuo Feibai hurried down from upstairs to answer the phone. He glanced at Yu Yi and then looked warningly at Gong Shi: “A Ju, how long does it take to find a hot water bottle? Jingman is getting impatient.”
Yu Yi quickly responded: “A Ju is coming upstairs right away.”
Ding Jingman watched Yu Yi pouring hot water into the hot water bottle and suddenly asked, “A Ju, do you think I treat you well?”
Yu Yi nodded: “Madam is very good to me.”
Ding Jingman continued, “Then A Ju, don’t hide anything from me.”
“Yes, A Ju won’t hide anything from the madam.” Yu Yi inwardly guessed what Ding Jingman was worried about.
Sure enough, Ding Jingman couldn’t help but ask, “A Ju, do you think the Commander treats you well?”
“A Ju is a bit afraid of the Commander. He looks very fierce when he’s angry.”
“At dinner, that actress was going to teach you a lesson, so Feibai got angry…” Ding Jingman spoke while observing Yu Yi’s expression.
Yu Yi looked like she was standing up for Ding Jingman: “A Ju is the madam’s person. If anyone is to teach a lesson, it should be the madam. The Fourth Concubine doing this is too disrespectful to the madam.”
Moreover, the Fourth Concubine has been indirectly criticizing the madam for faking illness, and the Commander couldn’t stand it, so he got angry. Didn’t the Commander always speak up for the madam before?”
Ding Jingman recalled and felt that seemed to be the case.
Yu Yi tightened the hot water bottle lid, tested that no hot water was leaking, and then carried it to the bedside: “Madam, please turn over.”
Ding Jingman turned to lie face down. Yu Yi spread several layers of thick cloth on her back and placed the hot water bottle on her waist and back area, gently pressing and massaging.
Ding Jingman rested her head on her arms, looking out the window: “A Ju, you’re seventeen now, right? Do you like anyone?”
Yu Yi was stunned by the words. What she needed now was the third wife’s trust. If she couldn’t provide a convincing reason, Ding Jingman would continue to harbor suspicions, always be on guard. What was troublesome was that Tu Feibai had indeed shown unusual attention to her.
Helplessly, Yu Yi whispered hesitantly: “Actually, A Ju… Colonel Gong seems like…”
