Chapter 13

At that moment, the thought in Ji Yingqing’s mind was “No,” but she knew she couldn’t actually do that; it was the girl’s freedom.

Bai Manruo was still burying her head in her food, completely unaware that her little secret about participating in the variety show had long been exposed.

She had originally wanted to finish quickly and return to her room, but in the end, she stayed even after finishing. It wasn’t that she wanted to, but the boss’s gaze seemed to say: If you leave this table, face the consequences.

So, Bai Manruo had no choice but to keep the boss company. She rested her chin in her hand and watched Ji Yingqing eat at an unhurried pace. She felt that Ji Yingqing exuded mystery from head to toe; not only did she own this massive castle, but she also had so many servants in the villa area. She seemed like a young lady from an ancient, mysterious, and powerful family.

Of course, Bai Manruo was just guessing based on her aura and the castle itself—a place this large had to be worth a fortune.

Bai Manruo encouraged herself internally: Once I buy back my freedom, I’ll make the villa… next to the castle my goal to strive for.

After the meal, she watched Ji Yingqing go upstairs. In the dead of night, Bai Manruo lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She was worried about her performance on the variety show starting the day after tomorrow, and the director wanted her to come tomorrow afternoon to get familiar with the environment. This was her last night in the castle.

A gentle night breeze blew outside. Bai Manruo suddenly sat up.

Right, I almost forgot to close the window.

She touched her neck; the red welts from the mosquito bites the night before had only just faded. Without turning on the lights, she used the faint moonlight to go close the doors and windows. From this angle, the window perfectly overlooked the garden.

The roses were blooming quietly in the night, revealing a seductive, dewy crimson under the hazy moonlight. As the breeze brushed by, bright red petals fluttered down—it was hauntingly beautiful. Since she couldn’t sleep anyway, Bai Manruo put on her slippers, threw on a sheer gauze wrap, and headed out.

As she drew closer, she realized someone was sitting in the floral pavilion. She hadn’t noticed earlier because, from the window’s perspective, the person was hidden behind green vines.

Green vines spiraled up the white jade pillars, surrounded by blooming, gorgeous roses. She was almost entirely concealed within the pavilion, revealing only a graceful silhouette from behind, her black hair covered by dense green leaves.

Bai Manruo crept forward two steps and spoke tentatively: “Miss Ji?”

The person in front turned her head slightly. Ji Yingqing seemed a bit surprised to see Bai Manruo, her thin lips parting slightly: “Why aren’t you asleep this late?”

Seeing Ji Yingqing’s face, the wild thoughts in Bai Manruo’s mind instantly vanished. She let out a breath of relief; it was indeed the boss. She’d thought she’d run into something strange again.

Bai Manruo walked over and sat directly opposite her. Noticing the tea on the stone table and feeling parched from her earlier nerves, she poured herself a cup. As she drank, she asked, “Can’t you sleep either, Miss Ji?”

Ji Yingqing’s deep grey eyes fixed on her. This woman acted with such casual disregard for rules in front of her master, yet surprisingly, Ji Yingqing didn’t find it repulsive.

In truth, Bai Manruo didn’t think that much of it because she often forgot she was someone’s servant. Though she’d immediately tell herself “never again” once she realized it, she ended up being more casual the next time. But the reason she could be this free and relaxed was inseparable from Ji Yingqing’s tacit indulgence.

Ji Yingqing propped up her cheek, her naturally soulful eyes looking at her as she asked back: “And why can’t you sleep?”

Bai Manruo stared at her for a few seconds, suddenly feeling thirsty again. She looked down to drink water and said, “Because I have to leave the castle tomorrow.”

After saying this, she slowly raised her head, the corners of her mouth curling up, followed by a gentle: “I can’t bear to leave you, Miss Ji.”

The bewitching voice drifted into her ears. Ji Yingqing met those tender eyes, and her heart fluttered for a split second—though the feeling vanished as quickly as it came. She knew the woman in front of her didn’t mean anything deeper by those words.

In fact, Bai Manruo admitted that by saying that, she was “sneaking in some personal cargo”—she kind of wanted bailiantales.comto tease the boss. She’d noticed that every time, she was the one whose heart raced because of the boss’s every move, while the boss’s face remained as calm as a still pond.

Still so calm.

For the first time, Bai Manruo doubted her own charm. Refusing to lose, she leaned her body forward until they were very close. She looked up and crashed into those deep eyes: “Will Miss Ji miss me?”

Looking at the face that had suddenly closed in, the gland at the back of Ji Yingqing’s neck throbbed with a strange sensation. Ever-restrained, no matter what she thought inside, her face would never show it.

Ji Yingqing averted her eyes slightly. After a few seconds of hesitation, she nodded: “Mm.”

Bai Manruo finally got the answer she wanted. she pulled back and sat back in her seat, smiling happily: “I’ll miss you too, Boss!” Her tone was sincere, expressing how much she valued her employer.

The two of them sat quietly in the pavilion for a while. Bai Manruo kept looking at the moon, but when she turned back, she found the boss had fallen asleep.

This was the first time she’d seen the boss sleeping. Bai Manruo gently draped her own wrap over her. The boss’s weight was even lighter than she’d imagined; there wasn’t a trace of extra fat on her body, and her slender back felt a bit bony to the touch.

So thin. Bai Manruo frowned. As a nanny, she decided she must supervise the boss and make sure she eats well in the future.

Bai Manruo carried her toward the third floor. The person in her arms seemed a bit restless in her sleep; a pale, slender arm hooked around Bai Manruo’s neck, and that almost sickly pale skin pressed against her chest. Seeing this soft, uneasy side of her for the first time, a pang of heartache instinctively appeared in Bai Manruo’s eyes.

The boss works so hard; I must take my responsibilities as a nanny seriously from now on.

Bai Manruo laid her gently on the bed, tucked her in, and whispered, “Sweet dreams.”

Returning to her room, she still couldn’t sleep. The sensation of the warm body in her arms lingered. To distract herself, Bai ​bailiantales.com​Manruo picked up the Love Guide again to review.

Sure enough, looking at the book made her sleepy. Half an hour later, she fell asleep unconsciously, still clutching the book.