Chapter 33.2

The afternoon sun wasn’t as fierce as at noon, but it was still hot. She took one step out the door before retreating, putting on a sun-protective shirt and a sun hat until she was wrapped tight, then headed to the garden.

Looking at the vibrant, dewy flowers and smelling the fragrance, her mood improved significantly. However, the garden was too big; she ran out of water after finishing one patch of roses. She picked up the can to head back for a refill.

Just as she walked out of the garden, a female Alpha appeared outside the main gate. She wore high heels and a head-to-toe custom-made outfit, carrying an exquisite little bag. Her entire look practically shouted to everyone: I am rich—not just normally rich.

Ji Jie lazily used a finger to push down her sunglasses, scanning the “gardener-clad” Bai Manruo who was wrapped tight in oversized black clothes. A trace of disdain showed in Ji Jie’s eyes. She pushed her sunglasses back up and said: “You’re a servant here, right? I’m looking for Ji Yingqing.”

Bai Manruo caught the expression on her face, and her mouth twitched. She looked down at her outfit, thinking she didn’t look that ugly—the sun shirt just hid the camisole dress underneath.

But one must be polite to guests. Bai Manruo asked with a smile: “And you are?”

Ji Jie used a hand to shield herself from the intense sunlight and answered impatiently: “Ji Jie. Ji Yingqing is my aunt. Open the door, please.”

It was too hot; Ji Jie wanted to go inside. But aside from Butler Li, the only person who could move freely in and out was Bai Manruo. Ji Jie couldn’t get through the main gate at all.

Aunt? So Miss Ji has a sibling.

Bai Manruo studied Ji Jie curiously. She’d been at the castle so long and this was the first time she’d seen a relative of the boss. Although the girl in front of her was dressed maturely, her behavior exuded a childishness. She likely wasn’t very old.

Bai Manruo went back to help her open the gate, but it wouldn’t open. The electronic screen on the gate kept showing “Facial Recognition Error.” She looked at Ji stolen content Jie seriously. The system hadn’t recorded her face. Is this person a fraud?

Bai Manruo asked: “If you are Miss Ji’s family, how come you’ve never been here?”

Hearing the system’s error sound, Ji Jie stomped her feet in frustration. Facing Bai Manruo’s questioning, she said: “You’re clearly new. Call Butler Li and tell her I’m here.”

Bai Manruo didn’t need a reminder; she already intended to call. She gave a polite smile: “Please wait here for a moment.”

She returned to the living room, found her phone, and called Butler Li to explain the situation. Butler Li acted as if she hadn’t heard correctly, asking again: “Are you sure she said her name is Ji Jie?”

Bai Manruo heard Butler Li muttering on the other end: “How did Miss Ji Jie suddenly return to the country?” Before she could ask, Butler Li instructed: “Soothe Miss Ji Jie for a bit, I’ll be back to handle it immediately.”

So she really was Miss Ji’s niece. Hearing Butler Li’s surprised and tense voice, Bai Manruo looked toward the gate; the girl probably snuck back into the country.

Ji Jie was currently roasting under the toxic sun outside the gate. Bai Manruo walked over with two glasses of cold drinks.

“I’m sorry, Miss Ji Jie. I’m new and didn’t recognize you. Butler Li said to wait a moment, she’s coming back now.” Bai Manruo handed the drink through the gap in the iron gate.

Ji Jie stared at the drink, trying to be dignified for a few seconds, but finally lost to her thirst. She awkwardly reached through the gap to take it. “At least you have some taste.”

Ji Jie downed half the iced water in large gulps, and her irritable mood finally cooled a bit. Bai Manruo wasn’t angry; she just smiled. She wasn’t going to take it personally with a kid.

Ji Jie looked up and saw the smile on her face. Having seen this kind of expression many times before, she read her thoughts instantly.

“You’re the kid. I turned eighteen a year ago; I just look young.” Ji Jie snorted, proudly pushing up her sunglasses.

Bai Manruo’s mouth twitched, and she nodded while suppressing a smile. “Alright, an adult.”

Only then did Ji Jie look at Bai Manruo seriously. She’d only glanced before, but now she realized that although she couldn’t see the servant’s face clearly under the hat, her aura as an Alpha was good, and her pheromones smelled pleasant too.

Standing in a shaded spot, Ji Jie asked Bai Manruo: “Were you sent by Butler Li to take care of my aunt? How come I haven’t seen you before?”

Bai Manruo answered patiently: “I mentioned at the start, I only started working here recently, so you haven’t seen me.”

Ji Jie rubbed her head and said: “I just ran out of a closed boarding school; my reflexes are a bit slow.”

Bai Manruo raised an eyebrow, curious: “Why were you sent to a boarding school?”

“When I just turned eighteen, I had a passionate relationship, but my family didn’t approve. They sent me abroad and cut off my internet for a year so I couldn’t contact the outside world.” As she spoke, the eyes behind the sunglasses held an unknown emotion, seemingly recalling the events of a year ago.

Just for a relationship? Bai Manruo didn’t quite believe it, but she understood that everyone does some “chunibyo” things during their teenage years.

In the ensuing conversation, Bai Manruo learned some things about the Ji family. It seemed Miss Ji had the highest status in the family, but she had stopped interacting with them since she was young. Aside from Ji Jie, other Ji family members couldn’t even see Ji Yingqing if they wanted to. Moreover, Butler Li seemed to know Ji Jie very well; it seemed she and the boss truly had a good relationship.

Throughout the chat, she found Ji Jie didn’t have a bad temper; she was just spoiled into an “eldest miss” attitude. Combined with teenage rebellion, she seemed read the original at bailiantales.com tough to handle, but actually just needed to be spoken to in the right tone.

An hour passed and Butler Li still hadn’t returned. Bai Manruo handed her a fourth cold drink and said: “Why don’t you go wait at the villa area? Or tell me why you’re looking for your aunt, and I’ll pass it on.”

Having waited this long, Ji Jie stubbornly took a large gulp. Wiping the sweat from her face, she said: “I’ve waited this long, it doesn’t matter. I have nothing to do back home anyway.” She had to see her aunt today.

She waited until past 6:00 PM. Just as Ji Jie was about to leave, a black car drove up. The system automatically identified the car, and the gate slowly opened. Ji Jie hurriedly backed to the side. Seeing Ji Yingqing in the back seat, she jumped up excitedly and waved: “Aunt! Aunt!”

Upon seeing Ji Jie, Ji Yingqing didn’t seem particularly surprised. Hearing the noisy clamor outside the window, she simply lifted her eyelids and gave Ji Jie a look of disdain.

Bai Manruo, seeing the boss’s expression, couldn’t help but let her lips curl up. She really is her aunt; their ‘disdainful’ expressions are identical.

Ji Jie had already rushed inside to find Ji Yingqing. Bai Manruo messaged Butler Li, telling her Miss Ji was back so she could handle things and didn’t need to rush back.

Entering the living room, Bai Manruo took off her sun hat. Seeing Ji Jie standing perfectly still by the sofa, she walked over curiously: “Why aren’t you sitting?” Didn’t you just complain about standing for hours until your legs were breaking?

Ji Jie looked up at Bai Manruo’s face and froze for a few seconds. Snapping out of it, she didn’t say a word, still standing there unmoving.

At that moment, Ji Yingqing walked down from the first floor, glancing at the “self-punishing” Ji Jie. She walked to the bar, and while mixing a cold drink, she spoke slowly: “What trouble did you cause this time?” Her calm tone carried a natural authority.

Bai Manruo stood aside, silently “eating melons.” No wonder she insisted on speaking to the boss personally. She’d thought it was some important trade secret, but it turned out the girl was just too embarrassed to admit she’d caused trouble.

Ji Jie stood there obediently, stammering: “Aunt, actually, I didn’t cause much trouble… it’s, it’s still the same thing from before.” After finishing, she didn’t dare look Ji Yingqing in the eye.

Ji Yingqing didn’t reply, focused on her task. She picked up the first mixed drink, turned, and handed it to Bai Manruo.

Bai Manruo, hiding in the corner enjoying the drama, was stunned for a moment before reaching out to take it.

Ji Jie looked at Bai Manruo with envy and muttered softly: “I want one too.”

Hearing this, Bai Manruo looked at Ji Yingqing and said: “Give it to Miss Ji Jie.” After all, she drank the boss’s mixes all the time.

“Ignore her.” Ji Yingqing placed the glass into Bai Manruo’s hand, then picked up another glass and walked toward the living room.

As Ji Yingqing turned her back, Ji Jie immediately stared at the glass in Bai Manruo’s hand as if she wanted to burn a hole through it.

Bai Manruo’s mouth twitched. She magnanimously handed the drink over, thinking: It’s just a drink, is it worth being this upset?

Although Ji Jie was envious, she didn’t take it. She said sourly: “How come Aunt is better to you than to me? I’ve never had a drink Aunt mixed personally in my entire life.” She stared at Bai Manruo’s face for a few seconds, then snorted and answered her own question: “Is it because you’re better looking than me? But even if you are, my aunt wouldn’t be that shallow.”

In truth, although Ji Jie was wearing sunglasses, one could tell she wasn’t bad looking—after all, her aunt was Miss Ji.

However, Bai Manruo was surprised by the first half of her sentence. So I’m the only one who’s ever had a drink the boss mixed?

Looking at the “vinegar” (jealousy) overflowing from Ji Jie’s face, Bai Manruo wondered if she should tell her that she’d not only had her aunt’s mixed drinks but had also read the original at bailiantales.comeaten her aunt’s cooking. To avoid causing secondary psychological damage, Bai Manruo just looked at the glass in her hand and felt a little happy in her heart.

Ji Yingqing’s gaze fell on the two of them talking and laughing in the distance. Her brow furrowed slightly as she spoke coldly to Ji Jie: “Are you coming over or not?”

Meeting her aunt’s stern gaze, Ji Jie instantly resumed her “obedient” expression and hurried over in large strides. Bai Manruo followed unhurriedly, a silly smile on her face as she held her glass.