A Cannon-Fodder Omega’s Self-Saving Guide - Chapter 8

They returned to the residence.

Xia Weichen led Yin Yin inside and first showed her the room she had ordered people to arrange. It was a very traditional and ancient style, but it could indeed be called elegant and distinctive.

“Sister Yin, what do you think?”

She paid close attention to Yin Yin’s expression. After all, she was not sure what kind of style Yin Yin liked, so she inevitably felt somewhat nervous.

In truth, she still very much hoped to receive approval, no matter in what aspect.

“It’s very beautiful. Miss Xia put a lot of thought into it.” Yin Yin looked around the room, and her gaze finally landed on the Drooping Willows in Cold Mist embroidery hanging on the wall. As Yin Yin’s gaze lingered, Xia Weichen held her breath.

“This looks like moon embroidery.”

Works that came from Huanyue Embroidery House were also known as moon embroidery. It was rare for an embroidery style to be named after an embroidery house, showing just how respected its craftsmanship was.

Moon embroidery did not circulate much on the market, and its collectible value far exceeded its purely assessed monetary value.

As the direct disciple of Master Yang Shuhe, the owner of the embroidery house, calling her work moon embroidery was not excessive.

“Sister Yin has a good eye.” Xia Weichen felt a little proud. Calling a piece moon embroidery was an extremely high compliment.

“Seeing it once is better than hearing about it a hundred times. The exquisite beauty of moon embroidery is truly impossible to imagine without seeing it in person.” Yin Yin walked closer to Drooping Willows in Cold Mist and carefully examined the swaying willow branches and the drifting pale mist on the brocade. After looking at it for a while, she said, “If not for Miss Xia, it would be very difficult for me to admire such exquisite moon embroidery up close.”

Yin Yin knew a great deal in this area. Having found a shared topic, the two spoke very happily. Under this moon embroidery, the unique arrangement of the room also became reasonable.

Auntie Lu, who had finished making the pastries, saw that her young miss and the Alpha woman she had brought back were chatting congenially. Although she also wanted to know what kind of Alpha her young miss had taken a liking to, she knew it was not convenient to disturb her young miss and this Alpha woman at such a time. So she placed the prepared desserts and clear tea on a small table at the side.

Xia Weichen noticed Auntie Lu and gave her a slight nod of thanks.

Yin Yin, however, did not look at Auntie Lu. She was still staring at Drooping Willows in Cold Mist on the wall, her gaze as if fixed firmly upon it.

“If Sister Yin likes this piece, I’ll give it to you. In Sister’s hands, at least it won’t be like a pearl covered in dust.” Seeing that Yin Yin seemed unwilling to look away for even a moment, Xia Weichen also felt a little happy. Many people wanted to obtain her works, but most of them only focused on their collectible value and potential appreciation. Yin Yin’s evaluation of Drooping Willows in Cold Mist just now made her feel as if she had returned to the days when she drank tea with her master, Yang Shuhe, beneath the shade of drooping willows.

Good things should be given to those who know how to appreciate them. Just as the old saying went, high mountains and flowing water seek a kindred spirit.

“I only know a little.” Yin Yin’s dense, raven-feather-like lashes lowered. Her hand stretched forward slightly, as if wanting to touch it, but her fingertips still stopped an inch away from the silk surface. It was as if she were explaining her own unusual behavior. “…I had some connection with moon embroidery before, so I know a little.”

The atmosphere became somewhat solemn because of Yin Yin’s words. Xia Weichen did not ask further and instead invited Yin Yin over to eat the prepared desserts.

“Although eating these at night makes it easy to gain weight, doing it once or twice occasionally is fine.” Xia Weichen picked up the teapot and slowly poured tea. “I’ve always liked the things Auntie Lu makes. Try some. They’re very good.”

Yin Yin could not refuse, so she walked over, accepted the teacup Xia Weichen handed her, and took a small sip.

She was not someone who understood this kind of refined and elegant lifestyle very well. She had neither the conditions nor the opportunity for it.

But the tea Xia Weichen handed her was indeed top-grade tea. It was slightly bitter at first, then sweet in the aftertaste, with a clear fragrance that seeped into the heart.

Although her appearance was noble and extraordinary, like someone from the heavens, Yin Yin knew very well that she merely lived in the dust and mud. Xia Weichen was the true person from the heavens.

The Xia Weichen before her was wearing a plain white dress. There was not even the slightest decoration on it, so simple it could be called excessive. But it did not clash with her temperament much at all. She was soft and alluring, like an udumbara flower beneath the moon.

“These are Auntie Lu’s plum cakes. Sister Yin, try one.”

Yin Yin was half a head taller than Xia Weichen. For Xia Weichen to bring the whole piece of plum cake to Yin Yin’s lips, she had to stand on tiptoe. At that very moment, a gust of wind lifted the hem of her skirt. The slightly cool evening breeze stimulated her knee, which had not fully gone down from the swelling. A dull pain came over her, and Xia Weichen’s knees weakened. She uncontrollably fell toward Yin Yin.

A pair of strong hands clasped her shoulders and steadied her body. But the plum cake in her hand did not escape its fate. Pale pink marks smeared all over Yin Yin’s cuff.

“Miss Xia should sit down.” Yin Yin helped Xia Weichen sit down on the chair. Then she half-crouched, took ointment out of her bag, and slowly spread it over Xia Weichen’s knee.

The ointment helped promote blood circulation and reduce bruising. Although Yin Yin applied it very gently, the stinging sensation still kept stimulating Xia Weichen’s nerves. Xia Weichen tightly twisted her fingers together, controlling herself so she would not make a sound. But her tears fell in large drops, completely beyond her control.

Having seen Xia Weichen last night, Yin Yin was not surprised at all that she cried from pain. She handed Xia Weichen the tissue she had prepared in advance.

Xia Weichen wiped away the tears falling in streams, then suddenly reached out and hugged Yin Yin around the waist.

Every time she cried uncontrollably, she would strongly long for comfort from someone else. She did not need much comfort. A few simple soothing words or a few seconds of being held would be enough.

“…I’m sorry.”

Yin Yin sighed and did not push Xia Weichen away. She understood the fragility of Omegas very well. Toward an Omega like Xia Weichen, who was not intentionally trying to frame her, she would not be too cold and heartless.

The Omega’s face pressed against her lower abdomen. Through the thin fabric, she could feel Xia Weichen’s trembling, slightly warm breath seeping into her skin. She raised her hand and gently patted Xia Weichen’s back.

This kind of comfort was already enough for Xia Weichen. Xia Weichen raised her eyes. After being moistened by tears, the area around those peach-blossom eyes was flushed red, making them even more gorgeous and shimmering. She looked at Yin Yin for a long while. Then she took the initiative to turn her face away and lifted Yin Yin’s cuff instead.

“Sister’s clothes were dirtied by me. I’ll have someone wash them for you.” Xia Weichen looked at the plum-cake powder smeared on Yin Yin. The pale cake powder was especially glaring against the black suit. She reached out to brush it off, but not only did she fail to wipe it away, she made it even messier instead. A little embarrassed, she covered up her crime with her hand.

“I can wash it myself,” Yin Yin said after hesitating for a moment. “But I’ll do it later. I didn’t bring any clothes to change into.”

“It’s fine. Sister can wear mine first. I have a few pieces of clothing that were made too large. They should fit Sister just right.”

Xia Weichen got up and pressed the bell, instructing the servants to bring over those pieces of clothing. Then she pulled Yin Yin down to sit, while she sat across from Yin Yin and refilled her tea.

At that moment, she heard Auntie Lu’s footsteps approaching. She knew very well that with Auntie Lu’s personality, she would not disturb her unless something important had happened. So Xia Weichen excused herself and got up to walk out.

“Auntie Lu, what is it?” Xia Weichen lowered her voice. Although her personality leaned toward gentleness, compared to the Omega-like softness she showed in front of Yin Yin, her tone was still slightly lighter. If one listened carefully, one could hear the inconsistency.

“Miss Langruo came looking for you just now. She asked whether Miss was here, and I said Miss wasn’t.” Auntie Lu’s voice carried some nervousness. “Miss Langruo is very calculating. Miss must absolutely not let Miss Langruo know about your contact with the Alpha lady currently inside. What if Miss Langruo twists right and wrong…”

“She was the one who cheated first. If she thinks striking first will bring her any benefit, she can do it if she wants. But right now, she probably can’t bear to give up clinging to the Xia family.” Xia Weichen narrowed her eyes. Within the rippling brightness that had originally filled them, a few sharp glints reflected. “The reason I haven’t announced it publicly is, first, out of consideration for the Xia family’s reputation; second, because I remember the life-saving grace her father showed my father; and third, because I remember how she took care of me after my car accident.”

Although she had done it with ulterior motives, Xia Weichen admitted that during that period, Lin Langruo had indeed taken meticulous care of her. Before that, Lin Langruo’s concern for her had also seemed like genuine concern.

When had Lin Langruo first developed the idea of seizing the Xia family?

This question suddenly flashed through Xia Weichen’s mind, but she quickly suppressed it. When exactly it had started did not matter. What mattered was that Lin Langruo had already had this thought and had put it into practice.

Auntie Lu knew that her young miss always had a clear sense of these things, so she did not persuade her further and instead asked about Yin Yin.

“My new Alpha,” Xia Weichen said half-jokingly and half-seriously. “Auntie Lu, isn’t she much better-looking than Lin Langruo?”

“That she is.” Auntie Lu nodded thoughtfully. “But I feel this Alpha lady looks somewhat familiar, though I can’t remember which family I’ve seen her from. If she’s well-matched with Miss, that would be good too.”

“Being well-matched doesn’t matter.” Xia Weichen said softly, “Auntie Lu, notify all the servants here that they must not neglect Yin Yin. Treat Yin Yin the same way they treat me.”

This sentence was very important.

Even in the Xia family, many servants were still used to judging people based on status. Back when Lin Langruo had first been adopted by the Xia family, if Father Xia had not repeatedly and sternly instructed all the servants in the household, Lin Langruo would not have suffered so little grievance.

“I know. I’ve already given the order.” Auntie Lu had already seen a clue from Xia Weichen’s attitude toward Yin Yin and quickly nodded. Then she said, “By the way, Madam called just now and said the doctor she hired for Miss will arrive here tomorrow. Madam personally selected this person, so Miss can rest assured.”

Xia Qiuling was still thinking about the problem of her damaged gland. Xia Weichen’s heart moved slightly.

In truth, she did not hold much hope. Her gland was almost completely blocked, and more than half of it had already necrotized. Many famous doctors in the Empire had been helpless.

Xia Weichen had originally planned to undergo removal surgery in a few days to eliminate the possibility of complications caused by necrosis. But since her mother cared about it so much, it would be good if the doctor her mother hired had some method. Recovering to normal was better than being disabled for life.

She had just nodded and said nothing more when the servant responsible for finding the clothes came over, respectfully handing Xia Weichen several packaged garments.

Xia Weichen thanked her, took the clothes, and entered the room, asking Yin Yin to change into them.

When she entered, Yin Yin was standing in front of Drooping Willows in Cold Mist, as if a faint light were flickering in her eyes.