Chapter 11: I Will Silence You Forever

The car slowly pulled into Blue Mountain Villa. Thanks to Lou Yizhou, Song Yin had never set foot in such a wealthy neighborhood in her life. After the car stopped, someone immediately came out from the living room holding an umbrella to open the door for Lou Yizhou. When they saw another woman stepping out from the opposite door, they were slightly surprised. "Miss, please wait a moment. I’ll go get another umbrella."

The person speaking was a woman in her fifties, plump and kind-faced, exuding warmth.

"I'm fine," the woman said.

"Don’t be silly, it’s easy to catch a cold. Just wait a moment." She then looked at Lou Yizhou. "Third Master, could you help?"

Lou Yizhou replied, "No need to trouble you. Just hold the umbrella for her."

With that, he braved the rain and headed straight for the living room.

The woman then came over to hold the umbrella for Song Yin. Song Yin was overwhelmed by the kindness. The woman noticed and said, "Don’t worry, the Third Master is a man with a strong constitution."

During the short walk, the woman introduced herself as Aunt Wang and learned Song Yin’s name, calling her Little Song.

Inside the living room, Aunt Wang handed her a pair of slippers. Song Yin thanked her and changed into them. Looking around, the living room was dazzling and luxuriously decorated. The vast room held only the two of them; Lou Yizhou was nowhere in sight.

Aunt Wang explained, "Miss is unwell, so the Third Master must have gone to see her. Little Song, have a seat; I’ll get you some water."

"Thank you, Aunt Wang."

"You’re welcome."

A few minutes later, Lou Yizhou came downstairs. Song Yin, who had been sitting, immediately stood up. He walked straight over to her and asked, "What can you cook?"

"Some simple home-style dishes."

"Go cook now, the sooner the better. Aunt Wang, take her to the kitchen and get someone to assist her."

Lou Yizhou gave the order briskly. Song Yin noticed his furrowed brow—clearly, the young lady’s condition was serious.

Though puzzled, Aunt Wang promptly led Song Yin to the kitchen. The kitchen alone was larger than the apartment Song Yin rented. There, she finally met others besides Aunt Wang—they were all in the kitchen.

Aunt Wang explained, "Miss doesn’t like crowds. I take care of her alone. The others have been arranged to stay in the kitchen. Though Miss is a teenager, the only ones she trusts are the Third Master and me."

"Miss hasn’t eaten for a whole day because she’s unwell. The Third Master specially asked you to come cook for her. You must be quite skilled, right?"

Song Yin hurriedly said, "No, no, I really only know how to make a few simple dishes."

"That’s impressive enough. Few young people these days know how to cook."

Praised by someone older with such a gentle voice, Song Yin smiled and said, "I only cook because if I don’t, I won’t have anything to eat. It’s just a life skill forced by circumstances."

Aunt Wang nodded, respecting her privacy and not pressing further.

After some preparation, Song Yin cooked three simple dishes. Aunt Wang asked Lou Yizhou what to do next.

Lou Yizhou said, "Send them up for her to eat. I’ve warned her—if she doesn’t eat, I won’t bother anymore. Let her starve if she wants."

Aunt Wang frowned. "She’s sick and uncomfortable, and you say that?"

"No one’s spoiling her. I’m busier than she is."

Aunt Wang could only say, "I’ll go try."

She carried the dishes and a bowl of porridge upstairs. Song Yin stood there, thinking she had completed her task and wondered if it was time to leave.

Unexpectedly, Lou Yizhou received a call. He walked to the window and spoke for some time. When the call ended, Aunt Wang came downstairs happily.

Lou Yizhou looked at her. Aunt Wang said, "She ate, she ate. Miss didn’t say it was good, but she drank more than half the porridge and ate quite a bit of the dishes. Little Song, you cook better than the chefs."

Song Yin modestly replied, "She was probably just hungry, so she ate well. My cooking is really quite ordinary."

"Little Song, you’re too humble. It’s definitely because you cooked well."

Lou Yizhou said, "Aunt Wang, please take care of her tonight so she doesn’t have another fever."

"Third Master isn’t staying here tonight? Miss will probably make a fuss then."

"I don’t have time to attend to her."

"Since the Third Master is back, why not stay the night? When Miss gets better, I won’t bother you anymore," Aunt Wang pleaded earnestly.

Few could sway Lou Yizhou’s resolve. He left with Song Yin.

Once in the car, after a while, Lou Yizhou still seemed uneasy and called Aunt Wang. Expressionless, he said, "Make sure she eats well. I might consider taking her to the amusement park next weekend."

The moment he hung up, he caught a hint of a smile on Song Yin’s face and asked directly, "What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing."

Lou Yizhou’s gaze was sharp and imposing.

Song Yin had no choice but to confess, "I just think the Third Master is really good to his daughter."

Leaning in, Lou Yizhou grabbed her chin. "Do you think the young lady in the villa is my illegitimate daughter?"

Isn’t she? One is called Third Master, the other Miss—it must be a father-daughter relationship, right?

He pressed a little harder. "Think carefully. How old do you think I am? Do I have an illegitimate daughter this big?"

Quietly, Song Yin muttered, "Who knows how wild you people play? It’s not impossible..."

"What?"

She immediately shook her head. "Nothing."

Lou Yizhou didn’t pry but said coldly, "Yin Yin, very few people outside know there is a young lady at Blue Mountain Villa. So don’t talk recklessly outside, or I will silence you."

"This is not a joke."

He stared at her for several seconds, then released her. Song Yin felt sweat break out on her back, realizing he truly was not joking.