Chapter 13: The Third Master Wants You to Stay

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Although it was admittedly a little more than she deserved, it was still payment for work done, so Song Yin accepted it in the end.

She hurriedly finished her noodles. Just after washing the bowl and chopsticks, she received a call from an unfamiliar number.

The car Lou Yizhou had arranged had arrived.

Song Yin took her bag and went downstairs. A man in a suit approached and introduced himself. “My surname is Xu. I’m Third Master’s assistant. Miss Song, you can just call me Assistant Xu.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Assistant Xu.”

The car took Song Yin to Blue Mountain Villa.

Auntie Wang was overjoyed to see her. Compared with their slight unfamiliarity the first time, she was now exceptionally warm and familiar.

“Little Song, come in quickly. I thought Third Master wouldn’t ask you to come. He always acts tough, but he’s softhearted underneath. I’m truly troubling you.”

Song Yin could barely withstand Auntie Wang’s enthusiasm, though her heart felt warm.

“It’s no trouble. I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”

Once they entered the living room, she asked, “Has Miss still not eaten?”

Song Yin had no idea what the young woman’s name or identity was, so she could only refer to her the same way.

Auntie Wang sighed. “That’s right. She only had a little of the food you made last night. She hasn’t eaten all day today. She’s ill as well—how can she recover if she refuses to eat?”

“But I suppose this proves the saying that not everything tastes good just because someone is starving. It’s still your cooking that suits her palate, Little Song.”

Song Yin was about to modestly deny it, but Auntie Wang continued, “It’s the same principle as everyone having different tastes. Even food prepared by a world-class chef isn’t loved by everyone, is it?”

Song Yin nodded. “I suppose that’s true. Then let’s get started. We should let Miss have her meal as soon as possible.”

Auntie Wang smiled and nodded.

They went into the kitchen again.

There was not even any porridge.

Wanting to give the young woman something nutritious, Song Yin decided to make chicken-and-shredded-meat porridge.

That took some time.

She also stir-fried three small dishes. Two were the same as the night before, while the third was something new, to give her a change of flavor.

Auntie Wang watched from the side and thought that the girl was truly putting her heart into it.

While waiting for the porridge, Song Yin said, “Miss never comes downstairs. Auntie Wang, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but if she’s ill, perhaps you could invite a friend to keep her company and encourage her to come downstairs for a little movement. She might recover more quickly. Sometimes it also comes down to one’s state of mind.”

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Auntie Wang said, “Miss has no friends.”

Song Yin was startled. “What about classmates? She must have had at least a few close ones.”

Auntie Wang shook her head helplessly. “Miss attended school for one year, then dropped out and never went back. Third Master arranged for tutors to teach her at home.”

She did not attend school and had no friends.

A young woman raised in a cage.

What kind of place was this?

Auntie Wang sighed. “Miss has her reasons—reasons she cannot help.” She glanced at Song Yin, then stopped herself and said instead, “Little Song, don’t take it the wrong way. There are some things I’m not at liberty to discuss.”

Remembering Lou Yizhou’s warning the night before, Song Yin said, “It’s all right. I understand.”

Auntie Wang smiled. Song Yin knew where to draw the line.

By the time the porridge was ready, it was already after ten.

Song Yin had arrived rather late, and porridge took time to cook.

Since she had been paid, she ought to stay for an evaluation afterward. So when Auntie Wang carried the food upstairs, Song Yin sat quietly downstairs and waited.

In the meantime, someone else brought her tea, pastries, and fruit.

Noodles digested quickly, and Song Yin did not stand on ceremony. She ate a little.

When Auntie Wang came back downstairs, Song Yin was eating a biscuit. She hurriedly stood up and nearly choked.

Auntie Wang came over with a smile. “Slow down. These were brought down for you in the first place, so don’t be shy.”

Taking a sip of water, Song Yin swallowed the biscuit and said, “These biscuits are so delicious. I ate two more.”

“I made them,” Auntie Wang said. “They were originally for Third Master and Miss. One of them never comes home, and the other is staging a hunger strike, so they would have gone to waste.”

Song Yin noticed the fondness in Auntie Wang’s voice.

She clearly regarded Lou Yizhou and the young woman as children. It was no wonder Lou Yizhou appeared to trust her so deeply.

Song Yin asked, “Did Miss eat?”

Auntie Wang nodded with a smile. “She did, she did. I told you—your cooking suits her palate.”

Song Yin smiled. “It’s good that she managed to eat. You’ll have to keep persuading her. Food is the foundation of life.”

“Exactly.” Just after Auntie Wang said this, she received a phone call.

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When she saw who was calling, she walked aside.

She said a few brief words, and there was no way to make out what the call was about.

When she returned, Song Yin took the opportunity to say, “My task is complete, so I should be going.”

Auntie Wang quickly said, “Little Song, stay here tonight. There are plenty of guest rooms on the first floor. It’s already so late, and it won’t be convenient for you to go home.”

Song Yin politely declined. “I really shouldn’t impose. Besides, I have something important to take care of first thing tomorrow morning. Auntie Wang, is there a car available to take me part of the way?”

She had noticed when she arrived that it was difficult to hail a taxi in this area.

Auntie Wang hesitated. “Actually, Third Master was the one who told me to ask you to stay the night.”

Song Yin froze. “He’s coming back?”

“I don’t know. He comes back whenever he feels like it.”

Song Yin found herself in a difficult position.

Lou Yizhou had given the order, perhaps for some other purpose—to finish what they had not begun. But she truly did have something important to do early the next morning.

“If I stay, then tomorrow morning…”

Auntie Wang hurriedly said, “There’s a car on standby twenty-four hours a day. Just tell me what time you’re leaving tomorrow, and I’ll arrange everything in advance.”

…

In the end, Song Yin stayed.

Auntie Wang brought her a fresh change of clothes and reminded her that it might rain that night, telling her to make sure the doors and windows were closed securely.

By the time she finished showering, it was already quite late.

She lay down in the unfamiliar room, on the broad, soft bed, and soon fell asleep.

A clap of thunder startled Song Yin awake. She opened her eyes and suddenly saw that there was a man in the room.

The glow of the night-light revealed Lou Yizhou’s figure in the dimness.

A flash of lightning illuminated his face, and Song Yin was so frightened that her heart nearly stopped.

The next second, the man rose abruptly, strode to the bedside, and bent down toward her.