Chapter 58—Troubles Brewing! (2)
Jia Garden
In one of the servants' rooms, Xiao Ming is preparing herself before going out to serve dinner. She checks her makeup is flawless before leaving her quarters.
It was hard for her to continue her work today, and she requested a day off after the new mistress criticized the clothes she helped prepare for her. Six months ago, their master assigned her to choose Vera's outfits based on the latest trend. She didn't expect that instead of appreciating her effort, the rude woman would actually humiliate her in front of other staff today.
She couldn't deny that she intentionally buys clothes that are quite revealing and different compared to their mistress's current style; however, she couldn't accept that she would slap her with the truth while people are watching.
Anger started to boil in her heart. Until now, she could not fathom that their master was taken, and her chances of seducing the man vanished. Although she believes that if she played her game right, she would have an opportunity to snatch the aloof man into her open arms. After all, she had been in Jia Garden for 5 years, and she is one of the staff that their master addresses most often. It gives her hope that she has a small spot in the man's heart.
When she first entered the household, she was informed by all the staff that Xu Long Wei never approaches anyone and doesn't call them by their names, but when she meets the man for the first time, he asks her about her name and treats her differently than others. It made her status more separate than others. Even the elder staff agrees with her.
Only if the woman didn't appear, she would have been the one enjoying the comfort and luxury the title of Mrs. Xu could guarantee. Now, all her dreams disappear in thin air.
"If she could only read the woman and intimidate her," she thought. For the past few days, she did her best to find Vera's weakness, but to her surprise, she couldn't find one. The woman is scarier than their master. She looks like she is about to devour someone whenever she glances at her. As if she could read her every thought!
Sometimes, she wonders if Vera is even real! Whenever she sees her, the woman reminds her of their own master. They have the same mysterious aura that draws people yet puts them at bay as well.
She seldom talks unless she is with Xu Li. Also, she never tried to control the household operation and let Butler Yang manage the house. If only she didn't aspire to have the main wife's position, she could see that the house is way better when she is around.
However, she has her own needs, and to acquire them, the mistress's position should be available for her.
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Vera is having her dinner with her family when the helper serves their dessert. It didn't miss her the way she looked at Xu Long Wei. This action made her irritation towards the flirt build up. However, since she is not in the mood to give the woman her attention, she lets it go.
She scans the woman from head to toe and reads her name tag: Xiao Ming. "Hmmn," she can't help but sigh. Most of the staff in the house have their names plastered on their chests since Xu Long Wei could never remember people's names aside from his loved one.
Hearing her sigh, Xu Long Wei stared at her, and a light of recognition flashed in his eyes. He shakes his head while smirking and ignores the situation. He didn't even glance at the helper next to him to avoid being involved.
Years of experience being with Vera trained him to see when trouble is coming. Sensing his woman's annoyance, he continued his dinner.
Xu Li could also discern something was up but could not identify what it was. His head keeps turning back and forth to his mother and father, but his effort to read the situation is useless. He is still a child, after all. It will take time before he can fully grasp his mother's personality.
On the other hand, Xiao Ming is unaware of the nuisance she brought to their new mistress. She continues her flirtatious way and, looking at the other staff, she gets the courage to deliberately show her desire for the man in front of her.
She arranges the cake in front of Xu Long Wei while she exposes her cleavage for him to see. There is a rule in the house that they are not supposed to open any button of their shirt, but today is different. She wanted to show Vera that she was not an ordinary helper in the house.
Vera is watching the play in front of her with amazement. She could not believe the audacity of the woman to make advances on her man. Her eyes gaze sharply at the absurd scene. People who know her are well aware of how possessive she could be of what she deems hers.
Just because she tends to ignore nuances that occur around her, she can be a pushover. She hates people who don't know how to respect boundaries.
On the spot, she made a plan to extract the woman out of her territory.
Vera met Xu Long Wei's eyes and hinted for him to do something. Keen enough, he got her point and intentionally slipped the fork on his hand. The clanging sound echoed in the dining hall.
Xiao Ming notices the cutlery and bends down slowly to pick it up when a whoosh sound comes on her right ear. Suddenly another fork is flying directly to her hand, which is about to pick up the fork Xu Long Wei dropped.
Vera throws the fork she was holding and targets the woman's porcelain fingers. Just now, while Xiao Ming was attempting to pick up the fork, Vera didn't miss her sly effort to show her cleavage again.
Unfortunately for the helper, Xu Long Wei never even glanced at her. "I need to do some cleaning," she decided before standing up.
Xu Long Wei looks at her and gives a subtle nod, silently agreeing to whatever she has planned. Truthfully, he just wants to finish his dinner, but given the current situation, it's better to forget about it.