Chapter 37
Chapter 37
By the time Ji Yan’an emerged, the two puppies had been washed clean, but Jiang Yunsui herself had turned into a soggy, messy Little Mushroom.
He wore a black robe, his long raven hair draped over his shoulders and still dripping with water. Combined with his pale, thin face, he looked every bit the part of a sickly, cold beauty.
Jiang Yunsui held up her hands, her sleeves soaked through.
“Can I go back now?”
The two puppies had already run off to a distance to frantically shake the water off their fur.
“No.”
Ji Yan’an spat out the two words with cold ruthlessness.
“Why not!”
Jiang Yunsui looked bewildered, her eyes suddenly widening.
“You’re not going to forbid me from sleeping, are you!”
What kind of psychopathic big boss was this!
Ji Yan’an ignored her outburst. “Nanny Zhou, clear out the room next to mine. You will live there from now on.”
Jiang Yunsui quickly chased after him. “Why? But I want to go back and live with Aunt Chen.”
“Where do you get so many ‘whys’?”
Ji Yan’an handed her two silver melon seeds.
“This is your reward for practicing your calligraphy today.”
She had managed to squeeze out two characters, though they were quite hideous.
Jiang Yunsui’s little face immediately broke into a smile. She trotted over, eager to take them.
“Go wash up first.”
His disgust was plain to see.
Jiang Yunsui puffed out her cheeks and stomped her little feet in frustration!
Nanny Zhou watched with amusement before pulling her away to change and bathe.
“Nanny, am I really going to live here from now on?”
“But I haven’t told Aunt Chen yet.”
“She’ll be sad.”
Sitting in the small wooden tub, Jiang Yunsui’s voice was muffled. Her head drooped as her small hands poked at the bubbles on her skin.
Nanny Zhou washed her hair for her.
“Isn’t it good to live here? The room is large, and the accommodations are better.”
“Besides, the Young Master hasn’t stopped you from telling Cook Chen. You can go see her whenever you’re off duty.”
Jiang Yunsui sighed. “Aunt Chen will definitely be sad if I’m not there.”
“She likes me very much, you know.”
The Little Mushroom’s childish tone carried a hint of pride. After all, she was a very popular Little Mushroom.
“Then I can go see Aunt Chen once I’m clean, right?”
“Yes, you can.”
Jiang Yunsui immediately perked up. Once she was washed clean, she changed into new clothes.
Indeed, they were new clothes made specifically for her. The fabric was high quality and slightly different from the standard maid uniforms-they were much prettier.
She even spun around twice, admiring her new look.
“Nanny Zhou, I’m leaving now!”
Her hair wasn’t dry yet, but she couldn’t wait any longer.
She ran out with her hair still loose and flowing.
The two puppies waiting outside the door immediately scrambled after her on their four short legs.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
Jiang Yunsui jogged all the way to Cook Chen’s small courtyard.
“Auntie! Auntie, I’m back!” she called out in a crisp, clear voice.
Hearing her, Cook Chen immediately ran out of the house. Her eyes looked slightly red.
“Auntie!”
Cook Chen crouched down and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Didn’t they say you’d be living in the Front Courtyard from now on? Why did you run back? Your hair isn’t even dry yet.”
Jiang Yunsui said in a milky voice, “Suisui missed you, Auntie.”
More tears instantly welled up in Cook Chen’s eyes.
“You silly child.”
She blinked rapidly, trying to suppress the urge to cry.
A pair of small hands reached up to wipe the corners of her eyes.
“Auntie, why are you crying? Did someone bully you? Tell me, and I’ll… I’ll… I’ll go report them!”
Fighting back was out of the question. In this manor, there wasn’t a single soul she could beat in a fight-aside from bullying ants, grasshoppers, and little bugs.
Oh, and now there were two little puppies.
Aunt Chen said with a smile, “No one’s bullying me these days.”
“Everyone knows you can speak in front of the Young Master. They wouldn’t dare bully me.”
Cook Chen was simply stating the truth.
Ever since the incident with the poisoned Delicious Mushrooms, only she and Jiang Yunsui had come out of it completely unscathed.
Ji Yan’an treated Jiang Yunsui differently.
Anyone with half a brain could tell.
So among the servants, maybe not every single one, but most of them now treated Cook Chen with goodwill.
Some even envied her luck-back then, she had chosen to look after Jiang Yunsui.
And now this little girl had made something of herself, becoming a maid serving in the Front Courtyard. She was young, but these past few days she not only hadn’t been sent back-she’d even gotten along extremely well with Heiwa, the Young Master’s dog.
When Jiang Yunsui went out to stroll the streets, the Young Master even had Heiwa follow along.
From that alone, everyone could see it: in their eyes, Jiang Yunsui’s future prospects were bright.
“Then why are you crying, Auntie?”
Cook Chen said, “People don’t only cry when they’re being bullied or when they’re sad.”
“Sometimes you cry when you’re happy, too. Or when you’re overwhelmed. I’m happy-that’s why I’m crying.”
She was happy, yes… but she also couldn’t bear to part.
Jiang Yunsui only half understood. She just felt that people’s feelings were really complicated. How could crying mean so many different things?
“Alright, hurry up and pack your things and head to the Front Courtyard. Don’t be late.”
Cook Chen moved briskly, helping Jiang Yunsui gather her shoes and clothes.
“Your little rabbit-fur scarf still isn’t finished. You’ll need to wait a few more days.”
“More mushrooms have popped up in the yard again. Should we dig them up and take them with you?”
Jiang Yunsui frowned, her little brows knitted together. “Auntie, why does it feel like you’re rushing me out?”
“I even told Nanny Zhou you’d definitely be reluctant to let me go!”
Cook Chen paused, then quickly continued packing.
“Of course I’m reluctant. But going to the Front Courtyard is better for you. If you do well there, you’ll be my support-then nobody will dare bully me.”
She tied everything into a small bundle and handed it over.
Jiang Yunsui took it, and Cook Chen continued, “There isn’t much. A few clothes, that’s all. Your scarf and even a pair of shoes still aren’t done yet. Once I finish them, I’ll bring them to you.”
“Oh. Then Auntie, you have to take good care of yourself. I’ll come see you often.”
Little Mushroom clenched her tiny fists. “I’ll work hard to hug a big thigh!”
“Huh? What big thigh?”
“The Young Master’s!”
“I’m going to become the Young Master’s most, most useful little maid. Then if someone bullies you, you come find me.”
She patted her small chest, her chubby little face full of pride.
“Suisui will go tell on them to the Young Master!”
Cook Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Alright, alright. I’ll remember every word.”
She walked her-and the two puppies-to the Front Courtyard.
Jiang Yunsui turned around to look at her. “Auntie, you can go back now. Tomorrow after I get off, I’ll come find you.”
“Okay. I’m going back.”
But Aunt Chen still stood where she was, watching Jiang Yunsui and the two puppies disappear into the Front Courtyard before she finally turned around.
The moon stretched her shadow long.
When she returned to her own little courtyard, she sat by the doorway, her gaze falling beneath the pomegranate tree.
From now on, there probably wouldn’t be a small little figure squatting there anymore.
It was only one person missing… so why did the whole place feel so empty?
Even if she could still see her every day, it just didn’t feel the same.