Chapter 14
Chapter 14
The Young Master had grown increasingly quiet lately.
So thought everyone at the Shen residence.
Whenever the women mentioned it, they exchanged knowing looks as though they had discovered some little secret, then let out pleased, peculiar chuckles they believed were discreet.
Gossips were hateful!
That was Shen Dongjun’s view.
But the long-serving staff who had survived countless rounds of selection to remain at the Shen residence had all worked for the Shen family for many years.
Moreover, Shen Dongjun knew they meant no harm. Not a whisper of the changes at the Shen residence had leaked outside.
Not even his grandfather had heard.
The tyrannical CEO endured it.
Since he would not vent his anger on the older staff at home, he directed it all toward a certain culprit.
After discovering that the potion’s effects would last an entire month, a certain tyrannical CEO seemed to go somewhat mad.
Previously, although he had never been polite to Zhu Yin, he had deliberately kept his various tests within certain limits.
Now those limits were gone.
The eldest young master felt terrifyingly invincible. Even if he offended the evil witch and she laid some vicious curse on him, his situation could hardly become worse than it was now.
Before the woman he loved, he had been stripped bare of nearly every last shred of privacy.
He had said everything.
Outsiders saw only that the misunderstandings between the Young Master and Young Madam had been cleared, their grievances dissolved, and the two were deeply in love and inseparable.
No one cared whether he lived or died. 🙂
That morning, before leaving for the company, he looked at the staircase and said coldly, “The banister wasn’t cleaned thoroughly enough today.”
The cleaner immediately came over at the sound of his voice, but before she could reach them–
“The butler failed in her supervision. Her entire bonus for this month is forfeit!”
The cleaner instinctively tried to defend Zhu Yin, but the tyrannical CEO refused to listen.
After coldly pronouncing his judgment, he departed arrogantly like a rooster that had just finished announcing the dawn.
At noon, a secretary from the company called the Shen residence and said in a peculiar tone, “You didn’t deliver lunch to the office. Mr. Shen is angry.”
Thus, the butler had failed in her duties. Salary deducted.
That afternoon, the Young Master returned from work and no one greeted him. The butler’s fault. Salary deducted.
At dinner, one soup was too bland for his taste. The butler’s fault. Salary deducted.
During the evening walk, Lily grew overexcited and leaped into Shen Dongjun’s arms…
By the time the day finally ended, Zhu Yin’s entire salary for the month had been deducted, and she owed the Shen family another twenty thousand.
Everyone knew he was deliberately making things difficult for her. The Young Master had not even pretended otherwise!
Han Qingzi comforted Zhu Yin. “I’ll speak to him. Don’t take it to heart.”
Auntie Xu, who had cared for Shen Dongjun for more than twenty years, also protested, “How can the Young Master bully someone like this?”
Zhu Yin said, “Oh, I’m truly fine.”
She understood Shen Dongjun perfectly. He had suffered a grievance but could tell no one in the world, so venting a little was normal. If he bottled it up until he became ill, she would have to handle the aftermath.
Besides, she was currently working one job nested inside another. The Shen family’s salary was nothing more than a string of numbers to her.
Zhu Yin waited for Shen Dongjun to come to his senses.
Sure enough, in fewer than three days, the inexplicable targeting ended.
After many days away, Zhu Yin stepped into the study again.
This time, Shen Dongjun did not feign aloofness or bluff.
He carefully studied the woman before him. Only after a long time did he ask, “Everything I’ve done these past few days… No, everything I’ve done from the beginning until now–did you find it all ridiculous?”
Zhu Yin was puzzled. “Why would you think that?”
The potion’s effect remained, and Shen Dongjun had no intention of hiding anything. He asked directly, “What are ordinary people to an existence like you?”
He looked out the window. The large golden retriever was chasing her toy ball without a care, bounding freely across the lawn.
“When you look at me, is it the same as when I look at Lily?”
Before Zhu Yin could answer, he rejected the comparison himself. “No. I’ve probably overestimated myself. If Lily exerted herself, she could still hurt an ordinary person. A mortal couldn’t even touch the hem of your clothes.”
If he saw a red-eyed rabbit trying to tear at him on the street, he would probably find it ridiculous too.
What difference was there between him before Zhu Yin and a frail rabbit?
“Of course not!” he heard Zhu Yin say.
The mysterious girl walked to his side and looked into the distance with him.
“You truly misunderstand me, Young Master.”
Zhu Yin said solemnly, “Although you don’t believe me, I still want to tell you this seriously. Every day since I came to this world and the Shen family has made me happy.”
She raised her face and let the golden sunlight spill over her. A faint, clean floral fragrance drifted through the air, while the smell of blood that had permeated her memories finally receded into the distance.
“I like it here. I like the Shen residence, the Young Madam, Auntie Xu, Xiao Ding…” In one breath, she listed a long string of names, even including Lily and the food at the Shen residence.
At first, Shen Dongjun’s brow relaxed considerably, because he could tell Zhu Yin was speaking sincerely. But as word after word left her mouth and even the family dog was included while he was not, he began to grow angry again.
“…Oh, and you too, Young Master.” Zhu Yin finally seemed to remember him.
Shen Dongjun’s expression chilled. “There’s no need to force me in at the end.”
Zhu Yin giggled. “I’m not forcing it at all. Your temper may be a little bad, but you truly are full of life.”
As for his harmless attempts to target and inconvenience her, Zhu Yin’s eyes curved with an indulgent smile.
If you kept a precious fluffy creature at home, and he had a bad temper, bared his teeth at you, and swatted you twice whenever he was unhappy, would you fly into a rage over it?
Of course you would forgive him.
Shen Dongjun did not speak for a long time. Only after quite a while did he say coldly, “Don’t think a few pleasant words will make me spare you. Your salary for this month is gone!”
Zhu Yin nodded with a smile. She did not intend to remind him that, strictly speaking, Old Mr. Shen had hired her and the old residence paid her wages, so his deductions changed nothing.
“One more thing.” Shen Dongjun continued gazing into the distance without looking at her. “A talent scout contacted me and wants to recruit you as a celebrity. What do you think?”
Zhu Yin immediately straightened. “Of course I won’t go! Young Master, my loyalty to the Shen family is clear to heaven and earth. In life I belong to the Shen residence, and in death I’ll be its ghost!”
Shen Dongjun: “…”
He sneered. “What a terrifying story. Anyone who heard it would have nightmares.” Even after death, she did not intend to leave him alone!
In fact, Zhu Yin found herself struck by inspiration. “Young Master, I also know a little about the world of the dead. If you ever need anything, you may contact me.”
Shen Dongjun: “…”
Absolutely unnecessary!