"It's done," Xiaoling's respectful voice said, "but the eldest young master still doesn't allow me..."
"Doesn't allow you to do what there?!" Qi Huifen asked.
"Well, he still doesn't allow me to touch." Xiaoling seemed somewhat embarrassed.
Qi Huifen seemed to pause for a moment, "When you help the eldest young master massage his thigh, does he have any reaction there?"
"No." Xiaoling said in a softer voice.
"Ah, still no reaction." Qi Huifen sighed.
"It's because Xiaoling is not doing it well."
"It's not about you, I know Zichen's personality very well." Qi Huifen said, "There's nothing else, you may go and tend to your duties."
"Yes, madam." Xiaoling turned and walked out the door.
Qiao Xiguan, who had intended to leave quickly, was spotted by Xiaoling, who promptly called out, "Eldest young madam."
That call attracted Qi Huifen's attention.
Qi Huifen looked at Qiao Xiguan, who clearly hadn't taken care of her appearance, and her face turned uglier by a degree, "How can you be so improper just going out like that, still thinking you're in jail, neglecting your appearance."
Rolling her eyes internally, Qiao Xiguan wasn't sure who was responsible for her current state, but she forced a smile at the corners of her mouth, "Zichen just woke up and was in a bad mood, I was afraid of provoking him, so I just stood outside."
"How do you know he's in a bad mood? Aren't you sleeping in the next room?" Qi Huifen frowned.
"I slept in his bed last night," Qiao Xiguan straightforwardly said.
Qi Huifen's eyes tightened.
"You're saying, you slept with him?" Qi Huifen asked.
"Yes." Qiao Xiguan answered.
Qi Huifen observed Qiao Xiguan, as if gauging whether she was lying.
Ever since she learned that Qiao Xiguan was going to be released from jail, Zichen had his room separated out, saying he was used to sleeping alone. She had been worrying that if things continued this way, there shouldn't be any hope of Zichen showing any reaction.
Could this be a turn for the better?!
At this thought, she couldn't help but smile slightly, then quickly asked, "Between you two..."
"Just sleeping together, but definitely Zichen..." Qiao Xiguan shyly began to speak, then stopped.
There was no need for explicitness; everyone understood perfectly.
Qi Huifen appeared pleasant, saying, "Take it slow, no rush with this matter. Actually, there's something I want you to do for me."
"What is it, mother?" Qiao Xiguan asked sweetly.
"Come inside, and I'll tell you alone. Xiaoling, go on downstairs and do whatever you need to do." Qi Huifen pulled Qiao Xiguan into her room and instructed Xiaoling to go downstairs.
Xiaoling watched Qi Huifen's affectionate behavior toward Qiao Xiguan, and her eyes suddenly changed.
Having served the eldest young master for over three years, it had always been her who took care of his daily needs and massaged his acupoints. The lady of the house had even promised her that, as long as she could elicit a physical response from the eldest young master, the position of the eldest young madam would be hers one day. However, he'd always resisted her, and once, the moment her hand was about to touch his private area, he pushed her off the bed and warned her that if she ever did that again, she would be immediately thrown out of the Gu Family.
After that, she never dared to try again.
Now, after enduring so much for so many years, was she nothing just because this murderer Qiao Xiguan had returned?!
She clenched her fingers tightly.
By what right did Qiao Xiguan get to sleep in the same bed as the eldest young master?!
By what right?!
The more she thought, the more jealous she became, the more she loathed!
Qiao Xiguan came out of Qi Huifen's room, holding a bottle of essential oil in her hand.
Was this a joke?!
Asking her to massage that disabled young master there…
Even if she agreed to do it, risking her hands rotting away, would that disabled young master let her? He'd probably crush her hands first; the man's temper was simply terrible.
She bit her lip and walked back.
As she walked, she thought that if she wanted to establish a firm footing in this family, using the family's background as a stepping stone to achieve her goals, she first had to win over her mother-in-law and husband. But how easy would it be to deal with just those two?
Clutching the bottle of essential oil, she pushed open the door to the disabled young master's room.
It didn't seem like the disabled young master was busy; he had woken up and was sitting in his wheelchair, his face as scary as ever as he saw her appear.
"What are you holding in your hand?" the disabled young master's eyes tightened.
"Are you very familiar with this thing?" Qiao Xiguan lifted the small bottle in her hand and asked.
The disabled young master's face turned even darker.
"It's from mom," Qiao Xiguan explained, her lips curving up in a hook, "She asked me to use it on you."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"What wouldn't I dare?" Qiao Xiguan looked at him.
She didn't have many talents, but she wasn't afraid to die.
At this moment, the disabled young master wished he could strangle her, yet, he couldn't stand up.
Looking down on Gu Zichen from above, she nonchalantly stuffed the bottle of essential oil into her pocket, her lips curling up with an evil smile, "I'll use it on you tonight."
"Qiao Xiguan!" Gu Zichen roared in anger.
Qiao Xiguan rubbed her own ears, "Don't yell so loud, I can hear you."
Gu Zichen's veins bulged in fury.
Qiao Xiguan walked straight into the bathroom, closed the door behind her, and began to wash up.
She had heard when she came back that there would be a simple banquet tonight. Gu Yaoqi was turning 58, and since it wasn't a significant birthday, they were just casually entertaining guests at home.
They say it's casual, but it was probably more grand than what most people could muster…
It was just that.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Qi Lingfeng was Qi Huifen's nephew. Could it be possible that he would attend?!
After finishing her wash up, Qiao Xiguan went straight downstairs, not wanting to deal with that irritable young master anymore.
When she arrived in the living room, Qi Huifen was already busily instructing the preparations for tonight's banquet, displaying the grandeur of a lady of a wealthy household, as everything in the great hall was orderly.
After breakfast, Qiao Xiguan watched Yan Xintong get dressed and ready to go out and approached Qi Huifen to say, "Mom, Zihan mentioned he might not be able to return tonight, his work hinges on this last critical step."
Qi Huifen frowned slightly, "But it's your dad's birthday."
"Zihan said he called dad, and dad said to prioritize work."
"Ah, the men in our family… I don't know what to say," sighed Qi Huifen, "If he can't come back, then he can't. You're going out to pick a dress now, right? Take your sister-in-law with you. She's been in prison for so long, I'm afraid she won't be able to dress herself properly and make a joke of herself."
"Don't worry, mom, I'll make sure sister-in-law looks pretty and beautiful," Yan Xintong nodded obediently.
"Guanguan, you go to the mall with Xintong and choose a dress," Qi Huifen turned to Qiao Xiguan, "Make yourself look pretty, don't embarrass us."
"Oh, okay," Qiao Xiguan nodded.
Yan Xintong cast a glance at Qiao Xiguan, a hint of contempt flashing in her eyes.