The one who entered was a woman in her fifties, neatly dressed, with a kind and benevolent face. She was carrying a silver tray, on which steamed hot food was placed.
There was milk, sandwiches with slices of ham, sunny-side-up eggs, and neatly sliced oranges.
The aroma was overflowing.
Jiayi's stomach growled a bit, embarrassed.
Seeing that Jiayi was awake, Auntie Li happily walked over, tested her forehead temperature, which had gone down, and said with a smile, "Come and have breakfast."
"You are..." Jiayi swallowed.
"My surname is Li, I'm the maid of this villa, in charge of the young master's diet and daily life. Just call me Auntie Li. After you fainted yesterday, I was the one who cleaned you up and fed you the medicine."
Yesterday, Auntie Li had asked Huo Zhenyang about Jiayi's situation, and it was then that she learned this girl was picked up by the young master after being mistaken for a paparazzo, and it seems like she doesn't remember things well.
Jiayi heaved a sigh of relief, relieved that it wasn't that man who had changed her clothes. Her toes touched the ground, intending to leave, but before she stood steady, she felt dizzy and swayed.
"Miss Jiayi, what are you doing?" Auntie Li saw that she seemed to be leaving and was anxious, "You've fallen and hurt yourself, and you've just had a fever. The young master said you don't even remember where your home is. You can't find your way out now; better to heal from your injuries first."
Jiayi saw her affectionate gaze held no falsehood, and her heart warmed.
Looking down again, indeed, the abrasions on her arms and legs were all bandaged, emitting a faint medicinal scent, having been treated with antiseptic.
"Thank you, Auntie Li, but... I don't know your young master, and it's not convenient to stay here," Jiayi faltered, leaving out the most critical issue – that man had a too brutal temperament, and a bit of a pervert, tearing at clothes at the slightest provocation, I can't afford to provoke him.
Auntie Li understood Jiayi's concerns and explained, "Miss Jiayi, don't be hard on the young master. The young master is the president of the Huo Group, always under the media's scrutiny and disturbances. Not long ago, due to a paparazzo who leaked business information by tailing him, he took that newspaper to court, so he's been a bit on edge."
The Huo Group... that name, it sounds familiar?
But I just can't recall it.
It must be an influential company, I probably heard of it before the memory loss, leaving behind a lingering impression.
Jiayi shelved her recollections and whispered softly, "But still..."
Although the girl's face had a few scratches temporarily marring her complexion and she had descended mysteriously from the sky without knowing her background, she appeared obedient and well-mannered as if she was brought up in a cultured environment.
Auntie Li took Jiayi by the hand, "At least stay for today, talk about leaving when you're better. Don't worry, the young master went back to the company in the city center this morning; he won't come back today."
Actually, Jiayi was also hesitating. With her mind completely blank, if she left in confusion, how could she find her family?
She didn't have a penny on her.
Without finding them, what, sleep on the streets?
Besides, her body was still very weak.
Hearing from Auntie Li that the man called Huo Zhenyang wouldn't come today, Jiayi finally nodded her head.
After eating breakfast, Auntie Li brought over one of her own dresses for Jiayi to change into, saying, "There aren't any women's clothes in the villa. Old Luo asked Xiaohan, the driver, to go buy some in the city. It's not good for you to keep wearing the young master's clothes, so put on mine for now. I'm old, so the clothes will definitely look dated, but I hope Miss Jiayi won't mind."
The clothes Auntie Li chose were already as youthful as she could find, but they still looked old-fashioned, with their floral patterns on a dark background. Jiayi took them, thanked her, and changed into them.
Having had breakfast, Jiayi's stomach was filled, and after taking medicine, she felt sleepy. She returned to the guest room and went to sleep.
When she woke up from her nap, the sky was already turning dark.
Jiayi felt her body was more comfortable than in the morning, and her head was no longer heavy. She got up, pushed open the window, and took a breath of fresh air.
Outside the window was a neatly trimmed, beautiful lawn, and from the carved door, one could gaze out at the undulating Huanglong Mountain.
Auntie Li said that the Huanglong Mountain hunting ground also belonged to the Huo Family's properties.
Ten years ago, the Huo Family had purchased the land of Huanglong Mountain and developed it into a top domestic hunting ground, attracting not just wealthy class members, but also politicians with clout and A-list celebrities in the entertainment industry. Just the annual membership fees could buy two or three small companies.
This is the paradise for the domestic wealthy, the most low-key extravagant location in G City.
No wonder Huo Zhenyang doubted his own identity. How could he dress like a member who could afford to enter such a place?
Wouldn't the hunting attire on any of the members, or the shotguns in their hands, cost several years' salary for an average white-collar worker?
"Miss Jiayi, come down for dinner," Auntie Li called out, breaking Jiayi's contemplation.
After Jiayi went downstairs, she saw the crystal chandelier in the living room, and the dinner on the dining table had already been arranged.
It was a lavish Chinese meal, with a good mix of meat and vegetables and even soup; Jiayi felt somewhat embarrassed.
Auntie Li truly liked the girl and wanted to make up for what the young master lacked, so she smiled and asked her to sit down.
They had only taken a few bites when the sound of footsteps came from outside the living room.
Jiayi thought it was the butler Luo coming in and was about to greet him, but then she heard Butler Luo's voice from the doorway.
"Miss Jian, the young master really isn't here today; please go back to the city first," he said.
"Don't lie to me, I know Zhenyang has been in the villa on Huanglong Mountain these past few days, let me in... What's wrong, can't I even see Zhenyang's face now?"
It was a young woman's voice, accompanied by the sound of her pushing past Butler Luo.
The crisp sound of high heels was getting closer, and the woman's silhouette appeared in Jiayi's field of vision.
The woman, around twenty-four or twenty-five, was clearly well-dressed for the occasion; she wore a violet one-piece brand-name dress, the neckline pulled down half an inch on purpose to reveal a deeply plunging cleavage, and the ten-plus centimeter stilettos made her figure appear tall and slender.
Her big curly hair had been styled to one side, giving off an air of allure, and her makeup was exquisite, with red lips and defined brows, making her features flawless.
The entire person shimmered with seduction, yet there was a hint of aggressive confrontational energy in her eyes and brow.
Upon seeing the girl at the dining table in the living room, the woman was taken aback and immediately asked coldly, "Who are you?"
This woman's gaze was so fierce that Jiayi hadn't even had time to answer when Auntie Li stood up as if she was already used to this:
"Butler Luo already said the young master isn't here, see for yourself," she said to Miss Jian.
Jian Meiyi said nothing, just stared fixedly at Jiayi, with an even colder look in her eyes, and pointed accusingly, "So, for these past few days, your young master has been with this woman?"
Butler Luo said, "Miss Jian, it's getting late; I will go fetch the car to take you back. Haven't you been auditioning for a big movie these days according to the newspapers? Don't let it hold you back."
Jian Meiyi snorted, brushed off Butler Luo's hand, and scrutinized Jiayi.
The girl was wearing a floral dress suited for middle-aged and elderly women, looking like a country bumpkin, with several scars on her face and appearing timid; really, it was hard to see what made her better than herself!
She sneered, "What's gotten into Zhenyang lately? Such poor taste? He likes this type now? Even the nannies and assistants in their forties by my side can't match up!"
"Miss Jian, this lady is just a guest of the young master," Auntie Li defended.
The more she explained, the more it seemed like a cover-up. When had Huo Zhenyang ever brought a woman to his private villa on Huanglong Mountain?
Filled with jealousy, Jian Meiyi lashed out without holding back, "Zhenyang wouldn't have such bad taste, it must be you throwing yourself at him, right? Who knows what disgusting methods you used! Girls these days, really, born to a mother but never taught by one, shameless!"
Auntie Li and Butler Luo exchanged glances, thinking of pulling Jiayi away to avoid further humiliation from Miss Jian, but then they heard Jiayi's voice, steady and clear:
"No matter how shameless, it's still better than someone ignoring the owner's wishes and barging into their villa uninvited."
The girl who looked like a timid white rabbit was actually striking back at her?
Jian Meiyi was stunned.
She was a top domestic celebrity, accustomed to flattery from others; she had never endured such treatment. Coming to her senses, she became furious and raised her hand to slap Jiayi's face, but then she heard a familiar male voice, low and magnetic yet slightly amused, coming from the doorway:
"She's right."