Chapter 39: Anticipation
Left Wheel noticed the storm brewing on Ye Tianlin's face and decided it was best not to provoke him further. After some time, Ye Tianlin finished dressing Liang Xiaoluo, then called Left Wheel to take her back to her room. Just as Left Wheel moved to carry out the order, he hesitated and asked, "Master, should I bring Miss Xiaoluo back again tomorrow night?"
Ye Tianlin cast a frosty glare at him, sending a chill down Left Wheel's spine. Immediately understanding the unspoken command, Left Wheel nodded and thought, Same as usual tomorrow…
Ye Tianlin didn't bother clarifying. His thoughts swirled around how to make Liang Xiaoluo submit to him willingly.
Left Wheel, sensing his master's frustration, quickly and quietly returned Liang Xiaoluo to her room without a trace. By the time the task was complete, the sky was already beginning to lighten. Meanwhile, Liang Xiaoluo slept on, oblivious to everything that had transpired. When dawn broke, a shaft of light pierced through the window, accompanied by the harsh knock of a maid at her door.
"Hey, get up! Time to work!" came the voice from outside.
"Ugh…" Liang Xiaoluo groaned and rolled over, reluctant to wake.
"Move it!" The door burst open, and a maid barged in, arms crossed like an angry matron. "You think you're some kind of princess? Get up already!"
Rubbing her eyes, Liang Xiaoluo winced as pain shot through her body. "Ouch!" she murmured, feeling as though her limbs had been disassembled and poorly put back together.
"What's the matter with you? Worked one day and you're acting all frail," the maid sneered. "Pathetic."
Liang Xiaoluo, still half-asleep, touched the treated wounds on her body. Someone had tended to them overnight.
But why?
"Quit daydreaming and get moving," the maid snapped, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her out.
Resigned, Liang Xiaoluo followed. Her day unfolded like the last, filled with labor, snide remarks from other maids, and relentless bullying from Su Xin. She bore it all silently, her spirit worn thin by the constant humiliation.
Still, one thought kept her grounded—Ye Tianlin hadn't appeared since the night she saw him in the bathroom with Su Xin. His absence was almost a relief.
That night, as Liang Xiaoluo drifted into her routine, exhausted sleep, Ye Tianlin followed his pattern: drugging her unconscious and carrying her to his room.
"Master…" Left Wheel called hesitantly, sensing Ye Tianlin's growing impatience.
"Take her back," Ye Tianlin ordered, his voice cold as ice.
It had been three nights now, and Ye Tianlin's frustration was mounting. He stopped Left Wheel just as he was about to leave.
"Wait," Ye Tianlin growled.
"Yes, Master?" Left Wheel braced himself, thinking this might be the moment his master's fury erupted.
Instead, Ye Tianlin's tone lowered. "Tomorrow night, reduce the dose."
"Ah?" Left Wheel was confused but wisely kept his questions to himself, nodding obediently. "Yes, Master."
As Left Wheel closed the door behind him, he mumbled under his breath, "What's Master up to now? Ah, whatever. I'll just do as I'm told."
The next morning, Liang Xiaoluo awoke feeling sore yet oddly accustomed to the discomfort. Stretching gingerly, she wondered aloud, "Why does my body hurt so much? Is it the bed? But it's not that hard…"
Dismissing the thought, she went about her daily chores. One of her tasks was to clean Ye Tianlin's bedroom. As she worked, she noticed how immaculate it was despite her absence. Her thoughts wandered to Ye Tianlin's prolonged disappearance.
"Where has he been these past few days?" she wondered before snapping herself out of it. "Why do I even care? It's better this way."
Shaking her head to dispel the unnecessary thoughts, she quickly finished cleaning and left the room, unaware that her every move was being monitored by hidden cameras.
Later in the day, as she passed the maids gossiping in the hall, she overheard snippets of their conversation.
"Su Xin-jie, the charity gala is coming up. Shao Ye will definitely take you with him, right?"
"Of course. I saw Liu Jie with a stunning gown earlier—it must be for Su Xin-jie!"
"Obviously! Shao Ye is crazy about Su Xin-jie."
The maids' envious chatter buzzed around her, but Liang Xiaoluo walked past them like a ghost, unnoticed and uncaring. So, that's why he's been gone—preparing for some fancy gala. Good. Stay gone.
But as the maids continued talking, something caught her attention.
"The gala will need lots of staff. Liu Jie's already picked a bunch of us to go help out."
Liang Xiaoluo stopped abruptly, her ears perking up. If so many staff were leaving the estate, security would surely be lighter.
Could this be her chance?
Her heart raced at the thought. I can escape. I'll see Dad again. Maybe… I'll finally be free.
Her sudden stop caught the attention of one maid, who sneered, "Oh, does Cinderella want to go to the ball too?"
Ignoring the jab, Liang Xiaoluo grabbed the maid's arm. "Who's going to help at the gala? Has Liu Jie already decided?"
The maid wrinkled her nose, yanking her arm away. "As if she'd pick someone like you. Dream on."
"Really? Are you sure?" Liang Xiaoluo's excitement grew uncontrollable.
Suddenly, she hugged the maid tightly, leaving her stunned. "Thank you! Thank you!"
She darted off, leaving the maid to mutter, "What the hell is wrong with her?"
By evening, Liang Xiaoluo had confirmed her plan. In the back garden, she pretended to weed while discreetly checking a hidden dog hole in the fence. When she found it, her heart leapt with hope.
Quietly, she whispered, "This is it. Mom, if you're watching over me, please help me get out of here…"
Little did she know, every move she made was being recorded.
That night, she joined the maids for dinner, eating heartily despite their scornful stares. She even volunteered to do the dishes, drawing puzzled looks from the others.
Finally, back in her room, she lay in bed with a peaceful smile. For the first time in a long while, she felt joy.
In just a few days, I'll be free, she thought, drifting off to sleep with a renewed sense of hope.