Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

The thin lines of muscle flow smoothly, and water droplets fall from the ends of the hair, slowly sliding down the texture of the skin and disappearing into the deeper shadows of the clothing.

Caught off guard, Liu Wenying's lips almost touched that fair skin.

The crisp, clean scent of pine and ink emanating from him mingled with the warm steam from his bath, making her feel dizzy.

Startled by the sudden turn of events, she subconsciously stepped back.

But as soon as she retreated a little, he would move closer, then retreat again, then move closer again.

Until her waist hit the cold edge of the bathtub, she leaned back and was about to fall into the tub.

"Second Master!" she blurted out, pressing her hands against his hot, firm chest.

Pei Zeyu stopped and leaned down to look at her.

The air was filled with mist, and her fair cheeks were flushed a deep rosy hue, her long eyelashes glistening with fine water droplets, trembling gently.

Her lips parted slightly in surprise, glistening with moisture, looking as delicate and tempting as ripe cherries on a branch, inviting one to pick them.

Her appearance at that moment was so beautiful that it was almost indescribable.

Pei Zeyu's breathing became increasingly rapid, and his rationality was crumbling inch by inch.

His years of cultivated composure crumbled before her.

He just wanted to get closer to her, even closer.

He pulled her into his arms and tasted her lips to see if they were as soft and sweet as they looked.

Pei Zeyu lowered his head, his hot breath brushing against the stray hairs on her forehead, getting closer and closer.

Their lips almost touched, and Liu Wenying finally saw the darkness in his eyes.

An unprecedented, primal urge to prey appeared in him.

"Second Master, please don't..."

The resistance was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, waking Pei Zeyu from his near-out-of-control rationality.

He closed his eyes, forcefully suppressing the surging desire within him, and rested his forehead on her slender shoulder, feigning weakness.

"I feel a little dizzy, can I lean on your shoulder?"

Liu Wenying suddenly realized that his unusual behavior just now was because he was not feeling well.

The initial panic and defensiveness turned into worry and heartache.

Liu Wenying raised her hand, wrapped it around his waist, and hugged him back, wanting to give him some support.

"Why didn't you say so sooner, Second Master? Are you feeling uncomfortable after soaking in the bath for so long?"

Her soft arms encircled his lean waist, her palms pressed against his back through his thin nightgown.

Pei Zeyu trembled, so comfortable that he almost sighed out loud, a suppressed groan escaping his throat.

Liu Wenying misunderstood, thinking he was groaning in pain, and became even more anxious.

"Please bear with me, Second Master. This servant will help you to the bed to rest. I'll go and fetch a doctor right away!"

She half-supported, half-carried him to the inner room and settled him on the bed. Just as she was about to call the doctor, he grabbed her arm.

Don't go.

"But you're not feeling well."

"I'm really just dizzy, I just need to lean on you for a bit."

He tightened his arms, holding her firmly in his arms, and rested his chin on the crook of her neck.

He smiled bitterly to himself; he wasn't actually uncomfortable.

There... He should have been overjoyed to wake up, realizing that the hidden illness that had plagued him for years was not incurable.

But wouldn't it be even more embarrassing to have a doctor examine you now?

Liu Wenying was held so tightly by him that she couldn't move, and hearing that his voice was indeed weak, she had no choice but to give in and solemnly gave him instructions.

"Then Second Master, please promise me that if you feel unwell anywhere, you must say so immediately and never try to tough it out."

"it is good."

He responded softly and hugged her even tighter.

I originally thought there was plenty of time, and I could take my time to figure it out.

But every time she approached, every time she touched him, it was like a spark hitting dry tinder, burning away all his composure.

There's plenty of time? No, he was afraid that if he waited any longer, he would go crazy first.

"It should be faster," Pei Zeyu thought, his eyes flashing beneath his long eyelashes.

……

As autumn deepens, the edges of the leaves on the trees in the courtyard turn golden.

Second Master did not lie to her. A few days later, he officially took leave to recuperate at home.

On the first day of her leave, Liu Wenying was serving the old lady her medicine in Mingxi Hall during the day.

"Second Master is here!"

A maidservant came in to announce the arrival, and before she finished speaking, Pei Zeyu, dressed in a lychee-white casual robe, stepped in.

"Grandson greets his grandmother."

Seeing his slightly furrowed brow, the old lady said, "Didn't I tell you to rest properly? Why have you come here again?"

"It's been quite a while since I last paid my respects to my grandmother. I've been thinking about it, so I came to visit." Pei Zeyu walked to the bedside and sat down on the brocade stool next to it.

The old lady snorted, her gaze falling on his hand, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes, but her words were anything but forgiving.

"I'd like to know if you're after this old woman, or the people around her?"

The old lady was naturally aware that Liu Wenying was running between Mingxi Hall and Chenshuang Courtyard.

Pei Zeyu was seen through, but he remained composed, saying, "Grandmother is joking."

The old lady shook her head. "I have several capable servants around me, I don't need another one. You're injured like that, how can you manage without someone who can take good care of you?"

After she finished speaking, she looked at Liu Wenying and said, "You go with Yu'er."

Liu Wenying hesitated, "But Madam, you..."

"Don't worry, I won't get better anytime soon, there's no rush."

She could only look at the Second Master.

Pei Zeyu didn't agree immediately, but said, "Grandmother, I feel really bad about letting your grandson take your people away, so..."

"Alright, alright."

The old lady interrupted him.

"Stop being so polite with me. If you really feel bad about it, hurry up and heal your injuries so you can come back and pay your respects to me as soon as possible."

"You are not allowed to come to Mingxi Hall again until the bandages are removed. Stay in Chenshuang Courtyard and don't keep running to my place."

Pei Zeyu couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.

He stood up, bowed to the old lady, and said, "Your grandson obeys."

Then, with a slight smile, she said to Liu Wenying, "Come back to Chenshuang Courtyard with me."

Liu Wenying curtsied to the old lady and then followed him out.

After she left, Granny Wu, Xi Chun, and others stayed in Mingxi Hall to serve the old lady as usual.

Both of them were elderly people who had served the old lady, and they worked together seamlessly.

Although it lacks the liveliness and ingenuity of Liu Wenying's time, there are no faults to be found.

The old lady's smile faded somewhat, and she mostly leaned quietly against her pillows, gazing absently at the yellowing leaves outside the window.

Granny Wu knew that the old lady appreciated Liu Wenying's thoughtfulness and her ability to tell funny stories to cheer her up.

Now that people have left Chenshuang Courtyard, this room seems exceptionally quiet.

Just as Granny Wu was about to instruct the kitchen to prepare a nourishing dinner, she saw Xi Chun standing there in a daze, the handkerchief she had used to wipe the old lady's hands was crumpled in her fist.

Granny Wu called Xi Chun outside.

"Tell me, what's wrong? Now that Liu Wenying isn't here, you should be even more attentive, so why are you so distracted?"

Xi Chun looked away and forced a smile, saying, "What are you saying, Granny? I wasn't daydreaming."

"Don't try to fool me. When Liu Wenying was around, you always tried to outdo her in everything, even serving tea first."

"Now that she's gone, you should be relieved, so why are you acting even more strangely?"

Xi Chun's face flushed red and then turned pale as she was struck by what she thought, and she bit her lip and remained silent.

Granny Wu didn't press the issue, softening her tone as she said, "You were the first to arrive at Mingxi Hall when the Old Madam fell ill. Do you think I can't see what you're thinking? Tell me, what are you plotting?"

…………