Housekeeper Lao, having been by Fu Yuanshan’s side for many years, shared a somewhat similar aura and presence. Although he was a housekeeper, the younger members of the Fu Family showed him respect, so within the Fu Mansion, he was not just a servant.
Tang Xi had little contact with Housekeeper Lao four years ago.
"Thankfully, I’ve been living on North Island," she replied indifferently.
"I heard, Miss Tang, that you have a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter. Is she the third young master’s?"
Tang Xi didn’t hide anything nor put on airs, she nodded, "Yes."
After all, there was no point for her to try and hide it now.
Moreover, she didn’t believe she could keep anything hidden from Fu Yuanshan.
"Four years ago, Miss Tang, you left on a steamship which capsized at sea. Almost everyone on board perished. Due to the deep water, retrieving the bodies was difficult, and in the end, only some personal belongings and a few bodies were recovered. I had not expected Miss Tang to still be alive; that truly is fortunate."
"Indeed fortunate. I think it was just my luck, as I never boarded that ship." Tang Xi recalled the events of that year, her eyelids drooping, slowly clasping her hands together, seeking some strength for herself.
"I had something come up at the last minute and got off the ship, which turned out to be the greatest stroke of luck."
Housekeeper Lao pondered, "Truly fortunate, Miss Tang is a fine doctor, healing and saving lives, accumulating virtue every day."
Tang Xi slightly curled her lips, "Thank you."
"So, have you been on North Island all these years? Logically, the child should only be about three years old," Housekeeper Lao said, a sharp look in his eyes.
Feeling the probing in his gaze, Tang Xi lifted her eyes with a smile, "Before I left, I had already given birth to my daughter. However, Mr. Fu and I were no longer in a marital relationship at that time, and this child belongs only to me."
"I see," Housekeeper Lao nodded, "Miss Tang, when you left four years ago, the young master searched for you for a long time." He was about to probe into something, but suddenly remembering something, he ended the topic there.
"The third young master made a visit to North Island two months ago, and unexpectedly, it’s quite a coincidence that Miss Tang is also here."
"Indeed a coincidence." Tang Xi’s heart was not at peace; she hated such coincidences.
If not for this coincidence, she would still be able to continue leading a tranquil life on North Island.
"Housekeeper Lao, I know what you want to say. You want to ask if I sent Fu Tingzhou a message, asking him to come to North Island to find me? I can tell you with certainty, no. And I don’t wish to know whether you would accept me, like me; I don’t care about these matters. When I left four years ago, I never thought of coming back. My return is not because Fu Tingzhou threatened me with my daughter, forcing me to come back, nor do I covet the position of the young mistress of the Fu Family. You don’t need to test me. If Mr. Fu would like to know anything, these are my thoughts and you can convey them all to him." Tang Xi was unwilling to engage in probing conversations that went back and forth.
She spoke out in one breath.
Housekeeper Lao stood up, "Very well, then I won’t disturb Miss Tang further. If you find it boring, you can take a walk outside. I’ll have a servant accompany you. The garden outside is quite lovely and is a rare sight in North City."
Tang Xi did indeed find sitting there meaningless.
It was too suffocating.
She nodded with a faint word of thanks and then went into the garden.
The garden of the Fu Mansion had a variety of precious flowers, clearly tended to with great care. Tang Xi didn’t have to walk far before encountering a florist.
As she walked and looked, Tang Xi thought it was not surprising that she could only manage to keep some succulent cacti—she didn’t have so much time to meticulously care for them, the procedures were too complex, and she would feel heartache if she spoiled such expensive flowers.
Tang Xi took out her phone and started taking photos while she walked.
The Fu Mansion was vast, far more extensive than Tang Xi could have imagined. Beyond the garden, there was a bamboo forest. Tang Xi had never been beyond the bamboo forest, and as she walked, the surroundings grew quieter, even the servants’ figures disappeared.
Tang Xi looked around, hesitating whether to continue walking forward.
Suddenly, a familiar sound came from behind— the noise of the wheelchair rubbing against the ground. Tang Xi turned around to see Fu Yunye approaching in his wheelchair.
Tang Xi turned to leave, inevitably passing by Fu Yunye. She paused slightly, "Young Master Fu, I passed by here by mistake, I’ll take my leave now."