Upon meeting those eyes, Song Song’s expression turned trembly and fragile again. She suddenly remembered the box of sanitary pads and the lingerie as thin as a cicada’s wings, the kind she’d never wear, and felt her face heat up...
She tried to find her voice, "Uh, Sister-in-law Zhou, steam them for half an hour and they’ll be ready. I... I’ll go prepare my lessons now."
"Oh, oh..." Sister-in-law Zhou couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off today, "Then, Young Madam, what would you like for dinner? Consider it my thanks for helping me make baozi."
"No, no, I..."
Song Song was about to politely decline when she saw the man step into the kitchen, instantly silencing her.
The man said in a deep voice, "Sister-in-law Zhou, she and I already ate outside."
Sister-in-law Zhou froze, what’s going on here?
So they had already eaten outside together, no wonder she felt something was odd today!
Is this the beginning of something good?
Thinking this, Sister-in-law Zhou felt a bit happy inside but maintained an extraordinarily calm and composed demeanor, "Young Master, I understand."
At this moment, Song Song clearly felt the pressure the man was exerting on her. She lowered her head even more, her voice unconsciously soft, "Then you chat, I’ll go..."
"5000-word reflection."
Her speech was interrupted by the man again.
Seeing her standing there looking so weak, like a bullied little animal, Xiao Jinghuai took two steps forward and looked down at her from above, saying, "5000-word reflection, have you written it?"
Sister-in-law Zhou sensed that things were not looking good and thought it better to leave for a while, "Young Master, Young Madam, carry on, I’ll go have some water in the living room."
After saying that, Sister-in-law Zhou was about to sneak away...
At that moment, Xiao Jinghuai suddenly said coldly, "Let’s go to the living room together."
Sister-in-law Zhou’s expression was as bitter as if she’d eaten herbal medicine...
The three of them went to the living room where Xiao Jinghuai sat at the main seat, elegantly crossing his long legs, his gaze locked on the girl standing there twisting her hands with her head down.
And Sister-in-law Zhou stood unwillingly beside Xiao Jinghuai, not knowing where to look, feeling as if looking anywhere was inappropriate.
Song Song knew this man wasn’t kidding around; if only he were joking, it would be so much better. So she whispered, "I’ve already written it, it’s in the room, I’ll go get it now."
During Song Song’s absence fetching the reflection, Sister-in-law Zhou bowed carefully and said, "Young Master, I’ll go check on the kitchen fire; it wouldn’t be good if the baozi were ruined."
Xiao Jinghuai wasn’t having it, "Stop looking for excuses, stand there properly."
Sister-in-law Zhou showed a face of helplessness and could only continue standing there, knowing full well how much she didn’t want to act like a bully, mainly because they had helped her not long ago.
Soon, Song Song brought the reflection out, walked to Xiao Jinghuai, and respectfully handed it over, "Mr. Xiao."
Xiao Jinghuai accepted it with one hand, scanned the content swiftly with sharp eyes, and his thin lips curved into a mysterious arc, then tossed the reflection back to Song Song, commanding, "Read it out loud!"
"Ah!"
Song Song felt she was losing her patience; the reflection was imposed on her with a baseless accusation, and now she was asked to read it out loud, in front of him and Sister-in-law Zhou...
She wasn’t a child; she was an adult.
Xiao Jinghuai’s brow slightly raised, "Unwilling?"
Remembering her promise to Grandpa Xiao, Song Song reluctantly agreed. She thought it could be treated like a recital contest, isn’t it just reading aloud?
"Okay..."
But she was too optimistic about this, thinking she’d finish seamlessly, but found out after trying multiple times she couldn’t; each time she’d only managed a few words before stopping.
Sister-in-law Zhou stood there, almost unable to watch anymore, and pretended to clear her throat, "Young Master, you see, Young Madam is a shy person. With me here, she undoubtedly feels embarrassed. How about you go to the room with Young Madam?"
"Let Young Madam read it to you there, as many times as you wish..."