If You Are a Dodder Flower

Luckily, because of her awkward identity, she unconsciously wanted to avoid anything related to Madam Cao. No matter how luxurious and attractive the rooms in the uppermost floor of the house, she never wanted to take even a peek.

He Lili turned to look at Xia Rou still standing in front of the door in silence.

She called Xia Rou twice, but Xia Rou still stood at the entrance and didn’t budge. He Lili pouted. Translated by The Novelst

Then, she said: “I’ll bring you to look around the small guest room.”

That room was also very pretty. Every vase and other ornament in the room were all exquisitely made, especially the tea set that Madam Cao most favored. Made of pure silver, it was dazzlingly beautiful.

It was in every girl’s nature that they would like crystal and twinkling things. When He Lili was young, she couldn’t bear the temptation and made off with one of the exquisite silver rose keys in secret.

Afterwards, her theft was found out by her mother and she was badly punished. She had no choice but to put the small silver key back in its place in secret.

That was why He Lili thought it was impossible for a young lady like Xia Rou to not like these kinds of things. It would be best if she liked it and could do something to it, then it would be great.

However, Xia Rou shook her head and said, “No thanks, it’s better not to carelessly enter Madam Cao’s room. I’ve seen the rooms on the fourth floor now. Let’s go downstairs.”

For some reason, when this girl looked at her, He Lili felt that her serious dark eyes made her feel uneasy, as though they were unearthing those dark thoughts she kept hidden in her heart. But she thought that it was impossible because she was only fifteen, barely out of childhood.

But this youth already knew how to speak tactfully, so she couldn’t find a better excuse to bring her to the room. He Lili gave up and brought Xia Rou down to the third floor.

“Brother Cao Yang and Brother Cao Bin live on the third floor. Except for their bedrooms, they even have their own study rooms to do their work in. You can’t carelessly enter these rooms, especially their study room, understand?” This time, He Lili’s warning was accompanied by a more serious expression than she had on the fourth floor.

Thus Xia Rou understood that He Lili really didn’t want her to enter Cao Yang and Cao Bin’s room.

“That room over there is the gym. The room at the end is the reading room, and it’s connected to the second floor and can only be accessed from the second floor. There’s no door to it in the third floor.”

He Lili rushed Xia Rou around the third floor, then led Xia Rou back to the lift.

“The second floor is still under construction. It’s too messy now, you can take a look later. Brother Cao Xiong and Brother Cao An live on the second floor. Beside the video room there’s a guest room, which is probably where you’ll be living.”

He Lili didn’t mention that the guest room was being renovated too. After the renovation, it would no longer be a guest room but a bedroom made specially for Xia Rou.

Xia Rou turned her head and took a glance at He Lili in the lift, then turned silently back. Looking at their reflections in the mirror of the lift, she noticed that although He Lili was only a few years older than her, her makeup was very heavy.

Xia Rou lowered her eyes, hiding her disappointment deep in her heart.

Her expression was being watched by He Lili. He Lili thought that Xia Rou was hurt by the daggers hidden in her speech, and her red-painted lips couldn’t help but to pull up into a smile.

The door opened silently. He Lili “passionately” pulled Xia Rou to the basement: “Come, I’ll bring you to the swimming pool.”

This was an underground swimming pool build after the renovation. Although the building itself was made in a classical style, the facilities inside were actually pretty modern.

“There are the men’s and women’s changing rooms.” He Lili felt a little proud of herself: “I also come to swim; I usually use that pool by myself.”

She acted generous: “If you want to come for a swim, you can use my changing room and shower room.”

She looked triumphantly at Xia Rou, waiting for this Cinderella who stayed under another’s roof to shyly say “thank you” to her. However, Xia Rou only nodded her head and said softly, “Oh…” and fell silent.

He Lili felt her pleasure was spoiled. This girl was a blockhead. She even worried over whether or not Xia Rou could really understand the hints inside her words.

But looking at Xia Rou’s blank stare, she suddenly lost interest in speaking with her. So she simply brought her to walk around the basement, let her know the way to the shower and sauna rooms, and then they went back to the side building.

“What the hell, she’s just a blockhead. Don’t tell me she’s stupid.” He Lili complained to Lady Fang.

“Don’t speak nonsense.” Lady Fang said, “Xia Rou is a good child, she’s obedient and quiet. Her mother has just passed, so she must be feeling depressed. It’ll be better with time, you should be more considerate.”

A thought struck Lady Fang. “Did you tell her not to carelessly enter the rooms on the fourth floor?”

“Yes yes, I didn’t even open the guest room door, she might have touched the things there.”

Lady Fang paused while folding clothes, then scolded strictly: “So you opened the door to Madam’s room? Why did you open it? You went in again?”

He Lili accidentally spilled the beans. She explained with difficulty: “I just let her take a glance…”

“What glance! How many times have I told you, don’t enter Madam’s room! He Lili!” Lady Fang glared hotly at her. “Don’t think you’ve grown so much that I can’t beat you!”

“Aiya, she was very curious so I just opened it up a crack for her to peek inside.” He Lili immediately clung to her mother’s arm, acting affectionate and floundering for an explanation.

Lady Fang found it doubtful. He Lili immediately added: “Really!”

Lady Fang let out a “hmph,” and went silent.

He Lili felt sulky, taking an apple and chomping a huge bite.

“Xia Rou is a nice child. She even said since it’s the first day meeting you, she’s going to come over and have dinner with us. The commander and Cao Yang will not be home today anyways.” Lady Fang sighed, “She’s so tactful at such a young age. Only you are around her age in this house. You should treat her well and take good care of her, understand?”

“Got it,” He Lili replied in annoyance. Translated by The Novelst

She was nothing but a mistress’ child, on what basis could she sit at the dining table in the main building, eating dinner at the same table as Cao Yang and Cao Bin!

Why in the world could He Lili only stay in the side building, having dinner in the employee dining room, at the same table with the housecleaner and the chef!

He Lili brutally tore off a bite of her apple, feeling a weight on her heart making her uncomfortable.