CHAPTER 4 PART 1

There was already someone waiting for Xia Rou at the side building, a middle-aged woman with a solemn expression.

“Lady Fang, this is Xia Rou, she will be living here from now on, please take a good care of her.” Butler Zhou entrusted Xia Rou to that woman.

Then Butler Zhou turned around and explained to Xia Rou: “Lady Fang has been serving the Cao Family for many years. She will be taking care of everything in the household. You may seek her for assistance if you need anything.”

It was true that she has served the Cao Family for many years, especially in a house without a mistress, the position of this housekeeper lady was like the hostess of the family.

Xia Rou hid her thoughts carefully. After living for ten years in the Cao Family, no matter how foolish she had been in the past, she should show some improvements by now.

“Miss Xia.” The lady addressed her with a serious face.

After Butler Zhou left, Lady Fang lead the way to Xia Rou’s room. She took a look at the few pieces of luggage on the floor and said: “You can take out a few clothes for the season, the renovation on the main building will be finished in another half month. It’ll be more convenient to tidy up after you move in.”

“Okay.” Xia Rou nodded her head. Translated by The Novelst

Looking at how well she behaved, Lady Fang’s expression became gentler, at least this girl who was now living under someone else’s roof didn’t get on a her high horse. Lady Fang stared at her black dress and asked: “Has your mother’s first seventh* passed yet?”

“No.” Xia Rou replied, “Today is the seventh day……”

What an ill-fated child, Lady Fang thought, but she still wanted to remind her: “After today, it’s better not to wear black again. After all, this is someone else’s house, it’s not proper.”

Black is the symbol of death; what Xia Rou wearing was actually mourning apparel.

Xia Rou stared at Lady Fang as she spaced out for a moment.

Thanks to her mother, she was able to be under the care of Cao Family. However, it was not suitable for her to continue wearing mourning apparel, as it might bring bad luck to their family. With all the life experience she had, Xia Rou understood that Lady Fang’s reminder was truly out of kindness.

When she finally came back to her senses, she nodded: “I understand.”

After a pause, she hesitated, but she still managed to speak out in a soft voice: “Thank you……”

Seeing the child obediently listening to her advice, Lady Fang’s expression wasn’t as serious. Although she didn’t like the child’s status, she still pitied her for becoming an orphan; her eyes when she looked at her were friendlier now.

“Wash your face.” Lady Fang pointed at her eyes, “Don’t use warm water, your eyes will get swollen. Use cold water instead, to recover faster.”

Until Lady Fang left Xia Rou’s room, Xia Rou was still touching her swollen eyes while blanking out.

This…… What was this situation?

She could obviously feel the kindness coming from Lady Fang, but…… Lady Fang’s attitude was so different now. In her memory, this woman always had a gentle smile when she faced the Cao Family’s four brothers; when she faced her, she would have a stern face like a stepmother.

This reality was such a huge contrast to Xia Rou’s memory that she felt confused.

She shook her head, opened up one of her luggage bags and took out the clothes she needed for the season. One by one she hung her clothes in the closet, and her other colorful shirts were kept in other boxes. As for now, only the plain colored shirts were suitable for her to wear.

As she hung up one of her black dresses in the closet, she was suddenly thought of a memory.

That’s right, 10 years ago in her past life, Lady Fang had also given her the same advice, reminding her not to wear mourning apparel in the house.

Guess what? Did she listen?

Nope, not at all! Translated by The Novelst

She at the age of 15 still couldn’t understand how the people of the world respected each other. In fact, she was distorted with rage. Her mother had just passed away, so why couldn’t she wear mourning apparel for her?

Not only she did she not listen to Lady Fang’s advice, she even persisted to wear all kinds of black outfits in the next few months. What was even more ridiculous was that she felt so righteous and justified in her actions.

Xia Rou stared at that black dress with her mouth open. She couldn’t even imagine what the Cao Family had thought of her!

How immature of her back when she was 15……

But…… in her memories, the Cao Family…  hadn’t even said a word about it…… the only person to show her displeasure was Lady Fang. Was that why Lady Fang had always been so cold to her?

This was something that Xia Rou had never thought about. Before this she had always thought Lady Fang despised her simply because she was the child of a mistress. The words Lady Fang said, and the suggestions she gave, were all considered by Xia Rou to be unreasonable demands in her book.

Xia Rou sat beside the bed, both of her hands covering her face, a sense of helpless fully occupying her heart.

A big family has a lot of members, and the same went for trouble. Those troubles…… You can’t handle it. Big brother Cao Yang had sat in front of his desk and explained to her.

She still remembers how tightly he furrowed his eyebrows.

She had sat right across from him, her face hot, and only felt that her existence had been denied. She couldn’t tell him how sad she was, so she stubbornly decided to be more persistent on her own.

How helpless had her big brother felt for her during that time?

He leaned on the desk and smoked for a long time, staring at her without moving an inch. She doesn’t have the courage to meet his eyes, all she could do was lower her head and bite her lips, but persistently refuse to change her statement. In the end, he pinched off the cigarette butt on the ashtray, and took a long sigh.

Fine, if you want to think of it that way, then let it be so. He stretched out his hand to rub her hair, and spoke softly…… As long as big brother is here, I should be able to protect you……

In the end, she died just like that, at a place he couldn’t reach!
 

*Notes: First seventh: According to Chinese beliefs, the first seven days are believed to be when the spirit of the decease will be granted leave to visit their home.