Chapter One: A Mere Bystander
Familiar room, familiar ceiling. Here, this is the place specially provided for us by the Xiahous family. Us? Yes, us - the children of those who went bankrupt under the Xiahous' schemes. We were to be disciplined, taught that the Xiahous were untouchable and sacred. And this so-called discipline was nothing more than being their slaves.
Moreover, one of the reasons we were held captive was to force our parents into hard labor. Yes, hard labor. What a despicable family indeed!
... After changing my clothes, it was time to start my day. The person I served wasn't the head of the Xiahous family, nor the eldest son of the Xiahous, but rather the most cruel and inhumane Xiahou Chen.
"Drip." Turning my head, it was time to start work. The clock showed five o'clock...
A spoonful of coffee, 40-degree hot water, and a cube of sugar. Stirring.
This seemed to be part of my life - every morning I would wake up, make coffee, and deliver it to the young master's room. Knocking on the door and entering, "Ah, Young Master, yes, I'm sorry." One of the maids knelt on the ground, not daring to look at Xiahou Chen before her.
I saw scattered clothes on the floor and noticed Xiahou Chen sitting on the bed with a contemptuous gaze. I could roughly guess what had happened, but I didn’t make any move. I didn’t want to get involved in trouble.
I noticed the maid on her knees glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, her eyes filled with tears and pleading. I knew she was one of those sold by her own parents not long ago, just like all of us.
I didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble. So, I remained still.
Xiahou Chen walked over to the kneeling maid, stepping on her back. She closed her eyes, repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
I saw Xiahou Chen turn his face and say, "If you kneel down and beg me, I'll let her go, Yu Mo."
I saw the pleading in the maid's eyes, her tears streaming down onto the floor.
"Sorry, I disturbed you, Young Master." I put down the coffee, slowly walked to the door, and gently closed it. Me, the campus all-rounder genius, was merely a bystander.
Just observing all this every day.
I didn't want to do anything meaningless; it would only bring more trouble to myself. Conversely, I hoped I wouldn't have to care about such matters. Even if others resented me, so what? I wasn't an angel; I was just a human being. Without any superpowers, helping people who couldn't benefit me would only destabilize my position.
Yes! I just needed to follow the master's orders. Because I was originally just a bystander!
Chapter Two: A Mistaken Choice
For survival, I had to be perfect, leaving no room for criticism. Every step should be taken carefully.
"Yu Mo, tomorrow is your turn for duty," said Xiahou Chen's steward as he handed me the schedule. Relatively speaking, Xiahou Chen's steward, Mr. Ri, should be like family to me! He often said that I was the best girl, no, person he had ever taught. Only he hadn't ostracized me.
Duty meant that I would be responsible for Xiahou Chen's life for the entire week, right? I needed to be more cautious.
In the morning, besides delivering coffee as usual, I also had to take care of Young Master Chen's clothing and prepare everything for his morning. This meant obeying all of the young master's arrangements throughout the day.
I needed to be even more careful...
The time to wake up must be an hour earlier. I had to prepare everything beforehand and be more cautious. This was just for survival.
At exactly five o'clock, the hour hand was where it should be. Entering the room, placing the coffee down, I stood three steps away from the young master's bed and said, "Young Master, it's time to wake up."
He pulled the blanket over his head with his hand. After a moment, he sat up and said, "Is it your turn now, Yu Mo?"
"It's time to get up, Young Master," I said as I handed him his clothes. Xiahou Chen reached out, not to take the clothes, but to grab the hand holding them and pull me to the side of the bed.
I had anticipated this, so I had prepared a response. Struggling would only end up like the maid a few days ago.
"If the Young Master doesn't get ready soon, Lord will be angry," I said without changing expression. Why? Was it because I had become accustomed to it?
He released my hand and pushed me away disdainfully, saying, "You're a woman with no charm."
Saying that, he casually changed his clothes in front of me. I couldn't rush, so I steadily walked out of the room and closed the door behind me...
Holding Xiahou Chen's lunch, I was walking down the corridor when I met Mr. Ri.
"Yu Mo, do you know where Young Master Chen is? Lord wants to see him."
In the study, I thought, and led Mr. Ri there. As soon as the door opened, a woman slathered with thick makeup was sitting on Xiahou Chen's lap, shamelessly leaning against him. It was disgusting.
Mr. Ri was clearly startled. At that moment, a special person entered - Xiahou Yue, the head of the family.
"Chen, what are you doing!" Xiahou Yue's eyes revealed fiery anger.
Although Xiahou Chen still looked indifferent, the woman in his arms was scared and quickly left, stomping in her high heels.
"You come to my office and reflect properly," Xiahou Yue said angrily and stormed off, with Mr. Ri following.
Now only Xiahou Chen and I were left in the room. I realized I had made a mistake. That rarely seen smile appeared on Xiahou Chen's face, now filled with excitement.
I shouldn't have kindly led the way, like a guard dog. Xiahou Chen brushed past me. Pain surged through me.
Now I was alone in the room. No, I was alone with the blood flowing from my hand. Just moments ago, Xiahou Chen had cut my hand with a piece of glass.
"Xiahou... Chen..."