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If it were just her, that would be one thing, but the other two waiting to learn were also staring at Yu Qing, looking at her as if she were an ingredient in a hot pot.

Just waiting for her to be cooked through, so they could immediately scoop her up and eat her.

"I really don't need it..." Yu Qing believed she had displayed her coldest expression and used the most resolute tone to refuse.

But Ge Bufan, hearing her words, clasped her hands together and gave her a pitiful look, pleading, "Are you really sure? Are you really, really sure?"

Yu Qing: "..."

Xiang Changge, where are you!

If you don't come back, I'm deducting your entire month's salary!

"What are you all doing?"

Just as Yu Qing was at her wit's end, a puzzled voice drifted over.

The group snapped their heads toward the entrance of the greenhouse.

There, Xiang Changge was walking in from outside, her brows slightly furrowed as she looked at them.

Never in her life had Yu Qing felt that Xiang Changge's voice was so pleasant, sounding like music to her ears.

The dying sunset filtered through the glass walls and cast its light upon Xiang Changge. At this moment, in Yu Qing's eyes, she appeared like a flame capable of dispelling the darkness, glowing as she arrived.

Xiang Changge had seen the three of them surrounding Yu Qing while she was still outside. Although she knew they wouldn't do anything to Yu Qing, she had still quickened her pace, worried about what Yu Qing might do to herself.

Upon entering, she saw the look of relief in Yu Qing's eyes—the joy of someone finally rescued—while the others looked back at her quite candidly.

Chu Keke spoke first: "It's like this, making incense is so tiring. Bufan said she knows how to do massage, so she was just planning to give Miss Yu a rubdown to help her relax."

Yao Ningran nodded in agreement, and Ge Bufan, as if she had found a new target, shifted her expectant gaze to Xiang Changge and said, "How about you try it, Steward Xiang? I can teach Keke and Xiao Ning at the same time."

Yu Qing: "."

Very well, this Ge Bufan's enthusiasm is indiscriminate.

Xiang Changge was actually a bit tempted, but compared to another more important matter, massages and the like could definitely be pushed to a later time.

"Next time. Don't worry, Miss Yu's aunt will help her with that. Didn't we say we were going to make braised dishes? If we don't start now, we won't be able to eat them today."

"Oh, right, the braised dishes!"

Making braised dishes takes time; the longer they simmer, the more flavorful the ingredients become. While they can be eaten after a short time, they certainly wouldn't taste as good.

Yu Qing didn't end up going to the kitchen. Seeing how exhausted she looked, Xiang Changge sent her back to her room, telling her to take a hot shower to relax before coming down for dinner.

After Yu Qing finished her shower and came out, Aunt Gong, who had come to take over for Aunt Yang, hurried over to help dry her hair.

Once it was half-dry, she carefully applied essential oil, nursing it for quite a while before getting it completely dry.

Yu Qing herself would never bother with such hair care, and she had even refused before, but the two aunts simply couldn't bear to see her walking around with a head of frizzy hair or cutting it short just for the sake of convenience.

Besides, they were busy with their own tasks, and Yu Qing was busy with hers; it didn't really get in her way much.

Through persistent insistence, they had finally secured this part of their job.

This was also the reason why Yu Qing's black hair was as smooth and beautiful as silk.

Aunt Gong had always been someone who spoke her mind, and sometimes she could be quite the chatterbox.

After finishing with Yu Qing's hair, she began massaging her shoulders while bringing up the matter she had wanted to discuss that morning but hadn't been able to get out because Yu Qing hadn't opened the conversation.

"Miss, have you verified this Steward Xiang? Is she really an excellent steward talent who graduated from abroad?"

Yu Qing, who was flipping through her tablet with one hand, raised her eyes at these words, but since Aunt Gong was standing behind her, she couldn't see the other woman's expression.

"What's wrong?"

Yu Qing asked instead of answering.

Aunt Gong lowered her voice a little: "I'm just worried she might be an impostor or something." After all, given the Yu Family's circumstances, it was normal for them to attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.

"These days, the tricks scammers use are endless."

What kind of qualified steward would give their employer ice cream knowing that their health was poor? It looked unprofessional at first glance, and it could even be malicious.

She had also heard that for the past two nights, Steward Xiang had stayed in the Miss's room until very late before coming out, and there was no telling what they were doing in there.

And another thing, this steward was far too bold, as if she didn't fear death.

Aunt Gong poured out all her thoughts and what she had seen that morning to Yu Qing in a rush.

It wasn't until the tablet in Yu Qing's hand went dark from inactivity that she blinked, as if returning to her senses.

"She... she came to read to me these past two nights, insisting that I go to sleep at ten," Yu Qing replied softly.

Aunt Gong froze upon hearing this: "Is, is that so?"

She knew Yu Qing's sleep schedule was irregular, but Yu Qing rarely let them take care of her; aside from bringing water, there wasn't much they could do.

They had tried to persuade her, of course, but who would dare to be as persistent as Xiang Changge, seemingly unafraid of angering Yu Qing? No matter what they said, they were always afraid of losing their jobs.

She never expected that the new steward would actually do something like this.

Yu Qing turned the tablet back on and said nothing more.

Although eating with a crowd is indeed lively and energetic, after being in that environment for so long, Yu Qing felt she needed to catch her breath.

She didn't go down for dinner that evening; it was brought up to her room.

Besides a few light dishes, there was a plate of braised snacks consisting of a few pieces of braised pork ribs and beef.

The braised meat was a deep, rich soy color and carried an enticing aroma.

Yu Qing tried a piece, and the flavor was indeed excellent; the beef was tender and not the least bit dry, while the ribs were springy and fell off the bone with a gentle bite, becoming more fragrant the more she chewed.

After tasting two pieces, even though it was her own choice not to go down and join the fun, Yu Qing couldn't help but wonder what they were doing right now.

With braised food this good, that person was probably either burying her head in the meal or offering lavish praise.

She had known since she was a child that she was a problematic person.

When she was little, it was her health; as she grew up, it became her psyche.

She longed for liveliness and company, yet she hated the noise and preferred to stay alone, unwilling to spend time forming bonds with others.

She was a person of extreme contradictions.

She didn't even know what it was she truly wanted.

Just like at this moment, she had rejected the closeness of others, yet in a world where she was all alone, she felt a thick sense of loneliness and desolation.

She felt as if the whole world was very, very far away from her, and she only had herself.

The surroundings were quiet, so quiet that only the sound of her own heartbeat kept her company.

Yu Qing couldn't eat anymore; she set down her chopsticks, stood up, and walked to the window.

Dark clouds had gathered in the sky at some point, just like the gloom currently shrouding her heart.

The evening sunset had completely dissipated, and the daylight was nowhere to be found; she felt as if she had been abandoned by all light, falling alone into the long, endless night.

Yu Qing slowly reached out her hand, as if wanting to catch the night, or perhaps to touch the darkness.

"Heaven, it's so dark."

Her lips, pale like fading petals, let out a faint murmur audible only to the night and the evening breeze.

"Beep beep beep—Host, please take note: the supporting female lead's depression index has reached 72%. Please take precautions!"

Xiang Changge, who was happily chewing on braised pork intestines with iced orange juice, paused, and the veins on her forehead twitched with forced restraint.

Since Yu Qing didn't come down to eat, there was no need for the three of them to gather.

Furthermore, it was getting late, so when Xiang Changge asked if they wanted to pack their dinners to go or eat there, they all chose to take them home.

After reminding the driver, Uncle Huang, to make sure to drop each of them off at their homes, Xiang Changge also packed two portions of food and brought them back to her small villa.

Alone, a table full of food, and a wilderness documentary playing on the big TV in front of her—Xiang Changge felt there was no moment happier than this.

And just as she was halfway through her meal, the system chimed.

Xiang Changge: "..."

Wasn't she fine just a moment ago? She was so sleepy this afternoon, so how did she have the energy to be depressed now?

"Don't dawdle, Host. The supporting female lead hasn't met her dinner consumption quota yet; you should go feed her while you're at it."

"..."

Xiang Changge took a deep breath, picked up a piece of braised tofu, and resignedly stood up while still eating.

When she stepped outside, she also saw the clusters of dark clouds gathering in the sky. Xiang Changge couldn't hold back anymore: "Don't tell me the Thunder God and Mother Lightning are planning to bring rain again tomorrow!"

System: "Oh my, I almost forgot to remind Susu-jiang! Tomorrow is the plot point where the male lead returns from his business trip to find the female lead, just in time to see the female lead's neighbor brother picking her up from work. Didn't Susu-jiang ask Tongtong to remind you?"