Chapter 416
She had pretty much accepted the engagement, since it was an engagement made between the young master and Qiao Xinying when they were young, and as a maid, she shouldn't interfere too much in this matter.
Moreover, the young master himself has not made any statement on this matter, and he is completely unaware that Miss Qiao Xinying has now returned to Yanghai City, so she might as well continue to keep this matter a secret.
This was a personal selfish reason of hers; she didn't want the young master to meet Miss Qiao Xinying so soon.
Although the two hadn't been in contact for a long time, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe them as strangers.
Regardless of the circumstances, Miss Qiao Xinying was the young master's only friend when he was young, and the only friend who was willing to stay by his side and accompany (bully) him.
Even though they haven't seen each other for so many years, and even though they no longer have any feelings for each other, they can't forget the fact that they played together in their childhood.
What if... what if the young master still harbors even a sliver of lingering affection for Miss Qiao Xinying...?
"Miss Qiao Xinying is very beautiful and has a great temperament. Sooner or later she will become a charming woman like Ms. Qiao Ranxin."
"Furthermore, Miss Qiao Xinying doesn't intend to immediately dissolve the engagement, but rather plans to observe the situation for a while... However, during this observation period... what if Miss Qiao Xinying falls in love with the young master..."
Wearing maid dress, Yao Shi stared blankly at her reflection in the glass tabletop.
Will Miss Qiao Xinying rule the Wu family as the mistress of the house and become the one who will always be by the young master's side...?
Click...
The cup held in my right hand suddenly made a few crisp sounds, and fine cracks spread across the sides like a spider web.
Yao Shi silently stared at the teacup she had cracked, her displeasure burning deep within her like a flickering flame.
The phrase "heart in turmoil" perfectly encapsulates her current mood; her extremely distressed state of mind is like a tangled mess of hemp rope, impossible to untangle.
She was unwilling to acknowledge the fact that Qiao Xinying, who had suddenly come between them, would be the first woman to win over the young master. She couldn't accept that.
She could accept that Han Yu was the first woman to win the young master's heart, but she couldn't accept the melodramatic, cliché plot of a childhood sweetheart suddenly appearing and stealing the young master away.
"I am number one."
Suddenly remembering Qiao Ranxin's last words, Yao Shi tightened her grip on the teacup with her right hand.
The already cracked glass was crushed into countless shards under her pressure and fell to the ground, the clanging sound unusually loud in the empty hall.
The tea in the cup flowed down her fair hand. Yao Shi slowly stood up and looked out the window at the sky with a cool expression.
She won't lose; she can't possibly be defeated in this war. Her love for the young master surpasses that of anyone else.
"If you can't avoid something, face it; if you can't accept someone, crush them head-on with your strength."
A bone-chilling cold spread outwards from Yao Shi's body, and a dark mist swirled around her.
The unprecedented freezing air almost covered everything around her with frost. This was the first time Yao Shi had been so serious, and the first time she had felt her heart flutter and burn with love.
She liked the young master, she loved the young master, so she couldn't simply give him up to someone else.
It was time to truly express her feelings to the young master; she could no longer suppress her overflowing love.
If she continues to endure this, if she continues to watch Han Yu and the others interact intimately and flirtatiously with the young master... then she might break down very soon...
"Yao Shi? What are you doing here, just spacing out?"
"I've seen you standing here like an idiot for half an hour! Hey! How did you end up breaking the cup?"
Wearing a long-sleeved jacket and loose jeans, Milutin patted Yao Shi on the shoulder, reminding her.
What is this girl spacing out about? Weren't we supposed to go out today? Why is she still wearing a maid outfit?
"It's nothing, I was just thinking about something by myself for a while."
"By the way, I won't be going out with you today, I have some things to do."
Yao Shi glanced at Milutin behind her, then slapped away the shoulder that was draped over her.
She wasn't in a good mood today, so she didn't go out with Milutin.
Especially after learning about Qiao Xinying's situation, she could no longer delay.
Although her feelings for the young master were slowly growing, the process was far too slow, and this slow pace of emotional development did not satisfy her.
"Huh? Didn't we agree on this yesterday?"
"Besides, Han Yu, He Xue, Ning Shuang and the others are all here. It would be too disrespectful of you not to come."
"Besides, how could you not come to such an important event? We're counting on you to give us advice."
Milutin was stunned when he heard that Yao Shi had no intention of going out.
How could this guy suddenly change his mind? I had to persuade him yesterday.
Changing her mind at the last minute is not like Yao Shi's personality. This girl has been acting strangely these past few days. What exactly happened?
"Han Yu and the others?"
Yao Shi frowned slightly after hearing this. Why were Han Yu and the others with Milutin?
There's no need to invite so many people just to go to an arcade. Could it be a private gathering arranged by these people?
"Are you suffering from amnesia? Didn't I just tell you last night that we were going to monitor the young master and Su Qian's date today?"
"Although you seemed a bit absent-minded yesterday, I really didn't expect you to forget something like this."
Milutin puffed out his cheeks and stared at Yao Shi with a puzzled expression. How could this girl have missed news about the young master? This was truly unbelievable.
Yao Shi used to remember even the snacks that the young master praised as delicious. How come she doesn't care about such an important matter this time?
"Well, it's just a sweet date between the young master and Su Qian, nothing to worry about..."
Yao Shi tidied the table as she spoke casually, as if she didn't take it seriously at all.
"Wait, what did you just say?"
Yao Shi's small hand, which was wiping the table, suddenly froze. She turned around abruptly, grabbed Milutin's collar, and stared blankly at him.
Wait a minute, what did Milutin just say?
Chapter 72: No one understands Wu Liang better than Yao Shi
"So, you didn't even know that Wu Liang was having a date with Su Qian today?"
Han Yu, sitting on the sofa with her little feet crossed and arms crossed, looked at Yao Shi, who had a bad expression, with disdain.
She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that this guy seemed a little strange today.
The other person's emotions fluctuate greatly; you can feel their displeasure simply by sitting in front of them.
This wasn't like the Yao Shi she knew; the other person rarely showed her true emotions on her face.
"Didn't Miss Milutin tell Miss Shi Yaoshi about this?"
He Xue held the shaved ice and sipped it slowly, glancing occasionally at Yao Shi, who remained silent to the side.
No matter how you look at it, Miss Shi is a first-rate beauty. The simple and solemn black tone should theoretically bring people a sense of oppression and gloom.
It was just a plain black long dress with rolled-up hems, but on Miss Shi, it exuded a strange and serene beauty.
Like a black rose standing alone in a flowerbed, she is both aloof and unapproachable, yet possesses a touch of fragility.
"Milutin, didn't we tell you to tell Miss Shi Yaoshi sooner?"
Ning Shuang chewed her bubble gum and winked at Milutin, giving him a meaningful look.
Yao Shi did look slightly different from usual today, behaving somewhat strangely.
The other person sat in the ice cream shop without exchanging a single word with them, like a soulless doll, making them feel completely unfamiliar.
While Miss Shi was somewhat aloof in the past, she was never as strange and indifferent as she is today.
The other person seems to have suddenly become a different person, completely devoid of emotion. What happened? Or was it because they were provoked by that guy Milutin?
"Hey! Don't always pin everything on me!!"
"I clearly told this girl last night that the young master was going out on a date today! It's her fault for not hearing me, what does that have to do with me!"
"Don't think that just because you're getting along better with me you can label me however you want! Watch out or I'll teach you a lesson."
Milutin rolled up her sleeves to show off her not-so-developed biceps to the group of people in front of her.
But his peripheral vision lingered on Yao Shi's cold, indifferent, and even somewhat pale face.
He Xue and Ning Shuang were right; Yao Shi did indeed seem a bit off today.
"Hey, are you feeling unwell?"
Han Yu leaned down and got close to Yao Shi, her brows furrowing slightly.
What's wrong with this woman? She doesn't seem like the calm, strong, expressionless maid she used to be at all.
Instead, it gives the impression of being a pitiful little rabbit, injured, scared, and trembling.
What happened during the time when she hadn't met Yao Shi to make this woman so strange?
"..."
There was no response; Yao Shi leaned against the glass like a wooden stake, gazing out the window.
His empty gaze stared into the distance, as if watching passing vehicles and pedestrians, or perhaps he was simply daydreaming.
"I'm telling you, you rascal..."
Han Yu stared at Yao Shi, who was completely wooden, with twitching eyes.
Can't this guy react normally? He's concerned about her right now.
At least put on some semblance of a response, let alone this...
"They're here."
Yao Shi, who was lost in thought with her forehead pressed against the window, suddenly spoke, and a trace of clarity returned to her empty and lifeless eyes.
Not far ahead, beneath a bus stand, the figures of two young people were reflected deep within her pupils.
"Young Master..."
Yao Shi silently watched Wu Liang talking with Su Qian, both of them wearing genuine smiles.
It's clear that they get along very well and are very happy together. To outsiders, they seem like a perfect couple.
The phrase "a perfect match" aptly describes the young master and Su Qian. Perhaps she wasn't the only one who thought so; maybe the master shared the same sentiment.
If the master truly had no interest in Su Qian, there would be no way he would arrange for the young master to have a real date with Su Qian.
"Thinking about it carefully... it seems like I'm the only one who hasn't been invited out by the young master alone..."
Yao Shi lowered her head and murmured softly in a voice that only she could hear.
Han Yu, Su Qian, Ning Shuang, and He Xue all had very close contact with the young master, as did Teacher Ye Luotong.
But she was the only one who had never been treated with such care by the young master; it seemed that she was the only one who had ever made sacrifices for him.
In comparison... it feels like she's the one who's always been ignored by the young master and isn't loved by him...
This is unfair...
"Yao Shi, what exactly are you doing today...?"
Snap!
Before Milutin could speak, a crisp and loud slap echoed throughout the store.
"Miss Shi!? What are you doing??"
He Xue exclaimed in surprise and quickly took out a wet wipe from her backpack to apply to Yao Shi's cheek.
Has Miss Shi gone mad? Why would she slap herself for no reason?
And she hit so hard! What on earth is Miss Shi thinking?
"It's nothing, I just cleared up a bit. Thank you for the handkerchief."
A bright red handprint appeared on her delicate, jade-like face.
Yao Shi took the handkerchief He Xue handed her, covered her cheek, and chuckled softly.
He casually stood up, left the table, and walked straight out of the store.
"Miss Shi Yaoshi..."
He Xue stared blankly at Yao Shi, who had left the store, and for a moment she didn't know what to say to express her shock.