Chapter 10: Cold

That Trick Won’t Work on Me

“Uncle Li.”

Xing Yue greeted him softly, a faint smile on her face. It was impossible to tell her mood; it was mostly polite pleasantries.

She had lived in the Bu family home for a period. Father and Mother Bu didn’t agree to Bu Yao moving out to live with her, so she had no choice but to move in.

Her interactions with Butler Li usually consisted of things like: “The Eldest Miss is a very gentle girl; you’ll understand once you’ve spent more time with her,” “The Eldest Miss loves you very much; she’s just young and a little reckless with her words,” “Just concede this once; the Eldest Miss is your wife.”

Xing Yue conceded step by step until there was nowhere left to retreat. The only time she was truly firm was when she filed for divorce. She had never seen the word “gentle” on Bu Yao, nor had she seen any evidence that Bu Yao loved her.

Furthermore, all the servants in the Bu household sided with Bu Yao. Coming from an ordinary family, she was already looked down upon enough. During every argument, big or small, there was always someone urging her to be patient and tolerant. In this environment, her aversion to Bu Yao grew stronger. Where would she find the mood to discover some “other side”?

Butler Li made a gesture inviting her into the car. “The Eldest Miss is here to pick you up from work.”

A cool breeze rose in the night. The Tabebuia trees along the roadside rustled, purple flowers falling heavily. The wind was too strong, messing up much of Xing Yue’s hair.

She straightened her hair, discarding a petal, offering a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Did I say I wanted the Eldest Miss Bu to pick me up?”

The Bu family’s servants lacked even the most basic respect for Xing Yue. It was as if, just because Bu Yao wanted to pick her up, Xing Yue was obligated to get in the car. Same as always.

More often than not, Xing Yue was treated worse than the servants. If their families had an issue, they could leave first and ask for leave later—what a considerate employer. But Xing Yue had to report wherever she went. Without Bu Yao’s nod, she couldn’t even attend a company team-building event.

What did they take her for? Still thinking she was Bu Yao’s live-in wife?

Xing Yue sneered inwardly, tightened her grip on her handbag, and walked around the front of the car towards a taxi behind it.

The left door of the sedan suddenly swung open. The high-quality black swan dress fluttered gently. Bu Yao stepped out of the car, positioning herself right in Xing Yue’s path.

“Why?” she asked, her tone slightly hurried. Unfortunately, the wind was too loud for Xing Yue to notice.

Her delicate face wore a light layer of makeup, the velvety red number on her lips matching her dress perfectly—noble and coldly alluring.

Xing Yue took a few seconds to steel herself mentally. This time, she absolutely couldn’t be at a disadvantage. Perhaps the psychological hint worked, for her tone was cold to the core. “Less asking others why. Ask yourself more: have you been overbearing for twenty-eight years, thinking everyone should indulge you? Whenever you want to do something to someone, or have them do something, please include words like ‘could I possibly,’ ‘is it okay.’ Use fewer imperative sentences when speaking to me.”

Butler Li’s expression changed. “How can you speak to the Eldest Miss like this?”

It would have been better if this man hadn’t spoken. The moment he did, Xing Yue’s anger flared. The polite pretense from moments ago was completely unsustainable. Her volume rose two notches: “How can you treat me like this? Uncle Li, I respect you as an elder and treat you with respect. How have you treated me? When your Eldest Miss got tired from shopping at the mall and wanted to change into flats, she made me carry her shoes all the way there. You didn’t speak up for me; instead, you urged me to carry them properly. So, marrying your Eldest Miss was just to be someone’s shoe carrier? What right do you have to tell me to obediently get in the car? The one who signed an employment contract with the Bu family is you, not me.”

People like these were significantly responsible for Bu Yao’s vile character.

After venting, Xing Yue felt completely relieved. These were words she had wanted to say for a long time. She never had the chance before, and after the divorce, she couldn’t just run back to curse them out. Now that Bu Yao had delivered herself to her doorstep, it was the perfect time to vent her anger.

Bu Yao listened just like that, hearing Xing Yue’s accusations, her grievances. So the things she thought were playful intimacy, Xing Yue hated so much…

Perhaps she was scolded too harshly. She rubbed her eyes, and her bright pupils quickly became misty.

Xing Yue coldly raised her hand to block her view. “Don’t try that with me. It won’t work.”

Her line of sight was blocked, so she couldn’t see, but her ears were still listening.

Bu Yao was very upset. She hadn’t known that her past actions caused Xing Yue so much hurt. She wiped her eyelids with her index finger, sobbing softly: “I… I wanted… to pick you… pick you up from work… is that okay?”

Xing Yue knew it. Bu Yao was a good actress now, knowing how to play little mind games. She had been waiting for Bu Yao to open her mouth, and she refused outright: “No.”

Her main strategy was the three-hit combo: cold, callous, and stony-faced.

The woman grabbed Xing Yue’s hand and pulled it down, stepping half a pace closer. The scorching heat from her body wafted over with the wind. “Is it really not okay?”

The back and palm of Xing Yue’s hand felt like they were being scalded red. She wanted to pull her hand back, but after two tugs, couldn’t retrieve it.

Bu Yao moved even closer, resting her forehead against the rise and fall of Xing Yue’s chest, asking again: “Is it really not okay?”

She seemed heartbroken, crying in hiccuping sobs, but afraid of being discovered by others, her weeping was deep and muffled. “Really?”

She was too close, pressed so tightly. Through the thin shirt, Bu Yao could clearly feel the style of Xing Yue’s underwear today—a demi-cup, the majority of softness pressed intimately against her.

As she cried, her face flushed red to the tips of her ears, her breathing coming in erratic gasps.

Xing Yue closed her eyes for two seconds, then opened them again. Her cold three-hit combo was about to melt away. Frustrated, she questioned Bu Yao: “What are you crying for?”

Bu Yao shook her head, all innocence, not speaking, just sniffling.

This look was even more pitiful than crying outright.

It’s an act, it has to be an act! Xing Yue’s heart was in turmoil. This woman wanted to stalk her to her home, assess her assets, and was here for revenge. She had to refuse.

Before Xing Yue could maintain her cold combo, a scorching hot, soft tail climbed up her ankle, slapping intermittently against her calf. The snake scales contracted violently, furtive and excited.

She looked down. The red snake tail seemed to sense her gaze, gradually quieting, motionless, actually appearing shy…

The snake tail quieted, but Bu Yao cried even harder, afraid of being heard. Only large teardrops were visible, no sound of crying. The silent sobs grew into a vine in Xing Yue’s chest, binding her tightly.

“What do I do…” Bu Yao wept helplessly, tears streaming down.

In full view of everyone, her tail uncontrollably wanted to fawn over Xing Yue. It was too shameful.

Xing Yue’s hand lifted, then fell, finally resting on Bu Yao’s back. Habitually, faintly, with the cheap bones of a doormat, she patted along.

The words were practically gritted out through her teeth: “Get! In! The car!”