Yu Qingxue feigned an indifferent expression as she munched on potato chips, not even glancing in Gao Sijin’s direction. Yet deep inside, she was already celebrating. It was as if someone had handed her a pillow just as she felt like sleeping. She had been hoping Tsukiyuki Rio would leave, and now Rio really was heading off to that conference in Georgia. Absolutely perfect.
With her heart burning with excitement, Yu Qingxue asked in a calm, flat tone:
“Junior Rio, you’ll be gone for a while, right? Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Sijin for you.”
“Mhm. Then I’ll be troubling you, Senior Qingxue.” Tsukiyuki Rio fixed Yu Qingxue with her deep crimson eyes, her gaze filled with hidden meaning, as if trying to pierce straight through to Qingxue’s true thoughts.
She knew all too well that Yu Qingxue was a born actress. The memories of several past reincarnations made it even clearer what kind of monstrously cunning being Yu Qingxue was. She sincerely hoped Yu Qingxue could be truly loyal to her, not rebellious.
This time, she would treat it as the final test of Yu Qingxue’s loyalty. If Yu Qingxue harbored any thoughts of betrayal, the maids under her command were ready to execute her at a moment’s notice.
“When is Junior Rio leaving? Tomorrow?”
Senju answered for Tsukiyuki Rio:
“Yes, Qingxue. Rio will fly to Jekyll Island, Georgia, first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Then we must have a proper feast tonight. In the north of China, we have a saying: ‘Dumplings for departure, noodles for return.’ Tonight, I’ll make dumplings for everyone.” Yu Qingxue fought to suppress her joy and kept her voice steady.
“That’s very kind of you, Senior Qingxue.”
“It’s no trouble. Tonight also gives Senju here a chance to taste my cooking. And Sijin… for the next week, you’ll be in my hands. Heh heh. When the time comes, I’ll take very good care of you.”
The ‘care’ she meant wasn’t just about daily life; there was a more physical kind of ‘care’ involved too.
Tsukiyuki Rio’s departure was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Yu Qingxue. However, knowing Rio as well as she did, Qingxue was certain that even if Rio really left, she’d still have countless maids monitoring Gao Sijin’s movements twenty-four seven. The lesson from the Fengna Incident had taught Tsukiyuki Rio a harsh lesson; she would never slacken her watch over Gao Sijin.
But an opportunity would eventually present itself. As the Head Maid, she might not find an opening against Tsukiyuki Rio herself, but dealing with those other maids? That was well within her abilities. In Yu Qingxue’s eyes, Gao Sijin was the enemy’s Nexus, and she was Sion playing a backdoor strategy. Whether she could wreck the home base was all that mattered.
Even while making dumplings in the kitchen, Yu Qingxue still wore a miniskirt, paired with Balenciaga patterned black stockings, exuding a “Sister is the Queen” aura. The monstrously voluptuous curves wrapped within her apron formed a spectacular sight.
“What are you doing in the kitchen? Don’t get in the way, Sijin.”
“I can actually make dumplings too. I want to personally wrap a few for Rio.”
Gao Sijin spoke while looking at the back of Yu Qingxue’s waist-length high ponytail.
—Chop, chop, chop.
Yu Qingxue brandished her cleaver, mincing the meat filling into a fine paste.
“I don’t need your help. I can manage it myself.”
How badly she wanted to tell Gao Sijin that she was the one he had initially liked.
Back in Bincheng, Gao Sijin had been successfully charmed by the person she was back then. But in the end, she had been forced to play the villain, helping Tsukiyuki Rio abduct Gao Sijin from the Bincheng train station and take him to Tokyo.
“Before, I didn’t have a choice. Now, I want to be a good person.”
“Why are you suddenly saying that?”
“The movie Infernal Affairs is really good. I recommend you watch it sometime.”
After mixing the dough, Yu Qingxue used a rolling pin to slowly flatten it, working it back and forth several times until it was firm and elastic.
Sometimes, Yu Qingxue’s every gesture made her seem like a young lady born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Gao Sijin later found out via Wikipedia that Qingxue’s Yu Family was an incredibly powerful family within the country. Yet in reality, compared to Tsukiyuki Rio, Yu Qingxue sometimes felt more down-to-earth. Rio, on the other hand, often struck Gao Sijin as an unattainable flower blooming on a distant peak.
At dinner, Gao Sijin and Tsukiyuki Rio nestled close together. The large, generously filled dumplings made by Yu Qingxue were immensely satisfying. Sure enough, it was this kind of simple, unadorned home cooking that truly suited Gao Sijin’s palate. Even his father-in-law, Tsukiyuki Kazo, a man usually silent and reserved, lavished praise on Yu Qingxue’s culinary skill.
Gao Sijin was deeply grateful that his relationship with Tsukiyuki Rio hadn’t faced countless obstacles due to their difference in status. The Tsukiyuki couple were very kind people.
“Rio, see you tomorrow.”
“Father, Mother. Take care on the way back.”
After seeing Senju and Kazo off, Tsukiyuki Rio fixed her crimson gaze on Gao Sijin, like a carnivore that had spotted a defenseless sheep on the prairie.
“I’ll go write in a bit.”
“Gao-kun, we part ways tomorrow. Just thinking about not seeing you for a whole week makes my whole body burn. Don’t write tonight. Just focus on keeping me company…”
“Alright then.”
Yu Qingxue watched the ‘tragic’ sight of Gao Sijin being dragged into the room by Tsukiyuki Rio. Through the crack in the door, Qingxue saw Rio’s long, whip-like, stunningly beautiful legs tightly clamp around Gao Sijin’s lower back, forcefully pressing his body against her own. Her tongue recklessly thrust into his mouth, licking over every single one of his teeth. Their lower abdomens pressed flush together, then thrust, entwined, and finally went limp…
She shut the door completely. Yu Qingxue went to the dining table, cleared away all the leftover food and scraps, and took the plates to the sink to wash them clean.
“Just leave already, Rio…”
The sounds of pleasure and debauchery were like a knife, stabbing viciously into Yu Qingxue’s heart.
If she could just endure this one night, she could find an opportunity to claim Gao Sijin for herself. When that time came, she would make him cry out until he forgot how to breathe.
What she had lost before, she absolutely had to reclaim this time.
At one in the morning, Tsukiyuki Rio straightened her clothes and left Gao Sijin’s bedroom. The earlier passion was over. She walked onto the balcony and gazed down at the dazzling, multicolored city lights far below, like a queen surveying her empire from on high. Gao Sijin was left behind in the room, lying sprawled on the bed in disheveled clothes, completely unconscious.
“Young Miss, is this conference really that important? Aren’t you afraid something unexpected might happen if you leave the Master like this?”
Yu Qingxue stood behind Tsukiyuki Rio and asked softly.
“Aren’t you here to take care of Gao-kun for me?” Tsukiyuki Rio turned around. The night breeze stirred her scattered strands of hair, like threads of black spider silk. Her plain black kimono billowed, revealing flawless collarbones and a tantalizing glimpse of cleavage.
“You trust me?”
“Qingxue, you are the Head Maid. Among all the maids, you’re the one I trust the most. But don’t go sneaking a taste, okay? I’d be very angry if you did.”
