Chapter 4: 004

Song Guiya had always maintained the habit of morning exercise, but swinging spears and staffs around the courtyard was clearly inappropriate in her current circumstances. Instead, she opted for a more modern routine: a morning jog.

Since arriving in this world, she had resolved to follow its rules for survival.

To avoid drawing unnecessary suspicion or trouble, it wasn’t just her morning workouts—many of her old habits would need to change.

Fortunately, this presented little challenge for Song Guiya.

Born in the Imperial Capital, she was a general who spent years campaigning across vast distances, from the nearby Northern Desert to far-off Persia.

Wherever she went, she had to swiftly adapt to the local environment and customs to keep her body in peak condition.

In extraordinary circumstances, she would disguise herself, assume a new identity, infiltrate enemy camps, and gather intelligence.

Over time, these experiences had forged her exceptional adaptability and capacity for learning.

The gulf between this world and her own was immense, filled with countless unfamiliar things. Yet with the original host’s memories in her mind, she wasn’t entirely clueless.

By the end of one night, she had mastered basic daily knowledge and could apply it with ease.

Everything else was merely a question of time.

Unfamiliar with the routes beyond the residential complex, she settled for jogging laps within its confines. A few circuits in, however, her body began to flag.

She hadn’t eaten a thing since waking the previous evening.

Compounded by the original host’s neglect of exercise and poor physical condition, the sudden exertion drained her energy rapidly. Her stomach let out a loud, protesting gurgle.

On the way back, Song Guiya pondered how to satisfy her hunger. To her surprise, the moment she stepped through the door, the dining table was arrayed with an enticing spread of dishes that made her mouth water.

Seated beside the table in casual loungewear, Xi Tongyue sipped a glass of milk while flipping through a magazine.

The villa had also sprouted an array of unfamiliar faces: some in aprons tidying up, others wearing tall white hats bustling in the kitchen, servants at work in every corner.

What had been a quiet, empty house when she left that morning now hummed with lively activity.

For a fleeting moment, Song Guiya felt as though she had returned to the Prince’s Mansion.

Spotting her return, Chi Yu set down her phone and approached. “Teacher Song, Teacher Xi is waiting for you to join her for breakfast.”

Song Guiya blinked. “Waiting for me?”

Chi Yu nodded, and Song Guiya paused in thought.

She recalled the contract’s clause about being on call at any time, which indeed included sharing meals with Xi Tongyue.

Glancing toward the busy figures in the kitchen, Song Guiya turned to Chi Yu. “And these people?”

Chi Yu explained, “They’re Teacher Xi’s private chefs and personal assistants. They handle all aspects of her daily life and accompany her wherever she goes.”

Song Guiya arched an eyebrow. “The chefs, too?”

“Yes,” Chi Yu confirmed.

With that, she tucked the folder of temporary employment contracts behind her back and averted her eyes, offering no further elaboration.

Song Guiya had known Xi Tongyue held a lofty position, but even she couldn’t help a flicker of surprise.

In her own world, such privileges were reserved for imperial kin.

After washing her hands, Song Guiya took a seat at the table. She glanced at Xi Tongyue, who was eating with focused attention and showed no sign of wanting to speak. Picking up her chopsticks, Song Guiya selected one of the crystal shrimp dumplings she had been eyeing.

The wrapper was snow-white and gossamer-thin, almost translucent, offering a glimpse of the plump shrimp within. One bite released a burst of tender, fresh flavor.

It was exquisite.

Song Guiya couldn’t help but narrow her eyes in delight.

To ordinary eyes, these were mere dim sum pastries, but to her, every dish brimmed with novelty and temptation.

She had never been one to indulge her appetites, yet now she found herself reluctant to set down her chopsticks.

The ever-observant Chi Yu was astonished. Teacher Song ate at a steady pace yet maintained an air of refined elegance—proper, poised, more polished than any actress who had undergone etiquette training.

These were not the practiced motions of someone forcing decorum; this was innate grace, bred in the bone.

She remembered their previous encounters: Song Guiya had been insatiable and crass back then, her beauty her only redeeming quality. Otherwise, she was worthless, constantly causing headaches for Sister Huo and Teacher Xi.

Every time Chi Yu was assigned to deal with her, she needed days of mental preparation.

Yet last night, something had felt different.

She had dismissed it as a trick of the light, but seeing her today confirmed it—the same subtle shift.

Could it be because the contract was due to expire in less than a year? Was Song Guiya trying to renew it, which explained her drastic personality change and her sudden efforts to please Teacher Xi?

Chi Yu sneaked a glance at Xi Tongyue. Seeing the upward curve at the corner of her eyes and her evidently good mood, Chi Yu instantly understood everything.

It had to be that.

The food on the table was swept clean. Chi Yu breathed a silent sigh of relief. Thank goodness the chef she’d found overnight had delivered; it had kept Song Guiya from picking at the meal like she used to.

She quietly pulled out the head chef’s contract from Yuewei Tower separately, ready to sign a long-term deal at a moment’s notice.

She also sighed inwardly: Teacher Xi’s way of spoiling her little lover was far too lavish.

Besides the chef, the so-called life assistant and the bodyguards in the yard had all been hastily hired last night at Teacher Xi’s sudden request.

A domineering female celebrity’s brand of affection was something a mere mortal like her couldn’t hope to comprehend.

But it was strange—Teacher Xi had never pampered Song Guiya like this before.

After the meal, Xi Tongyue headed upstairs with light steps. Song Guiya wanted to follow and discuss the contract some more, but at that moment, the video phone rang.

It was Gu Yuanyuan.

Gu Yuanyuan arrived carrying the Desheng Garden steamed buns she’d queued up for at the crack of dawn. The moment she stepped inside and saw the remnants on the table, she fell deep into thought.

Song Guiya was usually just getting out of bed at this hour, so how had breakfast already been finished today?

Had she shown up late?!

Gu Yuanyuan looked at Song Guiya in a panic. “Sorry, Teacher Song. I’m late.”

Song Guiya suddenly remembered that the original owner couldn’t cook, and all three meals had always been delivered by Gu Yuanyuan. She’d completely forgotten about it while dining with Xi Tongyue.

Song Guiya shook her head, her tone mild. “It’s not your fault. I forgot to tell you.”

“Have you had breakfast yet?”

What was this?

Teacher Song wasn’t blaming her—in fact, her tone was so gentle!

Gu Yuanyuan shook her head without thinking. “Not yet.”

Song Guiya told her to eat the buns.

As Gu Yuanyuan munched on them, she couldn’t help thinking how pretty Teacher Song looked without makeup. She’d been the same in the hospital. If only her temper could stay this gentle forever.

Just as Gu Yuanyuan was lost in the wonder of Song Guiya’s improbable kindness, her peripheral vision caught someone descending from upstairs. Her pupils contracted sharply in shock.

“Teacher Xi?!” Gu Yuanyuan blurted out, her voice undiminished even with a bun in her mouth.

Song Guiya rubbed her throbbing ear before following Gu Yuanyuan’s gaze to the staircase on the second floor.

Xi Tongyue glided down the stairs, clad in a black lace open-back gown with subtle feather detailing. It set off her snow-white skin to exquisite perfection. Her features bore only the lightest touch of makeup, yet they were utterly flawless. She radiated a noble sensuality that instilled a profound sense of remoteness, her beauty so captivating that no one could tear their eyes away.

As Xi Tongyue passed Song Guiya, she caught a fleeting spark of admiration in her eyes and felt the corner of her own lift unconsciously.

“There’s a cocktail party tonight. I’ll be back late—don’t wait up for me.” Xi Tongyue’s voice was seductively husky as she deliberately shared her schedule with Song Guiya.

Song Guiya merely lowered her eyes and murmured a soft “Mm.”

Gu Yuanyuan, however, felt as if she’d been struck by lightning, rooted to the spot.

Song Guiya and Xi Tongyue were both artists from the same agency, managed by the same person, but Xi Tongyue almost never showed up at the office. Gu Yuanyuan had never realized they were this close—close enough to be living together!

Only after Xi Tongyue and her assistant had left the villa did Song Guiya turn back to the dazed Gu Yuanyuan and call softly, “Yuanyuan?”

Gu Yuanyuan jolted back to reality, her eyes bulging. “Teacher Song, did Teacher Xi sleep with you?!”

Song Guiya: ……