Chapter 523: Arriving at the Destination

At 7 p.m., a Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan followed the highway, driving straight toward the deep forest. The high-rises of the city behind it gradually faded from view.

The woman driving the car had a thick mane of black hair. Her dense lashes and eyes held a faint, soul-stirring allure, though her other features were slightly less remarkable. Walking down the street, she would absolutely count as a rare beauty, but such looks placed within Tsukiyuki Rio’s mansion would appear somewhat plain.

Of course, this was not her original appearance. This was a persona Yu Qingxue had created through makeup and a false identity.

“Tang Lu, we’re almost home, right?” The lazy tone, tinged with a hint of nobility, was exactly the same as the Young Miss’s usual manner.

“We’re almost there, Young Miss.”

Yu Qingxue turned her head to glance at Eiko. The flawless visage was identical to Tsukiyuki Rio. What was even more astonishing was that it wasn’t just the face—she could easily bypass fingerprint and retina scans.

Magic was truly unfathomable.

Still, knowing such an unstoppable ability existed would allow her to take precautions in the future.

Once Gao Sijin fell into her hands, Yu Qingxue absolutely did not intend to be separated from him for even a moment. Whether bathing, eating, or even using the toilet, they had to be together, preventing him from being snatched away by stronger, more bizarre magic…

A strange curve formed at the corner of her lips. Her pitch-black pupils shimmered with ripples of light, like a mirror swept by the wind.

I’ll be meeting you soon, Sijin. We’ll never be apart again.

Circling around a winding mountain path, they passed by a winery, an orchard, a golf course, an equestrian field, and other sites.

In a way, this place was half a home to Yu Qingxue. After Tsukiyuki Rio took her from the Yu family, she had lived here for a long time. But soon, they would leave Tokyo, leaving this country behind.

In front of the Imitation Versailles Palace lay a meticulously trimmed hedge maze. Crossing the grand lawn, following the main axis, they passed the Trianon Palace, the private zoo, and the Neptune Spring, arriving at the main hall.

Magnificent twilight spread across the stone and brick, radiating a golden, shimmering light. Upon seeing the license plate, the maids knew the Young Miss had returned and lined up on both sides, like medieval soldiers.

Head Maid Morgana rushed over quickly. She moved to the rear seat and opened the door for Eiko, who was disguised as Tsukiyuki Rio. Her movements were crisp, clean, and meticulous.

“Welcome back, Young Miss. I didn’t expect you to return so soon.”

“You’ve worked hard, Morgana,” Eiko deliberately used Tsukiyuki Rio’s usual tone of voice, a blend of arrogance and mild warmth.

Yu Qingxue also got out of the car.

“And who might this be?”

Morgana swiftly shifted her gaze to Yu Qingxue, her brows furrowing slightly.

“My name is Tang Lu. I’m from Shengjing, China, an online friend of Qingxue’s.” Yu Qingxue stepped forward, offering a polite and respectful greeting. “I originally came to Tokyo to meet my good bestie in person, but I never imagined something like this would happen. After learning about my relationship with Qingxue, the Young Miss interviewed me and took me on as an apprentice maid. Seeing as I just graduated from university and haven’t found a suitable job, I accepted.”

“So, you’re a friend of that one…”

The guarded look in Morgana’s eyes softened slightly. Now the Head Maid, she conducted herself with efficiency, yet deep in her eyes, a hint of sadness still lingered. This made Yu Qingxue feel a bit ashamed.

“Since you’re a friend of that one, I’ll be sure to take good care of you.” Morgana patted Yu Qingxue’s shoulder. “But when it comes to work matters, there can be absolutely no carelessness.”

“Mm, I know. You’re Head Maid Morgana, right? Can you explain the salary structure here in detail? What’s the base salary, how is performance pay calculated, and what about bonuses? Are there benefits and social security, that sort of thing? What about promotions and annual adjustments? Also, as a maid, will they assign any… strange jobs?”

The rapid-fire string of questions was exactly what one would expect from a fresh graduate. Morgana couldn’t help but feel a little speechless.

As expected of Yu Qingxue’s friend—she possessed an absurd talent for irritating people.

“Just do a good job. If you perform well, you can achieve basic financial freedom in a month. If you perform poorly… you’ll still receive a substantial salary.”

“I knew it! A palace this impressive… I just guessed the pay wouldn’t be low. That way, I can buy that bag I’ve been eyeing for so long. Qingxue was always showing off about it before… Sigh…”

The topic was turning melancholy again.

“That one got what was coming. If she had learned to rely on the strength of others, at least she wouldn’t be dead.” Morgana let out a slow breath, then looked toward Eiko.

“Young Miss, have you had dinner yet? If not, we shall prepare it immediately. Or did you wish to go see Lord Sijin?”

“Of course, I want to see my beloved Gao-kun.” Eiko covered her red lips, making Tsukiyuki Rio’s signature smile. “I’ve already been away from Gao-kun for almost an hour and a half. Each second felt like a year.”

“Young Miss, your love for Lord Sijin is as strong as ever. It is truly his blessing.”

“The matters concerning Uzuki have been mostly settled recently. Gao-kun doesn’t need to stay in the basement anymore.” Eiko shuffled along in her geta, steadily heading toward the Cherry Blossom Garden.

“You plan to bring Lord Sijin out?”

“Yes. Once he’s out, I want to go for a long-overdue drive through the city with Gao-kun. Tang Lu will be our driver.”

“But she’s just an apprentice maid, is she not?”

“Morgana, are you questioning my arrangements?”

“No, I spoke out of turn.”

“Being with Tang Lu also gives me a chance to talk more about Qingxue.”

Eiko’s long, slender legs moved gracefully as she walked toward the Japanese residence.

The plain black kimono wrapped around her perfectly curved body, revealing no flaws. Her speech and mannerisms had undergone rigorous training. The only flaw was perhaps deep within her dark-red eyes, where that sickly, distorted undertone was nowhere to be found.

Yu Qingxue stayed by Eiko’s side.

The sun had set, and night had fallen.

At the door of the Japanese-style wooden house, Morgana stopped and also caught Yu Qingxue’s arm.

“Young Miss, I shall leave you here. Tang Lu, you should not follow either. We will wait outside.”

“Tang Lu will come in with me.” Eiko turned and cast a flat glance at Morgana. “I have some matters to discuss with Tang Lu.”

Morgana was somewhat surprised. Tang Lu had just become the Young Miss’s maid today. How had she gained the favor to be permitted entry into the basement?

It was a bit puzzling. No matter how she looked, Tang Lu was just a commoner. What matters could the Young Miss possibly need to discuss with her?

Why not bring her along instead?

Despite these questions, Morgana didn’t dwell on them. She stepped back and said, with the utmost respect:

“Understood. Since the Young Miss has other matters to discuss with Tang Lu, please forgive my earlier transgression.”