Chapter 11

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Xie Yao had once thought that if they were to meet again, he would simply want to sit quietly with her, without needing her to look at him or speak to him, just to hear her breathing and smell her scent. On the night of their reunion, he did just that, and one night was enough to ease his longing. Gradually, it felt insufficient. He wanted her to call him Mingyan, to smile at him, to hold his hand, to accept all his kindness.

Tonight, tasting the sour and spicy braised pork she made, seeing her smile at him, sharing a secret only they knew—he wildly wanted to hold her. She was slender; with a little strength, he could press her against him, fitting her body closely without a gap, and with more force, he could make her melt into his skin.

His desire roared uncontrollably, but he restrained himself with all his might.

Xie Yao sat on the floor, realizing he could no longer ease his longing just by looking at her as before; instead, it became harder to control. He took several deep breaths, sitting still, a fine sweat breaking out on his forehead.

He opened his eyes and stared at the canopy above the bed, engulfed in darkness, yet he could see the image of Yuli in his mind’s eye.

He only needed her to take one more step toward him—no, half a step—and he could erase all distance between them.

—

In the morning, Yuli woke naturally and lingered in bed a little longer before rising.

Xiyun soon came in, dressing her while asking if she had slept well the night before.

Yuli had slept soundly and felt no discomfort.

It seemed that Young Master Xie was once again silently watching her in the dark.

Xiyun only realized he had left at dawn and, compared to the last time when it felt eerie, though still strange, it was not as shocking.

Yuli thought of the custard buns hurriedly made last night; she hadn’t eaten any yet. She searched for the few leftover buns she had given to Xie Yao yesterday but couldn’t find them.

She found it odd. Xiyun recalled that when Young Master Xie left in the morning, he was carrying something, likely the buns, and had helped conceal them, saying she had taken them to the kitchen.

Naturally, they couldn’t be found in the kitchen.

Yuli didn’t insist on it. Uncle Hu noticed her looking and made some for her at noon, almost identical to the ones she had made herself.

In the afternoon, after resting, she noticed Xiyun smiling quietly at the corner of her mouth.

Before Yuli could ask, Xiyun grinned and said, “Yesterday, Madam said the young master wanted to reward us. We thought Madam’s snacks were already enough, but just now, guess what?”

Xiyun teased, and Yuli was curious. “What happened?”

“The young master gave out a bonus.”

“How much?”

Xiyun held up two fingers.

“Two taels!” Yuli exclaimed in surprise; that was what she earned in a month selling breakfast.

Xiyun shook her head with a smile. “Twenty taels.”

Yuli grasped Xiyun’s two fingers, looking at her expectantly.

Xiyun was immersed in joy. Her monthly salary as a maid in the magistrate’s house was already the highest among them, only five qian, but twenty taels was more than fifteen years’ wages.

Though Young Master Xie was dark and cold-hearted, he was generous, making it impossible to dislike him.

Xiyun didn’t notice Yuli’s expectations.

Yuli was the mistress; everything in the mansion belonged to her. She never thought she would envy someone else’s reward money.

Yet Yuli still had a working-class mindset. The mansion’s belongings belonged to her employer, Xie Yao. Though she could use them freely, without cash she felt as if she had no salary. She knew this was Xie Yao’s way of limiting her freedom; without money, she couldn’t move a step, making her dependent on him.

Yuli sighed softly.

Unexpectedly, in the afternoon, Jingyu arrived and asked if there was anything she wanted lately. Yuli hesitated.

Jingyu added, “Madam said you can have whatever you desire.”

Yuli didn’t think long and said, “I want a cat.”

Jingyu was slightly taken aback, not expecting that.

“Is that alright?” Yuli asked nervously.

Jingyu smiled and agreed. The prince said to grant her whatever she wanted. Surely, even the stars in the sky would be fulfilled if she wished, let alone a cat.

Jingyu then asked what kind of cat she wanted. Yuli had no particular preference—any cat was fine.

Thinking Jingyu would report back to Xie Yao and it would take time to find a cat, she expected it would be a couple of days before it arrived.

Unexpectedly, by evening, a little cat was delivered to her hands.

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It was a snow-white kitten, only half the length of her forearm, with large, round tea-colored eyes. Held in someone’s arms, it meowed at her upon seeing her.

Yuli’s heart immediately melted like a pool of water. She took the kitten in, and it settled against her elbow.

Not only was a white cat sent, but also a maid specially assigned to care for cats.

The maid appeared even more cautious and wary than the white cat. Upon first meeting Yuli, she scrutinized her several times until Jingyu silently signaled her to lower her eyes and remain composed.

She was a palace maid dedicated to raising cats for the princesses and princes, suddenly summoned in haste to the Zichen Hall to bring a newly bestowed female cat.

The regent prince’s notorious ruthlessness might be mere rumor among the common folk, but everyone in the palace knew the truth. He was violent and bloodthirsty; just the other day, he had fed a tiger with people. As a cat caretaker frequently visiting the imperial beast garden, she knew it was true.

In the Zichen Hall’s imperial study, right above, was the regent prince. She felt her end was near, almost crying while holding the cat.

But the regent prince only approached, took the cat she brought, inspected them carefully, and chose the most beautiful white one.

He then ordered her to leave the palace with the cat. After several blindfolded transfers, she arrived here.

Fortunately, she was only delivering her cat to a young lady, not being fed to the tiger. The young lady liked her cat, and neither would be mistreated.

“What’s its name?” Yuli asked.

“Not named yet,” the maid replied.

Yuli hugged the white cat, eyes fixed on it. The cat seemed uncomfortable under her gaze, wriggled a bit, so Yuli set it down.

The white cat raised its tail, took a few steps, lazily stretched its front paws in the sunset light by the door, and lay down in the sunlight.

Yuli said, “Let’s call you Snowy.”

The cat meowed softly, as if agreeing, then turned to bask in the sun again.

Quite aloof.

With Jingyu and the others present, Yuli remained reserved. Once they left, she beamed with joy.

“Xiyun, I have a cat now!”

She called out happily. Snowy was startled, lifting its little head to look at her, but seeing her watching from afar, it lay back down.

Xiyun smiled. “Does Madam like cats so much?”

Yuli nodded. “Yes.”

In her past life, Yuli dreamed of having a cat. She would watch countless short videos of all sorts of cats. Though cats were easy to get in the modern world, her rented house forbade pets. She could only occasionally visit cat cafés, but their cats were aloof and wouldn’t be affectionate, completely unlike what she imagined.

To have a cat that loved her, she needed her own home and time to care for and play with it. Now, though she didn’t own a house, Xie Yao allowed her to keep a cat, and she had plenty of time. The yard was spacious enough to give Snowy a room of her own for a nest, without odors, and ample space to move freely.

It was practically a paradise for raising a cat.

Yuli thought about preparing a room for Snowy and making a cozy nest.

She gathered old clothes, scraps of cloth, and a bamboo basket and personally crafted a cat’s bed.

Though the palace had a complete set of supplies, the maid arrived in a hurry without them.

Yuli was delighted with such trivial tasks; Jingyu saw she truly cared for the cat and dismissed the maids from helping, saying they wouldn’t need to take care of Snowy in the future.

Rarely was Mingyue Residence so lively. When someone mentioned the young master would soon return and Yuli needed to welcome him, the sunset had already crept onto the western wing’s floor.

Yuli hurriedly tidied up, ready to greet Xie Yao. Just as she and the maids reached the gate of Mingyue Residence, Xie Yao was already at the steps.

Yuli suddenly felt flustered. Jingyu, Xiyun, and the others were even more terrified, holding their breath, fearing severe punishment.

Xie Yao’s expression was inscrutable, seeming like death itself was imminent.

Yet Yuli felt normal, knowing he would be displeased if she didn’t come to meet him. She quickly ran down, grasped his hand, and held his arm.

“Husband is home,” Yuli said, leading him inside. Jingyu, Xiyun, and the others stepped aside, heads bowed.

Yuli led him into the courtyard before they quietly withdrew, eyes averted.

She was very happy and spoke much to Xie Yao.

“When I was at home, my parents wouldn’t let me have a cat. Later, I couldn’t keep one due to circumstances. Now it’s finally come true. Thank you.”

Yuli sincerely thanked him, only then noticing he was holding her wrist, gently stroking it.

They were close, almost pressed together. His warmth seeped through their clothes, making her cheeks flush.

She subtly moved a fraction away. “Husband, do you want to see Snowy?”

Xie Yao nodded.

Yuli released him and went to the west wing.

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Xie Yao sat alone in the flower hall, watching Yuli skip lightly past the corridor and enter the west wing.

Seeing her like this, his brows relaxed.

But when Yuli emerged holding the white cat, his expression darkened instantly.

Snowy was cradled against her chest, its little head resting on her arm, yawning and tapping her chest with a paw.

Yuli was completely absorbed by the soft cat, unaware of Xie Yao’s changing expression.

She approached him and found he was only staring at Snowy, without any intention to take it.

Many people are indifferent to cats; Yuli guessed he might be one of them. After showing him Snowy briefly, she was about to carry it away.

Just then, Jingyu and the others brought dinner. Yuli put Snowy down and helped arrange the dishes with Jingyu. Every dish’s placement was deliberate; she wouldn’t trust others with it.

Amid the bustling, Snowy was squeezed beside Xie Yao’s chair.

The kitten crouched nearby, eyes fixed on the food on the table, its tail swaying lightly.

Suddenly, it met a pair of icy, dangerous eyes, as if a beast were stalking it. Instinct ignited, Snowy straightened on all fours, darted to the wall, then glanced back. The cold gaze swept over it again, and it slipped swiftly along the wall and out.

Seeing Snowy dash out like a fleeting shadow, Yuli called it softly.

Snowy didn’t stop, passing through the courtyard into its little room.

Xie Yao was still there; since they were to eat together, Yuli didn’t chase after it.

During the meal, Xie Yao’s expression was neutral. Yuli prepared his favorite dishes as before but didn’t cook them herself, having spent the afternoon making a nest for Snowy.

Xie Yao ate heartily today. Seeing him devour food so vigorously, Yuli’s appetite improved, eating more than the day before.

After the meal, the kitchen brought custard buns. Yuli picked one for him, but he only took a bite before setting it down.

Yuli was surprised; he usually ate all the dishes she served.

Xie Yao said, “It’s not made by you.”

Embarrassed, Yuli smiled. So he wanted her cooking after all. She had tried one herself and noticed subtle differences—he could tell?

“I ate some yesterday. No need to make more for me,” he said.

“For the rest, just order the kitchen to prepare. No need for you to cook,” she guessed he disliked her culinary skills.

Xie Yao replied, “I didn’t marry you to have you cook.”

Remembering his earlier words about husband and wife sharing a bed, Yuli’s face warmed.

After dinner, Yuli wanted to see Snowy, but with Xie Yao there, she stayed with him. The weather was pleasant, and after dusk, the sky was tinged with rosy clouds. She invited him for a walk.

Along the way, thinking about having a cat, she often smiled to herself.

Xie Yao’s mood brightened too, gently stroking her wrist as he held her hand.

Yuli had grown used to his wrist-holding; sometimes she supported his arm with her other hand. They walked side by side like a loving couple.

But that was under the assumption Xie Yao would leave soon.

They stopped together at the second gate.

Xie Yao turned to face her. She smiled, but was distracted, wanting to return to see the cat.

They had agreed to try harder at being husband and wife, but Yuli was not fully present. Xie Yao was disappointed.

He could not let her procrastinate indefinitely.

Suddenly, Xie Yao stepped closer, their robes brushing. His warmth enveloped her, a faint fragrance filled her nose, and his face was just inches away. Yuli stiffened.

“Don’t keep me waiting too long,” Xie Yao whispered in her ear.

“Mm,” Yuli responded without hesitation.

Xie Yao straightened. Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes darted nervously, avoiding his gaze.

He stared at her a moment longer, then released her and turned away.

Only then did Yuli feel truly alive, her heart pounding wildly.

Distracted, she walked a while before thinking of Snowy and hurried back to Mingyue Residence.