It was late at night, and the whole Shen Estate was asleep. But in the small guest room tucked away in the furthest corner of the second-floor hallway, there was still someone awake. The room itself was smaller than any other bedroom in the estate, but at least it had all the basic necessities.
The dim lamp on the vanity was the only light source that cast soft shadows across the room.
Shen Yelan sat at the vanity table, going through her nightly skincare routine. There were multiple products on the table, but all had the same lable She was wearing simple cotton pajamas, and her hair was pulled back from her face with a bunny headband.
She was halfway through applying a mask to her face when her hand suddenly paused. Something flashed in her eyes, but then she continued as if nothing had happened.
Outside in the hallway, two figures were creeping toward her door. One of them was carrying a wicker basket in both hands, holding it away from his body as if it might explode. The other, who had a big frame, had kept a little distance from that person as if he was afraid to get close, yet there was also a hint of excitement on his face.
"Hurry up, don't waste time here," Shen Wei whispered to the servant.
The servant shot him a hesitant look. "Young Master, are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this? Maybe we should reconsider..."
Something inside the basket moved, and the servant jumped like he'd been electrocuted, nearly dropping the whole thing.
"Just do what you're told!" Shen Wei's voice raised, but immeditly after, his eyes went wide with panic, and he shot a terrified look at Shen Yelan's door, fearing she had woken up. When he noticed no movement, he took a sigh of relief. He turned his attention back to the servant and whispered. "Don't worry so much. It's just a harmless welcome prank."
He took a deep breath and then crept closer to Shen Yelan's door. From his pocket, he pulled out a ring of keys he'd stolen...umm, borrowed from the head housekeeper's office. Still, to check his luck, he twisted the knob. Surprisingly, the door opened.
Shen Wei's eyes lit up. He gestured to the servant to go on.
He took a deep breath like a man preparing to jump into cold water, then crept closer to Shen Yelan's door. From his pocket, he pulled out a ring of keys he'd borrowed from the head housekeeper's office. Suddenly, he felt more confident. What was the worst that could happen? She'd probably go crying to Master Shen, who would instead scold her.
He lifted the lid of the basket, and immediately his newfound confidence evaporated and his hands trembled with fear. He pushed the door open just a bit wider, creating a gap of about six inches. Then, with his eyes half-squeezed shut because he really, really didn't want to see this part, he tilted the basket and directed its opening toward that gap. The moment the basket felt empty, he immeditly closed the door.
He turned to look at Shen Wei with a proud, accomplished look, "It's done, Young Master."
"Good. I'll give a reward for this tomorrow," Shen Wei said and then left, while his mind was filled with the thoughts of Shen Yelan's reaction.
Heh...he could not wait for the morning.
With his happy thoughts, he practically skipped back to his own room. The moment his door closed behind him, the door opposite his room opened, and Shen Wanwan peeked out. She looked toward the end of the hallway where Shen Yelan's room sat in darkness and felt her lips curve into a smile.
'She looked toward the end of the hallway where Shen Yelan's room sat in darkness and felt her lips curve into a smile.'
Shen Wanwan's smile widened. Then she quietly closed her door and went back to bed.
.
.
In the guest room, Shen Yelan, who had a sheet face mask on her face, slightly tilted her head. Coiled around her forearm like a bracelet was the snake that was just delivered to her room. Its tongue flickered out occasionally.
"Tsk...it would be such a shame to just kill you," she murmured, running her fingers along its length. "Why don't you go back to your friend who brought you here and play with him?"
After all, it's only fair to return lost property to its rightful owner.