Li Wei was carrying Miss Mei's bag and was returning; he took careful stepping through flower beds and making the sunlight shine gently through the tall trees. Just in front of him stood two servants under a blossoming tree's shade. One of them leaned closer to the other and said, "He is now going for her bag; once, he had a chance with her."
"Oh, and he lost it," the other grunted.
"Li Wei heard them. They are so close. But he said nothing but walked quietly toward the East Wing courtyard. Upon arriving there, he paused.
Before him,
Miss Mei sat under the white pavilion, smiling shyly. Sebastian was talking to her in a cozy manner like old strings connecting them-fruit sharing as they laugh lightly. It almost looked like...a couple on private time.
Li Wei approached, slightly bowed, and offered the bag to her.
"Here is your bag, Miss Mei."
She looked up, almost startled and then softly took it in her hand. Li Wei was about to walk away, his blank expression now suggesting it.
"Wait," calls Sebastian out.
Li Wei halted for a moment and slightly turned to face him.
Sebastian leaned forward a little almost casually but probing tone pronounced, "What's your name, boy?"
"Li Wei," he replied softly.
"Eh...just asking and you may go."
Li Wei bowed once more and left but as he walked away, Sebastian was still watching Mei. Something about the way she looked at Li Wei as if following him, more could have been said behind the calm expression.
Back To Ying
Back in the room, Ying was still sitting, lost. She was overwhelmed by the beauty-nothing had been eaten, hadn't felt like it. Instead, in front of the mirror, trying to fix the hair, dabbing a little powder on the cheeks, pressing random buttons on the telephone, flipping through books. In her quiet way, she had already arranged the space neatly.
It all had to look perfect.
Meanwhile, Li Wei sat in his room for a moment, thinking. He would have to tell Mr. Huang that after his suspension, he wouldn't be returning to school. He had a new job now. Apparently, telling Mr. Huang seemed in order.
He left the estate and walked toward the workshop. The boys were still hammering, lifting weights, and sweating in the sun. He made his way around to the back where Mr. Huang had his shin turned away and tense shoulders.
"Mr. Huang?" Li Wei spoke softly.
The old man turned abruptly and blinked. "Li Wei?"
"Yes," Li Wei said with a quiet smile. "I just wanted to tell you that I won't be coming back anymore. I have found a new job. I just wanted to thank you for everything. If not for you during those hard days, I wouldn't have even had enough coins to feed myself."
Mr. Huang stared at him, speechless for a moment. He wasn't expecting that. After the harsh way he had treated the boy, after what he had said...
"It's all right, I guess. I hope you're right," he said at last, the words carrying a heavy weight of regret.
Li Wei nodded, bowed respectfully, and walked away.
He didn't want to hate anyone. Not even Mr. Huang.
Maybe just the Zhi Family.
Back in the estate, Li Wei went to that secluded area-the grass always felt cool against his fingers under the lush, green field. He drew circles with his hands onto the ground, lost in thought. He was waiting. Waiting for his mother to get better. That was all he needed right now.
Somewhere else, however, something was stirring in Sebastian's mind.
The way Miss Mei looked at that servant boy. The fact she hadn't sent a maid. That quiet smile when she spoke to him, that pause in her voice.
He couldn't help but wonder-is there something going on?
No. It couldn't be.
Miss Mei and... a servant?
But somehow he couldn't shake off the suspicion from his mind like a thorn on silk. He'd find the truth out.
Maybe not today.
But soon.
And he's not going to allow that...