The next day...
In the early spring morning, the air was always so fresh, carrying a coolness that felt invigorating, along with a hint of dawn.
As spring warmed and flowers bloomed, everything came back to life.
When Xin'er finished dressing and grooming herself, she gently pushed open the intricately carved window that had been slightly closed. A rush of cool morning breeze greeted her; although it was a bit chilly, it helped her wake up quickly.
Her bright and clear Beautiful Eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at the golden glow peeking through the clouds in the east. A smile unconsciously crept onto Xin'er's lips.
At this moment, the sun had yet to rise in the east, but she had long been accustomed to waking up at this hour.
After all, during her days of hard labor, she was used to leaving early and returning late.
Thinking about how today marked the beginning of her new job in a new place, facing a new environment, everything felt like a fresh start for Xin'er.
With these thoughts in mind, Xin'er organized her thoughts and immediately stepped out of her room.
From now on, her job would be to serve Leng Yixuan.
Just thinking about it made Xin'er feel a bit incredulous...
The person she would be serving was none other than The Richest Man in Tianyuan!
She recalled the gossip she had heard from various relatives, all claiming that The Richest Man in Tianyuan, Leng Yixuan, was an incredibly ugly old man in his sixties. To her surprise, the reality was completely different.
Leng Yixuan was not only young but also a man just over eighteen years old. And his appearance...
With a dragon's grace and a phoenix's elegance, she stood out from the crowd, exuding an air of nobility...
As these thoughts crossed her mind, Xin'er couldn't help but recall that kiss in the carriage.
Although it had been merely an accident...
Oh dear, she shouldn't dwell on it. After all, she was just a maid. How could she indulge in such fanciful thoughts just because he treated her a little better?
With that in mind, Xin'er shook her head vigorously, as if to rid herself of those inappropriate notions. She then picked up a copper basin filled with cold water and headed towards the main courtyard of the White Jade Pavilion.
Now that she lived in the White Jade Pavilion, it was actually not far from where Leng Yixuan resided.
Last night, when she first arrived here, it was dark, and naturally, things were not as clear as they would be in daylight.
Thus, while carrying the basin of clear water, Xin'er kept her sparkling water-like eyes scanning the surroundings of the White Jade Pavilion.
She had to admit that this White Jade Pavilion was the most beautiful house she had ever seen in her life.
With its intricately carved beams and painted rafters, the Jade Tower, winding corridors, and rockeries with flowing water—each scene and object was grand yet elegant.
The most stunning sight was undoubtedly the blooming magnolias.
The pure white magnolias filled the branches, their dense flowers creating a breathtaking view that resembled fluffy white clouds from afar.
Moreover, their delicate fragrance wafted through the air, refreshing anyone who caught a whiff and making them feel utterly at ease!
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through, causing the Magnolia Tree to sway gently, and the white petals fluttered down like snowflakes. The scene was so beautiful it resembled a snowfall.
Unconsciously, Xin'er slowly set down the copper basin in her hands, slightly tilted her head back, and extended a delicate hand, as beautiful as jade, to catch the falling white petals.
As she felt something light in her hand, a snow-white petal landed softly on her palm. Xin'er’s eyes softened, and she instinctively withdrew her hand, bringing the Magnolia petal gently to her nose to take a light sniff.
The elegant floral fragrance filled her senses, causing a gentle smile to curve at the corners of Xin'er’s mouth.
That smile was so light and tender that it made Floral Array pale in comparison!
The petals fell like snowflakes, drifting down as a gentle breeze swayed the Jade Tree and lifted the girl’s silky long hair and her flowing white dress.
Her delicate face was like jade; her dark eyebrows arched like the moon, her beautiful eyes sparkled brightly, and her upturned lips were as red as vermilion. She looked like a fairy made of white jade, stunningly beautiful…
This scene happened to fall into the gaze of a man standing quietly by the window.
Seeing the girl in white beneath the Jade Tree, a hint of astonishment crossed his eyes.
His gaze softened as he looked at the girl…
Unbeknownst to Xin'er, she was being watched intently.
After admiring the beautiful scene before her for a while, she suddenly snapped back to reality and realized she had become too enchanted by the flowers and forgotten that she still had important matters to attend to! She wondered if Leng Yixuan had woken up yet.
Thinking of this, Xin'er hurriedly regained her focus, bent down to pick up the copper basin from the ground, and made her way toward Leng Yixuan's room.
After knocking on the Crimson Carved Wooden Door, a deep voice came from inside.
"Come in."
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, Xin'er couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
Perhaps it was because it was her first time doing this kind of servant work. After all, what she had done before were the rough tasks for the Noble Family. Although they were hard, she didn't have to serve a master.
While serving a master usually involved lighter work, the level of suffering and hardship was not comparable to the rough tasks.
In the past, she often heard people say that those who served as maids in the Noble Families were often mistreated. If they displeased their masters, being scolded or beaten was minor; in severe cases, they could be punished with a stick or even sold to the Wolf Fang.
Moreover, those who were sold by their masters, if they had any beauty, would be taken to brothels.
If a man was handsome, he would be bought to become a performer.
Others would be sold for rough labor, forced into inhumane work.
Hearing about such things made Xin'er feel that it was tough for anyone working in this world.
However, she also knew that Leng Yixuan was not a bad person.
Although she had only met him for the first time last night, from what he had done for her, it was clear that he would never be a cruel master.
Even so, for some reason, at this moment, Xin'er felt a bit nervous.
She wasn't sure if it was because she was about to face him soon...
Regardless, Xin'er quickly suppressed her anxious feelings. Lowering her head and averting her gaze, she dragged the copper basin filled with clear water into the room.
It was a luxurious and elegant chamber, quite spacious as well.
The bluestone floor gleamed like a mirror.
On the floor lay a carpet embroidered with white jade flowers.
A landscape painting adorned the wall, while intricately carved Pear Wood tables and chairs were arranged nearby.
Sheer curtains swayed gently, and beside them stood a Golden Bronze Cauldron. Inside the cauldron burned a fragrant and calming scent of Ambergris, which was very pleasant.
Waves of Azure Smoke curled up from the cauldron, its milky white hue adding an ethereal quality to the already splendid room, enhancing its enchanting atmosphere...
After Xin'er lightly surveyed her surroundings, her gaze inevitably fell upon Zheng Ren, the man in white standing by the window. In an instant, she could no longer look away.
The golden sun had already risen from the east.
Its dazzling rays broke through the clouds, casting brilliant beams of light across the land.
The man stood quietly by the window, bathed in that golden glow, making him appear like a deity illuminated by sunlight!
Because the man had his back turned to Xin'er, she couldn't see his expression. All she could see was his lanky figure, wrapped lightly in a creamy white robe, fluttering gently in the gentle breeze.
His long hair, unbound and flowing, was jet black and thick, cascading down to his waist.
It resembled a fine piece of black satin, beautiful in its own right!
Under the golden light, it emitted a soft, rounded glow that made one unable to resist the urge to reach out and touch it.
As Xin'er marveled at the sight, suddenly, the man seemed to sense the gaze behind him and turned around abruptly!
As he turned, the golden sunlight slanted down from the side of his face, perfectly outlining his chiseled features.
A full forehead, a nose as sharp as a knife, moderately thick lips, and a strong jawline…
His already perfect face appeared even more divine under the golden light, resembling a Greek statue. In that moment, Xin'er felt as if something had gently plucked at her previously calm heartstrings.
"Good morning! Did you sleep well last night?"
While Xin'er was still in a daze, the man had walked steadily up to her and spoke softly.
Perhaps it was because he had just woken up; his voice carried a hint of hoarseness yet was incredibly captivating.
Hearing this, Xin'er snapped back to reality and realized she had been lost in thought due to his beauty. Instantly, her cheeks flushed with warmth, and her face turned red. She quickly lowered her gaze, unable to look at him any longer.
At that moment, she felt utterly embarrassed.
Inside, she felt a pang of regret, but when it came to the man's words, Xin'er stammered and replied, "Um, yes, very good."
Xin'er spoke the truth.
She wasn't sure if it was because of the emotional ups and downs she experienced last night, but she thought she would have trouble sleeping.
However, as soon as she lay down on that soft bed, it didn't take long for her to drift off into a deep sleep.
She slept dreamlessly until dawn!
This was the best sleep she had in many years.
After all, every day she left early and returned late. When she finally went to bed, lying on that hard wooden bed, she often tossed and turned, not knowing if it was from exhaustion or something else.
But last night, she slept very soundly.
Hearing Xin'er's words, Leng Yixuan knew she was speaking the truth. A smile crept onto his face as he said with a smirk, "As long as you slept well."
With that, Leng Yixuan walked to the side and reached for the basin to wash his face.
Seeing this, Xin'er quickly grabbed a clean towel and stood by to assist him.
Although she had never served anyone, last night she learned from Xiao Huan what a servant should do.
After Leng Yixuan finished washing his face, he stepped behind the screen and stretched out his arms.
Xin'er was momentarily taken aback by the sight.
Seeing this, Leng Yixuan's red lips curled into a slight smile as he said, "Change clothes."
"Oh, okay."
Upon hearing this, Xin'er finally snapped back to reality.
Quickly, her small figure hurried over to the man and began to help him remove his loose robe.
In fact, the robe was only tied loosely around his waist. With a gentle tug, Xin'er easily untied it.
She thought to herself that changing clothes was actually quite simple!
However, as a solid bronze physique came into view, Xin'er's heart raced with a loud thump, as if struck by a massive hammer.
Her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.
Moreover, a wave of heat surged rapidly from her chest to the top of her head!
Cheeks felt a rush of warmth.
After all, at sixteen years old, Xin'er was seeing a man's bare body for the first time.
And it was so close.
Before her stood a physique that was incredibly fit, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and a flat stomach devoid of any excess fat...
The solid muscles hinted at a latent power, evoking the image of a leopard brimming with strength.
The more she thought about it, the drier her mouth became, her heart racing, and Cheeks felt even hotter, as if on fire.
She couldn't look any longer; otherwise, she would surely die of embarrassment!
With that thought, Xin'er quickly lowered her head, unable to bear the sight of the man's athletic form any longer.
After removing his undergarments, she immediately grabbed a clean piece of clothing nearby to help him put it on.
However, while dressing oneself was simple enough, helping someone else dress was something Xin'er had never done before.
Moreover, with her head bowed low and feeling nervous, she struggled for quite some time without managing to help him into even one piece of clothing.
As time passed, Xin'er felt a burning gaze fixed intently on her, making her even more flustered; her hands trembled slightly as she held the clothes.
"How can you help me get dressed if you won't even look at me?!"
A teasing voice floated down from above Xin'er, and upon hearing it, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her entire body jolting in surprise.
Noticing Xin'er's nervousness, Leng Yixuan couldn't help but chuckle. He then asked in a light tone, "Could it be that I look like a venomous beast?"
"No, no, that's not it," Xin'er quickly replied, lifting her head and shaking it like waves.
Seeing her flustered demeanor only made Leng Yixuan laugh more heartily.
With a slight smile curving his lips, the mischievous glint in his eyes made his already handsome features appear even more alluring, captivating enough to draw anyone's gaze.
His voice was like a fine aged wine—rich and intoxicating.
"If I'm not frightening, then why are you so tense and... afraid of me?"
"Uh..."
In response to his words, Xin'er could only lower her head slowly, unsure of how to answer.
After all, it wasn't that she was afraid of him; she was just overly anxious.
In truth, she wasn't timid at all. If she encountered mice or cockroaches, she would chase them away or even squash them. After all, as an older sister, if she were afraid of such small creatures, how could she protect her younger brother?
However, for some reason, she was not afraid of the man before her. After all, he was neither a venomous snake nor a ferocious beast; instead, he was strikingly handsome and radiant.
Yet, inexplicably, every time she faced him, her heart would uncontrollably race, as if she were ill.
Each encounter left her flustered, her palms sweaty and her nerves on edge.
Heavens! Could it be that she was truly unwell? But she had no money to see a doctor.
Thinking of this, Xin'er felt somewhat distressed.
Meanwhile, Leng Yixuan looked down at the girl before him, whose face was twisted in worry. He understood that she was nervous and did not want to make things difficult for her. He simply took the clothes from her hands and said, "Alright, I'll put on the clothes myself. You go prepare breakfast."
"Oh, okay!"
Hearing his words, Xin'er felt a weight lift off her shoulders.
She nodded eagerly and hurriedly rushed toward the door, as if afraid he might change his mind.
Watching Xin'er's petite figure swiftly disappear from his sight like the wind, Leng Yixuan turned to the large mirror behind him. As he stroked his smooth chin and gazed at his reflection, he murmured to himself, "Truly a natural beauty hard to resist. But why does she run away even more when she sees me? Is my charm not enough?"
Xin'er hurriedly left the room, completely unaware of Leng Yixuan's self-satisfied expression. It was only after she exited that she let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew, I was so nervous just now. It seems that serving others is not an easy task at all."
Xin'er muttered to herself, wiping her forehead, only to realize that after just a brief interaction with the man, she was already sweating profusely.
But it wasn't entirely her fault; after all, she was a young woman who had never been so intimately close to a man before.
Now, she had to assist him in changing clothes and see him in his bare form...
Just thinking about the man's strong chest and well-defined muscles made her heart race. So this was what a man's physique looked like—solid and exuding a sense of safety...
As Xin'er pondered this, the scene from earlier flashed through her mind again, causing her cheeks to heat up once more. Even without looking in a mirror, she knew they must be flushed bright red.
Just as Xin'er's heart was racing, a clear voice suddenly rang out from behind her.
"What are you mumbling about? Wow, why is your face so red?!"
The speaker was none other than Xiao Huan, who had appeared out of nowhere.
Xiao Huan had been passing by when she spotted Xin'er and approached to greet her. However, upon seeing Xin'er's flushed face, she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, curiosity bubbling up inside her.
After all, gossip was in a woman's nature, and she was no exception!
Thinking about how Xin'er had just rushed out of the master's room, she couldn't help but wonder...
Thinking of this, Xiao Huan's mind conjured up a scene that made one's heart flutter.
Seeing the ambiguous look in Xiao Huan's eyes, Xin'er immediately understood what she was thinking, and her pretty face turned even redder.
"Xiao Huan, don't jump to conclusions; there's nothing going on!"
Xin'er pouted as she spoke, but Xiao Huan just smiled teasingly.
"Oh, I didn't say anything. Why are you denying it so quickly? Could it be that something happened with the master just now... uh..."
Before Xiao Huan could finish her sentence, Xin'er, flustered and angry, quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
"I'm not talking to you anymore; I need to go prepare breakfast."
Xin'er had always been shy, and with Xiao Huan's teasing getting more intense, she could no longer hold her ground. After saying this, she hurried off toward the kitchen.
Xiao Huan simply smiled at the sight and returned to her own tasks.
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