Chapter 5: A Playful Encounter [5]
Wen Xiaorou sighed helplessly, took a quilt from the bed, and walked over to the sofa to tuck it around Jing Nuo. Every time he returned, he would fall asleep on his own without ever waiting for her to say goodnight. She stood stiffly by the sofa, staring at his sleeping face. She longed to crouch down, to touch his cheek or brush back a stray lock of his hair, but she lacked even the courage to bend her knees. She could only gaze at him foolishly, wishing she could tell him that she hadn't intentionally stolen his father’s affection, nor had she meant to force her way into his home, and she certainly had no designs on the Jing family fortune.
"Jing Nuo, what must I do for you to stop hating me so much?" she asked quietly, her voice so faint that only she could hear it. Even with him fast asleep, she dared not speak any louder, even though she knew full well that the man before her could neither hear her nor offer an answer.
By the time Wen Xiaorou woke the next morning, Jing Nuo had already vanished. She tidied the quilt on the sofa with a heavy heart, knowing that once he left, it could be days before he appeared before her again. She had long grown accustomed to his disappearances, yet she could never truly come to terms with them. She saw him in gossip magazines and on television far more often than she saw him in person. To keep track of his life, she occasionally read the tabloids. In the past, it had felt like needles pricking her heart, but she had since developed an immunity; she no longer cared for the trivial rumors. She believed that Jing Nuo sought out such attention deliberately, hoping to cause her pain as a form of retaliation.
"Miss Rou, breakfast is served," the servants said. Although the young mistress lacked her husband’s favor, the staff remained respectful, knowing she had the backing of Old Master Jing.
"Mm," she replied. Wen Xiaorou spoke very little in the Jing household. With no one to talk to, her words had dwindled until, sometimes, she went an entire day without uttering a single sentence.
She had once hoped to keep a cat, but since Mrs. Jing was allergic to pet dander, her wish remained unfulfilled. Sometimes, Wen Xiaorou would find herself longing for her school days, a time when she hadn't felt so profoundly alone.
Last year, during a similarly warm spring, she had asked the Jing family for permission to work, expressing her desire not to be a canary trapped in a gilded cage. Mrs. Jing had scolded her severely for it. She told her that being the young mistress of the Jing family was a life countless women prayed for, and that Wen Xiaorou was being ungrateful—did she think the Jing family couldn't afford to provide for her? They had spent a fortune on her upbringing and education; they were more than capable of supporting her for the rest of her life. She was told to settle down, be a proper mistress, and stop having such foolish notions. Since then, Wen Xiaorou had never dared mention working again.
Later, she reflected on it and realized Mrs. Jing had a point. How many women would give anything for such a life? If she were to rank her standard of living, no other woman could claim to surpass her. The Jing family provided her with the finest world-class brands and was never stingy with money. Furthermore, she suffered no real grievances in the household; aside from the occasional nagging, everything remained peaceful.
"Rou-er, this is soup I brewed just for you. Jing Nuo headed to the office early this morning. You really should try to be more talkative and cheerful; otherwise, the child you bear might end up quiet, too, and that wouldn't be good," Mrs. Jing said. Her attitude toward Wen Xiaorou was always fickle, shifting with the wind. Whenever the Old Master or Jing Nuo treated Wen Xiaorou kindly, she would follow suit, but if they were displeased, she would be cold as well.
"Thank you, Mother!" Wen Xiaorou looked at the earnest Mrs. Jing and felt a pang of guilt, knowing that this time, she would inevitably disappoint them once more.