After Saving The Disabled Villain, I Was Attacked In Return! - Chapter 44

Qi An heard a sound and sat up to look at Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu stood before her, her slender fingers entwined awkwardly in front of her, her head lowered like a child who had been caught misbehaving and dragged before an adult by the collar.

For a moment, Qi An couldn’t tell who was the master and who was the enslaved.

As this thought crossed her mind, Qi An’s eyes grew misty, and her voice thickened with emotion. “Miss, could it be that you think my humble bed is unworthy of you? If that’s the case…”

Before she could finish speaking, she felt her blanket suddenly lifted. Looking down, she saw Jiang Yu had silently approached and slipped under the covers.

Jiang Yu’s expression was troubled, as if Qi An’s words had touched some raw nerve. She initially remained facing away, but then turned around with a hurt look, trembling as she reached out to embrace Qi An.

“Qi An… please don’t say things like that anymore. I don’t like hearing you talk about yourself like that,” Jiang Yu said, her voice muffled. The thought of what Qi An had endured before Jiang Yu arrived here made her chest tight.

Qi An was initially taken aback by Jiang Yu’s sudden outburst. But after hearing her words, her features softened, and she gently patted Jiang Yu’s back.

“Alright, I won’t say it again,” Qi An said, pulling Jiang Yu close as they drifted off to sleep. The children’s playful chatter outside didn’t disturb them; instead, it served as a soothing lullaby.

They slept until nightfall, when darkness settled in.

“Miss… I’ve found out!” Lu Wu’s excited voice rang out from outside Shaoyue Pavilion. The Side Hall and Main Hall were close, and Jiang Yu was instantly roused by the commotion. She sat up, blinking dazedly around the room.

Qi An remained lying down, opening her eyes when she felt Jiang Yu stir beside her.

Jiang Yu seemed half-asleep. She sat up, glanced around, muttered something softly, and then lay back down, straightening the quilt over herself. Qi An thought she was about to fall back asleep, but instead, Jiang Yu abruptly turned over and draped her leg over Qi An.

Jiang Yu clung to Qi An like an octopus, mumbling, “Big white goose… big white goose…”

Qi An couldn’t help but smile. Is she craving a big white goose? It was only after Jiang Yu said this that Qi An realized it was already time for dinner.

Although they had eaten some pastries at noon, they hadn’t had a proper meal. Worried that Jiang Yu might be hungry, Qi An patiently lifted her arm and gently brushed her cold fingers against Jiang Yu’s cheek. “It’s time for dinner.”

Qi An wasn’t very good at waking people up. Her gaze was full of tenderness, as if that alone could rouse Jiang Yu. The cool touch of her hand did help Jiang Yu wake up a little, and she finally heard Qi An’s voice by her ear.

She was about to say she wasn’t hungry when her stomach grumbled loudly. Now fully awake, Jiang Yu blushed and covered her face with the quilt, too embarrassed to look at Qi An.

Qi An’s soft laughter drifted in from outside. Jiang Yu reluctantly pulled back the quilt and glared at her, then grumbled as she sat up.

“Then you should join me for breakfast! I still need to take my medicine later,” Jiang Yu said. The first part of her sentence sounded firm and confident, but the second part carried a hint of hesitation. She had only said this because she wanted Qi An to keep her company during breakfast.

What Jiang Yu hadn’t expected was that Qi An didn’t refuse at all. Instead, she smiled and agreed. She first wheeled herself over and lit the candles with practiced ease, then washed her face and changed her clothes. She even brought Jiang Yu a coat.

Jiang Yu sat dazed on the bed, the candlelight illuminating her face. Her cheeks were still flushed from sleep, and a faint mark was visible.

Because the weather had turned cold, Jiang Yu no longer needed to accompany Shen Yun and Jiang Shengrong at every meal, so she wasn’t in any hurry. But Qi An moved with such brisk efficiency—it made her heart ache.

“You shouldn’t be doing these things for me,” Jiang Yu said. “Just tell the servants.”

Qi An opened her mouth to say, “But I am a servant,” but then remembered what Jiang Yu had said before bed. Her lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing.

After changing into a thick coat, Jiang Yu finally felt the chill of having just woken up fade away. When she pushed Qi An out of the Side Hall, Lu Wu was waiting anxiously at the Shaoyue Pavilion entrance.

“Miss! Where have you been? I thought you’d gone out with Qi An again.” Lu Wu felt the role of her as Jiang Yu’s personal maid was becoming increasingly nominal, while Qi An remained constantly by her side.

Jiang Yu, embarrassed to admit she had slept the entire afternoon, stammered that she had gone to find Qi An to discuss something. She urged Lu Wu to bring the evening meal first, promising to address any other matters after they ate.

The General’s Residence typically served a variety of sweet, savory, and fresh dishes. Remembering that Qi An disliked sweet foods, Jiang Yu discreetly removed any overly sweet dishes from the table and returned them to the serving tray.

Lu Wu watched in amazement as Jiang Yu busied herself. Holding the tray uncertainly, she hesitated. Jiang Yu, with a considerate smile, said, “Now that winter has arrived, your duties must be especially taxing. Take these dishes back to warm up. Consider them a treat to enhance your own meals.”

Lu Wu was deeply moved, nearly falling to her knees on the spot to thank Jiang Yu on behalf of all the maids.

Watching Lu Wu cheerfully carry the food box out of the room, Jiang Yu quickly used the serving chopsticks to transfer a piece of pork hock to Qi An’s bowl. Noticing Qi An’s questioning gaze, she explained, “This braised pork hock is a new dish the small kitchen learned. Please taste it for me first. I won’t eat it unless it’s delicious.”

Her words dripped with tsundere pride. Qi An lowered her head, seeing the piece of meat in her bowl, and felt a warm glow in her heart. Taking Jiang Yu’s hint, she took a bite.

Throughout the meal, Jiang Yu discreetly observed what Qi An enjoyed eating, almost itching to jot it all down in a notebook. When Lu Wu came to clear the table, Jiang Yu told her about the dishes she liked.

Qi An seemed oblivious, as usual. She remained quiet, her usual reticence intact. Lu Wu, however, was pleasantly surprised to hear her young mistress express food preferences. She eagerly agreed and memorized the list, promising to relay it to the small kitchen at the first opportunity.

“By the way, Miss,” Lu Wu added, “the estate banquet is in two days. Since Madam has never managed such affairs personally, she plans to take a carriage to the Shen Residence tomorrow to borrow some capable maids.”

As Lu Wu tidied up, she shared the news she’d gathered that afternoon with Jiang Yu. Qi An, seated nearby, listened intently. The Shen family…

It seemed that many of Shen Yun’s elder sisters had recently returned home to visit their parents. This meant Jiang Yu would likely have to accompany Shen Yun to reconnect with her relatives.

“Oh, Miss,” Lu Wu continued, “Madam intends for you to accompany her back to the Shen Residence tomorrow.” Qi An frowned deeply.

Though Shen Yun was doted upon at home, the children of her elder sisters were all arrogant and haughty. Could Jiang Yu’s innocent nature handle such a situation?

Jiang Yu immediately noticed Qi An’s frown and asked if she felt unwell. This genuine concern prompted Qi An to offer a warning: “I’m afraid things won’t go smoothly there. If you insist on going, I’ll accompany you.”

Even Qi An wasn’t sure who was protecting whom, but she felt safer with Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu seemed to pick up on Qi An’s unspoken meaning and nodded emphatically. Truth be told, she had never even considered the idea of separating from Qi An since the incident in the alleyway. After that, Jiang Yu never dared to let her be alone again.

Jiang Yu had thought about asking Qi An what exactly had happened that day, but she feared Qi An might think she was being overly clingy or that she was prying into something she didn’t want to discuss. So, she decided to lie low for now, ready to handle whatever came her way.

Lu Wu, oblivious to the exchange between Jiang Yu and Qi An, cleared the dishes and carried the tray away. When she returned to wipe the table, a sleepy-eyed little girl followed behind her.

Only then did Jiang Yu remember the girl’s presence. Though relieved, she still felt uneasy and resolved to post a notice the next day. But when the girl reached out for a hug again, Qi An abruptly moved to block her, her expression icy.

“How old are you? Why do you still want to be held?” Qi An’s harsh words instantly shattered the girl’s cheerful expression. Her face crumpled, and tears welled up. Jiang Yu quickly smoothed things over. “She got lost from her family. Of course she wants comfort. Don’t be so mean…”

“Me, fierce?” Qi An turned around, her previously icy expression, cold as winter frost, now replaced by a delicate, helpless demeanor. Jiang Yu suddenly wondered if she had spoken too harshly, then quickly corrected herself: “No, no! I’m fierce, I’m fierce!”

What am I thinking?! Calling this Qi An fierce? Jiang Yu wanted to slap herself. This child must be in the wrong.

The more Jiang Yu observed the girl, the more she felt something was off. Despite being separated from her family, the child showed no sign of fear and kept seeking closeness with Jiang Yu.

Though clearly not mute, the girl refused to answer any questions. Could she just be here to mooch food at the General’s Residence?

Jiang Yu stroked her chin, withdrawing her arms that had been ready to embrace the child. She no longer found the girl particularly endearing.

Seeing Jiang Yu’s retreat, Qi An nodded contentedly, resuming her indifferent facade as she watched the girl. Her eyes seemed to silently ask, Why won’t you speak?

The girl stomped her foot and burst into tears. This only made Jiang Yu more irritable. She quickly ordered a maid to take the child away and soothe her, remaining seated angrily on the stool.

“Why are you still so upset?” Qi An asked softly, sounding like a kind older sister next door. When Jiang Yu looked up, she felt she could confide any of her troubles to this woman.

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