High-class maid

"From now on, your cousin will stew a bowl of chicken soup for you every day so that you can nourish your body," Lin Xiangyu said infatuatedly.

Song Wenyan rolled his eyes. It seemed that this woman was not only shameless, but also illiterate. He said so much, but Lin Xiangyu couldn't understand it at all. Song Wenyan suddenly felt like he was talking to a brick wall.

"Cousin, did I say something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Lin Xiangyu asked, puzzled, when she saw Song Wenyang looking at her with a hint of disdain.

"It's nothing, but please, Miss Lin, have some self-respect. We're not married yet, so it's best to keep our distance." After saying this, Song Wenyang poured himself another cup of tea and ignored her.

Lin Xiangyu wrung out the handkerchief in her hand, considered for a moment, and said, "Cousin, are you disgusted with me? I just feel sorry for you."

"It's best not to say things like that again. I have servants, and my family is all in Jinling City. It's not your place to care about me. To put it nicely, we're cousins; to put it bluntly..."

Song Wenyang changed the subject and said, "To put it bluntly, what kind of cousin are you to me?"

Lin Xiangyu had always thought Song Wenyang wouldn't speak harshly, but upon hearing these words, she swayed slightly, hurt. She clutched her nearly crumpled handkerchief, wiped away nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes, and said...

Is my cousin really going to distance himself from me?

Song Wenyang scoffed and said, "Wasn't I obvious enough? Who do you think you are to me as my cousin? An unmarried woman living in someone else's house for months, you really have no shame."

Lin Xiangyu was filled with resentment. When had she ever been humiliated like this, especially by a man?

"Hmph, since you're so ungrateful, don't blame me for being impolite."

Lin Xiangyu suppressed the hatred in her heart and said softly.

"Yes, you know what kind of person my aunt is. I was forced into this situation. I wanted to go back to the capital, but my aunt insisted that I obtain a personal keepsake from you before she would believe that we had been intimate..."

Lin Xiangyu's words were half true and half false; her aunt, Madam Lin, had said the same thing in a letter.

"Really? What kind of token is it?" Song Wenyang asked.

“My aunt said it’s the jade pendant hanging on the bed curtains in your room.” After Lin Xiangyu finished speaking, she secretly glanced at Song Wenyang’s expression.

In fact, Lin only said it was a token, not a jade pendant. Lin Xiangyu just wanted to use it to trick him into returning to the mansion.

Song Wenyang closed his eyes and tried to recall his past life, but he couldn't remember anyone named Lin Xiangyu. How did Lin Xiangyu suddenly appear in this life? He didn't know if she was good or bad, so he could only believe her for the time being.

"Fine, I'll go back to the manor with her. She's a weak woman, and I'm a grown man. What am I afraid of?" Song Wenyang thought to himself.

“In that case, I will go back to my residence and retrieve the jade pendant for you, but I have two conditions.” After saying this, Song Wenyang watched Lin Xiangyu’s reaction, as if he would take back his words if she showed the slightest impatience.

"Cousin, please speak."

"First, you and I must leave this academy one after the other."

Secondly, I will give you the jade pendant today, and tomorrow you will take a boat to leave Jinling.

Third, you cannot return to the Song residence through the main gate; you must use the back gate.

Lin Xiangyu was furious when she heard this last condition. Heaven knows, although she had been living in the Song mansion for a long time and was extremely powerful, with no one daring to interfere with her, she could only enter and leave the mansion through the back door.

She sensed that although the people in the mansion didn't say it to his face, they were secretly mocking him.

But she had no choice; for now, she could only agree.

"Let's lure this little rascal home first," she thought to herself.

"Okay, I promise my cousin. To be honest, I've also gone back to the capital."

Song Wenyang nodded, signaling her to go first.

After the two returned to the Song residence one after the other, Song Wenyang went to his room and retrieved the jade pendant that had been hanging there for many years.

Song Wenyang gestured to the page beside him to hand it to her and said, "The jade pendant has been given to Miss Lin. Please pack your things. I will arrange a boat to take you to the capital tomorrow."

Lin Xiangyu wanted him to see the sorrow in her eyes, but Song Wenyang wouldn't even look at her. Lin Xiangyu put away the jade pendant and said...

"I've been in Nanjing for so long, but I've never tasted Biluochun tea before. I've heard that my cousin has received the true teachings of Mr. Ouyang and is an excellent tea brewer. I hope my cousin won't be stingy with letting me have a taste?"

"Miss Lin speaks so eloquently, how could I possibly refuse you?" Song Wenyang snorted coldly and instructed Xiaotong to fetch the tea-making utensils.

He first warmed the teacup with hot water, then put the tea leaves into the cup, added water, and whisked it. A cup of tea was ready.

Lin Xiangyu was stunned and praised, "My cousin's movements are so smooth and skillful, even more so than a woman's hands."

Standing behind Song Wenyang, Xiaotong secretly rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that this Miss Lin was also stupid. Her young master hated it when people said he looked like a woman.

Just as Song Wenyang was about to pour the tea leaves, Lin Xiangyu swiftly took them from him, scoffing and saying, "I'll do it, I'll do it."

She poured a cup of tea for each of them, then raised her cup to Song Wenyang with a smile and took a sip first.

Song Wenyang ignored her and picked up his teacup to drink.

The maid behind Lin Xiangyu opened her mouth as if to stop her, but shut her mouth after Lin Xiangyu looked at her.

Song Wenyang didn't notice the subtle exchange between the mistress and servant; he only noticed that the tea was a little different today.

"As expected of the world-famous Biluochun tea, its flavor is so mellow and smooth. Young Master Song's tea skills have also impressed me."

“Miss Lin, you flatter me. I have other matters to attend to. If you have nothing else to do, you may leave. There is a difference between men and women. Please do not come out before dawn tomorrow.”

Song Wenyang dismissed her, and Miss Lin smiled faintly, unusually not arguing, and turned to leave.

Before leaving, the maid turned around and glanced at Xiaotong. Her furrowed brows showed that she had something to say. Xiaotong kept it in mind and told Song Wenyang about it after they left.

“Young master, I noticed that the little maid looked preoccupied, as if she had something to say to us,” Xiao Tong said as she stepped forward.

“I’ve also noticed something’s off about this person. Later, send someone to keep Lin Xiangyu occupied, and also send someone to follow this little maid to see where she’s going,” Song Wenyang instructed.

"Yes." Xiao Tong said, and then went to make the arrangements.

Back in her room, Lin Xiangyu held Song Wenyang's jade pendant in her hand, greedily inhaling its scent.

"I didn't expect Song Wenyang to be so good-looking. He's handsome and dashing. I guess he's a good match for me."

Lin Xiangyu held the jade pendant and talked to herself, closing her eyes and dreaming her own daydream, as if she were already the mistress of the Song family.

"Miss Lin, my young master said he had some local specialties from Jinling, but he forgot to ask you to take them with you. Please send someone to fetch them." Xiao Tong's voice came from the courtyard.

Lin Xiangyu said happily, "I understand!" Then she winked at the maid, signaling her to follow.