Chapter Forty-Four: Auditing the Accounts

Mo Nian Nian was utterly bewildered by this turn of events and stood there for quite a while, unable to react.

Meanwhile, the scoundrel male lead of this world was once again holding a blade, preparing to end his own life.

Mo Nian Nian’s heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys all seemed to ache with anger. “Stop! I never meant to drive you away.”

“Does this mean my master permits me to stay by her side?” His voice was brimming with irrepressible joy.

He was so excited that his body trembled slightly. He lifted his head, his dark eyes filled with reverence, as if he were gazing upon his deity.

Mo Nian Nian’s irritability only worsened.

“Fine, stay then.”

“Thank you, master,” he replied.

He stared at Mo Nian Nian’s back, ever more obsessed; his master was truly too kind to him.

His chest swelled with emotion, his heart nearly bursting out of his chest.

The male lead remained at Mo Nian Nian’s side, never leaving her for a moment, guarding her with more diligence than even the most devoted attendants raised by the Mo family.

The Mo household gradually began to reassess him.

Mo Nian Nian continued to treat him with indifference; aside from silently allowing him to stay, she seldom spoke to him.

She frequently assigned him errands outside, deliberately reducing their interactions. Sometimes, days would pass without them encountering each other even once.

Still, he was content.

Just the thought of being near Mo Nian Nian made him feel so satisfied he could explode.

He carried the pastries she’d requested—brought back from more than fifty miles away—seeking her out.

At the prospect of seeing his master again, he couldn’t suppress the upward curve of his lips.

He barely had time to wash away his fatigue, hurrying off with radiant energy to find her. He truly, desperately wanted to see her.

The sun was shining just right; Mo Nian Nian had someone move a rocking chair so she could lie in the courtyard, basking in the light, absentmindedly tossing fish food into the pond and watching the frenzy it stirred among the fish.

Bai Shao fanned her gently while feeding her pastries.

“Miss, please try this. It’s fresh from the Imperial Kitchen. See what you think of the taste.”

Mo Nian Nian squinted with satisfaction. “Not bad. You’re rewarded.”

“Then I’ll thank you on behalf of everyone in the kitchen,” Bai Shao replied, smiling with delight.

Bai Shao was remarkably attentive; she could discern Mo Nian Nian’s wishes with a single glance and smoothly delivered whatever she desired.

Mo Nian Nian couldn’t help but marvel—this wretched feudal society was, in its own way... simply delightful.

“Miss, there’s a new play at the opera house lately. Would you care to see it?”

Mo Nian Nian simply couldn’t appreciate such things. “I’m not in the mood. I won’t go.”

Bai Shao offered her tea. “Miss, you seem listless lately.”

Having cared for Mo Nian Nian since childhood, Bai Shao naturally noticed the change in her demeanor, but as a servant, she dared not question her master’s affairs.

Besides, compared to the old Miss, she clearly preferred the current one.

“It’s nothing, just not in the mood.”

“Shall I tell you a story, then? You used to love it when I recited tales.”

Stories? Ancient novels? Mo Nian Nian perked up. “Go on, then.”

Bai Shao’s gentle voice rose and fell, drawing Mo Nian Nian into the narrative. She listened with rapt attention, her eyes fixed on Bai Shao.

From time to time, she responded, much to Bai Shao’s delight.

The atmosphere between mistress and maid was harmonious to the extreme.

Jiang Hu stood outside the courtyard, watching them for a long while.

He then entered, bearing the pastries in silence.

“Master.”

He knelt on one knee, placing the pastries on the table before Mo Nian Nian. “These are the Li’s pastries you wished for.”

Mo Nian Nian’s smile faded. She glanced at him carelessly. “Just leave them there.”

Jiang Hu obediently placed them on the table beside her.

Mo Nian Nian spoke listlessly. “You’ve worked hard. Go rest. You needn’t attend me for the next few days.”

Jiang Hu’s mind began to twist. He had rushed for two days to fetch these pastries, just so he could see her sooner.

He closed his eyes, forcing himself not to disobey her command.

Everything he possessed was bestowed by his master. Everything was hers.

“Yes... Master.”

He turned and left in silence.

Mo Nian Nian stared at the pastries, feeling unsettled. She was truly wary of these corrupted male leads.

This one was too much like Jiang Hu; she couldn’t help but conflate them.

Having learned from the last world, Mo Nian Nian had no interest in entangling herself with such men.

To say nothing of anything else—just look at this time: the corrupted male lead nearly drew his blade to kill himself at a moment’s notice.

Best not provoke him.

Mo Nian Nian pushed the pastries toward Bai Shao. “They’re for you.”

Bai Shao’s eyes brightened. “Thank you, Miss. Li’s pastries are delicious, but they’re so far away.”

Mo Nian Nian absentmindedly murmured her assent.

[Male Lead Hostility +5. Current Hostility: 85. Warning: Male Lead Hostility too high. Please address immediately. Warning: Male Lead Hostility too high. Please address immediately.]

The system immediately went berserk. [Ahhh! Host, what are you doing? We’ve been here two months—two whole months!]

Not only had the male lead’s hostility not decreased, it was rising steadily.

How was the task supposed to be completed this way?

Mo Nian Nian’s fingers trembled as she turned toward the pavilion, catching a glimpse of Jiang Hu’s figure disappearing behind it.

[...No need to panic. It’s fine. It’s only eighty-five.]

The system whimpered, aggrieved.

With a male lead’s hostility at eighty-five, it wouldn’t be surprised if he slaughtered a nation tomorrow.

How unfortunate he had to witness that.

But perhaps it was for the best—to cut ties from the start.

Mo Nian Nian sighed. It seemed the task would have to be moved up.

She remembered that in a few days, the male lead would face a difficult trial.

Jiang Hu returned to his room in silence, lying straight on the bed. It felt as though a hole had been torn in his chest, wind pouring through, leaving him cold and helpless.

His gaze was empty and icy, fixed on the wall.

He truly was a failure; his master didn’t like him.

She even despised him.

She clearly loved Li’s pastries, but simply because he brought them, she’d given them to her maid instead.

To keep them warm, he’d carried a hand warmer, then tucked the pastries close to his chest.

All he wanted was for his master to smile with satisfaction while eating them.

Yet she still rejected him.

Before coming to her side, he’d imagined that just being a little closer—just a little—would be enough.

Why did he feel such bitter jealousy toward her maid?

He was mad with envy, desperate to take her place. The hole in his chest widened, leaving him curled up and lost.

He truly longed to be near his master, near his goddess.