Yearning For Warmth, Day and Night - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Trading

Shiyi couldn’t find her way back and accidentally wandered into an office with the door ajar. While trying to find the exit, something tripped her foot and she fell, hitting her head hard on the edge of a desk. The pain was sharp, and dizziness swept over her. She leaned against the desk and slowly squatted down, waiting for her senses to return. Only then did she realize it was an office. The emergency exit light outside flickered green, casting the room in a dim, eerie glow. She pressed her aching forehead and stayed slumped beside the desk.

She wanted to find a light switch but couldn’t locate it no matter how hard she tried. Unfamiliar with the layout, she could only see a few telephones on the desks around her—but she didn’t even know Third Miss’s number.

The room was deathly silent. After leaning against the desk for several minutes, Shiyi finally moved, sliding down the wall and sitting on the floor. Her legs were sore. She had felt a chair earlier but didn’t dare sit on it. This was a place she had never been in before—everything was new, unfamiliar, and intimidating.

So, she sat against the wall as time slowly ticked by. Who knows how long had passed when the sound of high heels clicking echoed from the hallway. A shiver ran down her spine—she was instantly wide awake.

Suddenly, the lights in the office turned on. The bright white fluorescents illuminated the figure of someone entering. Wei Hui, in her high heels, stepped into the room and immediately noticed the girl sitting against the wall.

When Shi Yi heard the sound of heels, she instinctively hugged her knees, head buried between them, eyes tightly shut. From her limited understanding, only one word popped into her head—ghost!

The sound of the heels grew louder, closer. Just when Shiyi was about to cover her ears, a clear voice called out, “Shiyi.”

She froze, slowly let go of her arms, and looked up to see Wei Hui bending slightly, staring straight at her.

The fluorescent light cast a shadow behind Wei Hui, and her usual stern expression softened, her sharp brows lessened. She called again, “Shiyi?”

Shiyi’s face was pale, a red mark visible on her forehead. She murmured, “Third Miss?”

Realizing it wasn’t a hallucination but actually Wei Hui, Shiyi tried to stand in excitement, forgetting how long she had been sitting. Her legs gave out, and she fell back down, accidentally tugging on Wei Hui’s clothes. Wei Hui, who had just straightened up, was pulled forward, her nose brushing against Shiyi’s cheek, a faint scent lingering in Shiyi’s senses. She quickly let go and apologized, “I’m sorry, Third Miss. I didn’t mean to.”

Wei Hui said, “Get up.”

This time Shiyi knew better—she leaned on the wall to steady herself before standing. Beside her, Wei Hui asked calmly, “Why did you come here?”

“I… I thought you forgot about me,” Shiyi said, watching Wei Hui, who nonchalantly picked up her phone and made a call.

“We found her,” Wei Hui said to the person on the other end.

After a pause, under Shiyi’s gaze, she added, “Go to the office next door and get a phone—basic features only.”

In the security room, Pei Tian rubbed his eyes in relief. That search had nearly made him go blind. This kid was weird—why didn’t she just turn on the lights? They would’ve found her sooner.

When he first realized Shiyi was missing, he assumed she had already left. But the Third Miss had told him to check the surveillance footage, so he reluctantly went to the monitor room, thinking she must’ve already left the building.

But to his surprise, he spotted Shiyi on screen. Turns out, his instincts were still no match for the Third Miss.

Although, he didn’t quite understand what Shiyi had been doing.

On the screen, the two stood together. Wei Hui said, “Let’s go back to my office.”

Shiyi followed her. After a few turns, they stopped at a half-open door. Wei Hui looked at her and said, “Come in.”

Shiyi bit her lip and stepped in.

The office was brightly lit. Near the window stood a work desk, and behind it, a massive bookshelf filled with neatly arranged books, all labeled with symbols and characters Shiyi couldn’t read.

The whole office was decorated in a cold color scheme—black and white—with a stern air about it. Or maybe that feeling came from Wei Hui herself.

“Sit down,” Wei Hui said mildly as she walked to the water dispenser and poured two cups of hot water. She placed one in front of Shi Yi and held the other herself. Steam curled from the cup.

Shiyi sat on the sofa, tense.

Wei Hui took a sip and asked, “Why didn’t you leave?”

Shiyi looked up in surprise, as if Wei Hui had said something utterly unbelievable. Seeing her expression, Wei Hui gave a rare smile. “You’re scared of me, aren’t you?”

“No,” Shiyi reflexively denied, then looked cautiously at Wei Hui. “Just… a little.”

Wei Hui nodded at her honesty. “I thought you’d take this opportunity to leave the company.”

Shiyi twisted her hands together, still confused. She whispered, “Third Miss… if I left, wouldn’t you catch me and punish me?”

Wei Hui paused mid-sip, her eyes lifting to meet Shiyi’s innocent gaze. Her brows furrowed. “Punish you?”

Shiyi bit her lip. “Yes.”

She had tried to escape from her master’s home several times, especially after the old woman passed away. Each attempt ended in her being dragged back and severely beaten. Eventually, she stopped trying. The week she was sent to her first employer as a gift, she was terrified and careful—but even then, she was still punished.

She didn’t understand it back then until another maid told her the man of the house had brought her there to sleep with him. She had only been fourteen, and the fear had stayed with her ever since. So she deliberately made mistakes in front of the madam, hoping to be sent away.

But it never worked.

She had to steal, to scheme, just to end up with a new master. Then, finally, she met Wei Hui.

Her knowledge of Wei Hui came only from rumors—the famous cold beauty of Jiangcheng, powerful and wealthy, highly capable, and the target of many suitors. Shiyi had overheard the maids gossiping in the kitchen: Wei Hui wasn’t married.

Not married. That was good. No male head of the household.

So she took a risk and showed up in front of Wei Hui.

To her surprise, it worked. Wei Hui took her home—but not to be a maid.

“Third Miss,” Shiyi swallowed, continuing, “Please let me be your maid. I can do everything. I’ll learn whatever I don’t know. I won’t be a burden.”

“I don’t steal. I promise I’ll never take anything. I don’t even need a salary.”

“Or… let me go. This is all the money I’ve saved. I know it’s not much, but name your price. I’ll earn it and pay you back…”

Wei Hui couldn’t help but laugh at how much Shi Yi had said all at once. “When did I ever say you couldn’t leave?”

Shiyi froze, as if someone had cut the sound in the room. The silence was chilling. Wei Hui’s tone remained calm: “Shiyi, I’ve never stopped you. The door to the Wei house is always open.”

“But if you leave… what will you do?”

“Get a proper job?”

“Do you have an education?”

Shiyi had no answer. Her education was minimal, only enough to read some basic words. Finding a job would be like reaching for the moon. The outside world was nothing like she imagined. She lowered her head, gripping her pants tightly, her frail body looking even smaller in the heavy silence.

Wei Hui finished her drink and set the cup down. Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Third Miss,” came Pei Tian’s voice.

“Come in.”

Pei Tian walked in, carrying two takeout boxes. The packaging was fancy—even the chopsticks looked like they were made of jade. Wei Hui gestured for him to leave after opening the food. He hesitated and reminded, “It’ll be nine o’clock in half an hour.”

“I know,” Wei Hui replied, picking up her chopsticks. “You can go now.”

Once Pei Tian left, the office fell silent again. Wei Hui glanced at the tense Shiyi across from her and said, “Eat.”

Shiyi wanted to say she wasn’t hungry, but Wei Hui’s commanding presence silenced her. She obediently picked up the chopsticks and began eating the unfamiliar but exquisite food. The flavors were mild yet refined. She wasn’t that hungry and ate just a few bites before stopping. Not wanting to appear rude, she glanced at Wei Hui.

Wei Hui’s eating posture was elegant. Her eyelashes cast shadows as she lowered her gaze. Her skin was flawless, her brow smooth. Shiyi sneaked a few looks before Wei Hui looked up and asked, “Are you full?”

Shiyi clutched her chopsticks and nodded. “Yes.”

Wei Hui took another sip of soup, wiped her lips with a napkin, and just as Shiyi was about to clean up, she said, “Leave it. Pei Tian will handle it.”

“Okay.” As soon as Shiyi set her chopsticks down, Wei Hui asked, “You knew I was sick?”

Her tone was casual, like asking if it was sunny outside—but Shiyi broke out in a cold sweat. For some reason, she couldn’t lie to Wei Hui.

She nodded honestly. “I knew.”

Wei Hui raised her eyes. “Since you know, I won’t hide it. I brought you back for a deal.”

Her eyes were more serious than ever before. For the first time, Shiyi felt like someone saw her as an adult capable of making decisions. For the first time, she felt respected. Her voice rose slightly, “What kind of deal?”

Wei Hui answered calmly, “If you want to leave the Wei house, you can go anytime. No one will stop you.”

“But if you agree to my deal, in two years, I’ll set up an account for you with ten million. You’ll never have to worry again—you won’t live in fear.”

“You have three months to decide. During this time, you can stay in the Wei house, enjoy the best care, ask for anything. You can leave at any time. But if you’re still here after three months, I’ll take that as a yes.”

Shiyi tensed up. Her palms were sweaty and uncomfortable. The office fell eerily quiet again. After a long moment, she finally asked, “What… what kind of deal?”

Wei Hui looked at her calmly, voice devoid of emotion: “Give me a child.”