Yearning For Warmth, Day and Night - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Rules

If there was still someone in the Wei family who dared to joke with the Third Miss like that, it could only be Su Ziyan.

Su Ziyan had been the Wei family’s private doctor since his grandfather’s generation. The two families were close, and he and the Third Miss were the same age, having grown up together as childhood friends. Their bond was deep. That’s why, when Wei Hui heard his teasing, she merely cast him a sideways glance and said nothing.

Su Ziyan happily accepted her “cold treatment.” He was used to it by now. In fact, if Wei Hui had responded, that would’ve seemed unusual to him.

In the living room, a few scattered servants stood silently, all curiously watching the thin girl. Even the butler gave her an extra glance, but none of them dared make a sound. The atmosphere was hushed. Wei Hui picked up a glass of water and took a sip. “So, how is it?” she asked.

After checking her over, Su Ziyan replied, “Just some superficial wounds. Nothing serious.” He turned to the girl and added, “Come to my clinic tomorrow morning for a full check-up. I’ll give you some scar cream too. It won’t look good if your face scars.”

The girl timidly responded, “Thank you.”

After she spoke, she lifted her head to look at Su Ziyan. Her beautiful eyes held hesitation, as if she wanted to say something. He caught on. “You don’t know where my clinic is, do you?”

“I’ll have the Third Miss take you.”

Wei Hui set down her glass and turned to look at Su Ziyan. Her expression remained cool and indifferent, her gaze icy and sharp. Behind her, Pei Tian said, “The company has an important meeting tomorrow. The Third Miss won’t have time.”

“Pei Tian,” Wei Hui said softly.

“Yes, Miss,” he bowed slightly.

“You take her.”

“Understood.”

The girl listened to them speak and mustered the courage to glance at the woman on the couch. Even in casual clothing, Wei Hui exuded an intimidating aura. Her features were slightly deep-set, with strong bone structure and an air of unyielding sharpness. Perhaps it was because she rarely smiled—when her eyes were downcast, one could still sense the cold edge in her gaze. When she wasn’t looking at anyone, the atmosphere around her was suffocating. But when she did look at someone—her sharp eyes cut like blades, effortlessly stripping away all pretense and seeing directly into people’s hearts.

And now, she was staring at the girl.

The girl lowered her head, her hands tightly twisted together, her fingertips turning pale from the force. Wei Hui stared at her for a while before Su Ziyan finally said, “Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading off.”

Pei Tian stepped forward. “Mr. Su, I’ll walk you out.”

“I’ll see him off,” Wei Hui said as she stood.

She turned to the housekeeper. “Zhang Ma, prepare dinner.”

“Yes, Miss,” Zhang Ma replied immediately. The servants busied themselves at once.

Su Ziyan picked up his medical kit and walked out of the living room, Wei Hui following behind. Once they reached the garden, Su Ziyan finally stopped. “Where did that girl come from?”

His earlier teasing in the living room had been just that—a joke. But they’d known each other for years, and he knew Wei Hui best. Anyone else might secretly keep a mistress, but her? Unthinkable. In all twenty-five or six years, she hadn’t even let anyone get close. For her to suddenly bring back a girl—it was baffling.

Standing beside him, the wind blew a few strands of Wei Hui’s hair against her long neck, making her fair skin seem even more delicate. She spoke in a low voice, “I went to the Wang family today.”

“The Wang family?” Su Ziyan asked, “Which one?”

“Wang Yongshun.”

Su Ziyan turned to her, raising a brow. “Don’t tell me you’re eyeing that abandoned building too?”

In the western suburbs, there was a half-constructed building left to rot after the developers fled a few years ago. It had sat unused for a while. While the east side of the city had become a development priority, the west was neglected. The ruin stood there for years—until Wang Yongshun took it over early this year. No one paid much attention then, since his company wasn’t well-known. But in March, news broke that Jiangcheng would be building a government-supported commercial street—right next to the ruin.

The news hit like a bombshell. Those who had mocked Wang Yongshun suddenly found themselves eating their words. And naturally, more people started eyeing the site.

Wei Hui was one of them.

But she had chosen a more roundabout method—slowly drawing Wang Yongshun in, preparing to tighten the net later.

Seeing she didn’t respond, Su Ziyan shook his head. “Do what you want, just take care of your health.”

Wei Hui’s tone was cold. “I know.”

Su Ziyan nodded, turned, and walked toward his car. Just before getting in, he slapped the steering wheel and laughed. Once again, Wei Hui had changed the subject on him.

Truly, if there was something she didn’t want to talk about, no one could force it out of her.

After seeing him off, Wei Hui sat down on a bench in the garden. The sky had begun to glow with red clouds. A cool breeze swept across her calm face, adding an extra edge of sharpness to her beauty. A few meters away, Pei Tian saw her and felt a sudden chill in his heart. He quickly approached and stood respectfully beside her.

“Third Miss, we’ve looked into it.”

Wei Hui slightly tilted her head. The cold wind lifted the hair at her temples. She tucked it behind her ear. “Speak.”

Pei Tian lowered his eyes. “She’s an orphan. Raised by an old maid. Went to school for a few years. After the old lady passed, she was… sent around to different homes.”

He hesitated. “She’s known to be a habitual thief. This time, she was caught red-handed stealing a ring by Shen Suqing. That’s why…”

Wei Hui nodded slightly, frowning. Remembering that Su Ziyan had called the girl a “kid,” she asked, “Is she an adult?”

Pei Tian: “Just turned eighteen.”

Wei Hui fell silent. Pei Tian couldn’t guess what she was thinking. After a long pause, she rose. “Let’s go back.”

He watched her enter the house.

As night fell, the lights in the house shone brightly, exposing everything under their glow—including the girl’s visible unease. She was still sitting on the couch, hands clenched so tightly the nail marks were clear and white on the backs of her hands.

Wei Hui had just entered when Zhang Ma announced, “Third Miss, dinner is ready.”

She looked over at the girl. “Come eat.”

The girl was startled, lifting her head quickly. But as soon as she met Wei Hui’s sharp gaze, she dropped it again. Wei Hui was impatient. “Not hungry?”

“I—I’ll eat.” Her voice was barely audible, nervous and small.

They sat facing each other at the dining table. Zhang Ma, unsure of the girl’s status, treated her with care. Wei Hui sipped warm water. “What’s your name?”

The girl froze slightly. She looked at Wei Hui. “Grandma called me Eleven.”

A strip of gauze was taped to her smooth forehead. Her delicate face had turned pale, making her black eyes appear even more striking. Her long, thick lashes trembled with anxiety, giving her a fragile, helpless look. Especially when she glanced at Wei Hui in panic—it made her resemble a startled rabbit. The sight stirred sympathy in others.

But not in Wei Hui.

Her sharp gaze swept over the girl. “Eleven?”

The girl nodded and gently set down her chopsticks, answering respectfully, “I don’t have a real name. Grandma found me on the eleventh, so she called me Eleven.”

Her pronunciation was fairly clear.

Wei Hui gave a faint hum. “Eat.”

Eleven looked at her again, then, seeing Wei Hui was genuinely letting her eat, picked up her chopsticks. She hesitantly reached for the nearest dish, then quickly pulled back and began shoveling rice into her mouth. Wei Hui noticed and commented, “If you want it, just take it.”

The girl clearly didn’t expect such a remark. She choked on her rice, coughing a few times. Her pale cheeks flushed red. Her black eyes shimmered with moisture.

“S-sorry,” she said, trying to suppress her cough, but Wei Hui was still sitting across from her, and she didn’t dare. She held it in until her face turned bright red.

Wei Hui glanced at her. “You don’t have to hold it in.”

Only then did Eleven let herself cough properly, covering her mouth.

The servants exchanged glances. Even Zhang Ma looked at her suspiciously.

Eleven became increasingly uncomfortable under their stares. Her ears turned crimson, and she looked more and more flustered, not daring to lift her head again.

Wei Hui noticed and turned to Zhang Ma. “Everyone, leave.”

Zhang Ma hesitated. “Miss, you don’t have an appetite? I’ll get you some soup?”

Wei Hui waved her off. “Leave.”

Her tone was cold and firm. Zhang Ma could only exchange a look with the others, and soon, the dining room was empty save for Wei Hui and Eleven.

“Go on, eat,” Wei Hui said.

Without the curious stares, Eleven relaxed slightly. Her flushed cheeks cooled, and when she looked at Wei Hui again, her fear had lessened. Gratitude flickered in her eyes. She quietly picked up her chopsticks and continued eating.

Wei Hui asked, “Does it taste good?”

Eleven froze mid-bite, looked up, and replied timidly, “Yes… very good.”

Perhaps because she’d been eating so quickly, she hadn’t noticed a grain of rice sticking to the corner of her mouth. It looked slightly ridiculous. Normally, Wei Hui couldn’t stand messiness—but after watching her for a few seconds, she unexpectedly let out a small smile. The coldness in her expression melted away, leaving her stunningly beautiful.

That subtle change made Eleven freeze. She quickly lowered her head and resumed eating.

Before the meal was over, Wei Hui received a phone call and left the dining room. Eleven sat on the bench, watching her figure at the window. From the back, she was tall, with narrow shoulders and a slim waist. Her long hair was loosely tied up, the ends swaying gently with her movements.

Eleven quietly put down her chopsticks.

Wei Hui’s call dragged on. The dining room was silent except for the thudding of Eleven’s heart, pounding up to her throat. She reached into her pocket and tightly gripped a ring. It pressed painfully into her skin, but she didn’t notice.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before Wei Hui finished the call and returned. Eleven quickly stood and said, “Miss, I—I’m full.”

Wei Hui nodded calmly and walked toward the living room. As she passed, she told Zhang Ma, “Prepare a guest room for her.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Standing behind them, Eleven listened to the arrangements and grew more anxious. She had entered the Wei household thinking she would be a maid, but she hadn’t expected Wei Hui to have her injuries treated, invite her to dine at the same table, and now even arrange a guest room.

As Wei Hui turned to leave, Eleven acted before she could think—grabbing the hem of her coat tightly.

Wei Hui stopped and looked down at the hand clutching her clothes. It was slender and fair, much cleaner than when she was at the Wang house.

Still, her displeasure was obvious.

Eleven sensed the change immediately and withdrew her hand. Her face went pale, drained of bl00d. She looked up and met Wei Hui’s cold, sharp gaze. She swallowed and suppressed her original question, saying instead, “Miss, thank you.”

Wei Hui’s jaw tightened. Her voice was icy. “I don’t like throwing out two sets of clothes a day.”

“If you’ve entered the Wei household, follow its rules.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Zhang Ma, teach her the rules.”