Yearning For Warmth, Day and Night - Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Habit of Stealing
The Wei family had simple rules: no entering the Third Miss’s room, no touching the Third Miss. Like just now—grabbing the Third Miss’s clothes—if it were anyone else, they would’ve been thrown out of the house already. Speaking of this, Auntie Zhang glanced at Eleven several more times. Her face really was more delicate and pretty than most girls’, like a carefully crafted porcelain doll. But why would the Third Miss bring home a porcelain doll?
She’d been with the Wei family for a long time, but this was the first time she saw the Third Miss bring someone home.
“Where is Miss from?” Auntie Zhang asked.
Eleven thought for a moment, then shook her head. Her voice was still very soft and timid: “I don’t know.”
From the time she could remember, she had lived with her grandmother. The old lady had no children and treated her like a granddaughter, showering her with love, even sending her to school. But good times didn’t last—soon after, her grandmother had an accident and passed away, leaving her alone again.
After her grandmother’s death, she was taken back by the master’s family to work as a maid. A long time later, a guest visited and said he liked her. The family gave her to that guest.
Later, a guest of that guest said he liked her, and she was given away again.
Now, she had lost count of how many “guests” she had been passed through.
Auntie Zhang frowned upon hearing she didn’t know: “You’re not a local?”
Eleven bit her lip and shook her head ever so slightly.
She really didn’t know where she was from.
Seeing this, Auntie Zhang couldn’t ask further. She just reminded her: “Miss, did you remember everything I told you earlier? Don’t ever upset the Third Miss again.”
Eleven’s face turned pale for a second, then she nodded: “I remember.”
Her obedient and well-behaved demeanor left Auntie Zhang with little else to say, so she led her upstairs.
The guest room was on the second floor, two doors down from Wei Hui’s. As Eleven passed by her door, she could see the warm yellow light spilling from underneath it. Auntie Zhang had just walked past when the door suddenly opened—Wei Hui stood there.
She had just taken a shower, long damp hair falling around her shoulders, water droplets glistening at the ends, dripping onto her white robe. Her fair, sharply defined features exuded a cold aura. She raised her eyes and glanced at Eleven with a slight frown. Under her penetrating gaze, Eleven kept her head lowered.
Wei Hui looked for a few seconds, then looked away. Without makeup now, her once vibrant lips were a soft pink. She said coolly, “Auntie Zhang, bring me a glass of milk.”
“Yes, Miss,” Auntie Zhang responded respectfully.
Wei Hui then glanced again at Eleven. Their eyes met—Eleven’s gaze was startled, like a frightened rabbit. Her face was pale, figure thin and frail. Though just barely an adult, she looked no older than fifteen or sixteen—underdeveloped except for her fully grown facial features. No wonder Su Ziyan kept calling her a “child.”
Wei Hui’s brows furrowed again, then she glanced at those eyes and said mildly, “Bring her a glass too.”
Auntie Zhang was momentarily stunned. She quickly looked at Eleven and then nodded: “Yes, Miss.”
Before Eleven could even thank her, Wei Hui had already shut the door. Auntie Zhang led her to the guest room and hesitated for a long while before asking, “Miss, what’s your relationship with the Third Miss?”
What relationship?
Before coming to this house, she hadn’t even met her.
Eleven shook her head. “None.”
Auntie Zhang clearly didn’t believe her, but also could tell she wasn’t lying. With eyes so clear, with every emotion written on her face—how could she be lying? Still, she couldn’t understand why the Third Miss had brought someone home so suddenly.
It was truly rare.
Because of Wei Hui’s earlier order, Auntie Zhang didn’t linger. She quickly went downstairs, returned with two glasses of milk, knocked on Wei Hui’s door to deliver hers, then turned to bring the other to Eleven.
Eleven was sitting on the bed. The guest room was larger than any master bedroom she had lived in before. There was a big floor-to-ceiling window, and from her angle, she could see the bright moon hanging in the sky, moonlight spilling in and landing softly on her.
She sat still, motionless, until a knock came. She immediately ran to the door.
Auntie Zhang handed her the milk: “Drink it. Then get some rest.”
Eleven took it, tipped her head back and drank it down. White foam lingered on her lips. Auntie Zhang handed her a tissue, and Eleven gave a shy smile as she wiped her lips. Auntie Zhang said, “Go get some rest now.”
Perhaps sensing her kindness, Eleven’s voice was slightly louder, and her expression more relaxed. She said, “Thank you.”
Auntie Zhang was surprised: “If you need anything, just ask.”
Eleven nodded: “Okay.”
Watching Eleven go back inside and lie on the bed, Auntie Zhang finally closed the door quietly. She returned with the empty glass to Wei Hui’s room, knocked gently: “Third Miss?”
“Come in,” came the calm voice.
The room was spotless. Wei Hui sat at her desk, the window half open, letting the breeze lift her hair gently. Auntie Zhang picked up the empty glass, and Wei Hui glanced sideways at the other: “She drank it?”
Auntie Zhang nodded: “She did.”
Wei Hui looked back at her file: “You may go.”
Auntie Zhang bowed and quietly left.
Hearing the door close, Wei Hui looked toward it thoughtfully, then picked up her phone and messaged Su Ziyan: Give her a full check-up tomorrow.
Su Ziyan had just gotten into bed when he received her message and instantly replied: Why are you so concerned about someone else’s kid? Planning to keep her in a golden cage?
Wei Hui was silent at his ridiculous reply. Before she could respond, another message came:
What kind of check-up?
Su Ziyan slumped in bed, phone falling onto his face. He picked it up again to see a cold, detached reply that seemed to chill him through the screen:
“I want her clean.”
…
The next morning, before dawn, Eleven woke up out of habit. She immediately got dressed and was about to leave the bed when she remembered—this wasn’t the Wang family anymore.
She sat at the edge of the bed, looking up at the shining chandelier and the unfamiliar surroundings. Not far from the bed was a floor-length mirror. Tilting her head slightly, she could see her reflection—wearing clean clothes she’d never worn before, messy long hair on her head, a bandage on her forehead with the edge peeling off slightly from sleep.
She looked like a beggar who had strayed into a princess’s castle.
Completely out of place.
Eleven got up and made the bed neatly, tucking in the corners perfectly. Then she went to the bathroom and, seeing a new toothbrush and toothpaste set out, she moved carefully, still cautious even without anyone watching.
After a simple wash-up, she tied her hair back with a string and opened the door.
To go downstairs, she had to pass Wei Hui’s room. Remembering her current situation, she hesitated at the door, hand raised to knock—but she recalled what Auntie Zhang said and shrank back, too scared to knock.
She stood awkwardly at the door.
Suddenly, the door opened.
Eleven jumped back. Wei Hui stepped out in a light blue suit, a faint, clean scent wafting from her—not strong, but subtly enveloping. Eleven lowered her head and fidgeted with her pants, stammering, “Th-Third Miss.”
Wei Hui didn’t expect someone to be standing there so early. Her brows knitted slightly as she turned and looked at Eleven: “Something wrong?”
Eleven looked up and met her eyes. That sharp gaze made her heart jump. She quickly shook her head: “Nothing. Good morning.”
Wei Hui replied blandly: “Morning.”
She walked downstairs at a leisurely pace. Behind her, Eleven clenched and then released her fists, her entire body tense to the point of pain.
Soon, they sat across from each other at the breakfast table. Auntie Zhang served food to Wei Hui. Wei Hui said, “Pour her a glass of warm water.”
Auntie Zhang obeyed.
Wei Hui looked at Eleven: “Pei Tian will take you to the hospital later.”
Eleven sat with her hands clasped tightly, her fingers white. She answered softly: “Okay.”
Because of the medical exam, she couldn’t eat breakfast. Auntie Zhang handed her a warm glass of water. As she sipped, Eleven glanced at Wei Hui, who was calmly eating porridge, her manner graceful and detached. From Eleven’s angle, she could just see Wei Hui’s lowered lashes—long, curled, very pretty—but her brows carried a cold aloofness that made Eleven lower her head again.
After breakfast, Pei Tian arrived. He stood in the living room and asked Wei Hui, “Shall I take you to the office first?”
Su Ziyan’s hospital wasn’t far from the company. Wei Hui nodded: “That’s fine.”
She turned to Eleven.
Her voice was soft, but Eleven immediately stood up: “Yes?”
Wei Hui said: “Get in the car.”
As with yesterday, they sat in the backseat together, keeping a bit of distance. Wei Hui was reading financial reports on her tablet. Glancing sideways, she noticed Eleven still had her head down, hands fidgeting uneasily. She turned off the tablet and studied her closely.
Skinny, malnourished, but her skin was good—fair and smooth. Her hair was rough, likely from lack of care, but strands tucked behind her ear revealed a delicate side profile.
Su Ziyan was right—just that side profile was enough for some to want to keep her hidden away like a treasure.
But what drew Wei Hui in the most was her eyes.
Clear, bright, with traces of despair… and a hidden glint of cunning.
Under her gaze, Eleven froze like a statue. Her back tensed with sweat, quickly absorbed by her clothes, turning cold.
Wei Hui looked away calmly.
They soon arrived at the office. Pei Tian opened the door for Wei Hui. Eleven stayed in the car, watching her walk away in high heels, her back straight.
The scenery outside blurred past. With Wei Hui gone, Eleven relaxed a little. Pei Tian glanced at her through the rearview mirror, frowning. He still couldn’t understand why the Third Miss brought Eleven home—treated her well, gave her food and shelter, and now even insisted on a hospital check-up for a minor injury.
He’d been with the Third Miss for five or six years, and never saw her treat anyone like this before. If it were just a regular girl, maybe he could chalk it up to a rare moment of kindness. But Eleven wasn’t an ordinary girl.
According to the background check—they found out she was a habitual thief.
Why would the Third Miss keep a habitual thief close?
He glanced at Eleven again in the mirror, his gaze suspicious. Eleven noticed and looked up. Their eyes met in the mirror. Pei Tian calmly looked away and kept driving. Eleven bit her lip, and the atmosphere in the car grew subtly tense.