Chapter 37: Understanding

Everyone had left the kitchen, leaving only Su Nuo behind.

She didn’t know who was the last to leave, but the light was turned off casually.

Darkness returned to the kitchen once more.

Su Nuo adjusted her eyes for a few seconds and soon could see clearly.

Having been locked in the basement for so long, she had long since adapted to the darkness.

As long as there was the slightest bit of light, she could make out her surroundings.

In that place, not being able to see clearly could mean death.

Suddenly, footsteps came from behind her, and every muscle in Su Nuo’s body tensed.

She turned mechanically, only to see Chi Ling’s indifferent face.

“What more do you want to do?”

His voice was soft, as if drifting from far away.

Su Nuo looked at him, puzzled. “What?”

“What else do you want to do?” Chi Ling repeated.

Su Nuo quickly shook her head.

Before she could speak, Chi Ling rolled up his sleeves and draped his coat over her shoulders.

The familiar yet strange scent wafted through, and Su Nuo’s tense nerves suddenly relaxed.

That was Chi Ling’s scent.

His clothes always carried the faint aroma of lavender—subtle, yet soothing to the soul.

At that moment, Chi Ling carefully placed the stew pots back in their spots and began tidying the ingredients.

Su Nuo hurried forward, “I can handle it myself.”

She lowered her voice as much as possible, afraid of waking anyone else.

She glanced warily behind her. “He won’t let anyone else help me.”

“He,” of course, was Duan Yubai.

Even Duan’s father didn’t hold as much authority in this household as Duan Yubai did; everyone had to obey him.

In the compound, Su Nuo had long learned to submit to the highest authority.

Because if she didn’t obey, the next moment she might be locked in a dark room again.

She looked at Chi Ling beseechingly.

Chi Ling shook his head. “Mr. Duan wouldn’t care about these things. He’d only be angry if breakfast wasn’t ready on time.”

He pointed at the time on his phone.

Su Nuo’s pupils dilated; it was already past five o’clock.

If she delayed any longer, it would truly be too late.

After thinking it over, she finally said, “You should leave by five forty, alright?”

At five forty-five, the other servants would come into the kitchen.

Even if they did nothing, they at least had to show up and pretend to be busy.

Chi Ling nodded slightly but silently continued helping her.

Once all the steps were completed and the pancakes and sesame balls were in the pot, Su Nuo began urging again.

“Chi Ling, you should go back now. It won’t be good if someone finds you here.”

Chi Ling said nothing, but his gaze fell on her right hand.

There was a burn mark on the back of her hand, and on the palm were nail marks that had scabbed over.

His brow furrowed as he turned to rummage around.

After finding some antiseptic and bandages, he returned to Su Nuo.

“Hand.”

“Hand?”

Before Su Nuo could understand, Chi Ling had already lifted her hand.

He carefully began treating the wound.

The nail marks were deep; this injury could not have been self-inflicted. So whose was it?

Chi Ling hadn’t come over earlier and hadn’t witnessed what Mo Xiaoxue had done.

Su Nuo instinctively tried to withdraw her hand.

“Don’t move.”

Hearing the slight chill in Chi Ling’s voice, Su Nuo dared not pull back and her body stiffened.

Feeling her tense muscles and rapid breathing, Chi Ling quickly softened his tone.

“If the wound isn’t treated, it will get infected, and that will cause a lot of trouble.”

Su Nuo gave a faint hum but still remained tense.

She knew that once infection set in, the wound would fester and the skin would peel away bit by bit.

If the wound was large enough, it would emit a foul smell, attracting maggots and rats to gnaw at it.

Even without external irritation, some people developed uncontrollable fevers from infection and eventually died of heatstroke.

At the peak of the fever, one could have convulsions, foam at the mouth, and some even bit off their own tongues...

Recalling the scenes she had witnessed in the basement, Su Nuo shuddered violently.

Suddenly, a warm sensation spread through her hand—it was Chi Ling gently rubbing it.

“I...”

Su Nuo felt as if her throat was blocked, unable to utter a word.

Chi Ling’s hand was warm, bringing her a small measure of comfort.

“Miss, don’t be afraid. I’m here. No one will hurt you.”

His voice was resolute and gradually calmed Su Nuo’s rapid breaths.

“Can I leave now?”

After an unknown length of time, Chi Ling softly asked.

Su Nuo glanced at the time—it was almost five forty-five.

She nodded quickly, “I’m fine now, don’t worry.”

The moment the words left her lips, she froze.

She didn’t know why she had said that.

Chi Ling nodded slightly and then turned to leave.

Only when she heard his door close did Su Nuo exhale deeply.

Meanwhile, on the second floor, Duan Yubai’s bedroom door remained open.

Seeing Chi Ling leave, he inexplicably felt a sense of relief.

Su Nuo’s stubborn nature hadn’t changed in the slightest.

If she decided to do something, she would see it through.

But Su Nuo cooking? He knew it was all a lie.

During breakfast, Su Nuo set the plates and was about to go upstairs.

“What are you doing?” Duan Yubai looked at her displeased.

Mo Xiaoxue quickly stood up, “Miss Su, am I taking your seat? You should sit down and eat.”

“I’m going to tidy up the room,” Su Nuo answered quietly.

Mo Xiaoxue smiled magnanimously, “Oh, there’s nothing much to tidy in my room. Come on, eat first.”

She pulled Su Nuo to sit in her place.

“You work so hard every morning; how can you skip breakfast? You’re so thin. Here, have my bird’s nest soup.”

Originally, she just wanted to show off her generosity.

Her position was closest to Duan Yubai, and knowing how much he disliked Su Nuo, he would surely scold her for wanting to tidy up.

But today was different.

Su Nuo panicked and tried to stand, but heard Duan Yubai snort.

“Stop pretending. Want to starve yourself? Eat quickly and don’t waste everyone’s time.”

He placed the bird’s nest soup heavily in front of Su Nuo.

In the end, Su Nuo had no choice but to sit back down.

She didn’t dare resist Mo Xiaoxue, let alone Duan Yubai.

Mo Xiaoxue was stunned for a moment, but since Mrs. Duan had asked her to sit beside her, she went over.

“Tomorrow, I’ll have the servants make more bird’s nest soup. Xiao Nuo really should eat more. Xiaoxue, you can have mine today.”

Mrs. Duan smiled warmly and pushed the bowl over. Mo Xiaoxue quickly forced a smile.

“No need, auntie. I’m still young; missing one meal is no problem.”

“Actually, if Miss Su wants to eat, just prepare an extra portion. That way, everyone can have enough, right?”

Her gaze settled on Su Nuo, as if everything was her fault.

But she seemed to have forgotten that Su Nuo was just a servant in this household—how could she dare touch bird’s nest soup worth tens of thousands per jin?

Su Nuo kept her head lowered, too afraid to move.

Duan Yubai’s oppressive presence was overwhelming; she felt as if something was lodged in her throat.

Seeing her like this, Duan Yubai tapped the table.

“Su Nuo, I told you to eat. Don’t you understand human words?”

“I understand.”

Su Nuo acted almost instinctively, drinking the bird’s nest soup in the stew pot in one gulp.