Dumbfounded, Shen I watched as A Miao walked over to him.
"Chop off her hands and feed them to the dogs!" Shen Xinglan's bellow came drifting from inside. A Miao unabashedly shouted, "If you chop off my hands, you won't have anyone doing the stealing for you!"
Moments later, it sounded as if something was being thrown to the floor. When Shen I heard nothing else with his perked ears, he looked at A Miao with a complicated expression. "Come with me."
"What do you want to eat?" he asked when they entered another house.
"Meat!" A Miao answered without hesitation.
Shen I left without saying anything. A Miao looked around the room and realized that it was yet another attic. There was a pond outside and the water appeared hazy in the dark of the night and underneath the serene moonlight.
"Wicked capitalist!" She felt a deep sense of envy and once again cursed out Shen Xinglan's eight generations of ancestors.
She was driven home once she finished her meal and the driver was Shen I as usual. He observed her through the rearview mirror to the point that she finally noticed.
"Just say what you want to say!" When A Miao looked at the rearview mirror, she saw that Shen I had already looked away and continued to act as if he was mute.
A Miao curled her lip. Then she leaned to her side and fell asleep.
"Wake up. We're here." Shen I roused A Miao after an unknown amount of time. She conveyed her thanks and got off the car. Shen I watched her figure disappear at the crossroad before finally driving away.
It was now close to midnight. A Miao stared at the tightly-closed entrance to the villa and suddenly felt a bad premonition.
"Sigh..." She took out the key and tried twisting it. Sure enough... the door was still locked.
The next day, Xia Mei shouted the moment she entered the dining room. "Grandfather! A Miao didn't return last night! I'm sure she's run off to hang around improper people!"
"She didn't come back?" Xia Yongqiang lifted his head and put down the newspaper. "Xia Wan, go upstairs and take a look."
Xia Wan glanced at her sister. Just as she was about to get up, she saw A Miao walking down the stairs.
"A Miao!" Her eyes glinted. "Did you have a good sleep?"
Xia Mei violently turned her head. A Miao smiled faintly at her. "I slept very well!"
"How did you come in?" Xia Mei cried in disbelief.
A Miao displayed her astonishment. "Through the door, of course! Didn't you prepare a key for me?"
"Impossible!" Xia Mei screeched as she rose to her feet.
Yao Lili had never liked this niece of hers. She clasped her hands around her ears and said, "Xia Mei, look at how you're behaving. If you behave this way in public, you'll be a laughing stock." It was fine if she made a joke out of herself but she must not embarrass Xia Wan.
"Xia Mei, what's the matter?" Xia Wan was also curious about Xia Mei's reaction.
Xia Mei wanted to know what was going on as well. She had obviously locked the door from within. "I..." She glanced at A Miao, who had already calmly taken her seat and began eating.
"Xia Mei, what are you harping on about?" Xia Yongqiang glared at her. He then turned to ask A Miao, "What time did you come back last night?"
A Miao answered honestly, "Pretty late! I think it's around 11 pm!"
Xia Yongqiang nodded, not at all doubting her words. He warned Xia Mei, saying, "It's your sister's birthday at the end of the month and there will be guests coming. If you continue to show your temper, you're better off not attending at all."
"Grandfather!" Xia Mei glared hatefully at A Miao. She then made a promise, her voice full of grievances. "I understand."
It seemed that no one was aware of what had happened last night. A Miao glanced at Xia Wan, who was shooting a warning look at her. "Yesterday you said you're leaving because something happened to your friend. Is it settled?"
"No. I need to go back in a couple of days," Miao replied her. "Don't worry. I know what to do."
Next to them, Xia Mei continued to grumble. "Older Sister, why are you paying so much attention to her? She ran off on her own after I got into an accident. She wouldn't appreciate your kindness."
"Oh? What happened to you last night?" A Miao drank a mouthful of milk. "When I left..."
"A Miao!" Xia Wan cut off her words. "Xia Mei and Youran didn't know that you left. When they went up to look for you, they fainted due to coal gas poisoning."
"Coal gas poisoning?" A Miao winked at her. "How did that happen?"
"It's all because of that damned hotel!" Xia Mei prattled on. "Their coal gas pipeline burst and it so happened to burst inside the room's bathroom!"
Xia Wan fixed a glare at her. "Haven't I filed a complaint with the hotel already? Stop talking about it. If our grandfather hears about this, he'll ground you. I really wouldn't care about you then."
"I get it! I get it!" Xia Mei stuck out her tongue at Xia Wan.
A Miao lowered her head and slowly nibbled on her bread.
Xia Wan might be able to fool Xia Mei, but what about Bai Youran?