Although Xia Rou still lived in the side building, someday she would move into the main building. Inside that luxurious house, she would have her own room, specially renovated for her use, and she would be able to establish her own area in the house.
As for He Lili, she would have to rent a room elsewhere. Even if she came back to the Cao Family residence, she could only share a room with Lady Fang. She didn't even have a room that belonged solely to her in the side building.
Xia Rou sighed, her resentment toward He Lili shrinking. She knew that if Xia Rou had been in He Lili's shoes, her actions might not even have compared to He Lili's, or might even have been worse.
Self-inferiority and pride were two sides of the same coin. The person in the middle, the suffering and torment that came with being torn between the two sides, nobody knew better than her.
"Xia Rou, it's time to eat dinner." He Lili came to knock on her door that evening.
Xia Rou followed her out. Translated by The Novelst
"It's so nice to eat in the main building, why would you want to come over to the employee dining hall instead?" He Lili was salty, having dinner in the main building was special treatment she could never receive no matter how hard she hoped.
Xia Rou replied softly: "It's only me by myself so there's no need to go through such trouble, it's much simpler to eat with everyone together."
He Lili glanced sidelong at her, jealousy and disdain coursing through her as she thought: "This child is stupid."
Xia Rou didn't take it to heart.
Because He Lili… couldn't stay much longer in the Cao Family.
Just as Xia Rou thought, nobody had ever deliberately gone against her. How others treated her was a reflection of her treatment of others.
In the past, she was unschooled in the ways of the world, always scared that others would look down on her, so she would sometimes deliberately act up. Such as when the Cao Family would not be coming back to dine, she would still insist on eating alone in the main building.
However, in the eyes of the others, she looked like she was trying to show off.
And now, because Xia Rou had suggested having dinner together with the employees, everyone treated her fairly well.
"Miss Xia, our food here isn't as exquisitely cooked, can you get used to it?" The chef, Old Zheng, asked with a grin.
"Uncle Zheng," Xia Rou addressed him, smiling: "You can just call me Xia Rou."
"Ah? This…" Old Zheng wanted to decline.
"I'm just someone without a family, so I'm lodging here. If you keep calling me Miss Xia, Miss Xia, it's quite weird for me." Xia Rou said with a smile.
As she pointed out her identity frankly, the atmosphere at the table became more relaxed. Although everyone was already being nice to her, once she spoke those words, they obviously felt more comfortable.
That was how relationships worked. When you gave a little more to people, they would also give you a little bit more as well, was what Xia Rou thought.
"Uncle Zheng, I say if Uncle Cao and the others are absent again in the future, I'll just come over to eat with all of you. So you don't have to cook for me alone."
Now that she opened her heart, she could put away any intentions she had of acting up like she had in the past.
He Lili's face reflected her shock.
"Are you okay?" She asked in surprise. "You could've eaten in the main building; why do you want to come over here?"
"Eating alone, I feel like I'll be too much trouble…"
Before Xia Rou could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by He Lili's sharp tone: "Are you stupid, how can the side building compare to the main building!"
The dining hall quieted all of a sudden.
Xia Rou blinked, asking slowly: "What's the difference?"
What's the difference? One side was for the upper class, the other for the lower class!
He Lili was riled up by Xia Rou's words just then. The treatment she had hoped for for so many years, Xia Rou had given up without a thought. She couldn't hold back for those few moments and blurted that sentence out.
And now the people gathered at the table were staring at her. She immediately realized she had misspoken. Although everyone clearly understood what she was trying to imply, speaking out so frankly and straightforwardly was like a slap to the face to the people at the table.
Among those gathered was also her mother.
Lady Fang glared at He Lili, then turning around to Xia Rou and gently saying: "I know you are trying to be considerate, but in this matter we have no say. Why don't you inform the main building first, or else Old Zheng and I are the ones who will be scolded."
"That's right, that's right." Old Zheng promptly nodded his head.
Seeing that she had put them in a difficult position, Xia Rou didn't insist any further.
Having dinner with a table full of people was actually much better than eating alone.
Back when Xia Rou ate alone, she couldn't eat much at all. However, having dinner together, Xia Rou was able to eat more than usual while they were all bursting with laughter.
Once the sky darkened, she went for a walk in the courtyard. She walked from the center to the front of the courtyard.
In her heart, she had many thoughts.
Listening to the crickets chirping in the grass, she paced slowly back and forth. Suddenly a light flickered in her direction. Xia Rou turned around while shading her eyes.
It was a black Hummer driving in from the gate. After the headlight blinded Xia Rou, the driver quickly turned it off. The courtyard had lamps for lighting, so although it was darker than the headlights, the road was still visible.
In this house full of men, the only person who could possibly be so considerate must be Cao Yang who had taken care of his younger brothers.
Xia Rou couldn't keep the corner of her mouth from tilting upwards.
As she expected, as the car slowly rolled to a stop at her side, the window rolled down to reveal Cao Yang's handsome face.
"Xiao Rou, what are you doing?" He asked. Translated by The Novelst
"Brother Cao Yang." Xia Rou felt shy, "I ate too much, I'm trying to digest my food."
Cao Yang couldn't help himself and threw his head back in laughter.
Proofread by: Hannah