C City, inside the Ruan Family Mansion.
The main interior decoration of the mansion was an exquisite European style: towering ceilings adorned with intricate plaster reliefs and crystal chandeliers shaped like branches.
The walls were covered with pale golden Silk Patterned Wallpaper, accompanied by sets of heavy, dark solid wood furniture.
However, upon closer inspection, one would notice many subtle touches of Eastern charm scattered throughout the rooms.
Above the fireplace in the living room hung not a Western oil painting, but a misty Chinese Sumi Landscape Hanging Scroll.
The elegant ink contrasted subtly with the surrounding ornate gold frame, and on the spotless hearth sat a rustic Yixing Teapot.
On the thick, carved coffee table, a colorful Stained Glass Table Lamp cast dappled light and shadows, while beside the lamp stood a delicate Qinghua Porcelain Tea Set.
In the corner laid with a Persian Carpet, near the entrance to the stairs, there was a carefully trimmed Orchid.
At this moment, a middle-aged woman, dressed like a housekeeper, was watering the graceful Orchid.
“Sigh, I really don’t know where Madam and the Young Miss have gone, how they’re eating outside, or if they’re living well…”
The housekeeper set down the watering can and sighed.
Knock knock knock!
There was a knock at the door.
“Coming, coming. It should be the delivery of the plant nutrient solution I ordered.”
The housekeeper thought to herself as she hurried toward the door.
“You can just leave it here…”
“Aunt Fang! I’m home!!”
With a clear, joyful shout, a familiar, fluffy golden head peeked in through the door crack.
Before Aunt Fang could react, the door was fully pushed open, and a blonde girl like a little whirlwind filled with sunshine and fresh breeze appeared in front of the housekeeper’s eyes.
“Aunt Fang, long time no see! How have you been all this time?”
The Young Miss of the Ruan family waved at the stunned Aunt Fang and smiled.
“Young Miss?! Why are you back?! Weren’t you supposed to be out with Madam? Why is Madam not here? And who is this…”
***
Coming back to her senses, Aunt Fang noticed the black-haired girl following behind.
“Miss Su from the Su family? You came too?”
“Oh, that’s a long story. Come on, Aunt Fang, let’s go inside and talk slowly.”
The blonde Young Miss nudged Aunt Fang’s back and then reached out to pull Su Ling by the hand, both heading toward the sofa in the living room.
“So, Young Miss, does this mean you’ve been hanging out at Miss Su’s place this whole time? Or did you happen to go there the day Madam left, only learning about Madam’s departure today?”
After hearing Ruan Zhixian’s explanation, Aunt Fang first looked incredulous, then thought it over and realized this was exactly the kind of thing her Young Miss would do.
She then gave the blonde girl a reproachful look.
“Ahaha, Aunt Fang, don’t look at me like that. I rushed back as soon as I knew Family Mistress was missing.”
Ruan Zhixian scratched her head and smiled awkwardly.
Damn it, if I weren’t worried Aunt Fang wouldn’t accept Lingling’s presence, I wouldn’t say this! Once we get home, I’m definitely making Lingling properly make it up to me!
The blonde girl thought indignantly in her heart.
“Sigh, Young Miss, you’re not a child anymore. Get your mind right.”
The housekeeper sighed deeply, clearly frustrated but caring.
“I know, Aunt Fang.”
The blonde girl stuck out her tongue, clearly not taking it too seriously.
Seeing this, Aunt Fang shook her head and didn’t say more.
“Young Miss, about Madam’s situation, I don’t actually know much either. To be honest, before Madam left, she didn’t explain to anyone where she was going. She just told us she had something very important to do and needed to be away for a while.”
“Hm, Mom said something similar to me before she left.”
Ruan Zhixian nodded thoughtfully.
“So when we noticed you also disappeared at the same time as Madam, we all assumed you were taken away with her.”
At this, the housekeeper gave Ruan Zhixian a reproachful look again.
“Ah Aunt Fang, I really know I was wrong. Next time, next time I absolutely won’t make you worry again!”
The blonde Young Miss clasped her hands together and begged.
“Then why has the Ruan family’s external image remained completely normal during this time? You should still have a way to communicate with Madam, right?”
At this moment, the usually silent Su Ling spoke up.
“Yes, Miss Su, we do still have a channel to communicate with Madam, but it’s only one-way orders from Madam to us,” Aunt Fang nodded.
One-sided communication, huh…
Hearing this, Su Ling recalled the last time she spoke with Madam Ruan, which was also through one-sided communication where Madam passed along a crucial weapon to bring down the Gu family.
That the entire conglomerate could continue operating on such a system was probably only possible because Madam Ruan singlehandedly founded the Ruan Group and rose to become a noble figure in C City over the past decade.
Su Ling silently admired her.
“But, Young Miss, speaking of which, Madam did leave you something before she left.”
With that, Aunt Fang turned and went upstairs.
A moment later, Aunt Fang came downstairs holding a small, carefully wrapped box.
“We originally thought you had left together with Madam, so when Madam left in a hurry, this was mistakenly mixed up. But now it seems this was something Madam specially left for you before her departure.”
“Something Mom specially left for me before she left?”
Ruan Zhixian looked curiously at the small box in Aunt Fang’s hands and reached out to take it.
The girl’s delicate fingers quickly unwrapped the box. Inside lay a brand-new-looking phone and a small note.
“It’s Mom’s handwriting!”
Ruan Zhixian immediately recognized her Family Mistress’s handwriting and eagerly began reading aloud:
“‘Baby, by the time you see this note, Mommy should already be gone.’
‘During this time, you must listen well to Aunt Fang, eat properly, practice your painting well, and don’t secretly play games while I’m away, understood?’”
“Why does she still have to control me not to play games even after leaving…”
Ruan Zhixian muttered softly, then continued reading:
“‘Mommy doesn’t know how long she’ll be gone, but don’t worry, I will succeed in handling everything because I am your most, most amazing Mommy~’”
“‘Sorry, baby, I really don’t know how long this trip will take, and during this period, I’m afraid I won’t be able to communicate much with the family.’”
“‘But it’s okay. If you miss Mommy or if anything important happens at home, use this phone to contact me~ It’s a Special Communication Device I specially made. No matter how far apart we are, you can find me with it~’”
“‘Love you, Mommy.’”