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Chapter 5: Embarrassment

◎ On Etiquette ◎

Cheng Jinghe set down the suitcase and turned off the robotic dog. The world instantly fell silent.

The robot dog lay on the ground, with some tangled wires still visible underneath its belly.

Lu Shiyin, realizing belatedly that her behavior had been quite embarrassing, slowly slid off his back.

The two of them were momentarily silent. Cheng Jinghe handed her a glass jar: “This is yours. It fell in the trunk.”

She quickly snatched it and clutched it tightly. “Thanks.”

She moved so fast that her fingernails accidentally scratched his palm—it tickled.

Lu Shiyin didn’t want to lower her head; that would make her seem even more embarrassed. She lifted her head but didn’t dare make eye contact. Instead, she looked straight at his chest. “I’ll go unpack. Which room is mine?”

Cheng Jinghe led her to the room. “If you don’t like this one, you can pick another.”

Still avoiding his gaze, Lu Shiyin said, “This one looks fine.”

“My room is diagonally across from yours,” he said. “If you need anything, come find me.”

“Okay.”

Once Cheng Jinghe left, Lu Shiyin breathed a sigh of relief. She recalled her earlier actions—so humiliating. She was about to start unpacking when she realized her luggage was still in the living room.

She was too embarrassed to go out again.

Just as she steeled herself and approached the door, Cheng Jinghe came over with her suitcase and two boxes. “Your things.”

Lu Shiyin forced a polite smile and thanked him. He replied, “You’re welcome. That dog’s program is buggy. I’ll fix it.”

“Alright, sorry to trouble you.”

Their conversation was overly polite. Cheng Jinghe didn’t want to intrude further, so he left and went to clean up the half-finished robot dog in the living room.

Not long after, a middle-aged woman emerged from the maid’s quarters. Seeing Cheng Jinghe and the toppled robot dog, she said, “Sir, you’re back. Is madam here too? I was in the restroom earlier and heard that dog barking nonstop. It must’ve scared madam.”

Cheng Jinghe replied, “It’s fine. Yes, she’s here—unpacking.”

He then headed to the study, and Aunt Zhang went to cook.

About an hour later, Aunt Zhang came to the study. Cheng Jinghe had taken off his jacket and was sitting on the floor in a loose T-shirt, repairing the robot dog. Hearing someone at the door, he looked up, saw it was Aunt Zhang, and then lowered his head again.

“Sir, dinner is ready.”

“Okay.” He didn’t stop what he was doing. “Call madam, please.”

Aunt Zhang went to fetch Lu Shiyin. She knew which room she was in since she had helped clean it.

Lu Shiyin opened the door to see a kindly middle-aged woman—clearly the housekeeper.

The woman introduced herself as Aunt Zhang and told her it was time to eat. Lu Shiyin set her things down and followed her to the dining room. After a while, Cheng Jinghe still hadn’t shown up, so she asked, “Where’s Cheng Jinghe?”

Aunt Zhang replied, “He’s still in the study fixing his robot dog. That dog often malfunctions—it’s startled me a few times.”

“He’s not coming to eat?”

“He doesn’t like to be interrupted when he’s working. He’ll only stop when he’s finished.”

Lu Shiyin blurted out, “Won’t the food get cold?”

Aunt Zhang nodded.

Lu Shiyin stood up. “I’ll go call him.”

Following Aunt Zhang’s directions, she knocked lightly on the study door, which wasn’t closed. Cheng Jinghe looked up and met her eyes.

“Dinner,” Lu Shiyin said. She wasn’t sure if he would listen, but even if he didn’t, as a guest, it was her duty to call him—she considered it a matter of etiquette.

Cheng Jinghe put down his tools and stood up. “Okay, I’ll wash my hands and be right there.”

She froze, surprised by his compliance, and returned to the dining room. Within two minutes, he really came.

Aunt Zhang served him rice and joked, “Only madam’s words work.”

Lu Shiyin lowered her head and quietly continued eating. Cheng Jinghe responded with a light “Mm,” which had a hint of amusement. Thinking she misheard, Lu Shiyin glanced up but saw his face was calm and expressionless.

After dinner, Cheng Jinghe registered her fingerprint in the smart lock system and then brought the topic back to the robot dog. He apologized again, saying he’d fix it, and asked for her help.

Lu Shiyin asked, “What kind of help?”

He said he needed her to assist with testing—facial and voice recognition.

At first, she refused. But Cheng Jinghe sounded sincere, promising the robot would be locked away in the study and that he would always supervise during tests.

Lu Shiyin finally agreed.

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That afternoon, Lu Shiyin drove to Lanjun Villa Estate, a luxury area nestled at the foot of Baishi Mountain in City A. Nearby was a vast forest park, and the air was crisp and clean.

She brought a bouquet of lilies with her. Every time she came here, she felt anxious. Although she was visiting the person closest to her, it always felt like a huge weight pressed on her chest.

Though her fingerprint was registered in the lock, she never used it. She always rang the doorbell.

Soon, someone came to open the door.

The girl inside had a round face, blunt bangs, and round glasses. She looked a bit dull but smiled sweetly when she saw Lu Shiyin. “Sister Shiyin.”

Lu Shiyin nodded at her. “Xiaoting.”

She changed shoes and casually asked, “How has she been lately?”

“Madam’s about the same. She caught a bit of a cold when the weather changed but is fine now.”

“Good.” Lu Shiyin handed her the flowers. “Put them in a vase in her study.”

Xiaoting accepted them cheerfully.

Lu Shiyin peeked into the study but didn’t see Zhong Jiajia, so she went to the back courtyard and finally spotted her.

On the lawn, under a sun umbrella, Zhong Jiajia sat in a gray wheelchair with a blanket over her lap, reading a book.

Lu Shiyin didn’t dare step forward. She stood there watching. At 49, Zhong Jiajia still exuded elegance, her hair in an updo, her aura untouchable.

She watched her mother’s fingers turn the pages, her head slowly shifting as she read.

Xiaoting placed the lilies into a vase and was about to show them to Zhong Jiajia but noticed that mother and daughter hadn’t exchanged a word—each kept to their own side. If it weren’t a private residence, one would assume they were strangers.

“Sister Shiyin, I’ve arranged the flowers. Do they look nice?”

Snapped out of her thoughts, Lu Shiyin glanced at the amber-colored vase. “Very nice.”

She then looked back at Zhong Jiajia, who briefly met her eyes before turning away again, eyes back on the book.

Xiaoting went over to show her the flowers. Zhong Jiajia’s gaze lifted much faster this time. She looked at the delicately fragrant lilies and gave a faint nod.

Xiaoting, used to her aloofness, grinned and returned the vase to the room.

Silence returned.

“How long are you going to just stand there?” Zhong Jiajia asked calmly, her voice flat.

Lu Shiyin finally moved, her limbs stiff, and walked over to sit beside her. Xiaoting brought her tea.

The scent was mellow—it was Dahongpao, Lu Qiyao’s favorite. Zhong Jiajia had continued his habit.

“Mom, how have you been lately?”

Still reading, Zhong Jiajia replied after a few more lines, “Didn’t you already ask Xiaoting? Did she not explain clearly, or do I look unwell?”

Sharp as always, she closed her book and sipped her tea.

Lu Shiyin followed her movement and noticed she was reading The Sandalwood Death.

“I’ve read that too. It scared me a bit. Where are you in the story?”

She still longed for her mother’s attention, like a little girl.

But Zhong Jiajia only set the teacup down and said coldly, “What’s there to be scared of? Just a pile of rotten flesh.”

Lu Shiyin’s eyes stung, but she didn’t want to cry. She then showed her ring—something she deliberately wore to spark conversation.

“I got married, Mom. This is my ring. Pretty, isn’t it?”

Zhong Jiajia finally looked again—at the ring on her daughter’s finger—but said nothing and turned her gaze away.

“I’ll bring him next time, okay? You can meet him and see if he’s good for me.”

Zhong Jiajia chuckled, finally looking her straight in the eye. “Your grandfather probably picked him out. He wouldn’t have chosen poorly. My approval isn’t needed.”

As she finished, the smile faded, and her face returned to its cold blankness.

Rejected again, Lu Shiyin didn’t press further. She tucked her hand back and scratched her fingernails nervously.

Forcing a smile, she said, “Then I won’t interrupt your reading…” and returned to her room.

Though her mother didn’t like seeing her, Lu Shiyin still wanted to stay the night—she missed her.

She chatted with Xiaoting to learn more about her mother. When she found out the bedding needed changing, she went to the master bedroom to help.

As she lifted the sheets, she discovered a photo under the pillow: a family portrait. Lu Qiyao stood on the left, handsome and dignified; Zhong Jiajia on the right, radiant and beautiful. In the middle stood three-year-old Lu Shiyin, holding both their hands.

She used to brag that her father looked like a movie star. Her classmates were jealous. Every time she begged him to pick her up from school, no matter how busy he was, he came—always impeccably dressed.

She’d bounce over joyfully, basking in admiration.

Later, she thought she must’ve been too spoiled—too selfish. Maybe that’s why the heavens punished her by taking away her father and her mother’s legs.

Tears welled in her eyes. She wiped them away and continued her task.

By evening, the house filled with the scent of dinner.

Dinner went smoothly. Zhong Jiajia said little, and Lu Shiyin silently accompanied her. It was, in some ways, a warm meal.

But fate is cruel. After dinner, Lu Shiyin tried to help Zhong Jiajia with her usual post-meal walk, which involved wearing prosthetics.

Though usually Xiaoting’s job, Lu Shiyin wanted to take care of her mother.

But Zhong Jiajia reacted strongly and even pushed her to the ground.

Xiaoting rushed over, helped Lu Shiyin up, and went to assist the lady instead.

Biting her lip, Lu Shiyin went to the bathroom and let her tears fall freely, gripping the sink for support.

Her mother had never allowed her to see her legs—never.

After washing her face and pulling herself together, she saw Xiaoting walking with Zhong Jiajia in the courtyard.

She cleaned up the kitchen, then took out a necklace she had specially picked for Xiaoting—grateful for her care.

In the maid’s room, she placed the necklace under Xiaoting’s pillow and took a photo to message her later.

But under the pillow, she found a slim yellow booklet peeking out.

Was that a… mock exam?

Lifting the pillow slightly, she froze, then gently put everything back and left.

Soon, Zhong Jiajia returned. She never liked walking long—prosthetics were uncomfortable. She was the kind of person who would scream if she got a paper cut.

Lu Shiyin took a long look at Xiaoting, then said goodbye to her mother and left Lanjun Villa.