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The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting light onto the sofa. Lying on the sofa, Shen Yanli frowned deeply, slowly opening his eyes. Just as he was about to raise his hand to rub the dull pain at his temple, his gaze landed on the sofa diagonally opposite him, and he suddenly froze.
Half-reclining on the opposite sofa was a woman with a serene sleeping face. Even in her sleep, her delicate features, as beautiful as a flower hiding the moon, remained stunningly captivating.
Her body was clothed in a loose dress that could not conceal her enchanting figure. Her slender and graceful posture made it impossible to look away.
Shen Yanli looked at her beautiful, slender legs, so tender they seemed like they would flush red with the slightest pinch…
His brows furrowed slightly, his thoughts unknown.
At that moment, Liu Xiaozhi, who had been lying nearby, woke up. Seeing Shen Yanli’s eyes open, she immediately became fully alert.
“Mr. Shen, you’re awake?” Her voice was gentle.
Shen Yanli’s gaze shifted away from Tang Tian across from him, and his hoarse voice spoke, “Hmm, was it Sister Wu who had you watch over me?”
When he asked this, Tang Tian rubbed her eyes awake. Seeing Shen Yanli raise his hand to check his watch, her sleepy mind was still not fully alert.
Liu Xiaozhi glanced at Tang Tian opposite her—so beautiful she seemed to be glowing—and felt a twinge of displeasure. But thinking about Tang Tian’s annoying personality, her worry instantly lessened.
“For your safety, Sister Wu had Tang Tian and me keep watch over you,” Liu Xiaozhi said as she poured a glass of warm water for Shen Yanli.
Tang Tian, sitting by the sofa, didn’t get up to help. If she did, it would look like she was competing to show off in front of Shen Yanli.
There was really no need. Besides, this was one of those warm, emotional scenes between the female lead and the four male leads—she, a villainous supporting character, could not steal the spotlight.
Tang Tian sat quietly to the side, playing the role of a cooperative, background extra.
When Liu Xiaozhi poured the water, she still couldn’t help but glance at Tang Tian. In the past, Tang Tian always fawned over the gentlemen, repeatedly vying to show off in front of them.
This time, Liu Xiaozhi was mentally prepared for Tang Tian to snatch the cup away, but even after Liu Xiaozhi handed the glass to Shen Yanli, Tang Tian, sitting opposite, was still holding back the urge to yawn and made no move to get up.
Shen Yanli followed Liu Xiaozhi’s gaze and glanced again toward the sofa diagonally opposite.
Tang Tian raised her slender jade-like fingers to shield her face as she yawned, only then realizing that both the people diagonally and directly opposite her were watching her…
Her water-blurred eyes flickered between the two, her expression puzzled. Could it be that yawning was forbidden during the rehearsal? Surely such a ridiculous rule couldn’t exist.
Shen Yanli’s eyes appraised her. He recalled how she had deliberately accentuated her figure in front of him before, her tone teasing and suggestive—those images flashed before his eyes.
Now, her pair of dark, clear eyes looked innocent and pure, causing Shen Yanli to furrow his brows, suspecting she was trying to retreat strategically.
“Get out.” Shen Yanli said coldly to Tang Tian.
The air in the room instantly froze. Liu Xiaozhi dared not utter a word. She glanced sideways at Shen Yanli, then looked at Tang Tian with a hint of secret satisfaction.
Liu Xiaozhi thought Tang Tian would feel extremely embarrassed or heartbroken to the point of tears.
Unexpectedly, Tang Tian suddenly stood up from the sofa, showing no trace of displeasure or sorrow—instead, she looked eager. She spoke rapidly, “Alright then, Mr. Shen.”
Under the watchful eyes of Shen Yanli and Liu Xiaozhi, she left the room without a hint of reluctance.
After closing the door behind her, Tang Tian let out a long breath, finally free from the suffocating atmosphere in Shen Yanli’s room. Every movement of hers had felt extremely uncomfortable.
Feeling much lighter, she hurried down the stairs with quick footsteps. The housekeeping servants had already left after finishing their work. The villa was about to be swallowed by the night, silent without a single sound.
Tang Tian still had some chores unfinished and couldn’t return to her room; otherwise, the housekeeper would discover it and deduct her wages.
Upstairs, only Shen Yanli and Liu Xiaozhi remained in the room.
Liu Xiaozhi was too shy to meet his gaze. Shen Yanli rubbed his brows and said, “You should go attend to your work. I don’t need anyone watching over me here.”
Unlike the cold attitude he showed toward Tang Tian, Shen Yanli’s demeanor was noticeably gentler toward Liu Xiaozhi.
Liu Xiaozhi’s every movement gave off a gentle and graceful impression. She nodded and, while standing up, did not forget to remind him once more.
“Mr. Shen, if you ever feel unwell, don’t hesitate to call me. Otherwise… I’ll be worried,” Liu Xiaozhi said, glancing at him nervously, unsure if he would find her concern annoying.
Shen Yanli leaned back against the sofa, closing his eyes. “Mm.”
Liu Xiaozhi felt a secret thrill and was about to leave the room when, just as she turned around, a deep, hoarse voice came from behind her: “When I passed out, did I end up on top of you?”
Her heart tightened instantly. The scene she had witnessed upon entering—the sound of Tang Tian calling out to her from beneath him—echoed in her mind.
Compelled by some impulse, Liu Xiaozhi nodded. “I’m fine, Mr. Shen. You don’t need to worry.”
Shen Yanli did not doubt her words. “Mm. I will make it up to you.”
Liu Xiaozhi’s heart leapt with joy, but to avoid revealing herself, she didn’t care what kind of compensation he meant. She could not accept this so-called “compensation”—she feared Shen Yanli might discover she was an impostor.
“No need for compensation. Please don’t give it a second thought,” Liu Xiaozhi said, knowing that yielding now was the best way to catch Shen Yanli’s attention. After this incident, she was sure she would hold a different place in his heart.
Thinking of this, her heart stirred with excitement.
Shen Yanli ignored her words, as if no matter what she said, he was determined to make it up to her.
No one knew whether Liu Xiaozhi’s understanding and kindness had truly moved Shen Yanli.
Downstairs on the first floor, Tang Tian was completely unaware of what had happened in Shen Yanli’s room upstairs.
She had just finished preparing the fruit, dividing it neatly into four portions arranged on a beautiful fruit plate. She had to remember which fruits each of the four men liked or disliked—who preferred more of certain fruits, and which ones should be left out entirely.
High wages were not earned so easily, and being a servant was no easy job.
While reflecting on this, Tang Tian carried the four fruit plates and placed them into the refrigerator to chill, planning to deliver them to each of their rooms later.
The refrigerator door closed softly with a “bang.” The expensive fridge had to be closed gently—if it broke, she definitely couldn’t afford to pay for it.
Just as Tang Tian turned to return to the bar counter to tidy up, a girl she had encountered at noon while folding clothes appeared behind her, standing coldly and silently.
Tang Tian glanced at her briefly but ignored her, turning back to the counter and opening the faucet, beginning to wash the cutting board and fruit knife as if the other girl wasn’t there.
Zheng Liyu was ignored by her for the first time. Ever since Tang Tian started working here, it had always been Zheng Liyu giving Tang Tian attitude. Tang Tian was always flattering her, trying to pry information about the four gentlemen from her mouth, even attempting to seduce them.
That evening, when delivering the fruit platter, Zheng Liyu guessed Tang Tian would make a move again. Just two nights ago, she had upset Mr. Pei, and last night, nobody knew what tricks she was planning.
But Zheng Liyu had no intention of kindly stopping her; she hoped Sister Wu would even fire Tang Tian.
“The butler said that tomorrow night, I will be the one to deliver Mr. Pei’s fruit platter,” Zheng Liyu said with a tone and posture full of arrogance, clearly looking down on Tang Tian from the bottom of her heart.
The sound of water flowing from the faucet did not completely cover her sarcastic words, but Tang Tian calmly continued washing the cutting board.
Hearing Zheng Liyu’s words, she didn’t lift her head and responded quietly, “Oh.”
Zheng Liyu expected her to flatter her as before, begging her to hand over the fruit delivery duty, so she stood awkwardly on the spot for a long time. Apart from that single “Oh,” she heard no more from Tang Tian.
After she finished tidying the bar counter, Zheng Liyu still hadn’t left, standing there dazedly watching Tang Tian.
Tang Tian didn’t understand why Zheng Liyu was staring at her so foolishly. As she walked past her, she gave Zheng Liyu a strange glance and then left on her own.
Zheng Liyu watched her leave in disbelief. How could she not have snatched the task that night? Had she changed her way of seducing?
Tang Tian, already out of the kitchen, walked briskly into the staff cafeteria. Dinner time was approaching, and she needed to finish eating quickly.
She took out the staff meal prepared for them by the chef after work from the refrigerator. Tang Tian grabbed the meal placed on the very front, tore off the cling film, and put it in the microwave to heat up.
Soon, the aroma filled the entire room. Tang Tian happily took the meal out of the microwave and sat down on a nearby chair to enjoy it.
In these past two days, aside from the high salary, the thing she was most satisfied with was the staff meals here.
The chef’s skills were exceptional, completely winning over her appetite.