Chapter 24: Relief

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Relief

After leaving the Huo residence, Xi Yunxui suddenly remembered something important.

The daycare.

The principal had asked her to come by later that day.

According to the original Xi Yunxui’s memories, she was supposed to work that day, but the principal had specifically asked her to arrive later.

Xi Yunxui checked the time.

"I almost forgot."

She returned to her apartment, changed into something suitable for going out, then followed the route she had learned the previous day.

By the time she arrived at the daycare, the afternoon was already well underway.

The familiar colorful building stood before her.

Xi Yunxui walked inside and went directly to the principal’s office.

She raised her hand.

Knock. Knock.

"Come in."

Xi Yunxui opened the door.

A middle-aged woman sat behind the desk.

She was the principal of the daycare.

"Xi Yunxui?"

"Yes, Principal."

"Come and sit."

Xi Yunxui walked over and took the chair opposite her.

The principal looked uncomfortable.

After a brief silence, she finally sighed.

"Yunxui, there is something I need to tell you."

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"Please go ahead."

"I’m afraid you won’t be able to continue working here."

Xi Yunxui wasn’t particularly surprised.

She had already guessed something was wrong.

"What happened?"

The principal clasped her hands together.

"We’ve received several complaints."

"Complaints?"

"Yes."

She sighed.

"Some of the parents feel that you aren’t confident enough with the children. The other teachers have also noticed that you’re extremely timid around them."

Xi Yunxui remained quiet.

The principal continued gently.

"You’re not a bad person, Yunxui. But working with young children requires you to be firm sometimes. You have to speak loudly when necessary, correct them when they misbehave, and keep control of the classroom."

She shook her head.

"You’ve always been too shy to do that."

Xi Yunxui understood immediately.

The principal wasn’t describing her.

She was describing the original Xi Yunxui.

The timid girl whose voice would become smaller whenever someone raised their voice.

The girl who would apologize to children even when they were the ones misbehaving.

Xi Yunxui sighed inwardly.

I see.

She couldn’t exactly argue.

She had only worked there for one day since arriving in this world, and the staff certainly couldn’t have formed a complete impression of how much she had changed.

The principal reached into a drawer and brought out a brown envelope.

"This is your final settlement. It’s not much, but I hope it helps."

Xi Yunxui accepted it with both hands.

"Thank you."

The principal seemed relieved that she wasn’t upset.

"I’m sorry it ended this way."

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"It’s alright."

She stood.

"I understand."

She bowed slightly.

"Thank you for taking care of me."

Then she left.

Once she stepped outside, Xi Yunxui looked at the brown envelope.

She wasn’t sad.

In fact, she felt a strange sense of relief.

Working at the daycare wasn’t what she had planned for this life.

And now that she had the All Works Maid System, she had already been looking for a way to remain useful at the Huo residence full-time without betraying the original Xi Yunxui’s choices.

Now the decision had been made for her.

She could stay.

She could work.

And she could slowly figure out this strange new life.

---

When Xi Yunxui returned to the Huo residence, she first went to the staff quarters.

She looked around but couldn’t find Auntie Zhang.

She asked another servant.

"Where is Auntie Zhang?"

"She should be in the main residence."

"Thank you."

Xi Yunxui headed there.

She eventually found Auntie Zhang in the kitchen.

"Auntie Zhang."

The older woman turned.

"Oh, Yunxui. You’re back."

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"I need to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"I want to ask if I can work here full-time."

Auntie Zhang stared at her.

"Full-time?"

"Yes."

"But don’t you already have another job?"

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"I did."

"What happened?"

"Something happened, so I won’t be returning."

Auntie Zhang looked at her curiously.

She didn’t ask for details.

After a moment, she smiled.

"Then that’s fine."

She pointed toward the staff quarters.

"The room you’ve been using can be yours. You don’t need to keep moving around."

Xi Yunxui’s eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Auntie Zhang laughed.

"You’ve been staying there anyway."

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"Thank you, Auntie Zhang."

She suddenly remembered something else.

"Oh, there’s one more thing."

"What?"

"I need to visit my mother."

Auntie Zhang looked surprised.

"Your mother?"

"Yes."

"When are you going?"

"Very early tomorrow morning."

Xi Yunxui thought for a moment.

"I should be back the next day."

She paused.

"Or two days later at the latest."

Auntie Zhang considered this.

Then slowly nodded.

"Alright."

She smiled.

"I’ll inform Madam."

"Thank you."

Xi Yunxui bowed her head.

Auntie Zhang waved her hand.

"You’re welcome."

For the first time since arriving in this era, Xi Yunxui felt as though she was beginning to have somewhere she could truly call home.

---

That evening, Xi Yunxui helped the chefs prepare dinner.

She worked efficiently, moving between the kitchen and dining room.

When dinner was ready, she helped carry the dishes out.

Huo Yuning was already seated.

The moment she noticed Xi Yunxui serving food, her eyes brightened.

"Xi Yunxui."

"Yes, Miss?"

"Come work for me."

Xi Yunxui nearly dropped the plate.

"Work for you?"

"Yes."

"As what?"

"My assistant."

Xi Yunxui stared.

"Your assistant?"

Huo Yuning nodded enthusiastically.

"You’re great at acting. You can accompany me to filming locations, help me practice scenes, and even assist me with scripts."

She smiled.

"Honestly, if you really wanted to, I could help you become an actress too."

Xi Yunxui’s expression immediately changed.

She waved both hands.

"No, no, no."

Huo Yuning blinked.

"Why?"

"I’m not interested in acting."

"But you’re good at it!"

"That was luck."

"You made me cry during practice."

Xi Yunxui rubbed her nose.

"I only knew how to act that scene because..."

She stopped herself.

"Because it was something I’m familiar with."

Huo Yuning studied her for a moment.

She seemed curious.

But eventually, she shrugged.

"Alright. I won’t force you."

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"Thank you."

At that moment, footsteps could be heard approaching.

Huo Jingchen entered the dining room.

He had just returned home.

He had initially planned to skip dinner.

His day had been long, and he wasn’t particularly hungry.

But the moment he saw Xi Yunxui standing beside the dining table, his steps slowed.

She had returned.

For some inexplicable reason, the thought pleased him.

He pulled out a chair and sat down.

Huo Yuning immediately noticed.

She grinned.

"Big Brother, you’re home early."

Huo Jingchen looked at her.

She leaned back with a playful expression.

"Don’t you have a date?"

Silence.

"Or maybe you have some beautiful woman waiting for you somewhere?"

Huo Jingchen slowly raised his eyes.

He stared at her.

He said nothing.

Huo Yuning’s smile gradually became awkward.

"Alright."

She raised both hands.

"I was only asking."

At that moment, Huo Mingyuan and Su Meilan entered the dining room.

"Everyone is here?" Su Meilan smiled.

They settled around the table.

The servants began serving dinner.

Huo Jingchen picked up his chopsticks.

Xi Yunxui stood nearby, ready to assist.

She glanced around the table.

For some reason, watching the family sit together gave her a strange feeling.

She had once had something similar.

A family around a table.

Three younger siblings arguing over food.

Laughter.

Noise.

Warmth.

She lowered her eyes briefly.

Then continued serving dinner.

Across the table, Huo Jingchen noticed.

He didn’t say anything.

But his gaze lingered on her for a second longer than usual before he finally lowered his eyes to his meal.