Chapter 25: Young Master?

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Young Master?

After dinner, Xi Yunxui helped the other servants clear the dining table.

The dishes were carried into the kitchen one after another, and the chefs immediately began washing and putting everything away. Xi Yunxui helped where she could before finally wiping her hands on a clean cloth.

She glanced outside.

The evening air looked pleasant.

After spending most of the day working, she felt like taking a short walk.

Xi Yunxui quietly left the main residence and headed toward the garden.

The garden was particularly beautiful at night.

Small lamps had been placed along the stone pathway, their warm light illuminating the flowers and carefully trimmed bushes. The faint fragrance of flowers drifted through the air, and the gentle breeze made the leaves rustle softly.

Xi Yunxui walked slowly.

For a woman who had spent her previous life constantly worrying about money, food, and her younger siblings, moments of peace like this felt almost luxurious.

Eventually, she found a quiet stone bench beneath a large tree and sat down.

She leaned back slightly and looked at the night sky.

Then she remembered the system.

"System."

[Ding! Host, this system is listening.]

Xi Yunxui lowered her voice.

"I want to purchase the beginner cultivation manual."

There was a brief pause.

[Host is advised not to make the purchase at this moment.]

Xi Yunxui frowned.

"Why?"

[The beginner cultivation manual contains foundational cultivation knowledge. After purchasing it, the host will need to absorb spiritual energy while cultivating.]

[The current environment is not ideal for the host’s first cultivation attempt.]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes brightened.

"Then where should I go?"

[The village.]

She blinked.

"The village?"

[Yes. The spiritual energy surrounding the village is purer than that of the city.]

[Furthermore, the host will soon be visiting her mother. It would be more convenient to cultivate there.]

Xi Yunxui thought about it.

That made sense.

She was already planning to leave tomorrow morning. If the village truly had better spiritual energy, there was no reason to rush.

"All right. I’ll buy it after I get there."

[Wise decision, Host.]

Xi Yunxui smiled faintly.

She remained on the bench for another five minutes, enjoying the quietness before finally standing.

"Time to sleep."

She dusted off her clothes and began walking back toward the staff quarters.

She had only taken a few steps when she noticed someone approaching from the opposite direction.

Xi Yunxui stopped.

It was Huo Jingchen.

He was dressed casually compared to his usual work attire, one hand holding his phone against his ear.

His expression was calm as he spoke to someone on the other end.

Xi Yunxui immediately moved to the side.

She didn’t want to disturb him.

As they passed each other, she bowed slightly.

"Young Master."

Huo Jingchen glanced at her.

But Xi Yunxui had already continued walking.

"Yes, continue with the arrangements..."

Huo Jingchen was still speaking on the phone.

Yet his eyes remained on the woman walking away.

One step.

Two steps.

Three.

For some inexplicable reason, something inside him suddenly tightened.

Before he could think about what he was doing, Huo Jingchen reached out.

His hand caught Xi Yunxui’s wrist.

Gently.

Xi Yunxui stopped immediately.

She looked down at the hand around her wrist before slowly turning her head.

Huo Jingchen was still on the phone.

But he had stopped speaking.

The person on the other end seemed to say something.

Huo Jingchen barely heard it.

He had no idea why he had stopped her.

He simply hadn’t wanted her to leave.

And now that he had actually stopped her...

What was he supposed to say?

Xi Yunxui waited.

Huo Jingchen stared at her for a moment.

Then he finally spoke into the phone.

"That’s all for now."

He ended the call.

Silence descended between them.

Xi Yunxui looked at him curiously.

Huo Jingchen cleared his throat lightly.

"What were you doing outside?"

Xi Yunxui glanced toward the garden.

"Nothing much. I just came out for some fresh air."

Huo Jingchen nodded.

"Oh."

Silence again.

Xi Yunxui waited.

Huo Jingchen said nothing.

She waited another few seconds.

Still nothing.

Xi Yunxui’s gaze slowly moved downward.

Her wrist was still in his hand.

She blinked.

Then she politely called out,

"Young Master."

"Hm?"

Xi Yunxui raised her other hand and pointed at the wrist he was holding.

"My hand."

Huo Jingchen followed her gaze.

His eyes widened slightly.

He had completely forgotten that he was still holding her.

For a moment, he didn’t move.

Then—

He released her hand as though he had suddenly touched something extremely hot.

Xi Yunxui rubbed her wrist lightly.

Huo Jingchen looked away.

"Sorry."

"It’s fine."

Xi Yunxui didn’t think much of it.

She bowed slightly.

"Then I’ll take my leave, Young Master."

Before Huo Jingchen could respond, she turned around and walked toward the staff quarters.

Huo Jingchen remained where he was.

His eyes followed her retreating figure.

He didn’t call her back this time.

He simply watched until she disappeared around the corner.

Only then did he slowly lower his gaze toward his own hand.

The warmth of her wrist still seemed to linger against his palm.

His brows furrowed.

"...What am I doing?"

---

Later that night, Huo Jingchen had already finished bathing.

He changed into comfortable nightwear and sat on the edge of his bed for a while before finally lying down.

The room was quiet.

Moonlight slipped through the curtains, casting faint shadows across the floor.

Huo Jingchen closed his eyes.

But instead of falling asleep, his mind unexpectedly replayed the scene in the garden.

Xi Yunxui walking away.

His hand reaching out.

His fingers wrapping around her wrist.

And the confused expression on her face when she turned around.

His eyes opened.

Huo Jingchen stared at the ceiling.

Why had he grabbed her?

He couldn’t explain it.

He had met countless people throughout his life.

As the eldest young master of the Huo family and the president of the Huo Corporation, he was constantly surrounded by people.

Yet recently...

For some reason, he kept noticing Xi Yunxui.

Her cooking.

Her strange but innocent reactions to modern things.

Her quiet manner.

Even the faint fragrance that seemed to linger around her.

And now, without even thinking, he had stopped her from leaving.

Huo Jingchen slowly raised a hand and pressed his temple.

"Strange."

There was something about her.

Something he couldn’t identify.

Almost as if an invisible thread was quietly pulling him toward her.

And the more he tried to ignore it...

The more he seemed to notice her.

Huo Jingchen closed his eyes again.

He decided he was simply thinking too much.

Tomorrow, he would return to his usual routine.

Work.

Meetings.

Business.

Nothing else.

At least, that was what he told himself.

Meanwhile, in the staff quarters, Xi Yunxui had already fallen asleep without giving the incident in the garden a second thought.