Chapter 32: The Unusual Maid

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Unusual Maid

About five minutes later, Xi Yunxui returned from the kitchen.

Her mother was already smiling as she looked between her daughter and the two unexpected visitors.

"Young Master Huo, since you’re here, why don’t you stay for lunch?"

Zhou Rui’s heart immediately skipped.

He knew his president well.

Huo Jingchen was extremely particular about what he ate, especially after years of irregular meals had left his stomach sensitive. He didn’t simply eat food prepared by anyone.

Zhou Rui was already preparing to politely decline.

But before he could speak—

"Alright."

Huo Jingchen answered immediately.

Zhou Rui froze.

Xi Yunxui froze.

Her mother also blinked.

The courtyard suddenly became very quiet.

Huo Jingchen seemed to realize that he had answered far too quickly.

He cleared his throat.

"It would be rude to refuse after being invited."

Xi Yunxui looked at him.

Her mother smiled warmly.

"Then that’s settled."

Zhou Rui silently looked at his employer.

Rude to refuse?

He had heard Huo Jingchen decline invitations countless times without the slightest concern.

Still, he wisely kept his thoughts to himself.

---

Xi Yunxui returned to the kitchen.

With her mother’s help, she quickly brought the food outside.

There was nothing extravagant.

A simple vegetable stir-fry.

Steamed fish.

Eggs with tomatoes.

A bowl of soup.

Fresh vegetables from the garden.

And rice.

It was the sort of meal that could be found in an ordinary countryside home.

Yet the fragrance alone made Zhou Rui’s stomach rumble.

He instinctively glanced at Huo Jingchen.

The man was already seated.

His expression remained calm, but his eyes were clearly fixed on the dishes.

Xi Yunxui arranged everything neatly before stepping back.

"Please eat."

Her mother smiled.

"Young Master Huo, don’t be shy. The food isn’t fancy."

Huo Jingchen picked up his chopsticks.

"Thank you."

Zhou Rui followed.

He took a piece of the egg and tomato.

The moment it entered his mouth—

He froze.

His eyes widened.

What is this?

It was simple.

There were no luxurious ingredients.

Yet the flavor was exceptionally rich.

Fresh.

Warm.

Comforting.

It tasted as though every ingredient had been carefully selected.

As though some expensive chef had spent hours preparing it with rare ingredients.

But he knew exactly what had been used.

Ordinary vegetables.

Ordinary eggs.

Nothing special.

Zhou Rui quickly took another bite.

Then another.

He suddenly felt a strange warmth spreading throughout his body.

The fatigue that had accumulated from several days of work seemed to lessen.

His shoulders relaxed.

Even the slight heaviness in his limbs disappeared.

Why do I feel energized?

He looked at Xi Yunxui.

Then at the food.

Then back at Xi Yunxui.

What exactly did this woman put in her cooking?

He quietly glanced toward Huo Jingchen.

The sight stunned him even more.

His employer was eating.

Not merely eating.

Enjoying the meal.

The usually cold and restrained face of Huo Jingchen seemed to carry a faint warmth.

There was even a subtle happiness in his eyes.

Zhou Rui nearly dropped his chopsticks.

President Huo looks happy.

He looked again.

Yes.

Definitely happy.

And Huo Jingchen was eating much faster than usual.

Xi Yunxui’s mother noticed too.

She smiled.

"Eat more. There’s plenty."

Huo Jingchen nodded.

"Thank you."

The meal continued quietly.

Before long, the plates were completely empty.

Even Zhou Rui, who normally exercised considerable restraint, had eaten far more than he intended.

He sat back and quietly rubbed his stomach.

This was supposed to be a simple countryside lunch.

Why did it feel like he’d just eaten some kind of nourishing feast?

---

After lunch, Xi Yunxui helped her mother clear the table.

The moment they entered the kitchen, her mother quietly pulled her aside.

"Yunxui."

"Yes?"

Her mother looked at her carefully.

"What happened to you in the city?"

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Nothing happened."

Her mother shook her head.

"Don’t lie to me."

She lowered her voice.

"I know my daughter."

Xi Yunxui went silent.

Her mother continued.

"You’ve always known how to cook, but your food was never this good."

Xi Yunxui’s expression became slightly awkward.

"And you’ve changed."

Her mother gently touched her arm.

"You speak differently now."

"You seem more confident."

"You don’t look as frightened as before."

Her voice became worried.

"Did you have a difficult time in the city?"

Xi Yunxui looked at her.

She understood.

Her mother was worried because the daughter she knew had changed.

But how could she explain that the woman standing here wasn’t exactly the same person anymore?

She smiled softly.

"I learned a lot after leaving home."

Her mother frowned.

"Learned?"

"Yes."

Xi Yunxui continued washing the dishes.

"Life outside can be difficult, but it also taught me many things."

Her mother remained quiet.

Then Xi Yunxui looked toward her.

"And I’m doing well."

She smiled.

"I really am."

Her mother watched her for a few seconds.

Eventually, she nodded.

"Alright."

She still looked slightly unconvinced.

"But remember that you can always come home."

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"I know."

---

Outside, Huo Jingchen stood beneath the shade of a tree.

His gaze was fixed on the distant mountain.

The strange golden phenomenon had originated somewhere in those mountains.

He was still trying to understand it.

After a moment, he took out his phone.

He said a few quiet words to Zhou Rui.

The assistant’s expression became serious.

"Yes, President Huo."

He immediately left.

Huo Jingchen remained standing.

A few minutes later, Xi Yunxui came out of the house.

She had changed back into her simple clothes.

Her small, worn backpack hung from one shoulder.

In her other hand was a large nylon bag filled with vegetables and other farm products the villagers had given her.

Huo Jingchen’s gaze fell on the backpack.

His brows moved slightly.

He had noticed it.

It was old.

Small.

The fabric had already begun to fade.

He didn’t say anything.

But he silently made a note.

I’ll get her another one.

Then his gaze shifted toward the large bag in her hand.

"You’re taking all of that?"

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"Yes."

"The villagers gave them to you?"

"Yes."

She lifted the bag slightly.

"They were very kind."

Huo Jingchen nodded.

He didn’t mention the vegetables again.

His eyes returned briefly to the mountain.

Zhou Rui soon returned.

"Everything has been arranged."

"Good."

Huo Jingchen turned toward Xi Yunxui.

"We should leave."

Xi Yunxui immediately turned toward her mother.

"Mother, I’ll come back soon."

Her mother nodded.

"Be careful."

"I will."

Xi Yunxui hugged her mother briefly before stepping away.

"Don’t work too hard."

Her mother laughed.

"Who’s the one always working too hard?"

Xi Yunxui smiled.

She waved.

"Goodbye, Mother."

"Goodbye."

She followed Huo Jingchen toward the car.

---

The car was already waiting.

Zhou Rui was in the driver’s seat.

Huo Jingchen walked ahead and opened the rear passenger door.

Xi Yunxui stopped.

Her eyes widened slightly.

The eldest young master was actually opening the car door for her.

"Young Master..."

Huo Jingchen looked at her.

"Get in."

Xi Yunxui was about to step forward.

Then she stopped herself.

No.

She quickly walked around to the opposite side of the car.

"I can open it myself."

She opened the other door and got in.

Huo Jingchen stood there for a moment.

His hand remained on the first door.

Xi Yunxui looked at him from inside.

"My employer shouldn’t have to open the door for me."

Huo Jingchen stared at her.

There was something almost amusing about the seriousness with which she said it.

He eventually entered the car through the door he had opened.

Zhou Rui watched the interaction through the rearview mirror.

His expression was carefully neutral.

But inwardly, he had several questions.

Since when does President Huo open car doors for people?

And more importantly—

Since when does a maid refuse to let President Huo open one for her?

Neither of them seemed aware of how unusual the entire exchange was.

The car slowly pulled away from the small countryside house.

Xi Yunxui looked through the window one last time.

Her mother stood at the entrance, waving.

Xi Yunxui smiled and waved back.

She had no idea what awaited her back in the city.

Nor did she know that, before the week was over, the mystery surrounding the golden phenomenon would begin drawing Huo Jingchen closer to the truth.

And much closer to her.