Chapter 56: The Patriarch [1]

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: The Patriarch [1]

Xi Yunxui stood outside the main residence for a few moments, staring at the direction in which Huo Jingchen’s car had disappeared.

She could still remember the brief moment when she had greeted him.

"Good morning, Young Master."

And then...

Nothing.

He had simply walked past her.

Xi Yunxui blinked several times.

She couldn’t understand it.

Had she done something wrong?

She mentally replayed everything she had done over the past few days.

She had greeted him respectfully.

She had prepared his meals.

She had even asked if there was anything else he needed.

She couldn’t remember saying anything disrespectful.

After thinking about it for another few seconds, Xi Yunxui finally shrugged.

"Forget it."

Perhaps Young Master Huo simply hadn’t heard her.

Or maybe he was thinking about something important.

After all, he was a very busy man.

There was no reason for her to overthink a simple greeting.

With that conclusion, Xi Yunxui pushed the matter to the back of her mind and entered the main residence.

The moment she stepped inside, she immediately noticed that something was different.

The usually orderly residence was unusually lively.

Servants moved from one end of the hall to the other.

Some carried decorative items.

Others wiped the furniture.

Several maids were arranging the dining room while another group was busy cleaning the living room.

From somewhere nearby came Auntie Zhang’s familiar voice.

"Careful with that!"

"Move the vase slightly to the left."

"No, not there. Put it beside the cabinet."

"Make sure the guest rooms are properly prepared."

Xi Yunxui followed the voice and soon spotted Auntie Zhang standing in the middle of the activity.

Auntie Zhang was directing several servants at once, her expression focused as she inspected the work being done.

The moment she noticed Xi Yunxui, her eyes brightened.

"Xi Yunxui!"

Xi Yunxui immediately approached.

"Auntie Zhang."

"You’re here at just the right time." Auntie Zhang pointed toward the living room. "Go and help the others clean up."

Xi Yunxui glanced toward the enormous living room.

"All right."

She didn’t ask any further questions.

As an employee of the Huo family, she was accustomed to following instructions.

She walked into the living room and immediately understood why so many people were working there.

The main residence in Country M was considerably larger than the villa in Country Z.

The living room alone was almost the size of the entire lower floor of some ordinary houses.

High ceilings stretched overhead.

Large windows allowed sunlight to flood the room.

The furniture was elegant but arranged in a way that made the enormous space feel warm rather than empty.

There were already several maids cleaning.

Five of them were needed just to sweep and tidy the expansive floor efficiently.

Xi Yunxui looked around.

A young maid was coordinating everyone.

Xi Yunxui approached her.

"What should I do?"

The maid glanced at her, then pointed toward a machine standing against the wall.

"Take the vacuum cleaner. After we’re done sweeping, use it over the floor."

Xi Yunxui followed her finger.

Her eyes landed on the strange machine.

She stared.

Then stared again.

The vacuum cleaner stared back.

At least, that’s how it felt to her.

Xi Yunxui slowly walked toward it.

Vacuum cleaner...

She had heard the name before.

But hearing the name and knowing how to operate the thing were two completely different matters.

She placed both hands on its handle.

Then froze.

Wait.

Her expression slowly became serious.

How do I operate this?

The last manual she had purchased had been for modern kitchen appliances.

That had already taken her considerable effort to understand.

This was a cleaning appliance.

She had never purchased a manual for cleaning equipment.

Xi Yunxui looked at the buttons.

There were several.

She frowned.

Which one makes it work?

She pressed one.

Nothing happened.

She pressed another.

Still nothing.

She looked at the machine suspiciously.

Perhaps it needed some special technique.

Maybe she was supposed to press something while holding another button.

She was still trying to figure it out when the maid coordinating the cleaning called out.

"Xi Yunxui!"

Xi Yunxui immediately looked up.

"Yes?"

"Why are you still standing there? Hurry up."

"Ah..."

Xi Yunxui looked at the vacuum cleaner.

Then at the maid.

"All right."

She quickly pushed it toward the area where another maid was already using one.

Xi Yunxui watched carefully.

The maid pushed the machine forward.

Then pulled it backward.

Forward.

Backward.

Simple enough.

Xi Yunxui nodded to herself.

I understand now.

She grabbed her own vacuum cleaner and began copying the movements.

For the first few seconds, everything seemed fine.

Then the vacuum suddenly veered to the side.

Xi Yunxui hurriedly pulled it back.

It moved too quickly.

She almost bumped into a chair.

She stopped.

Adjusted her grip.

Tried again.

The machine suddenly made a louder humming sound.

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened.

She immediately released the handle.

The vacuum stopped.

The maid beside her turned.

"...Xi Yunxui?"

Xi Yunxui smiled awkwardly.

"Yes?"

"Do you know how to operate a vacuum cleaner?"

"Of course."

The answer came so quickly that the maid raised an eyebrow.

"Then why are you using it like you’re trying to tame a wild animal?"

Xi Yunxui’s smile stiffened.

A wild animal?

She was beginning to think the machine really was one.

"I just... haven’t used this particular model before."

The maid sighed.

"Don’t worry about it."

She pointed toward the windows.

"Go help with the windows instead."

Xi Yunxui immediately nodded.

"All right. I’m sorry."

She placed the vacuum aside and picked up a clean cloth.

At least a cloth was something she understood.

She walked toward the windows and began wiping them.

A young maid was already cleaning the window beside her.

The maid looked to be only a little older than Xi Yunxui, perhaps in her mid-twenties.

Her name tag read Liu Yan.

For several minutes, the two worked quietly.

Xi Yunxui soon became curious about the unusual activity throughout the residence.

She glanced around.

More servants were arriving.

Some were arranging flowers.

Others were preparing the dining room.

Even the usually relaxed atmosphere seemed to have disappeared.

Xi Yunxui eventually couldn’t resist asking.

"Liu Yan."

"Hmm?"

"What’s happening today?"

Liu Yan looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"The whole residence is so lively."

Xi Yunxui gestured subtly toward the room.

"Everyone seems to have something to do."

Liu Yan’s expression immediately changed to one of understanding.

"Oh, you don’t know?"

Xi Yunxui shook her head.

"The patriarch is coming to visit."

Xi Yunxui paused.

"The patriarch?"

"Yes." Liu Yan nodded. "The old master is coming back today, so everyone has been preparing since morning."

"Oh."

Xi Yunxui nodded slowly.

"I understand."

She turned back toward the window and continued wiping.

So Huo Jingchen’s grandfather is coming.

Her hand slowed.

A thought suddenly occurred to her.

Wait.

She frowned slightly.

Could that have something to do with Huo Jingchen?

Perhaps...

Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Was Huo Jingchen not on good terms with his grandfather?

That would explain why he had been acting strangely.

Maybe he had heard that his grandfather was coming and was unhappy about it.

Maybe that was why he ignored her greeting.

Yes.

Xi Yunxui nodded faintly to herself.

That makes sense.

After all, why else would someone as polite as Huo Jingchen suddenly ignore her?

She was still thinking about it when the system’s voice suddenly sounded inside her head.

[Host should not jump to conclusions.]

Xi Yunxui’s hand stopped.

The cloth remained pressed against the glass.

...Huh?

She blinked.

That was unusual.

The system didn’t normally interfere with things like this.

It usually appeared when there was a mission, a reward, a system function or something related to her work.

It didn’t usually comment on her random thoughts.

Xi Yunxui silently asked,

Why are you suddenly interfering?

Silence.

She waited.

Nothing.

System?

Still nothing.

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes.

You were the one who told me not to jump to conclusions.

Silence.

Now you’re ignoring me?

Nothing.

Xi Yunxui’s lips twitched.

"Unreliable."

She muttered the word under her breath before turning her attention back to the window.

Perhaps the system had simply made a random comment.

There was no point dwelling on it.

She resumed cleaning.

The sunlight reflected off the freshly wiped glass, making the room gradually brighter.

Around her, the servants continued preparing the residence for the arrival of the Huo family’s patriarch.

And completely unaware of what was actually happening in Huo Jingchen’s mind, Xi Yunxui continued cleaning while quietly convincing herself that his strange behavior had nothing to do with her.

After all...

Why would the eldest young master of the Huo family have any reason to behave strangely because of her?

She was only a maid.

At least, that was what Xi Yunxui firmly believed.