"I never thought I'd see Jiang Ge again after two years."
"I'm surprised too, Miss Helen. Even though I serve both of you, I never realized there was such a connection."
"How could anyone know if I never mentioned it? But... he didn't recognize me at first. Probably because I had short hair back then—and I've lost weight too."
High up in an office building, inside a private office, Helen sat in her wheelchair, chatting with Lycaon while going through documents.
Helen recalled how Jiang Ge had stared at her for a long moment before finally remembering her name.
"Your aura has changed as well, Miss Helen. It's been two years; everyone changes."
"You're right, Lycaon. Maybe he just never expected I'd end up like this... a woman in a wheelchair."
Lycaon paused, surprised by her tone. Seeing her faintly sorrowful expression, he didn't rush to reply. Helen sighed, then began recounting her past.
"When I was carried into the hospital, the doctors said everything would be fine. But after months of transfers between major hospitals, none of them could do anything. Jiang Ge even sent me a message once, asking when I'd come visit since the bookstore had been rebuilt. But I didn't have the courage to tell him how miserable I was—I just said I was fine."
"When I finally accepted reality and went looking for him, the bookstore was gone. I couldn't reach him anywhere. It was like he'd vanished from the world. I lost my legs... and my best friend."
Before Helen could continue, a violent cough overtook her. Lycaon quickly handed her a glass of water.
If he remembered correctly, Jiang Ge had once warned him to be extremely cautious around the Chief of the Hollow Special Operations Section 6—Hoshimi Miyabi—and to never let her discover his connection to Victoria Housekeeping.
To escape that obsessive woman whose first word upon entering was always "Acheron," Jiang Ge had quietly moved away from Lumina Square. He created false leads, cut off unnecessary ties, and sought peace.
After all, Miyabi's background was formidable, and that period had coincided with the rapid expansion of Good Enough. There was no reason to risk the business. Jiang Ge poured himself entirely into the company's growth—money flowed in fast, and he had little time for anything else.
According to him, it wasn't until he hired Corin that things finally began to slow down.
So Lycaon said confidently, "Please rest assured, Miss Helen. Mr. Jiang Ge wasn't ignoring you—he simply couldn't reach you due to... special circumstances."
"Is that so? Actually, I've let go of most things now, Lycaon. You don't need to worry. I just hope Jiang Ge doesn't think I've turned into some kind of obsessed woman."
"Miss Helen, please don't say that about yourself."
"It's all your fault! You told him I covered my whole room with Dan Heng posters. That was my younger sister! Why did you even mention that to him, Lycaon?"
Helen pouted in protest, though her expression was more embarrassed than angry. Still, she couldn't understand why Lycaon would bring up something like that. As her butler—and with Victoria Housekeeping's reputation at stake—he wasn't someone who would gossip about his employer's private life.
Moreover, Lycaon had said Jiang Ge was also a client of Victoria Housekeeping. But he was just a bookstore owner—how could he afford their services?
She wasn't naive; she could tell something wasn't adding up.
"My apologies, Miss Helen. I only mentioned it because I thought Mr. Jiang Ge might be able to help you."
"Alright, alright, I'm not angry. Since it's Jiang Ge, it's fine."
Helen smiled, brushing it off. Her words carried deep trust in Jiang Ge. At the same time, her gaze lingered on her silent phone, as if waiting for a call that never came.
Lycaon noticed, glancing at the dark screen—then at the Dan Heng magazine on her desk. He knew Helen wasn't truly a fan. She was simply searching for something, anything, to hold onto.
"By the way, Lycaon, have I ever told you about the time Jiang Ge worked construction?"
"Hm? No, you haven't."
"Let me tell you—"
Buzz, buzz—
Lycaon's communicator suddenly vibrated, and his expression turned serious.
"My apologies, Miss Helen."
"I understand—it's work, isn't it? Go ahead. I have plenty to take care of on my end too. Permission granted for temporary leave."
"My deepest thanks."
Lycaon bowed deeply before leaving the office to answer the call.
"Hello, Rian—what is it? ...Mr. Jiang Ge is in trouble!?"
---
One hour later, inside the bookstore.
Lycaon arrived in a rush, taking in the chaotic scene: an unconscious child of unknown race lying face-down on the floor, a half-eaten cupcake beside her, Corin frantically shaking her and crying, "Don't die!", and Rian standing calmly with a smile.
"It seems she passed out from how delicious it was—just like Mr. Jiang Ge did."
"Rian... Never mind. Corin, help me move this young lady to the restroom."
Lycaon wanted to reprimand Rian, but her calm smile disarmed him. He focused instead on helping Corin.
"O-okay... Mr. Lycaon. Miss Bailu, I'm going to move you now."
So this child's name is Bailu... Lycaon noted it mentally.
At his words, Bailu stirred. She waved weakly, signaling that she didn't need help. With a strained groan, she sat up, grabbed the gourd at her waist, and took a long drink.
"Gulp—gulp—ah... I'm alive. I even saw the Divination Commission's Fu in my hallucinations, nagging me to take medicine. Who made something this poisonous taste so good?"
Wiping sweat from her brow, she eyed the pastries on the table suspiciously.
"Miss Bailu, I made them. Were they to your taste?" Rian asked sweetly.
Bailu turned toward her, half grateful and half horrified.
"S-so it was you!? I thought Corin bought them! Never mind, I need another dose."
She chugged another mouthful from her gourd.
Lycaon crouched beside her. "Miss Bailu, I'm Lycaon from Victoria Housekeeping."
"Oh, you're here! I told them I wanted to go out and play, but they wouldn't let me. You'll say yes, right?"
"Um... Corin, where's Mr. Jiang Ge?" Lycaon asked instead, his expression tight.
Before Corin could reply, Bailu jumped in. "Jiang Ge had some business outside. Before he left, he told me to treat his friend in a wheelchair. That's all."
"I see... But can her legs really be cured?"
Lycaon didn't doubt her outright. Corin had already spent much of the night talking with Bailu and had verified parts of her story. Still, her youthful appearance and unusual horns made Lycaon wonder which Thiren lineage she belonged to.
So many hospitals had failed Helen—could this girl truly help her?
"Don't worry," Bailu said with a proud grin. "I've been with the Alchemy Commission for years. I've seen worse cases. Anyway, you know my condition, right? Jiang Ge told me I could order you all around."
The Alchemy Commission...? Lycaon had never heard of such a place. Only Jiang Ge and Bailu seemed to know what it was.
Still, seeing her confident smile, he knelt and replied solemnly, "Understood, Miss Bailu. From this moment, Victoria Housekeeping is at your service."
"Oh oh, wonderful!"
Bailu cheered, raising her tiny fists in the air. Just then, the bookstore door opened.
"Tch... why call me here so early? Who's the kid?"
Ellen walked in, yawning, looking as lazy as ever.
"Ellen, mind your manners. Miss Bailu is now an important client," Lycaon warned.
"Eh? Oh... right. I think I saw that in the reports. She's the one Jiang Ge brought, right?"
"Ellen, use an honorific," Lycaon sighed.
As he spoke, Bailu suddenly ran behind Ellen. She circled around her, examining her tail with fascination—then, to everyone's astonishment, intertwined her own tail with Ellen's. Crossing her arms, she closed her eyes as if concentrating.
"Huh?" Ellen blinked in confusion but didn't pull away. Everyone watched silently, waiting to see what Bailu was doing.
Finally, Bailu opened her eyes and said seriously—
"I see... So this is what mating feels like."
For a long moment, the entire Victoria Housekeeping staff froze, speechless.
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon.
patreon.com/deadlygoober