Zhao, who had rushed over late at nite, was so anxious that she paced back and forth at the gate, the sandalwood prayer beads in her hand clicking as she twisted them. The rain outside the eaves was getting heavier and heavier, and the bean-sized raindrops hit the glass steps, like her heart that was up and down at the moment.
"Madam, what are you doing?" Old Chen, the butler, stood at the door with an umbrella in his hand, holding a gold-painted lacquer box in his hand, with a look of embarrassment on his face.
"Old Chen," Zhao's mother grabbed the housekeeper's hand, her fingertips icy cold, "If Yuan'er continues like this, our Zhao family will be..." Her voice choked, and she took out a brocade pouch from the mahogany drawer and stuffed it into the housekeeper's hand, "This was obtained from Mount Putuo, you must make Yuan'er take it tonight."
Three dark red pills lay in the lacquer box, emitting a faint musk fragrance. Old Chen's hand trembled slightly - he had been in the Zhao family for thirty years, and he knew too well what this was.
"But the young master..."
"No buts!" Mother Zhao suddenly raised her voice, and the jade bracelet hit the corner of the table with a crisp sound. "Do you want to wait until that Qi Sili completely leads Yuan'er astray?!"
When Qi Sili came out of the room, the wall lamp in the corridor stretched his shadow very long. He rubbed his temples, and the argument with Zhao Mingyuan just now made him a little tired. The cold light in the kitchen was particularly dazzling in the middle of the nite. He poured a glass of ice water, and a layer of fine water droplets quickly condensed on the wall of the glass.
Just as he was about to pour another glass for Zhao Mingyuan, the butler, Old Chen, walked in carrying a box of sparkling water. The old man's footsteps were very light, but he obviously froze when he saw Qi Sili.
"Teacher Qi hasn't rested yet." Old Chen gave a dry laugh, put the cardboard box on the cooking table, and the wrapping paper made a rustling sound. "The brand that the young master usually drinks has been out of stock for two days, and it was just delivered." As he spoke, he took out a bottle from the box, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed the bottle cap.
Qi Sili nodded, his gaze sweeping over the glass of warm water that had already been poured on the counter. Old Chen's gaze followed his, and his Adam's apple visibly bobbed.
"Perfect," Qi Sili reached out to take the glass of water, "I'll take it up with me."
"No!" Old Chen suddenly raised his voice, then immediately lowered it, "I mean... the young master's stomach hasn't been good recently, so he should drink this." He hurriedly stuffed the sparkling water into Qi Sili's hand, and a thin layer of sweat seeped out of the icy bottle.
Qi Sili narrowed his eyes slightly. Moonlight leaked in thru the cracks in the blinds, casting fine shadows on his face. His slender fingers tapped lightly on the glass, making a crisp sound.
"Uncle Chen," he suddenly said, his voice as light as a feather, "how many years have you been in the Zhao family?"
Old Chen's back was already soaked. He stared at Qi Sili as he picked up the glass of water, watching the surface of the water shake slightly, reflecting the distorted light and shadow on the ceiling.
"Three, thirty years..."
"Then you should know," Qi Sili suddenly leaned closer, the scent of pine mixed with a hint of ink, "I hate people touching my painting tools the most." His fingertips gently brushed the edge of the cup, "Just like Mingyuan hates people touching his things."
Old Chen's face turned pale in an instant. At this moment, a loud bang suddenly came from upstairs, followed by Zhao Mingyuan's furious roar: "Qi Sili!"
Qi Sili's lips curled into a sneer, and he suddenly raised his head and drank the water in one gulp. Water droplets slid down his jaw, forming a silver line at his collarbone.
"Tell the madam," he gently put the empty cup back on the counter, the glass colliding and making a crisp sound, "I've taken the medicine."
Old Chen's legs went weak and he almost knelt on the ground. Qi Sili had already turned around and left, his white bathrobe like a fleeting ghost in the darkness. He paused when he reached the staircase and said without turning his head:
"By the way, Mingyuan has been checking the company's accounts recently. Is your son's work in the finance department... going well?"
The sparkling water slipped from Old Chen's hand and exploded into a pile of crystal fragments on the ground.