Chapter 7: If my husband knew, would he be angry?

The backyard.

Wenshui Residence.

The second floor.

Outside the bedroom.

"Master, I shouldn't go in, should I? This is the room for you and... the Villa Master!"

Ning Mu stood at the doorway, stopping his steps with a look of trepidation as he gazed at Liu Qingmei's enchanting and alluring back.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingmei turned around and said with a calm smile, "It is no matter. You and I are master and disciple; there is no need to stand on such empty ceremony. Have a cup of tea in the outer chamber and wait for me a moment."

"Xiaoya, serve the Young Master tea."

Liu Qingmei instructed her personal maid, Liu Xiaoya.

In truth, her own heart was incomparably nervous.

Aside from her husband, no man had ever set foot past this door; even her husband's First Disciple, Feng Zhien, always paid his respects from downstairs and had never come up.

Yet today, as if possessed, she had brought her only disciple here.

If her husband were to find out, she wondered if he would be angry? Sigh...

Thinking of her husband, Ye Bufan, beyond worrying about his injuries, she felt more of a lingering resentment.

To outsiders, she and Ye Bufan were a powerful union, a couple deeply in love, both being top-tier Grandmaster-level experts in the martial arts world—a divine pair that many envied.

Yet the bitterness at the heart of it was known only to her.

Ever since Ye Yin was born, she and her husband had never shared a bed again.

Even when Ye Bufan occasionally stayed the night at Wenshui Residence, it was mostly to meditate and cultivate throughout the night.

Born into a family of high standing, how could she be like a courtesan, shameless and lacking in self-respect, begging her husband to perform the rites of marriage?

It was not that Ye Bufan was incapable.

Rather, he was obsessed with cultivation, spending his days either handling the affairs of the villa or training diligently.

His talent was far inferior to Liu Qingmei's.

This was one of the reasons why he was unwilling to share a bed with Liu Qingmei.

"Young Master, please have some tea."

The outer chamber.

Liu Qingmei used the excuse of feeling unwell due to the heat to go into the inner bedroom to change her clothes.

Ning Mu sat before the table, and the maid Liu Xiaoya served the tea bowl, her eyes smiling as she looked at Ning Mu with great satisfaction, her demeanor respectful.

She was the personal maid Liu Qingmei had brought from her maiden home.

Abandoned by her parents in childhood, she was only five years old when Liu Qingmei happened upon her and brought her home; from then on, she had always stayed by Liu Qingmei's side, being her most intimate and loyal person.

"Thank you. You seem very happy?"

Ning Mu thanked her, and seeing that Liu Qingmei had not yet come out, he began to chat with Liu Xiaoya.

Liu Xiaoya had a slender and graceful figure, wearing a pure white silk garment; the fabric was very thin, even somewhat translucent, revealing her fiery figure in glimpses. Her thick, jet-black hair was braided into a plait hanging over her shoulder, and her round, egg-shaped face was fair and smooth. She wore two small flowers in her hair, her appearance a mix of innocence and maturity.

"Yes, Young Lady has always wanted a son, but the Master never cooperated. Now that she has you, Young Lady can be considered to have had her wish granted, so naturally, this servant is happy for her~"

Liu Xiaoya said with a giggle.

As she spoke, she sat down directly, resting her chin on her hands with an innocent look, her large, blinking eyes carefully observing Ning Mu as if the more she looked, the happier she became, her beautiful eyes radiating deep amusement.

In front of outsiders, she knew to pay attention to propriety.

But in private, having spent many years with Liu Qingmei, although she was a maid, their bond was deep, and they were long since like sisters.

Thus, she acted very casually.

Moreover, in private, she usually addressed Liu Qingmei as "Young Lady," only calling her "Madam" in front of the Ye Family.

Hearing Liu Xiaoya's explanation, Ning Mu was stunned, then couldn't help but laugh.

Liu Xiaoya blinked her innocent large eyes and continued, "Young Master, you are so handsome; apart from being a little green, if you were to walk outside with Young Lady, others might not recognize that you are master and disciple, but would think you are siblings or lovers~ Haha..."

Liu Xiaoya teased.

And just as her silver-bell-like laughter began.

A voice of annoyed embarrassment scolded her from behind.

"Xiaoya, you are noisy! What nonsense are you spouting!" Liu Qingmei, having changed into a new set of clothes, walked out from the inner room, her voice filled with thirty percent annoyance and seventy percent shame, her beautiful peach-blossom eyes glaring at Liu Xiaoya.

This brat, she had no filter on her mouth.

If these words were to spread, how could she maintain her standing in the Ye Family? Disregarding the rules of the Ye Family and the existence of her husband to rashly accept Ning Mu as a Personal Disciple was already a defiance of the world.

If gossip were to spread, she would never be able to wash herself clean even if she jumped into a great river! "Young Lady~"

Seeing Liu Qingmei come out, Liu Xiaoya gave a sheepish, playful poke of her tongue, then hurriedly laughed and stood up to dodge away.

"Master."

Ning Mu also hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Mm, sit down. Don't listen to Xiaoya's nonsense; she has no filter."

Liu Qingmei gestured for Ning Mu to sit, her expression revealing a trace of indescribable trepidation and embarrassment.

At this moment, she had changed into a looser, front-opening robe; where the collars crossed, it looked like a snow-capped mountain shrouded in clouds, full of a hazy attraction.

"In the future, if there is anything you need and cannot find me, just ask Xiaoya for help."

Liu Qingmei feigned composure as she sat down, appearing calm.

Ning Mu stood opposite her, able to clearly see the grace she displayed.

"Cough, thank you, Master."

Ning Mu immediately looked at Liu Xiaoya and said, "In the future, I will have to trouble you with many trivial matters, Sister Xiaoya!"

Liu Xiaoya immediately waved her hands with a smile, saying enthusiastically and familiarly, "It's no trouble at all, no trouble! This maid cannot accept being called 'sister' by Young Master; you should just call me Xiaoya!"

When she was adopted by Liu Qingmei, Liu Qingmei was already sixteen years old; now, twenty-two years later, she had become an old maid.

At twenty-seven, she was indeed old enough to be called sister.

But this was only in private.

In public, she was merely a servant to Liu Qingmei.

Ning Mu was the master, so it naturally would not be appropriate to call her sister.

"Xiaoya, go arrange for someone to summon Yela from Yuhong Trading Firm and Shopkeeper Shopkeeper Li from Jiuxi Trading Firm, and tell them to bring their account books."

Liu Qingmei waved her hand, sending Liu Xiaoya away.

"Very well, Young Lady."

When it came to serious business, Liu Xiaoya immediately nodded with a serious expression, then went out the door.

Upon reaching the doorway.

Liu Qingmei glanced at Ning Mu opposite her, lowered her eyes, and said to Liu Xiaoya, "I have matters to discuss with Xiao Mu, do not let anyone in."

Liu Xiaoya was startled, then nodded and closed the door.

As the door was closed, the sound of Liu Xiaoya's footsteps gradually faded away.

Inside the room.

Under Ning Mu's dumbfounded expression.

Liu Qingmei was seen suddenly pulling at her collar as if unintentionally.

In an instant, large expanses of snowy ridges suddenly appeared...

After Liu Xiaoya went downstairs.

She happened to run into Ye Yin, who was walking toward her.

As well as Feng Zhien and several other inner sect Disciples of the villa following half a step behind Ye Yin.

"Young Lady, Senior Brother Feng..."

Liu Xiaoya hurriedly greeted them one by one.

"Sister Xiaoya, where is my mother?" Ye Yin asked.

Liu Xiaoya hurriedly said, "Young Lady, please stop; the Mistress and Young Master are discussing matters in the attic, and she has ordered that no one is allowed to enter."

(End of this chapter)