Nanny Zhou was startled, but she reacted quickly and smiled. “Are you talking about those women? Why would Mister bring messy people back home? Don’t worry. Besides Miss Xia Ling, you are the only other guest.”

This was also why Nanny Zhou cared so much about her. Last night, Mister specifically said to treat Miss Ye like how she treated Miss Xia Ling in the past and take her as the mistress of the house.

This simple instruction made the old maid so relieved that she almost shed tears. Since the death of Miss Xia Ling, Mister had been very depressed and was like a walking corpse every day as he had been living in endless regret and thinking about Xia Ling. Nanny Zhou was always worried that if this continued, in the long run, something bad might happen to him. Now that he had brought another girl back home and even let her replace Miss Xia Ling’s position, Nanny Zhou felt that a huge boulder had been lifted off her shoulders. She was determined to facilitate their relationship as much as she could.

Xia Ling nodded. It seemed that there was no need to change the furniture in the house. Otherwise, she would go crazy thinking about how many women slept in this room and used the things here.

She did not care so much about cleanliness, but this was one of her concerns.

Nanny Zhou urged her. “Miss Ye, quickly go downstairs to eat. Mister specially instructed that I make millet porridge and fine kelp for you. It won’t taste good if it turns cold.”

Xia Ling also felt somewhat hungry, so she took a simple shower, changed her clothes, and followed Nanny Zhou downstairs to eat.

In the dining room, the sunlight was scattered on the dining table which was covered by a white tablecloth. Hot millet porridge was placed in a fine porcelain bowl. There were also fine kelp, chopped nuts, and a vegetable salad which were all things she liked in her past life. Even the position and placement of the items were exactly the same as before.

She sat down and was suddenly brought back to the past.

Nanny Zhou waited beside her as she ate and rambled ceaselessly about how good Pei Ziheng was and how caring and patient he was when he was with her. The way she praised him was as if he were unparalleled in the world.

Xia Ling rubbed her forehead and felt some regret.

She recalled that when she was just adopted by Pei Ziheng, there was a house rule that banned talking during meal time. It was a big rule, and everyone always ate silently. A pin could be heard if it fell on the floor. However, Xia Ling was always very lively and energetic and grew up in the noisy orphanage, so how could she resist the temptation to talk? She was always very chatty during meals, and soon, this rule was discarded. Even Nanny Zhou started to joke with them frequently.

However, now, it was the first time Xia Ling felt that no talking during meals was a very good rule. Really.

Nanny Zhou continued rambling, “Mister is such a good person. He’s patient and caring. Which girl wouldn’t be happy with him? Sadly, Miss Xia Ling fell sick at a young age. Mister bought an island and sent her there for a year’s worth of treatment. It was difficult, but she recovered. Unfortunately, she had an accident soon after and passed away. Luckily, he brought you back home today. He is such a dedicated person and always wants to spend his life with whoever he brings back. You really have to cherish him. These past two years were difficult for him…”

Where they any more difficult than her past two years?

Xia Ling only felt indignance in her heart.

It was Pei Ziheng who let her down in the past and went in between her and Li Lei in this life. Why did he become the one who was let down and was deserving of sympathy?

Forget it, servants did not know the truth. On the day she fell out with Pei Ziheng, Nanny Zhou was not there and did not know how she was imprisoned, tortured, and insulted on that isolated private island. Xia Ling decided not to argue with Nanny Zhou. She buried her resentment, finished her meal with the fastest speed, and said to Nanny Zhou, “I didn’t sleep well last night. I will go back to the room to sleep for a while, so I won’t be eating lunch. If there’s nothing important, don’t bother me.”

Seeing that it was almost nine, Nanny Zhou felt that it was reasonable that she would miss lunch if she went to sleep now. Thus, she replied, “Sure, Miss Ye. Once you wake up in the afternoon, call me and I will prepare afternoon tea and snacks for you.”

Xia Ling thanked her and escaped upstairs.

When she returned to the bedroom, she did not feel like sleeping on the big bed, so she fell into a deep sleep on the carpet next to the window. Li Lei was present in all of her dreams. His vibrant smile, the way he hugged her when she was acting like a spoiled child, the way he teased her which she loved and hated at the same time… How good it would be if she could turn back time.

When she woke up, the sun was setting.

Looking at the setting sun slowly disappear outside the window, Xia Ling really missed him very much.

After Pei Ziheng came back and had dinner with her, he spent the entire night in his study again.

Xia Ling felt a little more at ease. From the third night onwards, although she still locked the door, she stopped sitting until it was daybreak. Instead, she curled up on the carpet and hugged herself to sleep.

She could not let herself sleep on that bed. That luxurious and soft bed reminded her too much of the happiness, joy, and intimate moments with Pei Ziheng in her past life. Emotional, she closed her eyes as she could not help but think about the past. However, now, her heart and body belonged to Li Lei. She did not want to think about the past anymore.

Although the carpet was soft, it was not as comfortable as the bed, but she was willing to make the sacrifice.

Every day when she woke up, she would make the bed messy to construct a fake scene for others to believe that she slept on the bed the night before. When Nanny Zhou went to clean up the room, she never noticed that anything was off.

A few days passed by like that.

The more intensely she missed Li Lei, the more painful it was between breaths.

How was he doing now? Subconsciously, she lifted her hand to touch the amulet around her neck but realized that nothing was there. Only then did she remember that she had returned the amulet to him. Now, she only had a lavender pearl necklace around her neck given by Pei Ziheng. Pei Ziheng liked seeing her wear it, so she wore it every day.

She could not even find a keepsake to remember him by.

Keepsake…?

Wait, there was still something.

Xia Ling paced back and forth in her room a few times before gaining the courage to knock on the study door.

“Come in.” It was Pei Ziheng’s calm voice. Under the soft light in the study, he was well-dressed as he sat on the high-back chair. The desk was covered in piles of official documents, and there was a slight fatigued look on his face. When he saw Xia Ling, his voice was mellow. “Why are you acting so distant? You used to come in directly and never knock on the door.”

In her past life, she was arrogant and stubborn. Not only would she not knock on the door, but she would also hug him directly or sit on his lap once she entered. However, now, they were more distant.

Xia Ling gently bit her lip to avoid that topic. She only said, “I want to talk to you regarding something.”

“What is it?” From the time she entered, he had already put down the official document in his hand and paused the video conference he was in. He closed his laptop and listened to her patiently and tenderly.