Chapter 54: Merely A Servant
"Furen?"
Young Lady Gu unconsciously repeated the word beneath her breath.
For a brief moment, she wondered if she had misheard. Her gaze slowly shifted from Xie Rong to Wang Gege before returning to him once again.
"Furen?"
The single form of address echoed repeatedly within her mind.
Only then did she suddenly remember.
The rumors... The marriage between Xie Rong and the Second Miss of the Shen Residence.
She had dismissed those rumors without a second thought.
After all, how could Xie Rong possibly treat a woman he had married only because of a last-minute bridal swap with such familiarity?
Yet... the gentle concern in his voice just now, contained none of the indifference she had expected.
"You..." Her eyes slowly widened. "You are Shen Taotao?!"
Wang Gege merely blinked once.
Instead of answering, she happily walked straight past Young Lady Gu as though the question had been directed at someone else.
She stopped before Xie Rong.
"Husband..." Her voice became noticeably softer than before.
Without the slightest hesitation, she naturally reached out and wrapped both hands around his arm.
Only then did she tilt her head and smile brightly at him. "You finally came."
The entire restaurant instantly became quiet. Even Qing’er blinked several times in surprise.
’Young Madam... Had never been this affectionate in public before.’
"Husband..." Her eyes immediately landed upon the fresh blossoms in his hand.
She pointed at them curiously, "Where did you get these flowers?"
Xie Rong lowered his head slightly. "From a flower vendor nearby."
"They’re beautiful." A bright smile unconsciously spread across Wang Gege’s face.
She carefully leaned forward to admire the blossoms, her eyes sparkling with genuine delight. "I’ve never seen these before."
Seeing the interaction between the two, Young Lady Gu’s expression became increasingly unsightly.
The warmth she had imagined upon seeing Xie Rong... Had never been directed at her from beginning to end.
Clenching her sleeves tightly, she turned around.
"Let’s go."
She no longer wished to remain there and continue humiliating herself.
Just as she took a single step, Wang Gege’s voice reached her.
"Ah!" Wang Gege suddenly seemed to remember something, "You can’t leave yet."
Young Lady Gu’s footsteps halted and she slowly turned around.
Wang Gege finally looked at her before turning back toward Xie Rong. Her lips unconsciously pursed. She looked surprisingly aggrieved.
"Husband... Your Furen was treated very badly earlier." Her voice softened considerably, "They even slapped Qing’er."
As she spoke, she gently pointed toward Qing’er. The bright red handprint upon the young maid’s cheek remained painfully obvious.
Wang Gege lowered her head slightly before quietly adding, "I almost got bullied too."
The moment those words fell... The temperature throughout the restaurant seemed to drop several degrees.
Wang Gege quietly stole a glance at Xie Rong. Truthfully, she had no idea how he would handle the situation.
After all, the woman standing before them clearly knew him well enough to call him "Xie Rong Gege."
Perhaps... Their relationship had once been quite close. A trace of nervousness quietly crept into her heart.
Ever since that morning, Xie Rong had treated her surprisingly well. He had patiently accompanied her around the marketplace, allowed her to choose his attire, and even...
Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the fresh blossoms still resting in his hand. For whatever reason, she wanted to believe that he would stand on her side. So, without realizing it, she found herself quietly waiting for his answer.
Xie Rong remained silent. His expression did not change in the slightest.
The bundle of fresh blossoms remained loosely held in his hand. After several breaths, he slowly turned his head toward Qing’er.
Although the blindfold concealed his eyes, his gaze seemed to stop upon the distinct handprint staining her cheek.
"Who struck you?"
The second floor fell silent once again.
Qing’er instinctively lowered her head.
"This servant..." She hesitated for a brief moment before slowly raising a trembling finger, "was struck by that maid." Her finger pointed directly toward the maid standing behind Young Lady Gu.
The maid’s face immediately turned pale. "You—" She instinctively took half a step back, "Young Master Xie, this servant only acted because—"
"Silence."
The single word fell calmly.
The maid’s unfinished explanation instantly became lodged in her throat. Her face turned deathly pale as she hurriedly lowered her head, no longer daring to utter another sound.
The surrounding guests quietly drew in cold breaths.
Everyone in the capital knew, Young Master Xie rarely raised his voice or did he display his emotions openly.
The calmer he appeared, the more terrifying he became.
Xie Rong remained standing where he was, his expression was as tranquil as a still lake.
After several breaths, he finally spoke again.
"You struck my Furen’s maid."
It was neither a question or accusation, it was simply a statement of fact.
The maid’s legs immediately weakened.
"This... this servant..." She instinctively looked toward Young Lady Gu, desperately hoping her mistress would speak for her.
Young Lady Gu immediately stepped forward.
"Xie Rong Gege." She bit her lip lightly, her voice once again carrying that familiar pitiful tone. "It was only a servant. She merely wished to teach her a lesson. There was no need to make such a fuss..."
Xie Rong remained silent... Only after she had finished speaking did he calmly reply, "Only a servant?"
His voice was as steady as ever. There was neither anger nor ridicule within it.
Young Lady Gu instinctively nodded, "Exactly. It was merely a servant."
Xie Rong gave a faint nod, as though acknowledging her words. "I see."
A brief silence followed.
Then his head slowly turned toward the maid standing behind her.
"Mo Yan."
Almost the instant his name was spoken, a black figure slipped through the very same window Wang Gege had been admiring the view from moments earlier.
He landed soundlessly beside Xie Rong before cupping his fists. "This subordinate is here, Young Master."
Xie Rong’s expression remained unchanged, "Slap her."
The entire restaurant froze.
Young Lady Gu’s eyes widened, "Xie Rong Gege!"
Before anyone could react...
Smack!
A crisp slap echoed throughout the restaurant.
The maid cried out in pain as she stumbled backward before collapsing onto the floor. One side of her face immediately swelled, an angry red handprint appearing across her cheek.
The surrounding guests instinctively drew in cold breaths.
They thought it was over. Then, Xie Rong’s calm voice sounded once again.
"One more."
Mo Yan acknowledged the order without the slightest hesitation. "Yes, Young Master."
He stepped forward, firmly grasped the maid’s chin to keep her from turning away.
Smack!
Another resounding slap rang through the restaurant.
The maid let out a miserable cry as tears instantly streamed down her face.
Only then did Mo Yan release her before calmly returning to Xie Rong’s side, as though carrying out nothing more than an ordinary instruction.
Xie Rong’s expression remained as composed as ever.
"It is merely a servant." He paused briefly before finishing in the same indifferent tone, "There is no need to make such a fuss."
The entire restaurant remained deathly silent. No one dared utter a single word.
Young Lady Gu stood frozen where she was, her face alternating between red and pale as she stared at the swollen cheeks of her maid.
Xie Rong, however, no longer spared her another glance. He merely turned toward Wang Gege, "Let’s go, Furen."
Wang Gege blinked, "Go?"
She instinctively glanced toward the table by the window. The teapot remained untouched and not a single dish had been served.
Her expression immediately became conflicted. "But..." She looked back at Xie Rong with her lips slightly pouted, "I’m hungry."
Xie Rong froze. His brows furrowed, "Hungry?"
Wang Gege nodded honestly, "We haven’t even eaten."
She pointed toward the untouched table, "The soup hasn’t even arrived."
Xie Rong remained standing where he was, his thoughts quietly lingering upon Wang Gege’s slightly pouted expression.
If this had been several days ago, he would have simply suggested another restaurant or returned to the residence. Eating elsewhere made little difference to him.
But for some inexplicable reason, the thought of disappointing her crossed his mind.
He had never cared where he ate or had he ever considered whether a meal mattered enough to delay his departure.
But... She had been looking forward to it.
After several breaths, he calmly spoke. "Very well."
He slowly turned his head toward the attendant, "The second floor is reserved."