Interrogation

That was a middle-aged man’s voice, and a woman answered with amusement beside him. “Right, we rushed all the way back. Where is she?”

A drop of water plinked into the sink. Wei Yin’s face in the mirror seemed to freeze inch by inch.

Her mind went blank.

If she hadn’t heard wrong, then this was probably, definitely Hua Yu’s parents.

Wei Yin stood rooted to the spot. Half a minute later, she suddenly turned on the faucet.

Her hand had been in the air for a while; it was definitely dirty now, and she needed to wash it properly.

The first wash didn’t make enough foam; she hadn’t scrubbed thoroughly, and the inner side of the second joint of her left pinky and the nail of her right thumb still didn’t seem clean.

The second wash made too much foam; the chemical residue wasn’t good, so it needed to be rinsed several times.

The third time…

There was a knock on the bathroom door.

“I’m coming in,” Hua Yu’s voice said.

Wei Yin turned off the tap, braced both hands on the sink, and looked up, meeting Hua Yu’s eyes in the mirror.

Hua Yu walked in and shut the door behind her, a faint smile in her eyes.

“I knew you wouldn’t dare come out.”

Wei Yin’s eyes widened. “There isn’t a window in the bathroom.”

Hua Yu glanced around. “Mm. Just an exhaust fan.”

“I was thinking of climbing out the window and running away,” Wei Yin said, shaking her hand. Droplets splashed onto the floor, betraying a little of her collapse.

Hua Yu let out a soft sigh, but the corners of her mouth still lifted despite her. She lowered her voice. “I didn’t know they’d care this much. As soon as they heard I was back, they rushed straight home.”

Wei Yin still kept silent.

Hua Yu smiled faintly. “All right, I admit it. They came back to see you.”

Wei Yin said stubbornly, very softly, “They misunderstood.”

There was no Hua Yu’s little girlfriend here; only her little housekeeper, who also happened to be painfully shy.

Hua Yu’s smile widened a little. “Mm. Their mistake.”

Wei Yin lowered her head, leaving Hua Yu only a tiny cowlick to look at.

Hua Yu reached out and pinched her shoulder. The muscle was stiff, obviously tense. In a gentle voice, she suggested, “If you don’t want to see them, I’ll say you’re not feeling well. They can go upstairs first; then you can come out later, and I’ll take you away.”

Wei Yin jerked her head up at once and stared at Hua Yu.

How could that work? If she clearly disliked them and didn’t want to get close, yet came to someone else’s house as a guest and didn’t even have the courtesy to greet them, what would that look like?

Wei Yin lowered her head and unconsciously tightened her grip on the hem of her clothes. Even her breathing quickened.

She wasn’t just socially anxious; when people treated her too warmly, it gave her a suffocating, choking feeling, as if she couldn’t get enough air.

She’d had this problem ever since her mother died.

It had already been obvious in college, but because everyone around her was the same age, she could still brush it off with, “Young people are all a bit solitary anyway; they wear headphones and don’t look at anyone.” After she entered the workforce and came to her employer’s home, she could keep going by telling herself, “It’s part of the job, and as long as you keep your head down and don’t talk much, that’s enough.”

But this time was completely different from before.

Hua Yu took her hand and carefully dried it with a tissue, one pass after another.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think this through,” Hua Yu apologized in a low voice. Her eyes were lowered slightly, her tone patient and gentle. “If you don’t want to meet them, then don’t. They’re just curious; you don’t need to force yourself to satisfy their curiosity because of me.”

Wei Yin drew a breath. “Let’s go out.”

Hua Yu studied her expression. “Do you want to see them?”

This wasn’t a question of whether she wanted to or not; clearly, Hua Yu hadn’t expected them to come back either. This was an unexpected situation.

When something happened suddenly, no matter how reluctant or unprepared you were, you still had to keep the basic courtesy.

Wei Yin nodded. “Yes.”

“My parents are really nice,” Hua Yu said, putting a hand on Wei Yin’s back and gently soothing her. “Relax. There’s no need to be nervous.”

Wei Yin puffed out her cheeks and let out a long breath. “Okay.”

When they came out, there was no one outside.

“They went upstairs to change,” Hua Yu said, beckoning her over. “Sit down and finish your meal. If they still haven’t come down by the time we’re done, I’ll take you away.”

Wei Yin bit her lip and glanced toward the doorway.

Hua Yu curved her lips and asked in a low voice, “Do you want to leave right now?”

She was standing right behind Wei Yin; when she lowered her head, her words brushed almost against Wei Yin’s ear. Her voice was elegant and unhurried, with no trace of dimmed amusement.

…Hua Yu was absolutely doing it on purpose.

Aunt Sun was nearby. “What?”

Wei Yin said, “Nothing… I’ll keep eating.”

Hua Yu’s parents had gone upstairs and changed into loose home clothes; they were soft and comfortable, in gentle colors, and when they came down they looked no different from the uncles and aunties you’d see anywhere on the street.

At the sound of them, Wei Yin put down her chopsticks and stood up.

Hua Yu followed suit. “Dad, Mom, have you eaten?”

Hua’s mother chided, “Why are you standing up? Eat yours; don’t mind us. Pretend we’re not here.”

As she spoke, she moved around to the side. Hua Yu smiled helplessly and shifted slightly to block their view, earning a glare from Hua’s mother.

Wei Yin slowly poked out half her head. “Hello, Uncle and Auntie.”

Hua’s mother immediately broke into a smile. “Hello.”

Wei Yin forced out a smile, instinctively lowered her head, then thought that seemed inappropriate and looked up again, giving Hua’s father a smile too.

“We still have things to do this afternoon; we came home to get something and will be leaving in a bit,” Hua Yu explained proactively.

Hua’s mother looked at Wei Yin with a smiling expression and automatically ignored Hua Yu’s words. “This little sister looks very young. How old are you this year?”

Wei Yin answered honestly, “Twenty-six.”

“Four years younger than Yu Bao, then.”

Wei Yin repeated softly, “Yu Bao?”

Hua’s mother laughed. “That’s Hua Yu’s nickname. Since she was little, she’s never liked us calling her that, but neither Aunt Sun nor I ever changed it. Now that she’s thirty, she’s gotten used to it.”

Wei Yin tilted her head and watched Hua Yu’s expression. At first, when Aunt Sun called her Yu Bao, she hadn’t even realized it was Hua Yu’s nickname.

Hua Yu gave off a cool, detached air, yet she had such a cute nickname. Who could resist that contrast?

Hua Yu lowered her head and met Wei Yin’s eyes, lifting a brow very slightly at her.

Her expression now was relaxed, completely different from when they were outside; she’d loosened up entirely, with even a hint of a daughter’s playfulness.

This was Hua Yu’s home. The people opposite her were her parents, the people closest to her. In front of them, Hua Yu had no airs at all.

Wei Yin moved aside a little and stepped forward.

“Dr. Hua’s nickname is very cute,” Wei Yin said with a smile.

Seeing Wei Yin take the initiative to come out, Hua’s mother smiled so widely that fine lines spread at the corners of her eyes. She came over and took Wei Yin’s hand. “Come on, sit down. I see you haven’t finished eating yet; let’s eat first.”

Wei Yin shook her head. “I’ve already finished.”

Hua Yu said, “I haven’t finished.”

Hua’s mother shot her a look. “Then eat your food. What’s your name, dear?”

“Wei Yin.”

“Xiao Yin,” Hua’s mother said, patting her hand. “Come on, let’s sit on the sofa.”

Wei Yin looked back at Hua Yu. Hua Yu smiled at her, signaling her to relax.

After Hua’s mother sat down, she didn’t ask anything too pointed; she only asked a few simple questions.

Hua’s mother asked patiently, “Yu Bao has never brought anyone home before. We got worried and rushed back. Did we scare you?”

Wei Yin answered honestly, “Not too much. Dr. Hua took me to smell the incense—agarwood.”

Hua’s mother and father exchanged a look. That was their daughter’s pheromone scent.

The young woman in front of them should be an omega. Although they couldn’t smell her pheromones, they were both long-time traditional Chinese medicine practitioners; ABO body type and posture had subtle differences that were hard to fake.

Since she was an omega, and could smell Hua Yu’s pheromones, why had she been brought home to smell them?

Hua’s father coughed lightly. “Probably because your aunt liked burning incense when she was pregnant, so Hua Yu’s pheromone scent is agarwood.”

“Mm, I know,” Wei Yin nodded, then thought for a moment and added, “It’s a pity I can’t smell it.”

The two exchanged another look; after a moment, they turned back to Wei Yin together.

Meeting those two unreadable gazes, Wei Yin was baffled.

Hua’s mother said softly, “Is it congenital?”

Wei Yin blinked, feeling as if she’d been seen through at a glance, though she didn’t feel offended.

Maybe Hua’s mother just looked too kind, or maybe her voice and tone were a lot like her own mother’s. Wei Yin only paused for a moment before nodding. “Mm. Congenital pheromone deficiency syndrome. My glands have always been in an immature state, and later… stage-three atrophy.”

Hua’s mother’s eyes filled with sympathy, and her voice grew even gentler. “May I check your pulse?”

Check her pulse the traditional way? Wei Yin extended her arm. “Sure.”

When she was hospitalized, she’d heard the nurses talking; Hua Yu came from a family of doctors, with several generations on both sides having practiced medicine. But since she’d loved Western medicine from a young age, she didn’t plan to inherit her parents’ skills. Fortunately, the family atmosphere was very relaxed, and they supported her studying whatever she wanted.

The woman in front of her was a famous old Chinese medicine practitioner, the kind you’d need connections to see outside. They were willing to care about her, and Wei Yin was delighted.

Hua’s mother quietly let out a breath.

Feeling Wei Yin’s pulse, looking, listening, asking, and examining, she asked about many details before finally letting go of Wei Yin’s wrist.

Meeting Wei Yin’s questioning gaze, Hua’s mother gave a faint smile. “It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry; it won’t affect your life.”

The calm in Hua’s mother’s attitude eased Wei Yin, and she said happily, “Okay.”

The atmosphere quieted. Wei Yin rested both hands on her knees and lowered her head slightly. No one said anything.

Half a minute later, Hua’s father coughed. “Xiao Yin, right?”

Wei Yin nodded. “Wei Yin. The Wei in ‘defend the country,’ and the Yin in ‘music.’”

Hua’s father followed with a nod. “What kind of work do you do?”

Wei Yin hesitated for a few seconds and looked away slightly. “…Live-in housekeeper.”

There was no shame in the value of a profession; that saying could comfort herself, but when it was placed before other people, she couldn’t quite stand straight.

A live-in housekeeper was, after all, someone who served others. It wasn’t a dignified profession and was the easiest to be looked down on.

Wei Yin wasn’t the type to belittle herself. After she said it, she even gave the two of them a bright smile, though there was a hint of forced cheer in it.

If it were anyone else, Wei Yin wouldn’t bother caring what they thought, but these were Hua Yu’s parents. She always wanted to leave a good impression.

Now it seemed like she’d messed that up too.

Hua’s mother stepped on Hua’s father’s foot without drawing attention and shot him a dark look.

Hua’s father cleared his throat. “A housekeeper is good. Warm-hearted, attentive, knows how to take care of people. We were all worried Hua Yu lived alone and had no one looking after her. Now…”

“She’s an alpha and still has someone taking care of her,” Hua’s mother could no longer hold back. “Why does Xiao Yin have to take care of her? I think Yu Bao should be taking better care of Xiao Yin.”

Hua’s father immediately changed his tune. “Right, right; let Hua Yu take better care of her.”

Wei Yin was stunned, then couldn’t help laughing. “I’m Dr. Hua’s live-in housekeeper right now, so I should be the one taking care of Dr. Hua.”

But in reality, it was Hua Yu who took care of her more.

No one knew what was going on. She was clearly holding herself to the standards of a housekeeper with complete self-discipline, yet over these past few days Hua Yu had shown no awareness at all of being an employer, and had even caused her to fail at doing her job properly.

Mm. It was all Dr. Hua’s fault.

Hua’s father and mother both choked. After a moment, they shifted their gazes to Hua Yu, who was still eating.

“What?” Hua Yu had just finished the last bite and was wiping her mouth. Seeing everyone looking at her, she got up and walked over.

Hua’s mother couldn’t help scolding her. “You let Xiao Yin be your housekeeper?”

Hua Yu: “Mm?”

How had the conversation turned to housekeepers?

“Sort of,” Hua Yu said, first looking at Wei Yin. This person had been insisting she owed money and needed to repay it; working off the debt was fine, except that the boss was herself. “What about it?”

Hua’s father frowned. “Nonsense.”

Wei Yin looked from one to the other, and some wire in her brain suddenly connected. She opened her mouth. “…Uncle, Auntie, you may have misunderstood.”

Her face rapidly flushed red from the neck up, and even her voice carried a trace of embarrassment. “Dr. Hua and I are just friends.”

Hua Yu nodded, placing a hand on Wei Yin’s shoulder as she gave her parents a meaningful look. “Mm. Stop asking so many questions.”

Hua’s mother understood her own daughter perfectly. She looked at Hua Yu with hatred for iron not becoming steel and called to Hua’s father, “You. Come to the bedroom with us.”

Wei Yin thought she had said something wrong and looked nervously at Hua Yu.

Hua Yu squeezed her shoulder and said with a low laugh, “It’s fine. Wait for me; I’ll be back soon.”

Then she turned and instructed Aunt Sun, “Aunt Sun, cut some fruit.”

Aunt Sun answered brightly, “Sure thing.”

Hua Yu followed the two of them into the room.

“Yu Bao, from childhood to now, how have we taught you?” Hua’s mother spoke first, her tone stern. “Be upright and aboveboard in your conduct.”

Hua’s father huffed coldly, lending support.

Hua Yu stood before them like a child being punished to stand still, and slowly adopted a puzzled expression.

Hua’s mother continued, “What’s going on with Xiao Yin’s body? She’s staying by your side, all empty inside but burning hot on the outside, her organs out of balance. Aren’t you the expert on glands? How did you end up taking care of someone like this?”

Hua Yu hadn’t expected the fire to spread to her and didn’t react in time. “She and I just moved in…”

“What do you mean, just moved in together?” Hua’s father said gravely. “Since you brought it up, I’ll ask you: how have we taught you since you were little? Alphas are supposed to take care of omegas more. If you don’t care for your own omega, who are you waiting for to care? You even let her be your live-in housekeeper, let an omega come take care of you? Did we raise you to be incapable of looking after yourself?”