"Young Miss, I'm afraid to say this, but the Master has forbidden us to grant anyone's entry to the Madam's sleeping corridors. She is currently obtaining much-needed rest." The maid bowed her head apologetically.
Stationed in front of the entrance were the servants of the household, all ready to greet the Young Miss but also send her off at the same time.
Yang Ruqin's usually cheerful face was stormy and cold when she looked onto the servants. In some sort of way, her standoffish behavior resembled that of her older brothers.
"I'm not just 'anyone.'" She frowned, the edges of her lips dipping down. Her arms were crossed and she impatiently tapped her foot.
The servants nervously exchanged a glance. They were not only familiar with their Young Miss's angelic face, but also her bad temper. When she didn't get what she wanted, many people would suffer. It was one of the reasons why Yang Feng always sent her back to the Main Mansion for discipline. She was too spoiled and the only ones that could keep her in control were her parents. Zhao Lifei was a rare exception because only in her presence would Yang Ruqin behave like an angel.
"Step aside." She tilted her head towards her security team. "I don't want blood to shed on my brother's property."
From the distance, an elderly man was approaching with a frantic servant directing him towards the front entrance. The Old Butler gently stepped forward, shielding the young maid. "It's always a fine morning when you're present, Young Miss. You have gotten radiant and healthier since I've last seen you." He bent his arm and bowed his head.
Yang Ruqin's frosty expression changed, her eyes brightening. "Yes, I've gained some weight and there's finally some meat on my bones." Like Yang Feng, she, too, was raised by the old man.
"To what honor do I owe your presence, Young Miss? If it's to visit our Madam, then I'm afraid it is a wish we cannot grant." His wrinkled forehead creased into deep-rooted folds. His bushy eyebrows, white as cotton, made him look older than what he truly was.
"B-but I have something to tell her. I've been meaning to do so since yesterday night, but then Feng-ge had to sit between us. I tried to call her yesterday night and she didn't pick up her phone the entire night." Yang Ruqin cried out, feeling wronged at his reaction towards her.
She was very used to having everyone, especially the Old Butler, taking her side.
"I completely understand where you are coming from, Young Miss. However, the instructions were given to us directly by the First Young Master—"
"I'm also a lady of the house, am I not? Who's to say his words affect me?" Yang Ruqin was getting impatient now.
She wanted to see her Feifei and she wanted to do it now! There were so many things she wanted to tell her and no one else understood her as Zhao Lifei did. Her Feifei never judged or criticized her for anything she did, and because of that, Yang Ruqin always sought the comfort of her best friend. In such a scheming society, where a secret was a trading card, Zhao Lifei's loyalty was a prized gem.
The Old Butler was taken aback by his Young Miss's sudden change of tone. Growing up, she had always been a timid little child who rarely commanded the servants to do her bidding. Of course, they still did whatever she wanted them to, but she had never raised her voice like this. She sounded very authoritative and was now behaving like a proper Heiress.
"Please step aside." Yang Ruqin easily maneuvered through the servants.
The servants all turned towards the Old Butler. They were waiting for his order. They were not simple maids and butlers. Everyone here was good at some sort of defense whether it was guns, knives, combat, and so forth. Yang Feng did not just employ anyone off the streets. Each servant in the new house was hand-picked by him.
The servants exchanged glances again. They couldn't raise their weapons at the Young Miss. Everyone knew how protective the Yang brothers were of their sister. If there was so much as a scratch on her skin, all hell would break loose. Besides, they've also heard the Madam's fondness towards the Young Miss.
Yang Ruqin was too deeply rooted in the hearts of their Masters for any harm to come her way.
- - - - -
Yang Ruqin elegantly stormed up the first flight of stairs that lay in the center of the enormous foyer. She looked around to see if there were any servants. None. Her eyes lit up and she abandoned her prestige to bolt up the stairs like a little girl on Christmas morning. She had so much to say!
This was her first time in the house, but Yang Ruqin didn't care. She went through every room and every hallway until she found the right one. She stopped in front of an enormous door and eagerly pushed it open.
Yang Ruqin felt a sense of deja vu when she stepped into the room. The heavy curtains were drawn shut. Not an inch of sunlight was able to shine in. The enormous room could've been a fancy apartment by itself.
"Wow, Feifei. My brother really pampers you." She mumbled under her breath, flickering on the lights. She walked to the curtains and pushed them open, completely unaware of the cars in the distance.
Yang Ruqin rushed to Zhao Lifei's bed. She hovered over the young woman and was amused by what she saw.
Zhao Lifei was securely tucked into the bed, the blankets covered over her mouth. Her small head was sunk into the large, fluffy pillows. She almost blended into the bed. Only her head was popping out, but it was barely visible from the distance.
"Come on, babe, wake up, wake up!" Yang Ruqin shook the unresponsive Zhao Lifei. "Feifei!" She dragged out the last syllable and desperately tried to wake Zhao Lifei up.
Yang Ruqin pressed her lips together and placed her hands onto the blanket. She harshly tugged on the blankets, mauling it like a tigress. "Please wake up! I have so much to tell you!"
"Hmm, five more minutes…" Zhao Lifei croaked, burying her face into the pillow, folding the edges over her face.
In one harsh tug, Yang Ruqin yanked off the blankets, earning a loud cry of protest from Zhao Lifei whose body curled into a ball.
"It's too early for this!" Zhao Lifei huffed into the blanket, hugging her shivering body.
"Oh." Yang Ruqin awkwardly coughed when she saw Zhao Lifei's naked form. "I-I didn't know…" She sheepishly said, placing the blankets back over Feifei's body.
"Know what?" Zhao Lifei was still half-asleep.
"That you were naked…" Yang Ruqin trailed off to which Zhao Lifei's eyes widened in horror.
"Tell me you didn't see me!" Zhao Lifei groaned, turning around to face Yang Ruqin. She was still lying on the bed, but this time, with a secure hold over the blankets.
"O-oh, if you mean the marks that my brother left on your entire body, then no, of course not. I didn't see a thing." Yang Ruqin giggled, hopping onto the bed with Zhao Lifei. "Was that your first time together? Will I expect a niece or nephew very soon? Hopefully, it's a cute little nephew for me to play with!"
"Please be quiet." Zhao Lifei whispered, her face flushed red.
"Oh my god, so it is your first time together! Wow, that's amazing! With the way my brother looks at you, I thought you guys would've done it within the first week. He eyes you the same way I look at a slice of chocolate cake." Yang Ruqin clapped her hands and laughed. It was very endearing to see Zhao Lifei so flustered.
"Stop it, he doesn't look at me like that." Zhao Lifei knew Yang Ruqin was telling the truth, but it was just awkward to hear it being said to her.
"No, I'm serious! He does! I mean, any man would look at you like that. You have a body to die for, and your butt is all nice and perky—"
"Okay, that's just weird."
"Pft, we're all girls here. Besides, I'm a designer, so seeing models in their bikinis or birthday suits is an everyday occurrence for me." Yang Ruqin waved her hand. "Would it make you happy if I said your butt looked the best out of everyone's I've seen?"
"Qinqin!" Zhao Lifei exasperated with a reddening face.
"Yes, my beloved Feifei?"
"Have some dignity!"
"Huh, what's that? I'm sorry, that word doesn't exist in my dictionary." Yang Ruqin giggled, patting Zhao Lifei on the head.