Chapter 38: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love
In the downstairs dining room, the housekeepers couldn’t help but glance at the table.
Two people sat there: their employer, dressed in soft loungewear, at the head of the table, and the woman who had spent the previous night banging on a mixing bowl.
It wasn’t unusual for a residence to have overnight guests, a commonplace occurrence that wouldn’t normally cause such a visible reaction from the well-trained staff.
The unusual aspects were twofold: first, their employer, Guan Qiuyi’s, private residence never hosted guests, making the woman with the mixing bowl the first outsider ever to stay overnight. Second, they had never seen their boss, Ms. Guan, behave like this.
They weren’t sure how to describe the current Ms. Guan.
Ms. Guan was known for her gentle demeanor, a preferred employer in the industry with an excellent reputation. However, she was also reserved, distant, not effusive.
The red mole between her eyebrows made her seem even more ethereal, like a Guanyin jade statue in a shrine, gentle and compassionate, yet somehow not fully alive.
They couldn’t understand why, since coming downstairs, Ms. Guan had been sitting there, touching her forehead, lost in thought. Could she be unwell from jet lag?
Xu Qiuyi, unaware of the housekeepers’ concerned glances, continued to touch her forehead, a phantom sensation of Tao Ning’s lips still lingering there.
Then her hand was gently pulled away, and the culprit asked, her voice filled with concern, “Why do you keep touching your forehead? Did you catch a cold coming back so suddenly last night?”
Xu Qiuyi: “…” Every time she thought Tao Ning finally understood, she would effortlessly shatter that hope, demonstrating with her actions a complete lack of romantic awareness.
Tao Ning felt her forehead with the back of her hand, a frown creasing her brow. “No fever. Do you have a headache?”
Xu Qiuyi shook her head. “No.”
“No?” Then why the constant forehead-touching? She must be sleep-deprived.
Tao Ning looked at Xu Qiuyi, who met her gaze innocently, her slender white neck extending from the loose collar of her pajamas, her soft hair cascading over her shoulders and back, an irresistible temptation to touch.
After a few seconds of intense eye contact, Tao Ning’s reaction was direct. She reached out, cupping Xu Qiuyi’s face in her palms, gently rubbing her cheeks.
She was delighted by the softness of her skin. If they weren’t in public, she would have taken a bite.
Xu Qiuyi remained still, sitting quietly in her chair, strangely compliant, unlike her usual self, like a large doll being manipulated.
Tao Ning was completely engrossed in her playful interaction, oblivious to the housekeepers, who were secretly gaping, their eyes wide with shock. The sheer visual impact was immense.
To the staff of the Guan residence, Ms. Guan was a formidable figure, like a tiger. As the saying went, you don’t touch a tiger’s rear end. But now, someone was not only touching the tiger’s head but also pulling its whiskers.
Stunned, the housekeepers exchanged glances, their eyes mirroring the same bewilderment.
Who am I? Where am I? Is this real?
Tao Ning, reluctantly, withdrew her hands, returning to her seat.
I held back so much before, she thought, regretting her past restraint. I missed out on… touching her face when she was eighteen, when she was still a little naive.
Xu Qiuyi, unaware of Tao Ning’s thoughts, watched her, a hint of sadness in her eyes. She couldn’t easily decipher Tao Ning’s thoughts, which only added to her mystery.
Her cheeks still flushed from being touched, she glanced at the housekeeper, who, having strategically positioned herself in a blind spot, immediately appeared, signaling to the kitchen.
The kitchen staff, equally perceptive, began bringing out the breakfast dishes.
Xu Qiuyi said, “I didn’t have time to prepare your favorites, but please, help yourself.”
As she spoke, the housekeepers appeared, as if by magic, filling the table with a lavish spread, a breakfast fit for royalty.
It was almost excessively extravagant. Tao Ning felt surrounded by food, the dining room filled with tantalizing aromas.
She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she saw the feast.
Tao Ning took a bowl of plain rice porridge and some side dishes. “This is perfect. I’m not picky.”
Xu Qiuyi, resting her chin on her hand, watched her. “I know you’re not picky.”
Then, she picked up her own bowl and began to eat slowly.
Tao Ning paused, a piece of pickled radish poised mid-air, and looked at Xu Qiuyi. Xu Qiuyi, sensing her gaze, looked up. “What is it?” she asked, her tone calm and steady.
“This pickled radish is delicious,” Tao Ning said, placing a piece in Xu Qiuyi’s bowl. “You should try it.”
The housekeeper, standing by the table, her eyes wide, almost fell over. Except for family members, she had never seen anyone serve Ms. Guan food using personal chopsticks.
Xu Qiuyi, seemingly unfazed, tasted the pickled radish. “It is good,” she agreed, nodding. “One of the housekeepers is very good at making side dishes. If you like it, I can ask her to make more.”
Tao Ning casually replied, “No need. It’s just the two of us. We won’t eat much.”
Xu Qiuyi: “The two of us?”
Tao Ning countered, “Unless… you’re trying to get rid of me?”
Xu Qiuyi’s expression tightened slightly. “I wouldn’t.”
Tao Ning placed another piece of pickled radish in her bowl, her voice low and soft. “I know you wouldn’t.”
The faint clinking of utensils paused for a few seconds. Tao Ning, glancing at Xu Qiuyi, saw her relax slightly, returning to her porridge.
After breakfast, the housekeepers cleared the table. Xu Qiuyi wiped her mouth and said to the housekeeper, “Notify Assistant Bai that I won’t be going into the office for the next few days.”
Housekeeper: “Yes, Ms. Guan.” She turned to call the office.
“Ms. Guan?” Tao Ning, her earlier suspicion confirmed, decided to ask directly. “When I first arrived, I asked where I was, and they said this was Ms. Guan’s private residence. I assumed you had sent for me.”
Xu Qiuyi said, “I changed my last name after graduating from university. He eventually gave up and went back to his hometown.”
It sounded like there had been many complications, but she didn’t elaborate, simply smiling at Tao Ning. “You always protected me before. Now I’m just as capable.”
Tao Ning sighed internally, reaching out and gently stroking her hair. “You’ve always been capable. You have many strengths that no one else possesses. You’re unique to me.”
Guan Qiuyi blinked, slightly confused, her expression a mixture of bewilderment and a touch of happiness at the compliment.
Tao Ning said, “Qiuyi, you’re wonderful. I like you very much. You’re unique.”
For the next few days, Guan Qiuyi remained at the residence, her schedule still packed. Any urgent matters were brought to her, and she would handle them with swift efficiency before returning to Tao Ning’s side.
Tao Ning, in turn, didn’t disturb her work, occasionally appearing in different parts of the residence.
The housekeepers saw her everywhere, a stark contrast to her first night at the residence. She was unusually quiet, as if the all-night “gong performance” had never happened.
Sometimes she would be strolling in the garden outside Ms. Guan’s study, sometimes walking around the fishpond, feeding the fish, and sometimes simply wandering around the house. She would usually turn back before reaching the main gate.
She seemed to be intentionally avoiding leaving, making the security guards at the gate feel unnecessary, though they remained vigilant.
Today, the weather was pleasant. Tao Ning spent some time in the garden, chatting with the gardener about the best way to trim the lawn, even wanting to try it herself.
The gardener, however, was hesitant, refusing to lend her the shears. They were dangerous, and inexperienced hands could easily cause injury.
Tao Ning didn’t press the matter, simply standing by and watching. Sensing a gaze on her, she turned and met Guan Qiuyi’s eyes through the study window, smiling and waving.
Guan Qiuyi, finished with her work, set down her coffee cup and left the study, coming downstairs to join Tao Ning in the garden.
Tao Ning took her hand, leading her on a stroll through the grounds.
Over the past few days, the household staff had grown accustomed to seeing them together. Wherever Miss Tao was, Ms. Guan was sure to be nearby.
Often, they weren’t doing anything specific, simply sitting quietly together, sometimes chatting, sometimes watching television, occasionally leaning together to discuss the plot.
Such scenes weren’t unusual for young women, full of life and energy, with a wide range of interests, enjoying the company of friends.
However, Ms. Guan seemed to lack that playful spirit. She had achieved success early, known for her capabilities, her name always accompanied by the epithet “young and accomplished.”
Yet, in private, she was someone who didn’t know which way the home theater door opened, whose snacks would expire if the housekeepers didn’t replace them.
Not to mention the equipment in the home theater. The game controllers, updated annually, remained unopened, unused. Ms. Guan, despite being the owner, was less adept with them than even Miss Tao.
The housekeepers often thought that it was precisely Ms. Guan’s serious nature that had enabled her to achieve such remarkable success at a young age.
Then Ms. Guan would ask Miss Tao to teach her, and Miss Tao would comply, patiently repeating instructions, her voice gentle and kind, never showing any frustration.
At such moments, the housekeepers would remember the dented mixing bowl and realize, with a touch of bitterness, that Miss Tao was perfectly capable of being quiet.
She simply chose to be quiet only for Guan Qiuyi.
To the housekeepers, Tao Ning was a lively presence, capable of lifting everyone’s spirits, even drawing smiles from the usually reserved Guan Qiuyi.
They didn’t know what Guan Qiuyi had been like before, but they saw that recently, she was always smiling, more relaxed, finally embracing the activities of her age, no longer a child in an adult’s world.
According to a staff member who had delivered documents to the residence, seeing the current Guan Qiuyi, they had thought Ms. Guan had a twin sister she had never mentioned.
Furthermore, talking to her, they felt a strange urge to confide in her, revealing everything, like a sieve.
This particular staff member, a young woman, was accompanying a senior executive who was meeting with Ms. Guan in the study. As a junior employee, she wasn’t authorized to join the meeting and waited in the sitting area.
A short while later, a beautiful woman with phoenix eyes appeared, sat down opposite her, and began making tea, striking up a conversation.
Initially, the employee hadn’t realized who she was, but then it hit her: this was the woman rumored to be Ms. Guan’s “kept lover”!
She was even more beautiful in person, like a movie star. No wonder Ms. Guan was so smitten, staying home for days.
Seeing her in person, the employee understood. She was indeed stunning!
Tao Ning, having heard the rumors, asked, “A venture capital firm? That’s impressive. Leaders in the industry. Their annual birthday invitations must flood your residence.”
She blew on her tea, sipping cautiously, finding she still didn’t enjoy it. She set the cup down.
The employee, cradling her teacup, reluctant to part with it—this was the “kept lover’s” tea, a potential story to share—nodded. “Yes. Ms. Guan’s birthday parties are always held at Rose Manor.”
As Ms. Guan’s employee, she had attended one of the parties. She couldn’t recall the details, only a lingering feeling of being overwhelmed by the sheer opulence.
The vast rose garden, the exquisite architecture, a dreamlike world of luxury.
Tao Ning, surprised, said, “I believe Rose Manor is owned by the head of the Tao Corporation. Ms. Guan must have a very good relationship with the Tao family, holding her birthday parties there every year.”
The employee, still excited by the topic, nodded vigorously. “Excellent. I heard Ms. Guan calls Ms. Tao ‘Godmother.’ I overheard it at Ms. Guan’s first public birthday party. I was in the restroom, and I heard it on my way out.”
Tao Ning, feigning surprise, said, “You overheard that?”
Encouraged by Tao Ning’s interest, the employee, having kept this secret for years, couldn’t contain herself. “Yes. And a few years ago, Ms. Tao was sick. Ms. Guan and I went to visit her. I went to the restroom, and when I came back, I saw Ms. Guan sitting by the bedside, telling Ms. Tao that she would take care of her, that she would provide for her in her old age.”
Tao Ning, hearing this, felt a mix of emotions. She wasn’t entirely surprised, but hearing it from someone else felt… strange. “They have a close relationship,” she said.
The employee nodded eagerly. “Yes. Many people say Ms. Guan only rose to power by relying on the Tao family, that she’s nothing without them. But I say they’re just jealous. Ms. Guan is capable. She doesn’t need anyone’s help. Right?”
Tao Ning smiled. “Right. It’s just jealousy.”
The employee, however, was unaware that the woman she was talking to, the “kept lover,” was in fact the Tao Corporation’s long-lost daughter, Tao Ning herself, who had returned after years abroad.
The industry was well aware of Guan Qiuyi’s sexual orientation, but given her status, no one dared to openly comment on it.
The employee, being a junior staff member, wasn’t privy to the deeper secrets. Her knowledge was limited to office gossip and superficial observations.
Having exhausted her questions, Tao Ning, seeing that the meeting in the study was about to conclude, left the sitting area.
The weather remained summer-like, the air conditioning in the house keeping it cool. Tao Ning, feeling a slight chill, draped a light shawl over her shoulders and continued her stroll through the residence.
Outside, the sun was shining, the scene no different from her student days. Summer was always hot, the sun always rose and set, but people changed.
However, the fact that a chemistry genius, a brilliant researcher, had suddenly switched to finance, left Tao Ning feeling… unsettled.
The two fields were completely unrelated: academia and business. According to the employee, Guan Qiuyi had a keen eye for investments, making shrewd decisions, earning a reputation for guaranteed profits.
Perhaps life had changed her, the harsh realities of the world altering her priorities, her beliefs.
It was undeniable, however, that a significant part of that change was due to Tao Ning. Realizing this only added to her complex emotions.
Guan Qiuyi emerged from the study, seeing off the executives, who also escorted the junior employee, who had been chatting with Tao Ning, out of the residence.
The employee, who had been so talkative with Tao Ning, revealing everything she knew, became meek and silent in front of Guan Qiuyi, her intimidating presence overriding the employee’s sudden urge to share gossip.
After everyone had left, the housekeeper appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and informed Guan Qiuyi about the conversation.
Guan Qiuyi asked, “She made tea herself? What did they talk about?”
The housekeeper, her expression troubled, shook her head. “We didn’t dare get close enough to hear. But I can contact the young lady if you wish…”
Guan Qiuyi interrupted her. “No, that’s alright.”
She looked around, seeing no one in the garden. “Where is Ningning now?”
The housekeeper, taken by surprise, stammered, and Guan Qiuyi realized Tao Ning had vanished again, as if she had slipped through a crack in the floor.
It was exactly as Guan Qiuyi had described: give her the smallest opening, and she would disappear.
Guan Qiuyi, no longer as anxious as she had been a few days ago, said, “It’s alright. I’ll find her.” She wouldn’t bother checking the security footage.
She found Tao Ning under a tree, asleep in a hammock, covered with a small blanket, a panda plush toy in her arms.
The residence had excellent mosquito and insect control, making the hammock a comfortable place to rest without being bothered.
The area was also shaded, a gentle breeze blowing, cool and peaceful, a perfect place for a nap.
Her shoes rustled against the grass as Guan Qiuyi approached the hammock. Tao Ning, as if sensing her presence, opened her eyes, a sleepy smile on her face.
“You’re here,” Tao Ning said. “Finished with work? I found a new spot. It’s great for avoiding the heat.”
Guan Qiuyi asked, “Do you want to go out?”
Tao Ning hadn’t left the residence since her arrival a week ago. Guan Qiuyi knew the security outside remained tight, but Tao Ning hadn’t made any attempts to contact her family or friends, nor had she expressed any desire to leave.
Tao Ning, hugging the plush toy, swaying gently in the hammock, replied, “No.”
Guan Qiuyi, expecting a different answer, looked at her, puzzled. Tao Ning beckoned her closer. “Want to join me?”
Guan Qiuyi: “…”
Unable to resist, she lay down in the hammock, which dipped in the center, naturally pulling her towards Tao Ning’s embrace.
The word “outsider” had been removed from Guan Qiuyi’s vocabulary years ago. She even believed that her earlier reluctance to embrace Tao Ning was the reason she had disappeared in the first place.
Guan Qiuyi wrapped her arms around Tao Ning’s waist. “Why don’t you want to go out? Don’t you want to see your… family? Your friends?”
Tao Ning had always thought Guan Qiuyi was contradictory, like a cat: affectionate one moment, aloof the next. Her adult self was no different, her words suggesting a desire for freedom, yet her actions clinging to Tao Ning.
Tao Ning replied, “Why would I rush to leave? This place is great. The food is good, and everyone is so nice. I don’t want to go.”
Guan Qiuyi’s arms tightened around her waist, a mixture of frustration and helplessness washing over her. She buried her face in Tao Ning’s chest, like an ostrich hiding its head.
Tao Ning chuckled softly, the movement of her chest not dislodging the head nestled against her. “Why are you acting like Zhichun? She’s the one who likes to hide like an ostrich.”
The black-haired head didn’t move. Tao Ning held her close, her fingers gently stroking her soft hair, which, now well-nourished, was much shinier than before.
“No need to rush back to the Tao residence,” Tao Ning said. “Those things aren’t important. You are.”