After five years of a cold marriage, I can no longer hide the child I secretly gave birth to.

"What's up?"

He stared at her for a moment, then looked away, his tone indifferent.

"I…"

Before Xu Daikui could utter a single word, the man suddenly pointed to the sofa and said, "Come and sit down."

"No."

"I'm here to..."

Zhou Yanci interrupted her impatiently, "I'm not used to talking to people from that distance."

Xu Daikui had no choice but to walk over and sit down awkwardly on his side.

Zhou Yanci put down his computer, got up and poured two glasses of water, placing one in front of her.

The steaming hot water slightly eased her shivering body.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. "Is Mengmeng with you? Why did you bring her here?"

Zhou Yanci looked at her anxious face and asked calmly, "Did Shen Jun send you?"

Xu Daikui tightened her grip and nodded. "He's very worried about Mengmeng."

Zhou Yanci picked up the Rolex watch, which had a bit of paint chipped off, and looked down to see that it was already eleven o'clock.

He frowned. "Why didn't he come himself?"

Xu Daikui had already prepared her explanation: "He's working overtime. He has a very urgent surgery and can't leave."

"So, I'm ordering you around in the middle of the night?"

"Aren't you and Mengmeng not very familiar with each other?"

Xu Daikui thought about the lie she had told a few days ago. Sure enough, one lie requires countless lies to cover it up.

"It was Shen Jun who asked me to do this."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanci's expression darkened, and he stood up coldly.

"Wait, I'll go check if he's awake yet."

She watched him go upstairs until he was completely out of sight before slowly reaching out and gently placing her frozen fingers on the edge of the teacup.

The heat wafted over.

Her body wasn't so stiff anymore.

Zhou Yanci went into the bedroom and saw Xu Meng sleeping soundly in his blanket.

He closed the door, turned back to the stairs, and saw Xu Daikui's little actions.

When she realized she was being watched, she immediately got up, walked to the corner of the stairs, and looked impatient.

Where's Mengmeng?

His eyes glazed over for a moment as he recalled the missed call.

Isn't she being a little too concerned about Mengmeng?

Is it because of Shen Jun?

"She's asleep. Tell Shen Junming to pick her up tomorrow morning."

He looked at her expressionlessly.

Xu Daikui glanced upstairs and was about to step up when she said, "I'll go up and wake her up. She can't sleep here..."

She didn't want Xu Meng to stay by Zhou Yanci's side for even a moment longer.

"Your child is frail; do you want her to catch a cold?"

Zhou Yanci blocked her away in a cold tone.

His dark, inky eyes were covered with frost and snow.

Xu Daikui was stunned.

She knew that if he was determined not to let her take Xu Meng away, then she wouldn't be able to take her away.

Who told him to be powerful and influential, while she was all alone, without parents?

What can she use to fight back against him?

Xu Daikui felt utterly hopeless. She stopped in her tracks, lowered her eyes indifferently, and said, "I understand. I'll come pick her up again tomorrow morning."

After saying that, she turned and left without looking at the man again.

After going out to the living room, she did not leave the villa.

She was still a little worried about leaving Mengmeng alone with Zhou Yanci, and besides, it was quite far from her residence, and it was difficult and expensive to get a taxi in the middle of the night.

However, Zhou Yanci dislikes her and would not be willing to let her stay overnight.

She would no longer shamelessly go and get in his way.

After a brief moment's thought, she walked to the row of servants' quarters in front of the villa.

There must be some free time there, I'll just make do for the night.

...

Zhou Yanci turned and left before he could finish speaking.

It was as if he were some kind of venomous snake or ferocious beast that she absolutely had to avoid.

This isn't how you keep your chastity.

A surge of anger roared within him.

But after glancing at the dark, cold sky outside and seeing the woman dressed in thin clothes, he still grabbed his car keys and chased after her.

When I arrived at the main gate, there was no one in sight.

He rolled down the car window and looked at Uncle Liu.

Where is she?

Uncle Liu had guessed that Xu Daikui was very likely to leave in the middle of the night, so he did not lock the door.

Since Zhou Yanci had chased her all the way to the front gate, the lady must have already left.

He looked at Zhou Yanci respectfully and said, "Madam has left. If you are worried, go after her quickly. She can't possibly walk far on two legs."

Zhou Yanci didn't say anything more, and the car sped away from the manor.

……

"Who are you? The new maid?"

The next morning, Xu Daikui was woken up by a maid.

She opened her eyes and found her head heavy and her consciousness somewhat hazy.

"You seem to have caught a cold?"

The maid noticed her face was flushed and touched her forehead; it was so hot it could roast a sweet potato.

Xu Daikui sneezed.

I must have caught a chill last night.

"I'm fine."

She got out of bed and looked at the maid. "Just pretend you didn't see me. I'll be leaving soon."

Watching her slowly leave the room, the maid, still worried, chased after her, muttering something strange to herself.

At that moment, Uncle Liu also saw Xu Daikui's back. He quickly approached the maid and asked, "What are you doing here, Madam?"

Didn't Xu Daikui leave last night?

Their young master even saw her off, and didn't return for several hours.

what?

Is she too old?

The maid was stunned.

He quickly reported to Uncle Liu in detail that Xu Daikui had been sleeping in the servants' room that morning and had a high fever.

Uncle Liu slapped his thigh.

broken.

Did Xu Daikui not leave the manor at all last night?

The thought that he had been the one to blurt out that Xu Daikui had left, and that if Zhou Yanci found out that not only had she not left, but she had also slept in the servants' quarters, his career would probably be over...

His thoughts raced, and he immediately followed Xu Daikui.