Chapter 2: The New Bride Courts Death On Her First Day

“Aunt Wu, show the Madame up to her room.”

Yun Manxia’s twisting, nervous heart settled instantly. Emotion surged through her—she darted forward, hugged him quickly, and said it like a promise:

“I’ll be good to you!”

It was just one hug. But for this life and the last, it was the closest she’d ever been to him.

She hadn’t thought before she moved. Now she was pressed against him, breathing in the scent of him, and her face flushed hot against her will. She pulled away instantly and practically ran for the stairs. Up in her room, her cheeks were still burning. She cursed her own impulsiveness. He was obsessive about cleanliness, hated being touched by strangers… would he hate her for this?

Downstairs. Only when the girl’s graceful figure vanished from sight did Bai Hedu pull himself back together.

Protect me…?

The soft warmth of her body still lingered where she’d touched him. He felt it again, slowly, and his expression shifted—confused, almost… curious. No one had ever said that to him before.

Lin Shen, standing at his side, stared in amazement at his master’s face.

Ninth Master isn’t angry? He isn’t disgusted? Last time that Miss Liu threw herself at him, his face had gone dark as thunder—he almost kicked her clear across the room!

Upstairs. Aunt Wu was the housekeeper here, and Yun Manxia could feel the woman didn’t like her. When they reached the door, Yun Manxia paused.

“I’m staying here?”

She’d lived in Imperial Garden Villa for years in her past life—she knew this place better than anyone. This was just an ordinary guest room, and it was miles away from Bai Hedu’s suite. But she was the mistress of this house now, wasn’t she?

Aunt Wu’s face was sharp and cold.

“You came so suddenly, we didn’t have time to tidy up anything better. You’ll have to bear with it for now.”

The words couldn’t be faulted. She was an old servant of the Bai family, close to Bai Hedu—Yun Manxia let it go. She dragged her suitcase inside. After tidying up a little, she wanted a shower. She stepped into the bathroom… and found the hot water heater was broken. No hot water at all.

As housekeeper, Aunt Wu controlled everything in this villa. There was no way she didn’t know this bathroom was broken. She’d put Yun Manxia here on purpose.

Yun Manxia’s eyes darkened. She went back out, found a maid, and asked where she could shower.

Shower? The maid named Xiaomei’s eyes flickered.

“Follow me.”

A moment later, Yun Manxia was standing in front of a suite door.

“It’s here. Go on in.”

It was a huge room, decorated with expensive, subtle taste, but the whole color palette was cold and sharp. Yun Manxia’s eyes softened with nostalgia—she recognized this. It was Bai Hedu’s private suite.

“Alright, you can go.” She didn’t overthink it, stepped inside, and called over her shoulder: “Bring me a clean set of clothes, would you?”

She hadn’t packed any changes of clothes—she’d originally planned to elope with Bai Chengxuan, so she’d barely brought anything. But she knew Imperial Garden kept guest spares.

Downstairs. Yun Yiyi had been vibrating with excitement the second she walked in.

Countless women ran from Ninth Master Bai like he was poison—but not her! Ninth Master Bai, who was he? Even if he was sick, even if he didn’t have long to live… being his woman came with endless benefits. It wasn’t fair! She was a Yun daughter too—why didn’t she get the spot?

Yun Manxia’s mother was long dead. Her mother ran the Yun family now. Why shouldn’t the engagement shift to her?

Thank god her stupid little sister listened to her manipulation and eloped. The position of Mrs. Ninth Master Bai was hers now. She could barely keep the smile off her face.

“Ninth Master, this is Second Miss Yun,” the servant announced.

Yun Yiyi looked up quickly—and when she saw the man in the wheelchair being pushed toward her, she froze. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She’d never seen a man with such good looks, such presence…

“Hello! I’m Yun Yiyi!” She stood quickly, nervous and flirty, and when she thought about becoming his wife, expectation shone bright in her eyes.

Bai Hedu watched every little tell on her face, his expression cold. His voice was low and graveled.

“Yun family. What are you here for?”

“I’ve come to apologize for my sister!” Yun Yiyi put on her most guilty expression. “Ninth Master, my sister’s young and foolish. She heard all the gossip, got scared, and ran off with someone… she eloped.”

Up in the suite. Yun Manxia finished her shower, and realized the maid never brought her clothes. She frowned, and in the end, pulled one of Bai Hedu’s bathrobes from the closet and slipped it on.

The man was built huge—the robe swallowed her whole, the hem dragging on the floor. She hitched it up, tied the belt, and it hung loose and slouchy around her waist.

She stepped out of the suite, going to find someone to bring her clothes… and then she heard that all-too-familiar voice from downstairs:

“…I’m willing to take my sister’s place and marry into the Bai family. I hope Ninth Master will be generous and not hold it against the Yun family!”

That noble, self-sacrificing tone—perfectly playing the part of the good sister willing to give up everything for her family.

Yun Manxia’s pretty face hardened like stone.

Downstairs. Yun Yiyi stood there like a sweet, stubborn little white flower, chin lifted, eyes pink, waiting for the man’s verdict. She was confident. She was just as good as Yun Manxia—if Ninth Master would accept Yun Manxia, why wouldn’t he accept her? And Yun Manxia was already gone—

“Second Sister? What are you doing here?”

That clear, soft voice drifted up from the staircase.

Yun Yiyi’s pupils shrank. She snapped her head up. When she saw the girl walking down the stairs, her face drained of color, she almost screamed out loud.

—Yun Manxia? How is she here?!

Bai Hedu, who’d been sitting there unreadable after listening to Yun Yiyi’s speech, lifted his eyes to look. And froze.

The girl had just showered. Her dark hair was still slightly damp, twisted up loosely. Her fair cheeks were flushed pink, glowing. Her already beautiful eyes looked even brighter, dewy and soft—one look was enough to make your heart skip. She’d always been stunningly beautiful, but right now… you couldn’t look away.

But the most eye-catching thing was the oversized, slouchy bathrobe she was wearing.

Bai Hedu recognized it instantly—it was his. His dark eyes narrowed sharply.

Lin Shen and all the maids felt their guts clench.

Oh no. Ninth Master is territorial, he’s a clean freak, he hates when people go into his room and touch his things without permission. The new bride really did court a massive death on day one.