"He really is a strange person." The maid glanced suspiciously into the kitchen, muttered a couple of times, and hurriedly tidied up the hundreds of desserts laid out on the table.

Inside the kitchen.

Yu Qiao squatted in the corner, staring at the broken corner of the pastry she was holding in her hands.

This is what Shen Zhao ate.

It must taste delicious, right?

Yu Qiao's dark pupils gradually brightened. She carefully picked up the pastry, parted her lips slightly to reveal her pearly white teeth, and took a bite of the spot where Shen Zhao had bitten.

It's soft and sweet at first bite, with the sweetness of candied fruit puree complementing the cake, and a subtle floral aroma. It's indeed delicious.

Yu Qiao's thick eyelashes trembled, her eyes slightly narrowed, and after finishing her meal in small bites, she wiped the corner of her lips.

His dark pupils gleamed with excitement.

"Yu Qiao, what are you doing?" A female voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Yu Qiao's dark pupils suddenly jerked, her eyes narrowed instinctively, revealing a fierce expression. Her thin, pale hands clenched tightly, veins bulging. She turned around, only to see...

"W-What are you doing? Why are you so fierce?" A little maid with braided pigtails stared wide-eyed in fright.

Yu Qiao's tense nerves relaxed instantly, and she breathed heavily. Her quiet gaze lingered on the little maid's terrified face, and she remained silent.

"Young Master said you have to learn etiquette from the butler today. Come with me, I'll take you there." The maid's name was Tang Tian. She had a round face with a rosy hue. After calming down, she reached out her hand to Yu Qiao.

Yu Qiao stared at Tang Tian's outstretched hand, a chill running down her spine. Her pupils contracted sharply, and she subconsciously lowered her eyelashes, trembling: "I...I didn't steal anything, I didn't take anything..."

"What are you talking about?" Tang Tian frowned, giving Yu Qiao a suspicious look. "I didn't say you stole anything."

"..." Yu Qiao's expression froze, her gaze fixed on Tang Tian's surprised face. She was a beat slow to react before she finally understood.

This is not Reed Village.

She escaped.

I will never be beaten again for eating one more bite of rice.

No one hit her anymore.

"Don't just stand there, come with me quickly. If the young master finds out, he'll be unhappy again." Tang Tian muttered twice, grabbed Yu Qiao's hand, and pulled her towards the ceremonial hall.

Her father had been the Shen family's driver for almost ten years.

The Shen family treated their servants very well. They had a villa in the castle specifically for them to live in, and they also arranged for their children to attend school and find employment.

Tang Tian grew up in the castle with her father and understood Shen Zhao's temperament.

Yu Qiao slowly looked at Tang Tian holding her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly. She tried to struggle uncomfortably, but Tang Tian held her hand even tighter.

"If you don't want to get scolded, listen to me." Tang Tian turned her head, raised her eyebrows, and grinned.

Yu Qiao's dark eyes paused for a moment, then she stared at Tang Tian with a friendly expression, somewhat surprised and also quite curious.

But she hadn't experienced normal human emotions for so long that she didn't know what expression to make.

He could only manage a faint "Oh".

Tang Tian glanced at Yu Qiao a couple more times.

Such a pretty girl, why does she seem a little silly?

————

In the past few days, Yu Qiao has been working hard to learn etiquette.

The etiquette teacher was fairly satisfied with her, until today—

"Yu Qiao, I want you to smile, smile, understand?" The etiquette teacher frowned and said angrily, "Are you deliberately making such an ugly expression to disgust me?"

"With that long face, anyone would find it repulsive. Can't you even smile?!"

Yu Qiao stared blankly at herself in the mirror, forcing a smile as instructed by her etiquette teacher. Her eyes were dark, empty, and sinister.

She shook her head dejectedly: "I didn't mean to, I was learning."

Once she learned it, she was the first to smile at Shen Zhao.

What is Shen Zhao doing?

I haven't seen him for several days.

I miss him.

Yu Qiao pursed her lips in a low voice.

The etiquette teacher couldn't help but show her anger. In her opinion, how could someone not even know how to smile?!

This is a blatant provocation against her dignity as the Shen family's etiquette teacher!

Wearing 15-centimeter high heels, she turned around, pulled out a ruler, slammed it heavily on the table, and said sternly, "Yu Qiao, if your smile doesn't meet the standard, I will punish you."

"...?" Yu Qiao's eyes paused, staring at the ruler in the etiquette teacher's hand, her gaze gradually darkening: "Are you going to hit me?"

"Spare the rod and spoil the child, you know?"

"What do you mean?" Yu Qiao stared coldly at the etiquette teacher. She had only been in second grade when those people captured her, and she spent every day in a dark, dreary pigsty. And then…

She didn't get to study when she grew up.

Yu Qiao felt even more disappointed.

Would Shen Zhao like her?

She is illiterate.

The etiquette teacher stood with one hand on her hip, her brow furrowed, her delicate features contorted with anger: "Hold out your hand!"

In her view, Yu Qiao was once again provoking her dignity!

How could anyone not understand such a simple principle?!

Did she think that becoming the young master's personal maid would give her a higher status?

The etiquette teacher showed deep disgust; what she hated most were women who used their looks and bodies to seduce men!

"Teacher, I think I don't need to learn from you anymore," Yu Qiao said calmly, turning her gaze away. She saw disgust on the etiquette teacher's face, just as those people had shown her.

"You think you can learn whenever you want and leave whenever you want?" the etiquette teacher sneered.

Yu Qiao glanced at her expressionlessly, then walked past her.

At first glance, the etiquette teacher saw blatant disdain in her eyes, her gaze blazing with anger. She raised the ruler and struck Yu Qiao heavily on the back: "I didn't tell you to leave, you can't leave!"

Yu Qiao's body stiffened for a moment.

It doesn't hurt, but fresh blood is flowing out.

She glanced to the side and saw something resembling a small blade on the ruler. The etiquette teacher had hit her hard; her back would probably... be scarred again.

"Since you insist on fighting, then I won't hold back," Yu Qiao politely reminded him.

"What do you mean?! You dare to hit me? Let me tell you, I am a college etiquette teacher hired by Madam Shen!"

Yu Qiao punched her breasts and chest.

Looking at the splattered liquid, Yu Qiao said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was fake."

"Ah! You barbarian, you lowly wretch!" The etiquette teacher screamed, breaking down in anger, and raised the ruler to strike again.

Yu Qiao looked up and grasped it, meeting the astonished gaze of the etiquette teacher. A cold laugh escaped her throat, and she kicked the teacher five meters away.

"You...I'm going to kill you!" The etiquette teacher clutched her stomach and roared in anguish.

Yu Qiao held the ruler and saw the bloodstains on it. Her expression darkened, and she walked towards the etiquette teacher.

"W-What are you going to do!"

"Get out of here! I'm going to tell the young master! I'm going to tell the madam! Ahhh!"

Three minutes later.

Yu Qiao looked down at the etiquette teacher, who was beaten to the point of near death, and apologized politely: "I'm sorry, but you did hit me first."

Then, a vicious look, like that of a wild beast, appeared on her expressionless face as she gritted her teeth and said, "I hate it when people hit me."