Mrs. Aldridge (4)

When Mi returned to the Flower Fate Inn, Sheila wasn't in the lobby; only her distant niece was dozing behind the counter. The little girl looked a bit like Sheila, with the same chubby, round face. She smiled as soon as she saw Mi. The little girl's radiant smile healed Mi, and Mi tossed her a handful of candy. The little girl's smile widened, and she said with delighted eyes, "Auntie went on a date."

Mi winked at her to indicate she understood and turned to go upstairs. The upstairs room was open, and the bright light illuminated the corridor. Just as Mi reached the top of the stairs, she saw Ailian, who had been missing for two days, standing at the bottom. The light cast a long shadow behind Ailian, extending all the way to Mi's face. Mi was momentarily stunned, then looked up to meet her gaze. Ailian was backlit, her face hidden in shadow, yet not completely dark. Her emerald green eyes glowed with a soft green light in the darkness. This look made Mi momentarily forgetful; she once had a cat with eyes just like that, glowing green in the dark. Mi held onto the handrail as she climbed the stairs, stopping at the top in front of Ailian. "You're back?" Mi reached out and touched Ailian's face; the warm touch made Mi realize it was a person.

Mi withdrew her hand, the warmth still lingering on her fingers. She stared at them. Usually at this time, her kitten would have jumped into her arms, meowing incessantly, wanting to tell her everything it had kept hidden all day.

"You're back." Ailian squatted down as if nothing had happened, and slightly stepped aside to let Mi Tong pass.

Bright lights shone down, but Mi seemed lost in memories. She silently looked up at the hallway light and the brand-new double candlesticks that had just been installed that day. Mi slowly walked towards her room, with Ailian following quietly behind. Mi only noticed the little tail that had been silently following her when she opened the door and entered the room. Too much had happened today; Mi just wanted to get into bed quickly. She didn't want to entertain anyone tonight: "Goodnight, Miss Ailian." Mi didn't want to entertain this noblewoman tonight.

"Miss Mi, goodnight!" Ailian politely knelt down. Mi was already too stunned to think, and she gently closed the door. Ailian frowned and lingered outside the door for a moment before walking into the next room, where her old servant, Xiao Wei, was staying.

"Xiaowei, I should pick her up today." Ailian nestled into a round-backed chair. This room was exactly the same as the Mi room next door, a small living room plus a bedroom, with the living room of both rooms sharing a wall.

"What happened?" Xiaowei poured a cup of tea for her.

Ailian took it, smelled it, and asked, "Did you bring the calming tea?"

"some."

"Go make me a cup." Ailian sipped her tea, her head bowed. Mi smelled of blood, and seemed distracted; something must have happened. Ailian was mesmerized by the feeling of Mi's cool palms touching her; Mi's hands were so soft. A moment later, Xiaowei brought in calming tea. Ailian, her face still flushed with a dazed expression, asked, "Miss?"

"Xiaowei, what do you think about me inviting Mi to stay at Eileen Castle?"

"I'm afraid that won't work," Xiaowei handed over a teacup. "Miss Mi has already refused you once."

“I know, I need to think of a way.” Ailian put down her teacup, stood up and took the calming tea from Xiaowei: “I’ll be right back, you stay here and keep watch.”

"Yes, Miss." Xiao Wei watched Ai Lian walk towards the next room.

Mi, who was buried under the covers, didn't react at first when she heard a knock on the door. When she sat up in the dark, there were three more knocks a moment later. It was Ailian again. Mi reluctantly got up to open the door. Ailian was holding a cup of tea outside. There was only silence in the darkness inside. Ailian handed her the cup: "Drink some calming tea before you go to sleep."

Mi swallowed the words, "I can't sleep if I drink tea," took the cup, and gulped down the tea. "Thank you." The light from the wall slanted across Ailian's face, half bright and half hidden in shadow, like a fragmented painting. Ailian tried to smile at Mi, but Mi couldn't manage a smile. She reached out and patted Ailian's head, saying, "Go back." Mi watched Ailian nod and turn to walk towards the one-bedroom apartment next door. Mi forced herself to think: "So Ailian moved back in." Mi closed the door and threw herself back onto the bed. The warm tea she had just drunk still seemed to linger in her throat, and drowsiness intensified. Mi drifted off to sleep.

Mi, lying on the bed, seemed to be lost in a dream. She walked in the darkness, the path uneven and bumpy, the surroundings utterly dark and silent. Mi didn't know where she was going or why she was walking; she just kept walking, endlessly heading towards the lightless distance. Suddenly, Mi woke up, panting heavily. The blue moon hung quietly in the sky, casting a gentle moonlight that formed a small, mirror-like reflection on the ground. Mi stared out the window for a while. The night was quiet; even her breathing was exceptionally clear. Mi stood up, poured herself a glass of water, and sat quietly in the darkness, the witch's hairband resting quietly in her hand like an ordinary strip of cloth. The guiding stone pointed silently to the sky. Mi went to the small balcony, which was connected to the balcony of the adjacent one-bedroom apartment. She saw Ailian sitting on the balcony, leaning against the railing like a lazy kitten.

Mi went over and found that Ailian had fallen asleep sometime earlier, her blanket soaked with night dew. The door to Ailian's one-bedroom apartment was closed from the inside. Mi was confused, but Ailian's breathing grew heavier, and she curled up, seemingly about to slide off the railing. Mi quickly reached out and stopped her. Ailian steadied herself against Mi's arm, rubbed her face against it, and twisted her neck to find a more comfortable position to continue sleeping. Mi sighed, looking at Ailian's dark room, and carried her to her own bed. Ailian was very light, as light as a kitten. Removing the half-wet blanket, she was warm, even more like a kitten. The darkness amplified Ailian's warmth, and her dream amplified Mi's loneliness. Mi held Ailian close and drifted off to sleep again. This time, Mi slept soundly, feeling much more at ease with a small fireplace beside her.

The next morning, Mi sprang to her feet the instant Ailian made her first move, as if she had merely offered the bed to the noblewoman for the night. Ailian simply shifted her body and went back to sleep. The morning mist outside the window gradually dissipated, and the bright sunlight shone on the balcony. Mi stepped outside to breathe in the freshest morning air. After a night's rest, the ground was damp with dew, and the air was much less dusty. Only a few early risers lingered on the street. The sky was clear, the morning glow spreading, and colorful clouds reflected the red sun. The sorrows of the previous night dissipated. Mi turned to Ailian, who had somehow sat up, and said, "Good morning."

"Good morning," Ailian replied mechanically, "I need to wash up."

Mi smiled and walked in, picked up the earthenware pot, poured a basin of water, and handed it to Ailian. Ailian reached out and scooped up the water to wash her face, and Mi watched the water drip down Ailian's arm. Perhaps it was the morning air that was particularly fresh, or perhaps it was a good night's sleep, but Mi smiled as she looked at this delicate young lady. Ailian stopped and reached for a towel, and Mi handed her her own. Ailian buried her entire face in the towel, and only after a long time did she lift her head, revealing two tufts of hair on her forehead standing up like cat ears.

Mi couldn't help but laugh: "Miss Ailian, shall we call your servant in?"

Ailian then looked up at Mi, glanced at her twice, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

“This is my room, Miss Ailian.” Mi shook her head, turned around and went out to knock on the door of the next room. Soon, Xiaowei brought Ailian’s clothes and breakfast.

Mi sat to one side, drinking tea as she watched Ailian change her clothes. She wore a petticoat, a gauze skirt, and an outer skirt, layering several layers in total. Mi disliked this cumbersome attire. The weather in the Flower Kingdom was gradually warming up, and the girls began to wear all sorts of fancy dresses. On Pink Street, there were even girls who exposed most of their chests, seemingly unfazed by the cold.

Dressed and ready, Ailian sat down opposite Mi and began to drink her milk. Mi watched the two, mistress and servant, move about as if they owned the room, wondering if this was typical of nobles or if she simply seemed particularly approachable. After finishing her milk, Ailian elegantly wiped her mouth with a napkin and asked, "Xiaowei, is the carriage ready?"

"Alright." Xiao Wei stood respectfully to the side.

Ailian stood up and gestured invitingly, "Then, let's go." Ailian looked at Mi's bewildered expression and said, "From now on, Miss Mi, Ailian Castle will take care of your travel."

Mi had no idea what this noble lady was up to this time, so she could only follow her outside. Ailian's carriage was of standard aristocratic style, taking up half the narrow road in front of the Flower Fate Inn. To avoid blocking the entire street, Mi followed Ailian into the carriage, which clattered along, its destination unknown. Ailian maintained her dignified aristocratic posture, her eyes constantly glancing at Mi. After a while, she finally couldn't help but ask, "Where were Miss Mi's clothes made?"

"The innkeeper hired a tailor." Mi looked at her shirt and trousers, which were both convenient and neat. Mi glanced at Ailian's skirt. The floor of the Flower Edge Inn was relatively clean, but it was nothing like the spotless cleanliness of the noble castle. The street in front of the inn was covered in dust and dew, and Ailian's skirt had already turned black.

Ailian also noticed her skirt. She reached out and tugged at it, then kicked it twice. Mi found it extremely amusing. A moment later, the carriage stopped, the door opened, and Mi realized they had arrived at the restaurant. "Thank you," she said. Mi got out of the carriage and heard Ailian's annoyed voice from inside: "Xiaowei, let's go back. I need to change." Mi shook her head with a wry smile.

Ailian's carriage continued forward: "Xiaowei, have you found out what happened?"

“Miss, it’s Mrs. Aldrich,” Xiaowei replied respectfully.

"Why does she never want a girl under twenty?"

Xiaowei told Ailian about Mrs. Aldrich's entanglement with Mi. Ailian listened expressionlessly and said with disgust, "Mrs. Aldrich is really going too far."

Xiao Wei sat to one side and said calmly, "Lady Aldrich was just temporarily frightened last night. She will definitely have a backup plan today."

Ailian thought for a moment and said, "Xiaowei, make the arrangements. I need to meet with the King."