Chapter 98
Shi Yu had been in Sturga for a week. Apart from Rona and Nicole who served her... and barely Noah, she had hardly spoken to anyone else.
Sturga's waiters and maids all seemed to maintain a strict sense of distance, including Nicole. Apart from asking for clarification on essential matters, they rarely even engaged in small talk. Occasionally, when Shigure finished cooking in the small kitchen and passed by the large kitchen carrying the dishes, she would often find the vast space utterly silent, the dozen or so chefs working like machines, intent on their tasks, following a set routine.
In such an environment, she couldn't help feeling depressed and bored.
On the day the cat broke into the studio, Noah specifically told her that she could go to the second and third floors to relax and have fun at any time. The second floor was the instrument room and gym, and the third floor was the studio and library. If she was interested, she could use the equipment there at will.
“…We’ll talk about it later.”
Even though Noah had just helped her, Shigure couldn't open her heart to him so quickly, and she awkwardly refused for the time being.
"Well, when you have free time." Noah said, "But I hope that you can spend at least a few hours alone with me on the second and third floors every week."
Shigure:?!
She looked up for a moment and questioned him with her eyes.
Noah lowered his eyes slightly, took the paintbrush and dipped it lightly into the paint on the plate, hiding the smile in his eyes: "If I keep going like this, I won't be able to explain to my father."
"I won't disturb you. I will stay aside as quietly as possible. I hope you can understand."
Shi Yu: "Does it have to be like this?"
"Um, sorry."
Although he clearly expressed his apology, the boy's gentle words revealed an unwavering determination. Shi Yu inadvertently saw the wound on his arm again and was speechless for a moment, unable to say no.
But she felt speechless at the time and didn't want to accept Noah's proposal. However, in less than a week, Shi Yu slowly changed her mind.
She was playing with her tablet in the sun while Noah was drawing by the window; she was curled up on the sofa for a nap while Noah was playing a lullaby; she was eating snacks and reading comics while Noah was sitting at his desk, completing his homework seriously.
Usually, Nicole always follows her around, which puts a lot of pressure on Shiyu. If she stays on the second or third floor, at least there will be no one around. And Noah is indeed as he said, always very quiet. Occasionally, chatting to relax the atmosphere will not make Shiyu feel troubled or embarrassed.
Shigure never thought that being alone with Noah would gradually become a relaxing thing.
No, she suddenly woke up. She couldn't just get stuck in this gentle place! She had to...!
"Ah, Shigure, you're here."
The door of the library on the third floor was suddenly knocked open, and the comic book in Shi Yu's hand shook and almost hit his face.
Noah walked in and noticed that the girl was holding the comic to her chest, staring at him suspiciously, and her body was gradually backing away from the sofa. He couldn't help but laugh: "Why are you so far away from me?"
——She must be vigilant!
Shi Yu silently added to her words in her mind and shook her head to indicate that she had nothing to say. Noah didn't ask any more questions and handed the books and a stack of cakes in his hand to her.
"I found the recipe you mentioned earlier. Also, is this cake the one you mentioned...soy milk?"
"Soy milk box."
"Yes, that's the name."
Noah said, "I asked Nicole to recreate it according to your description. I wonder if it tastes familiar to you. Want to try it?"
Shi Yu hesitated for a moment, then took the plate from Noah's hand, his heart full of hesitation and confusion.
"Um, Noah." She glanced up at the boy, then quickly looked away. "I know about this soy milk box, but this recipe...when did I tell you about it?"
When chatting these days, Noah would occasionally ask questions that were out of bounds. Hobbies were one of the topics they talked about. When Shi Yu mentioned that his hobby was cooking, he couldn't help but mention the food he wanted to try recently but didn't have the chance to make due to limited ingredients. Soy milk carton was the main food mentioned that time.
But, the recipe…?
"Huh? Don't you remember?" Noah frowned slightly, which made Shi Yu even more confused.
"Before, when you came to the library and flipped through the cookbooks stored here, you asked me if I had the complete version." Noah helped her recall, "I promised you at that time that I would keep an eye out for it. Yesterday, I just found this book in my father's library."
Shi Yu suddenly remembered, she bit her lip and said awkwardly: "Yeah, thank you."
"Actually, there's no need to be so troublesome..."
"I promised you, Shigure." Noah sat down at the desk, turned the pages of the book with his fingertips, and responded softly.
Shi Yu didn't say anything, but lowered his eyes as if avoiding the viewer, his red cheeks almost buried in the back of the sofa.
Be vigilant, be vigilant...
She reminded herself silently in her heart.
"Shi Yu, there's one more thing. Remember the family dinner I told you about when you first came?"
Shi Yu recalled and said "hmm" in a depressed tone.
"Isn't it a week away?"
"Well, let me explain. According to my father, the family dinner held twice a year is very important and requires our attendance. At that time, the tribe will gather at the main house. During the day, we will go to the ranch for hunting activities. As for the evening, I would like you to accompany me to the dinner."
“…Will there be a lot of people?”
Listening to Noah's description, Sturga's family dinner was not like a family dinner, but more like a grand ceremony. Shi Yu was silent for a moment and asked nervously.
Noah was startled, then agreed calmly, "It's okay, you can come back early."
"It's just that," he mused, "the family dinner happens to coincide with the military academy's summer break. My brother might come back."
Brother? You mean... Phil?
Before Shigure could react, Noah sighed and added, "And my companions."
Shigure:?
She sat up like a vigilant cat, staring at Noah's helpless expression: "Is your companion Xiu? Is he coming back too? Then I..."
She wasn't going, she didn't want to go! She didn't know how she would be treated if she saw that person. Shi Yu's back trembled slightly, and she couldn't suppress the panic in her heart. She still couldn't forget the despair and suffocation brought by the 6-foot-9 Alpha pinching her neck.
Noah put the book down, stood up and comforted her: "Calm down, Shigure."
"How can I calm down?" She complained, looking at Noah with anxious and accusing eyes. "You are all in the same group. You cooperated during the training camp just to... well, me."
"Shi Yu." Noah paused slightly and called her helplessly.
Shi Yu didn't want to pay attention to him. Without breathing, her face flushed, she continued to accuse him: "I already agreed to a trial marriage with you, and you let him in again. What on earth do you want to do?"
"The summer break at the military academy is only about half a month. If you have any problem with Xiu, I'll make him wear a monitoring collar."
"I have opinions about both of you." Shi Yu didn't want to listen to Noah's calm explanation at this time. She must have been confused these days to think that Noah was not so annoying. She got off the sofa, holding the recipe and walked towards the door angrily, but paused at the door, she turned back and threw the recipe on Noah's table.
"You go and join the party yourself. I'm not going."
“…”
As she turned to leave, Noah grabbed her wrist, his purple eyes gazing at her calmly and gently. The monitoring ring issued a gentle warning. Shi Yu pulled hard, but couldn't pull it free. Imprisoned by Noah, she couldn't escape. She took a deep breath, and her voice became extremely aggrieved.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"I'm not going..."
As if reaffirming her resolve, Shi Yu ignored his apology and muttered the same words again. Noah roughly understood that the shadow still lingered in her mind. After such a hurt, it was naturally difficult for such a delicate girl to trust him easily.
Noah is now taking every step carefully and meticulously to pay for his impulsive action at that time.
Do you regret it?
He asked himself this question in his mind, while quietly waiting for the girl's sobbing to subside.
"Shi Yu, Xiu will not live in the master's house." Noah observed her tear-stained profile, loosened his wrist, and changed his grip to holding hers. The girl's five fingers trembled in his palm.
"He will wear a monitoring collar and won't approach you easily. I will also stay by your side at all times."
"I can't believe you," Shi Yu shook his head stubbornly, "Liar Noah."
This is probably what she really thinks in her heart.
Noah was silent for a moment, then whispered again, "I'm sorry."
…
"Brother, are you busy?"
Molly pushed the door open and came in nonchalantly, asking questions but not hesitatingly choosing a seat to sit down. Ludwig was wearing a long robe and pajamas, with his long, soft silver hair draped over his shoulders and a silk belt loosely tied around his slender and beautiful waist.
He shook his head and smiled: "There are still many things to do, I can't fall asleep for the time being."
Molly stretched her head to take a look and understood: "Isn't Noah here for the family dinner? Let him share the burden with you."
"He has things to do, so don't confuse the priorities."
"Isn't it just that they're in a hurry to gain favor so they can marry me..." Molly muttered dismissively, crossing her legs. "By the way, brother, I received applications from Filxiu and Yulai. They're planning to come back for the family dinner during summer break."
"Yeah, I understand."
"Brother, are you going to make any arrangements? Xiu and Yulai's rooms aren't far from Noah's residence, right? Didn't you tell everyone not to disturb the little Omega?"
"Let them stay in their original rooms. There's no need to separate them for subsequent trials." Ludwig put down the documents in his hand and said thoughtfully, "As for that child... it wouldn't be a bad idea to let her get more exposure to our Alpha."
"She's quite shy, isn't she? When I saw her the other day, she seemed timid and..." Recalling the soft, moist black eyes of the black-haired Omega in the corridor, and how he hid behind the stone bench like a rabbit the moment he saw her, Molly's tongue got tied, and she almost said the adjective "cute".
Not suitable, fortunately.
Suppressing the inexplicable feeling in her heart, Molly moved her eyes and changed the subject: "I don't think it's appropriate for her to be exposed to so many Alphas. She and Noah... will be fine."
"Do you care much about that child, Molly?"
Molly was stunned.
"I'm concerned too." Ludwig chuckled before Molly replied, his lowered purple eyes appearing gentle and kind. "I'm wondering if that child is born to be suitable for us in Sturga."
"Uh, so you arranged those guys as they were because you wanted to increase the possibility of her staying in Sturga?" Molly twitched her lips, probably understanding what Ludwig was thinking.
"I have great confidence in Noah, but I don't want anything to go wrong. The next generation of children needs the most suitable mother."
Ludwig thought for a moment and said humbly, "If Noah can't do it, then whichever Alpha in our family she likes... then let her choose."
The author has something to say:
Think of a small theater:
Shi Yu:? I don’t want to. How could you arrange for me to come?!
Ludwig (startled, then laughing): It's my pleasure. Then I'll -
Other little a in Sturga: ??? !!! !!!
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