Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Wei Heng’s cold gaze swept over her. He smiled. It was a dark, fleeting thing, gone before she could even process it.

That smile sent a chill down Yan Xue’s spine. She had no idea what he meant by it, but it couldn’t be anything good.

They stepped through the front doors.

Two rows of servants bowed in perfect unison. “Good evening, sir. Good evening, madam. Good evening, First Young Master. Good evening, Second Young Master.”

Yan Xue kept her smile fixed in place. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

If she’d held onto any shred of hope during the car ride, it was dead now.

In the past, Wei Heng had been the “Third Young Master.” He wasn’t allowed to live in the main house. Now, they called him “Sir,” and he was strolling right into the massive central villa of the Wei family estate.

She remembered this scene from the book. This was the grand reception they received the first time Wei Heng brought them home, after he took control of the Wei family.

Which meant Wei Heng had seized power months earlier than the original plot dictated.

But why…!? Why was the timeline so drastically different?

“Mommy… are we going to live here now?”

Yan Xue looked down. Little Xiang had woken up in her arms. He rubbed his eyes, taking in the massive hall.

Wei Siao pressed close to her side. Both boys shrank back from the sea of unfamiliar faces.

She wrapped her arms around them. “That’s right,” she said softly. “This is your home. Daddy’s home is your home.”

“What about Mommy? Is this Mommy’s home too?”

“Uh…” Yan Xue choked on her words.

This definitely wasn’t her home. As long as it didn’t become her graveyard, she’d get on her knees and thank God.

But she couldn’t bring herself to lie. Not while staring down into Wei Siao’s wide, earnest eyes.

A strong, long-fingered hand reached into her field of vision. Wei Heng scooped Little Xiang up with one arm and turned to the head maid.

“Nanny Yang. Take the boys to their room to wash up and rest.”

“Right away, sir.” Nanny Yang bowed respectfully. She reached out to take Little Xiang.

Little Xiang took one look at her and started thrashing. He locked his arms tight around Wei Heng’s neck.

“No! I want Daddy and Mommy!”

Nanny Yang’s eyes flashed with sudden sharpness. Catching herself, she quickly lowered her head, extending her hands with a subservient posture. “Come now, Second Young Master. Sir and Madam are very tired.”

Yan Xue frowned.

Little Xiang was usually so well-behaved. He never acted shy around strangers; all the aunties in the village adored him and Wei Siao.

He hadn’t thrown a single tantrum in the harsh conditions of the countryside. Why would he suddenly start acting out now that they were home?

“No! Don’t touch me!” Little Xiang kicked his legs in protest.

Nanny Yang stepped forward, moving to pull the boy from his father’s arms. “Ouch!” Little Xiang’s foot connected hard with her.

Pure venom flashed in her eyes. No one in this household had ever dared kick her. You ill-bred little brat.

Wei Heng glanced at her. The air around him turned to ice.

Yan Xue was entirely focused on Little Xiang. She missed the maid’s murderous look completely.

Assuming Wei Heng’s sudden icy displeasure was directed at the boy, she quickly pulled Little Xiang into her own arms and put on a stern face.

“Little Xiang, we don’t kick people. That’s bad manners, understand?”

Little Xiang buried his face in her neck. He stopped thrashing and went completely quiet, sulking against her collarbone.

Yan Xue held Little Xiang with one arm and grabbed Wei Siao’s hand with her free one. “Um, where are the boys sleeping? I can take them. And, sorry, could you arrange a room for Xiao Cui?”

Nanny Yang’s eyes darted around. She looked like she wanted to argue, but Wei Heng hadn’t spoken, and no one dared interrupt him. The massive hall was dead silent.

Yan Xue kept her mouth shut tight, waiting in nervous agony.

Finally, Wei Heng gave a flat, “Mhm.”

A younger maid stepped forward to lead the way. Yan Xue grabbed the boys and practically fled the scene.

Behind her, a pair of pitch-black eyes tracked her every move. They watched her with an unfathomable, dark intensity until she vanished around the corner of the stairs.

Wei Heng stood in silence for a moment before looking away.

“Nanny Yang. Go take your punishment. Your salary for this month is docked.” Wei Heng’s eyes were ice. “Or pack your things and leave the Wei family immediately.”

A collective, muffled gasp rippled through the room. The dozen servants in the back rows exchanged terrified glances.

Nanny Yang snapped out of her shock. Her lips trembled. “Sir, I—I didn’t do anything wrong! I’m an old woman, my bones can’t take a punishment, sir!”

Wei Heng looked down at her, saying nothing. Two bodyguards stepped up from behind him and grabbed her arms.

“Sir, I really can’t! Sir, please spare me!”

“You can’t do this! Lao Ye and Lao Fu Ren sent me here to help you! You can’t treat me like this!”

“Lao Ye, save me! Lao Ye—”

At the disrespectful word ‘you’, that she had dared to address him without his title, Wei Heng raised his eyes and shot the bodyguards a look.

Nanny Yang’s hoarse screams echoed through the massive villa. They didn’t last long. A bodyguard clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her away.

The remaining servants stiffened like they were facing a firing squad. Not a single head remained raised. They were terrified that even breathing too loudly would get them dragged down with her.

The Wei family rarely used their formal punishments. It meant genuine, brutal corporal punishment. Anyone dragged into the dark room would be bedridden for over a month, assuming they didn’t suffer permanent damage.

Many of the staff had worked here for over a decade without ever seeing it happen. It was just a rumor.

The employment contracts they signed clearly laid out the rules.

No betrayal, no insubordination. Given the astronomical salaries, everyone accepted the terms.

That was why Nanny Yang had chosen the punishment over packing her bags.

Nanny Yang was the longest-serving maid in the Wei family. She was the head of their entire staff.

Before today, she had been untouchable. If she accidentally smashed the most expensive vase in the house, Lao Fu Ren would just tell her to be careful, out of respect for her age.

The servants had been completely blindsided by the sudden upheaval in the Wei family.

A week ago, they were simply informed that the main estate had a new master. And that master was the previously out-of-favor Third Young Master, Wei Heng.

Lao Ye and Lao Fu Ren were being moved to a side residence.

After witnessing this, the staff finally understood.

The Wei family had truly changed hands.

–

An hour later. Inside the study.

A soft chime pinged from the massive computer monitor.

The screen displayed a live security feed. On it, Little Xiang slept soundly, and Yan Xue was just pulling his bedroom door shut.

She flicked off the light and stepped into the hall. The feed went still. Everything was quiet.

Wei Heng tapped his long fingers against the desk. A spike of irritation furrowed his brow as a few details replayed in his mind.

First, the absolute sincerity in Yan Xue’s eyes when she defended Little Xiang downstairs.

Second, the pure affection in her gaze as she coaxed Little Xiang to sleep.

None of it looked fake. But the events of his past life weren’t a lie either.

After all, in his last life, hadn’t he been completely fooled by this woman’s flawless act?

Wei Heng’s mouth settled into a grim line. He let out a cold, self-deprecating laugh.