Chapter 53: Fix That Attitude
Anning regretted ever even saying or rather thinking about those words. It wasn’t because she wanted to take them back.
No.
But because the moment she even thought about it, she realized how stupid they sounded.
She would’ve preferred being a breeder? Like, while she was still alive...she never even got to see a penis once!
And she wanted that, really?
Anning nearly rolled her eyes at hers, there had also been a time she’d sworn she hated Gu Wanqing.
Look where that had gotten her. She had lost the virginity of her lips. The imperial princess apparently wanted her.
And General Gu had somehow managed to harass her within a single conversation. Thinking about that old man instantly worsened her mood.
The absolute nerve of that pervert!
Her hand beside her body curled into fists, one day. One day she was going to make him pay for touching her in such a manner, preferably in a way that involved her humiliating him in public.
The thought immediately made her feel better. Across from her, Wanqing stared at Anning with a raised brow.
Her expression was difficult to read but Anning had at least expected another argument or even Wanqing slapping her for speaking this way.
At this point, all that felt awfully normal but Wanqing didn’t say a single word. She just nodded calmly and that was enough to make Anning relax.
Good. Anning didn’t have the energy for another fight, at least not right now
She tucked her bowl under her armpit, careful not to spill anything on the floor before saying.
"Do you need help with anything?" She asked, her gaze fixed to the floor. "If you don’t have any work for me, I’ll just find Lanzhin and ask her to assign me a room."
The moment those words left her mouth, Wanqing spoke.
"But don’t forget. You are also my personal maid."
Anning looked up, raising a brow at Wanqing in confusion. It wasn’t as though she had forgotten her position in this residence.
"We should set aside our differences and try to remain civil with one another." Wanqing said, folding her sleeves neatly.
But her words made Anning frown, that sounded suspicious but Wanqing didn’t even care.
The word civil sounded strange coming from her. Anning stared at her, Wanqing stared right back.
For a few seconds, they found themselves holding eye contact until eventually, Anning sighed.
Honestly, Wanqing was making this difficult. Trying to understand what she was thinking was like trying to read a book that was missing a few pages.
"I understand." Anning replied, nodding to herself. "But I still want my own room."
Wanqing didn’t argue with her though, she calmly pointed toward the bowl and said, "Get rid of that first. Then find Lanzhin and request a room."
Anning looked down at the bowl, her face scrunching up slightly at the sight.
"When you’ve settled in, return to my chambers." Wanqing muttered after a brief pause.
Before Anning could either agree or refuse, Wanqing calmly walked past her. The long sleeves of her robe swayed slightly before she finally walked out of the room.
Anning stared at the door that had now slid close, enjoying the silence that surrounded her for a few seconds.
"Coward." She muttered under her breath, still glaring at the door.
Anning clicked her tongue and honestly, a part of her had wanted Wanqing to keep arguing with her. At least they could have sorted things out properly.
Instead, Wanqing had simply chosen to retreat...it was so annoying.
Anning leaned back against the table, allowing her thoughts drift to somewhere dangerous. That kiss, again!
Her hand unconsciously rose toward her lip, she ran her thumb over her lower lip with only one thought in mind.
Did it really mean nothing to Wanqing? Was she really that cheap that she had allowed Wanqing to kiss her?
The more she thought about it, the more disappointed she was in herself.
"No." She snapped, shaking her head from side to side. Absolutely not.
She wasn’t going to waste her time anymore, thinking of Gu Wanqing. Taking a deep breath, Anning pushed a few strands of hair behind her ear before heading toward the exit.
The moment she stepped out of the room, she nearly bumped into a guard. The man stood beside the doorway like a statue but Anning barely spared him a glance.
She just turned to her left and took a few steps forward, only to hear a voice behind her say, "Miss Anning."
Anning stopped, glanced over her shoulder and stared at the guard that was pointing at another corridor.
"Lanzhin is currently in her chambers." The guard said softly, making Anning freeze.
A brief moment of silence followed right after that and Anning’s cheeks had slowly turned pink.
"I-i see." She murmured.
That wasn’t even where she had intended to go look for Lanzhin, it wasn’t even close. She thought Lanzhin might be in the bathhouse or even the kitchen.
For once, she considered pretending that she had known already. Then she remembered she wasn’t exactly a good liar.
"Thank you." She said awkwardly.
The guard flashed her a bright smile, that kind of smile that belonged to someone far younger than her.
Anning looked away, her gaze fixed on the corridor the guard had pointed to. She had no idea where Lanzhin’s chamber was actually located.
The silence between her and the guard had become a little uncomfortable...so, she cleared her throat and asked,
"Could you please escort me there?"
The guard’s eyes widened light but turned bright at her words. "Yes, of course."
The answer had come out far too quick that it had Anning narrowing her eyes slightly, the guard looked too happy about this.
Why?
Still, as he soon started moving in the direction he had pointed, she calmly followed him.
The two of them walked through the residence quietly. The guard stood a few feet ahead of Anning, while Anning followed several steps behind him.
For once, she wasn’t paying much attention to what was happening around her.
Her mind was occupied with thoughts of Wanqing (the same Wanqing she didn’t want to think about), the imperial princess and how to find her way back home. Whatever strange mess her life had become, Anning felt exhausted.
She just wanted a good rest and that would mean she needed a room and a bed too.
And preferably even a day off where she wasn’t thinking about a kiss or having anyone insulting her. Was that really too much to ask for?
Well yes, it was. It seemed like the meaning of her name was suffering. (Note the sarcasm).
Eventually, their surroundings began to change. The beautifully decorated corridors disappeared. The polished wooden floors turned to something Anning couldn’t even place.
The walls of this part of the residence looked older, like they hadn’t cleaned it in days.
Anning blinked. So this was where the servants lived?
Compared to Wanqing’s side of the residence, this place looked considerably duller. It wasn’t that she found it dirty, just...
"Is this where all the servants stay?" She found herself asking the guard, who stopped walking for a moment and glanced over his shoulder.
"It might look like it’s another side of the residence, but no. It’s not... it’s like a whole new building just connected by the hallway we walked through." The guard explained.
Anning nodded at him and they continued walking. The courtyard they entered was smaller too, the stone paths covered with leaves and plants she couldn’t recognize.
A few wooden buckets rested near a wall and even in a corner of the vicinity, Anning could see hung laundry.
The difference was something one couldn’t ignore and Anning knew money couldn’t really change everything.
The guard eventually stopped in front of the first room they came across and announced, "We’ve arrived."
Anning turned her head from side to side taking in the hallway.
As she did that, the guard took that moment to knock on the door. After the third knock, the door finally creaked open and Lanzhin stepped out.
The older woman frowned, looking between them. The guard immediately bowed and greeted, "Head maid."
Lanzhin hummed in acknowledgement and that had the guard straightening instantly.
"The Young Miss instructed that Anning be assigned a room—"
Smack.
The guardian flinched at the sudden sound, blinking rapidly. So did Lanzhin.
Anning had lightly slapped the back of the guard’s hand. She had controlled her strength but in this empty hallway, it sounded loud.
The guard looked at her in confusion but Anning only blinked at him. She crossed her arms against her chest, "I can’t speak. I don’t need you to do it for me."
The guard froze, staring at her as she watched his shoulders visibly slump. The light in his eyes dimmed out as he took a step away from Lanzhin.
Oh no. He looked heartbroken and that look on his face made Anning feel guilty.
"My apologies." The guard said, bowing slightly.
Anning opened her mouth to apologize but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
Before she could even do anything, he bowed respectfully towards Lanzhin. Then he turned around and walked away.
Anning watched him leave, noticing how his steps looked far less enthusiastic than before.
"Did I overreact?" She asked herself, oblivious to the way Lanzhin was staring at her.
The older woman pulled her gaze away, shaking her head in disappointment. "You need to fix that attitude of yours."
"Excuse me? What attitude?" Anning’s snapped, frowning deeply.
"The one that makes you seem like a wounded tiger or someone with lots of insecurities. It makes me feel sick." Lanzhin said. "He was just trying to help."
