Jiang Lijin watched Felwin's effortless control over her facial expressions and suddenly felt a strong urge to laugh. If they were in her original world, Felwin could have easily made it as an actress. What a pity she was born in the wrong world.
"No need," she said, her tone lazy. "I've already found a place."
Felwin's eyes flickered subtly.
"You found one?" she asked softly, her gaze drifting past Jiang Lijin with a hint of probing. "Sister, you couldn't possibly be thinking of living here, could you?"
Allie laughed even louder, her laughter carrying undisguised mockery. "Live here? Do you even know whose house this is?"
Felwin tugged at Allie's sleeve again, but this time she didn't try to stop her. She merely sighed, her tone sounding like she was coaxing an ignorant child. "Sister, this is Lord Chiron's house. Lord Chiron is the director of the Central Hospital on the Capital Star. He is a 3S-grade lord. You couldn't possibly have not heard of him, right?"
As she spoke, she took a half-step forward and lowered her voice. "Lord Chiron doesn't like being disturbed. Normally, we have to be extremely mindful of our boundaries even when just approaching this house. Sister, as a C-grade standing here, if he happens to see you, he might not be too pleased. I'm truly worried about you!"
Allie chimed in from the side, "Exactly. Last time, there was an ignorant female, an S-grade no less, who stood at Lord Chiron's door for a little too long and was promptly escorted away by the guards. Talk about humiliating. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Jiang Lijin didn't speak. She wanted to see just how far these two could carry on with this little act.
Seeing her remain silent, Felwin assumed she had started to reflect on her actions. A trace of satisfaction flashed in her eyes, but her face still maintained that gentle, worried expression. "Sister, although Lord Chiron and I... have some acquaintance, if you offend him, I really won't be able to put in a good word for you."
Huh? Jiang Lijin paused for a second in her mind. This little green tea bitch actually had some connection with Chiron?
She suddenly felt a bit worried. Not about anything else, but about her decision to move into Chiron's house. What if Chiron was just like her three ex-husbands, completely bewitched by this little green tea? Wouldn't she be walking right into the lion's den? After all, Chiron was a 3S-grade beastman; a casual release of his oppressive aura could probably send her straight to the afterlife, right?
She looked at Felwin. "Miss Felwin, are you very familiar with Lord Chiron?"
Felwin's expression stiffened slightly, seemingly not expecting her to question it, but she quickly recovered. "I wouldn't say familiar."
She waved her hand in a very subtle gesture, making it seem like she was deliberately keeping a low profile. "We've just met a few times and exchanged a few words, that's all."
Jiang Lijin frowned, not knowing if what she said was true or false. She suddenly remembered that this world was also a book, and hurriedly summoned Xiao Yi in her mind: [Xiao Yi, in the plot of this book... do Chiron and Felwin know each other? Or rather, do they have any interactions?]
[No, Host. The original book is mainly a sweet romance revolving around Felwin and your three ex-husbands. Chiron is a fringe character who never made an appearance. The only 3S-grade beastman to appear was Kieran's direct superior, Baal! But he was eventually schemed against by Kieran and died a tragic death! His appearance was mainly to highlight Kieran's brilliance and intellect!]
[Kieran? I couldn't tell. I thought he was the only one of the three who acted somewhat human.]
[Host, you actually don't need to care too much about the book's plot. Now that you have come to this world, and you possess absolute autonomous consciousness as well as me! You are the protagonist of your own story! Don't even think that the plot can affect us!]
Hearing this, Jiang Lijin couldn't help but smile. But this smile was particularly glaring in Felwin's eyes.
What did this mean? A C-grade piece of trash dared to doubt her? Mock her?
Felwin's eyes darkened for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, the sound of a door opening came from behind.
The three of them turned their heads simultaneously.
Chiron stood at the door. He had changed into loungewear—dark grey, which looked more casual than a dress shirt but still made him look handsome beyond reality. Those light grey eyes lightly swept over the three people at the door, his gaze calm.
Felwin's eyes lit up instantly. She subconsciously took a half-step forward, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something, perhaps a greeting or some small talk?
But Chiron's gaze passed right over her and landed on Jiang Lijin.
"Since you're here, why haven't you come in?" his tone was very flat.
At that moment, the air seemed to freeze.
Felwin's smile stiffened on her face, her lips still slightly parted, but she couldn't utter a single word.
Allie's mouth fell wide open. She stood frozen in place, her eyes bulging so much they almost fell out of their sockets, her jaw nearly dislocated. She looked at Chiron, then at Jiang Lijin, her expression like she was watching some unbelievable magical blockbuster.
Jiang Lijin casually shook the suitcase in her hand, her tone still lazy, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Ran into two enthusiastic bystanders and chatted for a bit."
Chiron's gaze swept over Felwin and Allie again, but it was very faint and quick. Then he withdrew his gaze and rested it back on Jiang Lijin. "Come in."
Jiang Lijin picked up her suitcase and walked past the two of them. Her pace was unhurried, and as she passed by Felwin, she even paused for a moment, tilting her head to look at that completely frozen face.
Then she walked past Chiron and entered through that door.
Chiron didn't even spare Felwin another glance before turning around and gently closing the door.
The moment the door closed, Felwin stood rooted to the spot, completely motionless. Her lips trembled slightly, and her fingertips dug into her palms.
Allie opened her mouth, her voice sounding like it was squeezed out of her throat. "She... is living in Lord Chiron's house?"
Felwin didn't answer. Or rather, she couldn't answer.
Allie kept muttering beside her. "Isn't she a C-grade? How can a C-grade live in Lord Chiron's house? Why would Lord Chiron let her move in? What is their relationship? What right does she have?"
Felwin tried hard to maintain her gentle appearance of being indifferent to everything, but her facial expression was still fiercely contorted. She took several deep breaths before barely suppressing the unwillingness and humiliation in her heart.
She looked at Allie and forced a stiff smile. "Perhaps... perhaps Lord Chiron is just kindly taking in a homeless C-grade female."
"Right!" Allie seemed to realize something and spoke with certainty. "I remember now! I heard the security guards around here say before that Lord Chiron's housekeeper resigned due to some personal matters, and recently Lord Chiron has been hiring a new housekeeper. Maybe that sister of yours is just going there to be a housekeeper!"
The more she spoke, the more she felt she had guessed correctly, and her voice grew louder. "Yes! That must be it! She's a C-grade, divorced, what else can she do besides being a housekeeper or a nanny? He must be short-handed and hired her temporarily to do the chores!"
Hearing this, Felwin's complexion eased up a bit.
Allie was still chattering away next to her, her tone carrying a condescending sense of superiority. "Lord Chiron is really something. How could he let a divorced C-rank female be his housekeeper? How awful would that sound if word got out? Shouldn't Lord Chiron's housekeeper be at least an A-rank female?"
Felwin restored her gentle demeanor and walked over to tug at Allie's hand, a hint of a smile on her face. "Perhaps Sister Jiang Lijin is just used to doing this kind of servile work? After all, I heard Lord Rex and the others say that Sister Jiang Lijin is very good at it..."
Hearing this, Allie laughed along with her.
Inside the door, Jiang Lijin walked into the living room carrying her suitcase, her footsteps pausing for a moment.
The decor here was much more low-key. Unlike its flamboyant exterior, it exuded a restrained, scholarly atmosphere. Several paintings by unknown masters hung on the walls, and the bookshelves were filled with all sorts of books whose titles she couldn't even understand.
But Jiang Lijin was in no mood to appreciate these right now. She turned to look back at Chiron.
"Lord Chiron," she said, a hint of inquiry in her tone. "I heard that Lady Felwin is somewhat acquainted with you?"
Chiron's brows furrowed slightly, a flash of confusion passing through his eyes. He thought for a few seconds, then looked up. "Lady Felwin... who is that?"
Jiang Lijin froze for a moment, then smiled.
Wow, Host! Xiao Yi's voice rang out in her mind. I kind of admire Felwin's thick skin now. Chiron doesn't even know her at all, yet she actually claimed she is somewhat acquainted with Lord Chiron! Even after Chiron opened the door, she kept a straight face. What audacity, what psychological fortitude!
Jiang Lijin ignored it and just looked at Chiron. "It's nothing. Just asking casually."
Chiron looked at her, his eyes still holding a trace of confusion, but he didn't press the matter and simply nodded.
"Right," Chiron spoke up. "There is something I need to tell you."
Jiang Lijin gathered her thoughts and looked at him.
"This house originally had a housekeeper who had been with me for many years, but he grew old and returned to his hometown to retire a while ago."
Jiang Lijin nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"The new housekeeper hasn't arrived yet, so temporarily—" Chiron paused, "it will just be the two of us in this house."
Wow! Xiao Yi's voice echoed in her mind, carrying a subtle excitement. A lone man and a lone woman sharing a house together!
Jiang Lijin scolded it in her heart: Shut up.
But she had to admit, this news did surprise her a little.
Chiron continued to stare at her, seemingly waiting for her response, to see if she minded this arrangement.
Jiang Lijin raised an eyebrow and smiled.
Then she teased, "Alright. I'll remember to lock my door when I go to sleep at night."
