The police officer heard this and said, "That's truly unfortunate. The person you called to notify was arrested yesterday for gambling with a crowd and hasn't been released yet."
Hearing this explanation, Xiao Xun was utterly speechless.
After the police left, he couldn't sleep soundly.
Xiao Xun began to cook for Mu Jiahe, while Mu Jiahe stood outside the kitchen watching him, her face radiating happiness.
'If only this moment could last forever.'
She watched Xiao Xun, who had already finished one dish, and asked him, "Aren't your parents coming to live with us? Why haven't they arrived yet?"
Xiao Xun carried the dish out and said, "My mom told me that she and my dad can't bear to leave their old clients. They said we don't lack money and have plenty of nannies and bodyguards to serve us, so they don't need to."
Mu Jiahe sat at the dining table. "If you're not comfortable, you should call your parents! We've been shuttling between two worlds, and I don't feel at ease without a trusted person here."
"Alright, you eat first, and I'll call them in a bit."
With that, he went back into the kitchen to prepare the next dish. The second dish was more complicated; its scientific name was "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall."
Xiao Xun had never made it before and was looking up a guide online.
The refrigerator had everything, so ingredients weren't an issue, only the time it would take.
While the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was stewing, Xiao Xun called home.
The phone was answered after a while. "What is it? It's so early in the morning."
Xiao Xun glanced at his watch. "Mom, it's past nine o'clock, it's not early anymore."
His mother, for some reason, sounded very impatient. "Spit it out if you have something to say, don't dawdle like you always do since you were little."
Xiao Xun quickly said, "Jiahe and I have been busy these past few days, and I don't feel at ease with no one from our family here! Why don't you and Dad come over?"
He emphasized the name Jiahe.
His mother wasn't buying it at all. "Didn't I tell you last time! I'm not coming, not coming."
Xiao Xun checked the time. "You don't have to do any work, just stay at home and keep an eye on the nannies."
His mother became unhappy and reprimanded him, "What are you thinking? What do you take the nannies for? They're all honest people from the village who go to the city to earn money during the off-season. You've only lived in the city for a few days and you look down on village people, even needing someone to watch them? I won't do such a landlord-like thing."
Xiao Xun also became unhappy hearing this. "Mom, you've misunderstood. Just tell me if you're coming or not!"
His mother decisively uttered two words, "Not coming."
Xiao Xun gave a firm ultimatum. "It's fine if you don't come, but find someone from our family who you know well, preferably a relative I know. I'll give her five thousand yuan a month."
His mother was surprised that her son wasn't as timid as before, and her expression softened. "If you say so, I do have a suitable candidate. It's your aunt's granddaughter. By generation, she calls you uncle. She has nothing to do at home, what do you think?"
Xiao Xun heard that she was a junior and felt reassured. "Yes, of course."
"Alright then! I'll call her. If there's nothing else, she should be here tomorrow. Remember to pick her up at the station."
"Okay, I know…"
Before Xiao Xun could finish speaking, his mother hung up the phone.
Xiao Xun went to Mu Jiahe. "I just called my mom."
Mu Jiahe stood up. "When are they arriving? I'll go put on some makeup."
"They're not coming. They said they'd send a niece. What do you think?"
Mu Jiahe thought for a moment. "That's fine. The main purpose is to look after the house anyway. If she feels lonely by herself, let her bring a friend. You can give her your room then."
Xiao Xun looked at Mu Jiahe in surprise. "Give her my room? This villa has so many rooms, why my room? Besides, if I give her my room, where will I sleep?"
Mu Jiahe crossed her arms and said, "That place is close to the kitchen and the backyard. You don't sleep here anyway, you can share my room."
Xiao Xun rubbed his hands, his face flushed. "This, this isn't good!"
"What's not good about it? You confessed your feelings to me, I still vividly remember that scene, as if it were yesterday."
"Ms. Mu, you're so funny. That was indeed yesterday!"
Mu Jiahe lightly hit Xiao Xun, showing a shy expression, and her voice became much gentler. "You're annoying, I'm not talking to you anymore."
Seeing this, Xiao Xun quickly changed the topic. "Ms. Mu, if you have nothing to do this afternoon, can I go out?"
Mu Jiahe waved her hand. "Go out if you want. Don't you feel awkward calling me Ms. Mu all the time?"
Xiao Xun didn't know why Mu Jiahe suddenly said that and casually replied, "No, I don't feel awkward! I'm used to it. I call you Ms. Mu in this world and Your Majesty in that world. It sounds like I'm a kept man, making you seem capable. Just call me Ms. Mu!"
Then, ignoring Mu Jiahe's displeased expression, he glanced at his watch. "I'm going to check on the dishes. Wait for me a bit."
Mu Jiahe put her hands on her hips, wanting to scold him, but didn't know where to start.
Suddenly, Xiao Xun's bedroom door opened, and a beautiful housekeeper in a red vest walked in, startling Xiao Xun.
"Who allowed you…"
Just as he was about to send her away, he remembered what the police had said about the vice manager of the housekeeping company being arrested for gambling. Therefore, he hadn't canceled the housekeeping contract.
The housekeeper was also startled by Xiao Xun's reaction, but having received prior training from the company, she lowered her head and politely said, "Hello, I'm here to clean."
Xiao Xun looked at his room and asked her loudly, "Why is it you today? Isn't Aunt Liu coming?"
The housekeeper looked bewildered. "I don't know! The supervisor assigned me to this villa, so I came. I don't know who was cleaning before."
Xiao Xun didn't know what to say. Since the person was already here, he let her clean.
The second dish would take a while longer. Mu Jiahe went to the basement to work out. Although the police had searched the entire house, Xiao Xun was still worried that the housekeeper might be hiding in an inconspicuous place in the basement, so he followed Mu Jiahe down to the basement and searched the corners again.
He also looked up at the ceiling. Although he knew it was unlikely, there was always a chance. In games, many people overlook high places.
Of course, after searching, he found nothing. Mu Jiahe looked indifferent. "She's a woman in her fifties, why are you so nervous?"
"I think this old aunt is definitely not ordinary. Judging by her skills that night, she's no less than you."
Mu Jiahe looked disbelieving. "You're just bragging!"
"Really."
Mu Jiahe pouted her small mouth. "I don't believe it anyway."
Xiao Xun was speechless and turned to leave.
Mu Jiahe reached out. "Don't go!"
Xiao Xun turned to look at her. "Do you have any more instructions?"
"Let's go up and exercise together."
Xiao Xun quickly waved his hands. "No, no, there's a dish stewing on the stove." With that, he went back to the kitchen without looking back.
At this moment, the 'Buddha Jumps Over the Wall,' having been slow-cooked over low heat, had already filled the house with fragrance.
He lifted the lid of the jar, and the aroma gushed out.
He took a small spoon, scooped up some soup, and the golden broth emitted white steam.
He blew on it gently and tasted it. "It's a bit bland."
He sprinkled some salt into it, resealed the lid, and sat aside to read the news on his phone.
Since the incident of the bombing information from the Jingji Group the day before yesterday, similar bombing news had erupted online one after another, with pictures and evidence. The comments below were overwhelmingly demanding that the Jingji Group withdraw.
No matter how the Jingji Group explained, held press conferences, or apologized, they couldn't stop the cliff-like fall of their stock prices and the flood of negative reviews.
Xiao Xun realized that it was only a matter of time before the Jingji Group withdrew from the domestic market.
The Jingji Group, which had once defeated the industry leader, couldn't even last its first decade, not even five years, before being overthrown. Who would become the new leader was perhaps already becoming apparent.
"Big Beauty's" 'Star Map' mobile phone was rapidly capturing the high-end market. The successful first battle of 'Star Map' in its home country also meant that button-based smartphones would completely bid farewell to the historical stage.
As noon approached, the second dish was ready. Mu Jiahe, smelling the aroma, had already sat at the dining table waiting.
Seeing Xiao Xun, she asked with a smile, "I've been busy all morning, can we eat now?"