Lan Yan was led to a room by a maid. Just as she was about to ask something, the maid turned and left. "Alright, the people in this mansion have personalities just like Jun Yelan, all so cold and distant."
She had to go in by herself and found a bathtub and food. It seemed Jun Yelan wasn't that unreasonable after all.
Jun Xiaoyao had only seen Jun Yelan as a child. Now, facing her own brother, she was actually quite scared. She kept holding Lan Yan's hand and whispered, "Sister Lan, does my brother dislike us?"
Lan Yan crouched down and smiled, "Your brother just doesn't understand us. Sister, let me ask you, were you and your brother close before?"
Jun Xiaoyao shook her head, then nodded again. "I only saw Sister Lan's parents visit our home, and they even argued. This is the first time I've met Sister Lan, and it was Sister Lan who saved me."
"Mmm, eat something." Lan Yan watched Jun Xiaoyao eat, realizing she was too young to elicit much information. She tried to call the system again, "Stupid system, good system, are you really not coming online!"
"Oh dear, this mission is too difficult, maybe I should just leave." She said this deliberately, sure the system would appear.
A voice indeed echoed in her mind, "Host, after my repairs, the connection has not been stable. Let me confirm some information with you. Jun Yelan was sold by his parents as a child, then wandered into the palace, and later..."
Lan Yan ate dates while listening to the entire account. "Then it has nothing to do with me, and my relationship with him should be okay."
"Host, you are overthinking. When the Jun family came to borrow money and grain, your parents drove Jun Yelan away. The original host even said in her room that she would rather marry a dog than Jun Yelan."
"What!" Lan Yan pressed her forehead. The original host had left too big a mess. No wonder Jun Yelan had been so cold to her when she saw him at the door. Anyone would be cold.
She suddenly felt the dates in her mouth lost their flavor. "System, I knew it, you can't help but mess with me. I was just playing pitiful and asked him to let me stay. It's over, I'm doomed."
"Host, you can do it. I'm going offline." The system felt something interfering as it looked at the fluctuating connection line. It suspected it was related to its secret mission, especially since it already had four fragments and a deterrent.
Lan Yan: "..." She couldn't rely on the system. Hearing the maid's voice outside the door, she quickly changed her clothes and opened the door.
The maid also had a cold demeanor, standing rigidly at the door and saying, "Miss, the Factory Director wants you to go to him immediately. You should go quickly, as the Factory Director's temper is not something to be endured."
After speaking, she walked forward without waiting to see if Lan Yan followed.
Lan Yan had no choice but to settle Jun Xiaoyao in the room first and follow the maid to a secluded and elegant room. Before she could ask anything, the maid had already left. She pushed open the door herself and called out, "Lord Factory Director."
As the words fell, her neck was gripped, and her back was pressed against the door, making it hard to breathe. She saw the figure in front of her and said with difficulty, "Jun Yelan."
Jun Yelan's hand loosened slightly but did not move away from Lan Yan's neck. His eyes held a trace of hatred, his lips pressed into a thin line. He opened them slightly and said, "Lan Yan, this Factory Director had forgotten years of memories, and you made me remember."
"That marriage contract was forced upon me by you, and you abandoned it later. Have you forgotten all of this!"
Lan Yan finally caught her breath and complained internally about the original host. Outwardly, she said, "I was wrong at the time, and I have repented. Besides, my parents told me many things, and I wasn't aware of them."
"If I had known, I would never have dared to find you, let alone bring your sister." In fact, the original host brought Jun Xiaoyao because she was worried Jun Yelan would reject her and wanted to use Jun Xiaoyao as an excuse.
She no longer wanted to recall the original host.
Jun Yelan looked into Lan Yan's eyes and found some truth in her words. He let go, took out a handkerchief to wipe his palm, and said coldly, "Sharp-tongued, it seems I underestimated you."
"This Factory Director does not keep useless people by his side. What can you do?"
Lan Yan saw a glimmer of hope and raised her hand, saying, "I can do many things, and I am best at cooking." The system had just mentioned that Jun Yelan was very busy and suffered from stomachaches. She could make medicinal cuisine to nourish his body.
To win a person's heart, it wouldn't be bad to first win their stomach.
"Also, I can continue to take care of Xiaoyao. I will stay in the kitchen and promise to cause no trouble, nor disturb the Factory Director. I can swear." She raised three fingers again.
Jun Yelan looked at Lan Yan's demeanor. He had met many people in prison, but none were as bold as her. Not only did she dare to look him directly in the eye, but she also dared to negotiate with him.
He found it somewhat interesting and nodded, "You mean what you say."
"Of course, thank you, Factory Director. I won't disturb your rest." Lan Yan smiled and left with light steps, heading to the mansion's kitchen. She wanted to start cooking quickly to improve her favorability.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's receding back, recalling her smile from earlier. It had been a long time since anyone smiled around him. He closed the door and returned to his desk to continue organizing the recent major affairs of the court.
Lan Yan arrived at the kitchen and greeted the busy kitchen staff. "Hello, everyone. I am the new cook. Please take care of me from now on."
After she spoke, everyone in the kitchen stared at her. An older woman walked over, looked at Lan Yan's small face, and sighed, "Why are you here working when you could be doing so many other things! This is not a good place."
Lan Yan was a bit confused and asked, "Sister, what do you mean?"
"You can call me Huiniang. I am the elder one in this kitchen," Huiniang said. "Our Factory Director has very particular tastes and likes to handle official business while eating. If he's unhappy on any given day, he takes it out on the cooks."
"That's why we are all assistant cooks. The previous head chef offended the Factory Director and was thrown out to be used as fertilizer."
Lan Yan wondered if she had said the wrong thing. She hadn't expected being a cook to be such a dangerous profession. She swallowed, but since she was already here, she had to go through with it.
"Well, thank you, Sister Hui, but I've already promised the Factory Director. It's time, I'll start cooking." She walked towards the stove, looking for the prepared ingredients.
Seeing this, Huiniang sighed again, a pity for the child. She then helped out, telling Lan Yan about Jun Yelan's preferences, not wanting Lan Yan to become fertilizer on her first day.
Lan Yan was naturally grateful. With Huiniang's help, she successfully made several dishes.
Huiniang smelled the aroma and smiled, "I didn't expect you to be such a good cook, girl. You have a better chance of surviving now. Alright, go and serve them. Remember, speak less, arrange the plates nicely, and then come back."
"Okay, Sister Hui." Lan Yan carried the plates and, under Huiniang's worried gaze, walked out of the kitchen. She headed towards the dining hall. As she reached the entrance, she heard the sound of a cup being smashed from inside.
The cup landed right by her feet. She shifted to the side and looked up, directly meeting Jun Yelan's enraged expression.