Chapter 29: Ordering Her to Eat

At noon, when it was time for lunch, Sister Qi came to the bedroom to invite Kong Lingxin downstairs to eat. Kong Lingxin glanced at Meng Zexiao, whose lips were dry and chapped on the bed, and said to Sister Qi, "You all go ahead, I'm not hungry. By the way, bring me some cotton swabs."

Sister Qi brought them over and said, "Second Young Mistress, you must take care of your own health too. We don't want you falling ill just as the Second Young Master is recovering."

Kong Lingxin smiled. She was no fragile flower; taking care of a feverish patient was no challenge for her. She wasn't eating simply because she had no appetite, not because she was pining away over Meng Zexiao's illness.

"Don't worry, Sister Qi, I'm fine," she said. "Also, if anyone from the main estate comes looking for the Second Young Master, just tell them he isn't home."

Sister Qi understood what Kong Lingxin meant, but if Madam Meng were to call personally, it would be difficult for the staff. Many of the servants here had originally worked at the main estate, and when Meng Zexiao insisted on moving out, Madam Meng had handpicked several capable staff members to accompany him. To put it bluntly, some of them were Madam Meng's people; concealing the young master's illness felt like an act of disloyalty.

Seeing Sister Qi's troubled expression, Kong Lingxin could guess the reason. "Forget it, you go ahead. I won't make things difficult for you."

Sister Qi quickly added, "The Second Young Master has never liked going to the hospital or taking medicine when he has a cold or fever; he usually relies on his own immune system to pull through. If it weren't for what you've done today, Second Young Mistress, who knows how high his fever would have gone. Even if Madam Meng finds out, she wouldn't blame you."

After Sister Qi left, Kong Lingxin dipped the cotton swabs in water and gently applied them to Meng Zexiao’s dry lips. Gradually, his lips regained their natural flush, his breathing became even, and his complexion improved.

Without realizing it, Kong Lingxin leaned against a nearby chair and fell asleep.

By evening, Meng Zexiao woke up from the hazy fog of his fever. Upon opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was Kong Lingxin’s face, worn and weary from caring for him.

He sat up slowly, careful not to wake her.

He stared steadily at her skin, as delicate and fair as a baby's, and her refined, orchid-like features. Yet, she possessed none of the haughty airs of a wealthy socialite; her fresh, gentle temperament was like that of a girl next door, making one feel an irresistible urge to draw closer to her.

Having known countless women and seen all sorts of girls, he suddenly realized, in retrospect, that the person who had been by his side all along was the most brilliant and dazzling of them all. Why hadn't he noticed such an alluring quality in her before?

She began to stir and opened her eyes. Seeing that he was awake, she stood up from the chair, her previously tranquil face instantly turning cold. "I’ll have the servant bring you some chilled fruit juice."

Seeing the change in her expression, Meng Zexiao felt deeply displeased. He slid back under the covers and said with annoyance, "I don't want any!"

"How will you get better if you don't eat?"

"That's none of your business!"

"Fine, it's none of my business!" Seeing that his complexion had returned to normal, Kong Lingxin concluded that his temperature was back to its baseline, and she could finally wash her hands of him.

Kong Lingxin walked out of the bedroom with a swagger, not even bothering to close the door behind her. She had been exhausted all day and hadn't eaten lunch; she truly needed to replenish her energy.

Seeing her come downstairs, Sister Qi immediately stepped forward. "Dinner is ready, Second Young Mistress. Shall we serve it?"

Kong Lingxin nodded. "Yes, serve it."

Sister Qi glanced upstairs and asked, "What about the Second Young Master?"

Kong Lingxin raised her voice, intentionally saying, "The Second Young Master has no appetite; he’s not hungry. I’ll eat by myself. Once I’m finished, you can all clean up and head home!"

Meng Zexiao heard every word of her instructions to the staff. Rubbing his growling stomach, he silently cursed Kong Lingxin for trying to starve her own husband.

Three dishes and a soup were laid out on the table. Just as Kong Lingxin picked up her bowl to eat, Meng Zexiao suddenly appeared, sat down beside her, and snatched the bowl and chopsticks from her hands. "Who said I wasn't eating? I've been hungry all day!"

With that, he used the chopsticks to shovel a large mouthful of food into his mouth, eating with great relish.

Kong Lingxin glared at him in fury. Those were clearly her bowl and chopsticks—how could he snatch them with such brazen confidence?

She stood up and said sharply, "Then you can eat to your heart's content!"

When Sister Qi saw Meng Zexiao snatching the utensils, she had already signaled the other servants to quickly bring out another set. Seeing Kong Lingxin stand up to leave the dining room, she hurried over. "Second Young Mistress, more utensils will be out in a moment. It’s our fault; we should have set another place."

Kong Lingxin told her, "This isn't your fault, don't take it to heart."

With that, Kong Lingxin walked straight toward the stairs.

Sister Qi followed, looking troubled. "Second Young Mistress, please don't be angry."

Kong Lingxin turned back to comfort Sister Qi once more. "It really isn't your fault. Stop following me; go attend to your Second Young Master."

Meng Zexiao could tell that Kong Lingxin was kind to the servants. Seizing upon her weakness, he said coldly, "Come back and eat! Otherwise, I’m docking the staff's wages for half a month!"

Kong Lingxin turned around, looking at him in disbelief.

Hearing the Second Young Master's words, the other servants turned their gazes toward Kong Lingxin. At this moment, if she would only sit down and eat with her husband, their half-month's wages would be safe.

Kong Lingxin was incensed and argued with Meng Zexiao, "On what grounds are you docking the servants' pay for no reason? That’s illegal!"

Meng Zexiao glanced at her and said, "Then ask them—if I dock half a month's pay, will they dare to complain?"

Kong Lingxin trembled with rage. She knew that for the servants of the Meng family, this job was not easy to come by. Because the employers were wealthy, their pay was double that of domestic workers in other households; even with half docked, it was still higher than the wages at the Kong household.

Seeing her fall silent, Meng Zexiao continued, "Since you have nothing to say, then sit down and eat with me like a good girl!"

By now, the servants had brought out her utensils and were standing by the table, looking at her with pleading eyes.

Kong Lingxin couldn't bear their gazes. She would return to the table to eat so they wouldn't lose their money, but before that, she had to give Meng Zexiao a lesson in law.

"Which regulation says you can just dock a servant's pay at will?" she asked.

Meng Zexiao found her seriousness amusing. "The regulation is that I’m not happy, and I want to dock it!"

"You! I don't believe your bad mood carries more weight than labor laws!"

Meng Zexiao replied with feigned sincerity, "That’s right. I do things based on my own whims, not laws! If you don't believe me, you’re welcome to try me."

Sister Qi walked up to Kong Lingxin and pleaded earnestly, "Second Young Mistress, for the sake of everyone's pay, please come back to the dining room and have your meal, okay?"

How pathetic it was to marry into a wealthy family, she thought, where one couldn't even decide for oneself whether to eat or not. Kong Lingxin returned to the dining room in a huff and picked up her bowl.

Meng Zexiao looked at her and smiled triumphantly.