"Look, there are carps in the pond." Mr. Xiao said, "I have raised rainbow trout before, but the water quality was not suitable and the temperature was difficult to adjust."
Cheng Mingxiang stared at the groups of red carp swimming leisurely in the pond. At this time, she felt that someone was looking at her somewhere. Needless to say, if she looked around, she would not see anyone. However, she should be visible from anywhere in the house, but she couldn't see him. The other party is covered by various barriers and can observe her carefully, and the light in the room is also very dim.
"Come here!" Mr. Xiao invited Cheng Mingxiang to take a walk among the ponds and woods. There is a path that can cross the rockery next to the spring. "The owner of this house loves garden landscaping, and the style is different from ordinary ones. At first glance, it looks like it has not been repaired, but in fact, the owner deliberately created the garden atmosphere of a barren mountain and an abandoned temple."
Mr. Xiao was right. The withered miscanthus had completely turned yellow and fell over. After they stood in the garden for a while, the housekeeper walked over with her head slightly lowered and whispered in Mr. Xiao's ear. Mr. Xiao nodded.
"Excuse me for a moment."
He said to Cheng Mingxiang, walking towards the courtyard stone when he traveled back in time. He was short and looked very reserved in the garden, which was different from the arrogant look he showed from time to time in the bar.
The housekeeper who was in her early forties and had a big face was always expressionless. She has a plump figure, fair complexion, phoenix eyes, beautiful nose, and two thin nasolabial folds around her mouth. She exudes a noble temperament.
"The weather is getting warmer." The housekeeper chatted with Cheng Mingxiang softly, with a sociable look, which indirectly showed that there were many visitors here.
"What a beautiful garden." Cheng Mingxiang praised.
"This is a landscape of barren mountains and dead trees that the old man deliberately created. However, since it is a Chinese-style garden, it is still elegant and pleasing to the eye."
"This garden is so big."
"It's not that spacious."
Since the trees on the front are not covered by a roof, the colors of the sky can be seen in full view. The housekeeper seemed to be monitoring Cheng Mingxiang, and she was standing right next to the garden, so she could fully control Cheng Mingxiang's actions. The housekeeper chatted with Cheng Mingxiang, her fair face showing light wrinkles from time to time. She smiled elegantly and spoke politely, showing the etiquette that a wealthy family should have. However, she never relaxed her vigilance towards Cheng Mingxiang.
"Living in such a quiet place, I must feel very comfortable every day."
“I’ve lived there for a long time, but I don’t feel anything special.”
Cheng Mingxiang soaked in the sunshine and waited for another fifteen minutes. The housekeeper looked at Cheng Mingxiang with the eyes of an outsider, as if she was enjoying a good show that was about to be staged.
"Are you a local?" the housekeeper asked casually. This kind of question means that there is nothing to talk about, so she can only ask casually.
"Yes."
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
When the housekeeper spoke to her like this, could she be asking questions knowingly? It is very likely that Mr. Xiao had told the housekeeper about Cheng Mingxiang's life experience, but she pretended not to know. Perhaps it was because meeting her in person aroused her curiosity that she asked about Cheng Mingxiang's background in a roundabout way, and did not directly ask whether Cheng Mingxiang was married. If she deliberately skipped these sensitive topics, it would be nothing more than speculating on what tasks Cheng Mingxiang would take on in the future.
"I have no relatives in this city." Cheng Mingxiang replied while chasing the red carp emerging from the cracks in the rocks.
"Oh, that's..."
Later, the housekeeper asked something unknown. Cheng Mingxiang was hesitating how to answer. The railing door opposite opened and Mr. Xiao walked out.
Mr. Xiao walked to Cheng Mingxiang with a smile on his face, "...What did you talk about just now?"
"Well, this garden is quiet, elegant and antique." Cheng Mingxiang said in a normal tone, and then lit Xiao Lao's cigarette.
"Well, that's good. I thought you changed your mind."
"No. I have been mentally prepared for this."
"You are quite sensible." Mr. Xiao smiled in admiration.
"This house seems to have a lot of history?"
"Well, it used to be a Chinese residence."
"No wonder you are so generous. Now isn't it?"
"The house has changed hands."
"Mr. Xiao, I always feel that it has something to do with me."
"Do you think so?"
"Well, did I pass the test today?"
Mr. Xiao chuckled in Cheng Mingxiang's ear: "Yes, let's go into the house?"
"I know." Cheng Mingxiang smiled and said to Mr. Xiao: "I'm not going to think about it, because no matter how much I think about it, I can't figure out the reason. I'll just leave everything to you."
"Hahaha," Mr. Xiao said with a smile, "Your courage is beyond my imagination, so I feel at ease."
Although the entrance to the mansion is spacious, you can tell at a glance that it is not the main entrance. Cheng Mingxiang secretly marveled at how big the entrance door alone was. Cheng Mingxiang followed the woman. The lighting in the house was not bright enough, Cheng Mingxiang thought, this was once a wealthy Chinese residence, no wonder it occupies a vast area and has an elegant layout. But overall, this mansion feels very dark and uninhabited, which may be because it is too quiet. The woman was halfway down the corridor when she suddenly stopped.
"Sorry, please go take a shower right away."
"bath?"
Cheng Mingxiang was unexpectedly asked to take a bath. What was going on?
"Is there any problem? This is my old man's order. I will take you to the bathroom."
The housekeeper's tone was polite but did not allow any explanation. Cheng Mingxiang was also more courageous than before. It was not that she had never thought of encountering such an unexpected situation beforehand.
This bathroom is very spacious and connected to the dressing room with a door in the middle.
"If you need anything, please clap your hands and I'll be right over... There's an internal lock in the bathroom."
The housekeeper closed the door from the outside, and the footsteps gradually disappeared into the distance.
The bathroom is surrounded by tiles and seems to have been renovated and looks particularly new. The large bathtub was filled with clear hot water. Cheng Mingxiang boldly took off her clothes, but she always felt that someone would break in later, so she locked the door specially. There is a vent above the bathroom with a piece of frosted glass embedded in it. The entire bathroom is considered a closed space. Cheng Mingxiang looked around the bathroom. Except for the glass window, it was almost impossible to see the inside from the outside. There is also a mirror embedded in the tile wall. It is also a common decoration in the bathroom to have a mirror.
Cheng Mingxiang bent down and soaked in the bathtub. She always felt that someone was watching her from the corner. Although she had carefully inspected the inside of the bathroom, the feeling of being watched still lingered. In fact, when the housekeeper suddenly asked her to take a shower in the bathroom, she was already mentally prepared. She was soaking in the bathtub and saw her face in the mirror. The mirror happened to be facing her, so Cheng Mingxiang's eyes would naturally look towards the mirror.
She seems to have gained weight these days, perhaps because she enjoys delicious food every day and is in a relaxed mood, so she naturally gains weight quickly. Although she might be being spied on, she became less concerned, thinking that she couldn't see the other person anyway, so she might as well change different positions to let the other person see enough.
Cheng Mingxiang's whole body was steaming. When the hazy heat slowly dissipated, her naked body was gradually exposed. She stepped out of the bathtub and walked to the dressing room, when the housekeeper's voice came from outside the door.
"Have you finished washing?"
"Um."
"Excuse me, please change your clothes."
"But I'm not prepared."
"I'll bring the clothes over right away. Please open the door."
Cheng Mingxiang only wore underwear, curled up and opened the inner lock. She opened the door a crack and the housekeeper handed the clothes in.
"I will keep your original clothes for the time being. Please put on this clothes directly."
Cheng Mingxiang's eyes fell on the dress. The dress was elegant in style and came with a long shirt. The color was also the color favored by connoisseurs.
23. The investigation has no choice but to be suspended
"This dress is new, you can wear it with confidence." The housekeeper looked at Cheng Mingxiang and said with concern.
After Cheng Mingxiang put it on, she was surprised that the skirt fit perfectly regardless of the sleeve length or size. It was probably because Mr. Xiao visually inspected her figure and commissioned it to be made by a tailor. If this is really the case, then this dress should have been prepared in advance.
"It looks pretty good in it."
Cheng Mingxiang put on her skirt. The middle-aged housekeeper looked up at her figure and praised her. Before putting on clothes, Cheng Mingxiang had already put on makeup.
