Lina's Compensation

After the two figures disappeared around the corner of the stairs, only Ye Weian and Lina remained at the doorway.

Lina skillfully brewed a cup of hot tea and placed it beside Ye Wei'an, her demeanor as respectful and considerate as ever.

Ye Wei'an secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that he had finally managed to get through this temporarily.

He picked up his teacup, when suddenly Lina asked:

"Master, you and her...did you do it?"

puff--

Ye Wei'an nearly choked on his water.

But he immediately realized what was happening, and a perfectly timed look of bewilderment crossed his face: "...What are you talking about?"

With his expertise as an actor, Ye Wei'an's acting skills are quite superb, but unfortunately, he couldn't hide it from Lina at all.

"Not just last night. This morning... we did it too, didn't we?" The head maid's next words were even more explosive, "Master... you really have a lot of energy."

Ye Wei couldn't continue the installation.

"Lina, what... what are you talking about? You can't just make wild guesses about these things."

He believed that he and Amarune had acted discreetly after leaving the club, and that no one knew about his experiences after returning to the slums, so Lina couldn't possibly know.

"I'm not just guessing!" Lina's smile remained impeccable, but her words were quite astonishing. "Master, have you forgotten? After you came home, I took care of all your clothes and prepared your bath. I know your scent all too well."

"Aura?" Ye Wei'an was even more puzzled.

I often use magic tricks to clean myself.

"That's right." Lina wrinkled her delicate nose, as if recalling something. "When I was helping Miss Bailang change her clothes, I smelled a very special scent on her. It was very faint, but I was quite familiar with it—it's a scent that only you, Master, have."

"My...smell?" Ye Wei'an subconsciously raised his arm and sniffed his cuff. "What special smell do I have? How come I don't know?"

"It's not exactly a noticeable body odor, but it has a kind of...heart-stirring quality to it. I can only smell this kind of scent on your clothes," Lina explained. "Miss Bailang could never have such a scent unless our scents had been mingling for a long time."

Ye Wei'an was stunned.

He never imagined there would be such a "flaw".

But then he suddenly realized something and said with a hint of amusement, "Lina, how come you... are so familiar with my scent? You even know so well that it only clings to clothes, could it be...?"

Realizing she had inadvertently revealed her little secret, Lina blushed and could no longer maintain her confident expression.

She avoided Ye Wei'an's probing gaze, her voice unusually coquettish: "Master! Don't change the subject! We're talking about you and Miss Bai Lang!"

Seeing her rarely show such girlish behavior, Ye Wei'an knew when to stop; if he continued teasing her, the head maid might really get angry.

"Alright, alright, you're right," he raised his hands in surrender. "We... well, we had the kind of relationship you're guessing. Is that alright, Lady Lina?"

Lina's blush hadn't completely faded when she heard him admit it, but her eyes quickly welled up with tears, and she said, on the verge of sobbing:

"So... Master is planning... to marry her?"

Lina's eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembled slightly, and there was a hint of nervousness in them: "So... Master is planning to marry her?"

Ye Wei'an was taken aback by her abrupt change of thought.

"What brings you to this? Why are you suddenly talking about marriage?"

Lina lowered her head, lamenting to herself, "Miss Amalune is exceptionally beautiful, with a captivating figure, and her talent is praised even by Master. It's only natural that Master would fall for her. From now on... Lina should probably prepare herself for having a mistress."

She raised her eyes, glanced timidly at Ye Wei'an, and continued to mutter in a low voice:

"Eileen and I must remember which flavor of morning tea the new lady prefers, whether the perfume she uses is rose or jasmine, and what color and style of dress she likes. When the master and lady are in perfect harmony, Lina can only hold the change of cloak and follow far behind, watching the master's back... Only when the master and the new lady are not around does Lina have a chance to say a word or two to the master."

She became increasingly exaggerated as she spoke: "When the master has a new concubine to serve him at night, Lina can only listen to the master and the new wife outside, while she is left alone in her empty room. She doesn't even have the right to make your bed or prepare hot water for your washing up."

"That's not true at all!" Lina's words made Ye Wei'an both laugh and cry. "I've only known Amarune for one night, you're thinking way too far ahead."

"We've only known each other for one night, and we're already this close? I've known Master for so long..." Lina was even more dissatisfied.

"What's wrong with that?" Ye Wei'an shrugged, saying matter-of-factly, "I'm so young, I have so much time ahead of me. Isn't it better to do something meaningful with pretty girls? Why do I have to think about marriage?"

In his previous life, Ye Wei'an devoted himself entirely to his studies and work, and had no opportunity to experience anything.

This life is finally able to enjoy life, wouldn't it be a waste not to take more days off?

Lina shook her head upon hearing this. "So... is Master such an irresponsible person? How disappointing."

Hearing this, Ye Wei'an internally screamed: Come on, you were clearly smiling so happily, you could hardly contain your joy, where is the disappointment?

But on the surface, he earnestly explained: "Can't there be other forms of intimate relationships and ways of getting along between men and women besides marriage? Mutual appreciation, companionship, and moving forward together... isn't that wonderful?"

"Alright, alright..." Lina shook her head gently, a doting smile on her lips. "Master, you're good in every way, but when it comes to matters of the heart, you really have that aristocratic air."

Ye Wei'an touched his nose and smiled a little embarrassedly: "You flatter me."

Only in front of Lina, who had taken care of him since childhood and knew him inside and out, would he occasionally reveal this less-than-comfortable side of himself.

But Lina changed the subject: "So, Master, what are your plans for tonight?"

"Arrangements?" Ye Wei'an didn't react for a moment.

"About the accommodations?" Lina blinked, a sly glint in her gray eyes. "I just quietly asked Miss Bailang a few questions. This is... my first time, you know. And then you treated me so cruelly, Master, that I went straight to sleep as soon as I got back."

"So," she said gently but firmly, "you can't stay at her place tonight. She needs to recover properly."

Ye Wei'an rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Do you have to meddle in this kind of thing too?"

"Master, did you hear me?"

"I heard you, I heard you... Okay. You're really nosy."

"How can you call that being nosy?" Lina retorted immediately, puffing out her cheeks slightly. "It's clearly Master's fault! There are already two beautiful maids at home, but you insisted on going outside to 'accidentally' meet some genius beauty! Isn't that Master's problem?"

Faced with Lina's accusations, Ye Wei'an could only raise his hands in surrender: "Yes, yes, it's my fault, I apologize."

"An apology isn't enough," Lina retorted, "I want compensation."

"Compensation?" Ye Wei'an raised an eyebrow. "What compensation?"

Lina's cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered, "This time... it has to be my turn."

Ye Wei'an: "!!!"

Seeing Ye Wei'an speechless with shock, Lina deliberately asked in a worried tone, "What's wrong? Master, did you overdo it today... and that's why you can't perform?"

These words completely ignited Ye Wei'an's temper. He reached out as if to tap her forehead: "Who are you calling incompetent?! You just wait! I'll make sure you don't leave here alive, you'll regret it!"

"Hmph~" Lina took a light half-step back, a smug look on her face.

Ye Wei'an made as if to turn and leave, but Lina called him back, her tone more serious: "Master, I have something else to say."

"What is it?"

"That girl, Ellen, is probably still sulking," Lina reminded her.

Ye Wei'an sighed: "I know. I'll go see her later."

"She's easy to coax," Lina advised him. "That child is simple-minded, just a bit clingy, afraid of being left behind by you, that's why she acts that way. Master, just say a few kind words to her later, promise to take her with you next time you go out, or at least tell her in advance... she'll definitely forgive you."

"Understood." Ye Wei'an nodded, already having made up his mind.

Besides settling down the "new love," it's equally important to soothe the emotions of the "old love," which is probably a trouble that every lord has to face.