Although Simon Sun hasn't fully let go of Bella Qin yet, he no longer allows her to get close as before. Simon steps back, putting distance between them, and says gently but distantly, "Miss Qin, did you need something from me?"
"Simon, why are you calling me Miss Qin too? You used to call me Bella." Bella's lashes tremble, her eyes brimming with tears. She looks so aggrieved she could burst into sobs at any moment, swaying pitifully as if she might collapse.
"Qin, Qin..." Simon Sun keeps retreating, his hands awkwardly moving as if wanting to reach out and steady Bella Qin. But remembering their current identities, he quickly pulls his hand back—unintentionally making Bella even more upset.
"Simon, what's wrong? Do you hate Bella now?" Bella looks utterly heartbroken, like a fragile doll abandoned by everyone.
Serena Feng catches the flicker of pain in Simon Sun's eyes, worried he'll be ensnared again by Bella Qin. She quickly steps between them and says coldly, "Miss Qin, do you need something from me? If it's nothing urgent, please excuse us—Simon and I have important matters to attend to, and we can't host you right now."
Serena's fingers itch at the sight of Bella's wilting, fainting act—she just wants to drag Bella outside and make her learn how to stand up straight for once.
Honestly, is she made of jelly? If you want to speak, just speak—who does she think she's fooling with that 'blown-over-by-the-wind' routine?
It took Simon forever to crawl out from under Bella's shadow, and now she's haunting him again. If not for Lance Quinn's sake, Serena would have tossed Bella out long ago—her family can't afford a guest this delicate and demanding.
Bella Qin didn't come to Serena Feng for anything major—she just realized her situation in Feng Manor has gotten tricky. The maids around her are polite but distant, nothing like the warmth she enjoyed when she first arrived.
Bella Qin knows something must have gone wrong, so she seizes a chance to show up in front of Serena Feng and Simon Sun, hoping to remind them of her presence. But before she can make her move, she finds herself snubbed—Simon, who always doted on her, now ignores her completely.
This realization wounds Bella Qin deeply. She tries hard to fix things with Simon Sun, but Serena Feng doesn't give her a chance—she simply pulls Bella away.
Bella Qin's delicate frame is no match for Serena Feng; after two stumbling steps, Serena has already dragged her aside. Bella turns to Simon Sun, hoping he'll come to her rescue, but Simon is busy counting the cracks in the floor, completely missing Bella's pleading look.
"Miss Qin, if you have something to say, just say it. Simon and I have important matters to handle." Serena Feng raises her voice, finally getting Bella Qin's attention and making her look away from Simon Sun.
Bella Qin wipes the grievance from her face and gives Serena Feng a gentle smile. "Sister Qingchen, I heard you didn't sleep well last night, so I got up early to make you some heart-clearing, lung-nourishing soup. Please try it."
Bella Qin takes the tray from the maid and offers it to Serena Feng with both hands. Serena glances at it indifferently, neither accepting nor speaking.
"Sister Qingchen?" Bella Qin prompts softly, her small hands trembling. Serena Feng doesn't take the bowl, and Bella doesn't withdraw it either—she just keeps holding it, looking at Serena with hope.
It doesn't take long before Bella Qin can't hold out any longer—her hands shake, the bowl and tray tremble, but she still doesn't pull back, biting her lip and stubbornly enduring.
A stubborn woman is also a troublesome one.
Finally, after Bella Qin's persistence, Serena Feng takes the soup from her hands. But before Bella can be happy, Serena casually sets the bowl aside.
"Sister Qingchen, aren't you going to drink it? It's best hot." As she speaks, Bella Qin diligently steps forward, reaching to serve the bowl herself, but Serena Feng stops her: "I appreciate Miss Qin's kindness, but this is the maid's job—no need for you to do it yourself."
"It's fine, it's just a small thing—no need to trouble them." Whether Bella Qin doesn't understand or pretends not to, she keeps pushing. Serena Feng, losing patience, slaps the table and snaps, "Are you all dead? Miss Qin is a guest—who gave you the nerve to let her do a maid's work?"
"Miss, have mercy! Please, have mercy!" The two maids who came in with Bella Qin drop to their knees with a thud. "We won't dare again!"
The maids hurry forward to take the bowl from Bella Qin, but she dodges them. "Sister Qingchen, don't be harsh on them—it's my fault. I just wanted to make the soup for you myself, not let the maids help."
"Miss Qin, there's no need to plead for them—this has nothing to do with you. These maids actually let a guest go to the kitchen; if I don't teach them a lesson, they'll think they run the house." Serena Feng's words are polite, but her meaning is clear: Bella Qin is meddling.
Bella's face turns even paler. Simon feels a stab of sympathy, but as soon as he starts to speak, Serena shoots him a warning look. Her loyal disciple keeps his mouth shut.
"You all go to the steward and receive punishment." Serena Feng isn't actually planning to punish the maids, so she doesn't specify what. The maids understand the hint and quietly relax.
Before they can leave, Bella Qin says, "S-Sister Qingchen... if you're angry, blame me. It's all my fault."
As she speaks, Bella Qin's tears start to fall. "Sister Qingchen, I didn't know—I didn't know guests couldn't go in the kitchen. I just heard you hadn't slept well and wanted to make soup for you, I really didn't mean anything else."
Every word drips with concern, every sentence is soaked in tears. She’s painting herself as the tragic heroine and Serena as the cold-hearted villain. Serena sneers inwardly, but keeps her tone gentle: "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Qin, but the staff are here for a reason. If you take over all their work, what’s the point of keeping them?"
"Sister Qingchen, I didn't mean to take the servants' work—I just care about you. Can't you understand my heart?" Bella sobs even harder, hearing herself indirectly compared to a servant. She can't possibly miss the insult, but she clings to her role as the misunderstood, devoted girl.
"I appreciate your concern, Miss Qin. You're an honored guest in Feng Manor, so let's not trouble you with these chores. Simon says you've recovered well, but you're still weak—it's best to rest for now. The weather's getting cold, and if you catch a chill, I won't be able to give Master Bu an account." Guests shouldn't act like hosts—Bella really thinks she's the center of attention. She wants to show care, but expects everyone to accept it?
"Sister Qingchen..." Bella sobs even louder, her body swaying so much she looks ready to faint. Serena is done playing the villain against such manufactured innocence, so she waves her hand: "Miss Qin isn't feeling well—help her back to rest."
"Yes, ma'am." The maids half-drag, half-carry Bella Qin away. Soon, only master and apprentice are left in the hall. Simon Sun glances at Serena Feng, wanting to speak, but after a moment's thought, he lowers his head in silence—again and again...