Surviving In Another World With My Three Cups!-Chapter 180: A Fox Who Won’t Leave

Bai Mei walked across the yard with a small tray of food... rice, vegetables, and a little meat. A second, smaller bowl rested beside it.

She stopped in front of Jin Lin’s room.

Dust coated the doorway. Cobwebs clung to the corners. Deep scratch marks ran across the wood.

She let out a slow breath.

So this was where he stayed.

She knocked.

Once.

Twice.

No reply.

She knocked again. Still nothing but she could feel him inside. Awake. Listening. Scared.

She didn’t open the door. Instead, she sat on the step and placed the tray near the entrance.

"I know you’re in there," she said quietly.

Only the wind answered.

"I also know you don’t want me around."

Silence again.

She looked down at her ankle, where a faint light glowed... If she wanted to get this brat to like her she just had to be pitiful as well.. something humans would never ignore.

"I’m different too," she said softly. "People don’t like different."

There was a small sound inside the room. Cloth moving. A quick breath.

"So," she added, calm and honest, "you’ll just have to get used to me."

She pushed the bowl a little closer.

"Eat. Don’t make this harder on yourself."

She stood up and turned to leave.

That was when she noticed black fur at the corner of a pillar. A pair of round eyes stared at her.

"You again," she sighed.

The dog froze.

She set the smaller bowl on the ground.

"Fine. You eat too."

The dog hesitated, then slowly moved closer.

"You and him... you’re the same," she murmured, then walked away.

The courtyard grew quiet.

After a while, the dog bent its head and started eating.

Inside the room, thin fingers reached toward the bowl by the doorway.

They shook.

Then gently...

Pulled it inside.

With that done, she stood up and dusted her hands.

"First things first, to make him trust me.. I have to let him know that with me around, life is gonna be much better... Good food, cleaner environment... What else could he ask for."

Smiling, Bai Mei made her way towards her room, ready to sleep peacefully for the night.

***

The next morning she woke up and tidied the entire courtyard.. then straight to the kitchen..

To her surprise the plates of last night which she had given Jin Lin and that annoying dog of his to eat from were all washed and properly kept for he rin the kitchen.

"Awwn.. so he knows proper manners... haha!" She smiled as she made a quick breakfast and went back to Jin Lin’s room.

She placed his breakfast on the same spot and that of His black dog as well.

"Good morning, young master.. I can see you enjoys your food of last night, you even helped with the dishes... As a reward I added extra rice to your bowl.. eat your fill."

Saying that, she smiled as she didn’t wait for him to respond because he probably wouldn’t, but she knew he listened to her as she watched from a corner only to see him stepping out of his room, looking left and right to see if she was still there.

After confirming she was gone, he carried the tray of food and headed inside where he and his dog would eat in peace.

With breakfast done... Bai Mei smirked, her belly was full.. so she had enough Strength for a fight this morning.

.....

The hall where stipends were handed out was already busy when Bai Mei arrived.

Maids stood in small clusters, whispering behind their sleeves.

"Why is she here ...?"

"Ah! She’s that maid who now lives in the fourth young master’s courtyard."

"Ugh, that cursed place?"

"I heard he eats raw meat and bites people."

"No wonder everyone refuses to serve him."

Their voices dropped lower.

"Maybe he’ll turn into a demon one day."

"Then that woman will get eaten first."

Bai Mei pretended not to hear.

She walked to the steward’s desk and bowed politely.

"I’m here to collect the stipend for the fourth young master."

The steward didn’t even look up at first.

"The fourth? There is no need," he said lazily. "He doesn’t use it."

Bai Mei’s tone stayed calm.

"Still. I’ll take what he is owed."

Now the steward looked up irritated.

"You people from that courtyard..." he muttered. "Always trouble."

He dragged out the ledger and flipped pages slowly, as if doing her a great favor. When he finally stopped, there was only blank space.

No records for two whole years.

Bai Mei tapped the empty line.

"Where are the past payments?"

The steward clicked his tongue.

"Cancelled."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Why?"

He leaned back.

"Because that child doesn’t need it. He barely lives like a person. Why waste the family’s silver?"

The maids whispered again.

"He said it out loud..."

"Well, it’s true."

Bai Mei smiled thin and sharp.

"So you pocketed it."

The steward stiffened.

"Watch your mouth. You are just a maid... without the Jin family, you would have been sold to a brothel a long time ago.. Don’t come here making demands like you won the place."

"I’m only asking for what belongs to him," Bai Mei replied. "All past payments. Today."

He slammed the ledger shut.

"I said no."

Bai Mei frowned... Such an annoying man

Just then, a maid brings in a cup of tea as Bai Mei’s eyes glowed slightly, causing the maid to trip and pour the tea all over the Steward as he screamed in pain.

"Ah! Y-you b-bitch... "

Bai Mei smiled faintly, untouched. "How clumsy."

Before the steward could react further, a sharp voice cut through the hall.

"What’s going on here?"

Qin Lu entered, pale pink robes flowing, two maids trailing behind her. She stopped when she saw Bai Mei.

"Well, well. You’re still alive," Qin Lu said, voice dripping with amusement.

Bai Mei rolled her eyes. "You again. What do you want this time?"

Qin Lu laughed. "Just to remind you... count yourself lucky. You won’t be around much longer."

Her maids snickered.

"She’s shameless," one whispered.

"Doesn’t even know when to quit," said another.

Bai Mei’s eyes didn’t flinch. "If you’re done talking nonsense, step aside."

The steward tried to intervene. "Miss Qin! This maid is demanding silver for the fourth young master!"

Qin Lu smirked. "That cursed courtyard? Why feed him? Let him starve."