Chapter Eighteen: The Strange Flower

  Huamu Qing went to the destination along the address on her notebook.

  Standing in front of the large iron gate of the villa garden, Huamu Qing looked around, the trees in the garden were lush and green, the branches of the willow tree swayed gently in the wind. The small grass on the lawn was dense and green, with two cows in the middle, they were sculptures, looking like real ones. In the center of the garden, there was a large flower bed, where flowers bloomed in a riot of colors.

  After a while, Huamu Qing faintly heard a man's voice singing a song, but the singing was so bad that it was unbearable.

  "The world is so wonderful, with flowers, big trees, and great nature," the owner of the voice said, holding a watering can to water those flowers, grasses, and trees, giving them moisture.

  "Hey......" Hanaki Haruka softly called out to the man.

  "...still..." The singing stopped abruptly, the man heard a voice and looked up to see a beautiful girl standing in front of the large iron gate. "Still... still you." The man stretched out his left hand, welcoming the beauty's arrival.

  Huā Mù Qíng looked around suspiciously, but there was no one else there. Was this person talking about himself?

  He picked up the water pipe in his hand and sprayed it on his head, instantly making his hair shiny and bright. He then put down the water pipe, picked up a nearby broom as a temporary comb, swept his hair with it, walked out of the lawn, and stood in front of Huamu Qing with a big wolfish grin on his face.

  Huā Mù Qíng watched the man's actions throughout the entire process, still in shock and couldn't understand why he suddenly did that.

  "Little beauty... who are you looking for?" With hands in pockets, a tone of a big bad wolf enticing a little lamb.

  With hands raised high and a slight bow, Huamu Qing asked, "Hello, may I ask if this is the Gong family's mansion?"

  The man heard it and burst out laughing.

  Huamu Qing was slightly at a loss, "What are you laughing at?"

  "It's just laughable that you asked the question!" The man stretched out his hands and gestured, "You're right, this is the Kung family home, and I am...I am..." The man's voice trailed off, and he even sang it in a high pitch.

  "It's... it's..." The expectant look on Hanaki Haruki's face couldn't be hidden.

  "The gardener of this house."

  "Huh......I thought it was someone else!" Hanaki Haruka muttered behind her back.

  "Brother is very proud of you, sister! You've got face!" The man laughed loudly with his head thrown back.

  "Zhang Jianhui, water is flowing everywhere, are you waiting for your dad to turn it off?" Along with the sound, a woman walked out from the side, with a fierce attitude, shouting loudly at the gardener called 'Zhang Jianhui'.

  "Auntie, my dad is dead, he can't be locked up." The man retorted back.

  "How dare you talk back." The aunt stretched out her right foot, wanting to kick the man. Unexpectedly, he caught her right foot with his hand and she couldn't move.

  "Let go, I'm going to fall!" Auntie yelled angrily, but the man didn't listen and continued to hold on, "Let go, let go, let me go."

  The man responded to the scene, glanced at Huamu Qing, smiled awkwardly, "Alright alright, I'll let go."

  As soon as she was freed, the aunt immediately stretched out her hand to hit the man. The man had no choice but to dodge and weave, avoiding a direct confrontation with the woman.

  "Go turn off the faucet." Later, after a futile pursuit, Auntie ordered the man and turned to see that the large iron gate was open. She asked loudly, "What's going on here? Why is the door wide open? Are you waiting for your dad to close it?"

  "Auntie, I've told you many times already, my dad has passed away and can't come. Auntie." Zhang Jianhui rolled his eyes heavenward and said helplessly.

  "How dare you talk back! Close the door!" The aunt didn't explain anything, she just ordered the man to close the door.

  "Yes, yes, yes, housekeeper." Zhang Jianhui responded, turning his head to make a face at Huamu Qing, and then obediently turned back to turn off the faucet.

  After the man left, Auntie finally realized Hua Muqing's existence. Seeing a stranger, let alone such a beautiful woman standing at the door for a long time without leaving, her face had an unpleasant expression. "Who are you? Who are you looking for?"

  She slightly bowed her head and politely stated her purpose, "Hello, I'm from Suit Labour Company."

  "Oh, good, you're on time. Follow me." From start to finish, Auntie had never given Huamu Qing a pleasant look. Just as she was about to lead Huamu Qing in, Auntie caught sight of the basket in Huamu Qing's hand. "What's inside the basket?"

  "A small gift," said Huamu with a bright smile.

  Auntie listened and didn't seem very happy, instead she looked vigilant, "Wait a minute, with a small braid and carrying a bamboo basket, isn't that called protamin?"

  Huā Mù Qíng shook her head, "I'm called Shěn Mù Qíng." In order to not let them know her real name and ruin her plan, she slightly changed her surname, hoping that her dad and mom would forgive her.

  "Oh, follow me." After hearing Hanaki Haruka's name, the aunt finally agreed to let her in. No choice, it's hard to manage a house these days! The other day, I heard that there was a thief who disguised herself as a respectable woman and became a maid for wealthy families, causing chaos in the end, so she had to be careful too!

  The big aunt walks in front, and the flower wood follows behind.

  "What kind of bamboo basket is this?" Auntie looked disdainful, actually bringing such a low-end product to the master's house, really lowering the master's taste. But since it was a gift, someone's kind intention, she couldn't say anything, "Hurry up and follow me, let's go this way."

  Huamu Qing couldn't help but feel puzzled after hearing what her aunt said. What's wrong with the bamboo basket? Logically speaking, shouldn't a maid giving gifts bring something from their hometown? And it wouldn't be right to have her gift wrap it nicely and give it to others, would that not be beneath her status?

  Shrugging her shoulders, Huamu followed Big Aunt's footsteps indifferently.

  As the two walked in, Huamu Qing caught sight of a white sedan out of the corner of her eye. She looked over and suddenly remembered that it was the same car that had splashed her with mud earlier, almost making her late for work. "That damned car is from this household." Huamu Qing's jaw clenched as she disdainfully gazed at the vehicle.

  "What are you standing there for, hurry up and follow!" Auntie saw that the people behind her were not moving, turned around and saw her standing in front of Young Master Zuo's carriage, lost in thought, so she spoke out to remind the woman.

  "Yes." Huamu Qing responded, gazing at the car with a resentful look one last time before following behind Dagu's footsteps.

  In the kitchen, a woman with short hair and wearing not very elegant clothes like rough linen, about 25 or 26 years old, was standing by the sink washing dishes, humming a little tune, looking relaxed and happy.

  The voice rose higher and higher, her eyes closed tightly, the woman was indulged in it and couldn't help herself, looking very enjoyable.