Why aren't you following yet?

When Su Nuo returned to the living room once more, Duan Yubai had already gone back to his room.

Just as she was about to begin preparing the ingredients, she heard a sarcastic voice from behind.

"Oh, well, if it isn't the young miss! You'd better run right back to your room and rest, we wouldn't dare order you around."

Sister Cui shoved past her forcefully, and several other servants cast hostile glares at Su Nuo.

"The young miss is just so delicate. If you didn't want to work, you could have just told us. Did you really have to go running to young master with complaints?"

"All of our wages got docked because of you. Are you satisfied now?"

"You were clearly the one who failed to mop the floor, yet it all got blamed on us in the end. Who would ever dare let you touch anything?"

Their words left Su Nuo somewhat bewildered.

Duan Yubai had docked their wages because of her?

How was that possible?

She stepped forward timidly. "I'll do it instead. I'll make breakfast."

She had long since learned the lesson that it is better to offend a gentleman than a petty person.

In this household, if she offended Duan Yubai over trivial matters, there might still be room for redemption.

But if she crossed a petty person like Sister Cui, she would constantly find obstacles placed in her path.

Whenever she returned to the Duan residence, dealing with these people was inevitable, and Su Nuo did not want to go hungry indefinitely at home.

Sister Cui hurriedly snatched the items out of her hands.

"Don't bother. Young master explicitly said not to let you cook. Can't you understand human speech?"

"Forget it. The likes of us were born to be servants, we don't have the luxury of enjoying life like you, our master. Hurry back and rest."

"Though let's get one thing straight first. Since you're not cooking, and young master already said he doesn't keep idle people around, there won't be any breakfast for you either."

Sister Cui exchanged a glance with the women beside her, and they promptly ushered Su Nuo out.

Su Nuo stood rooted to the spot, feeling somewhat dazed.

So not only did they forbid her from cooking, but they weren't going to let her eat either?

Did that mean she wouldn't have a single bite to eat for the entire weekend on Saturdays and Sundays?

Usually, she could at least manage meals at the company, but now that she was back home, she wouldn't even have food to eat?

Su Nuo sighed and returned to her room with a heavy heart.

Catching sight of the snacks on the desk, a glimmer of hope sparked within her.

At least Chi Ling's snacks would be enough to sustain her for many days.

Besides, the company offered employee meals.

She just wondered if she would be troubling Wang Bo too much; if she could ask him to help bring a few more small cakes, her dinners would essentially be taken care of.

Pondering this, Su Nuo climbed back into bed and caught up on her sleep.

When Duan Yubai came downstairs for his meal and failed to see Su Nuo, displeasure flickered across his face.

The doctor had explicitly stated she needed to eat properly—yet she was skipping breakfast bright and early?

"Why hasn't Xiao Nuo come over? Sister Cui, go call her down."

Before Mother Duan could even finish her sentence, Sister Cui answered with a bitter expression.

"The young miss told us bright and early this morning that we didn't need to prepare her portion, so we couldn't very well say anything."

"You know how the young miss's temper is. She's still holding a grudge from yesterday."

The unspoken implication was that she was taking her anger out on them.

Father Duan slammed his magazine down heavily. "She's always making a fuss over nothing. If she doesn't want to eat, then let her go without."

"Don't bother saving food for her in the mornings from now on. Since she insists on going to work, she can just endure the hunger if she refuses to eat."

Duan Yubai remained completely silent, though a strange feeling arose in his heart.

Su Nuo had clearly gotten up early this morning; that time slot should have coincided with her daily routine of soaking bird's nest.

Why wouldn't she eat?

His gaze swept across the kitchen, where he noticed what appeared to be three bowls of bird's nest porridge, and comprehension dawned on him instantly.

Sister Cui caught his look and offered a stammering explanation.

"Just... just a moment ago, the young miss really did come down here once. Perhaps she had already eaten."

"Mm, never mind her."

Duan Yubai lowered his head to eat, refusing to dwell on the matter further.

Fancying herself enough to eat bird's nest; she certainly knew how to pamper herself.

As he ate, he thought to himself that the household supply of bird's nest seemed to be running low and they really ought to buy more.

Su Nuo had always been the pickiest eater; she probably couldn't get used to those instant bird's nest packages anyway.

With that thought, he turned directly to the butler standing nearby.

"Uncle Zhong, go buy some more bird's nest later. Get the finest quality."

The butler quickly nodded with a smile. "Understood. Miss Mo has been eating bird's nest recently and feels her sleep quality has improved significantly."

"President Duan, you really went out of your way. I should just stick to regular bird's nest," Mo Xiaoxue said with an embarrassed smile.

"I already feel so guilty for taking over Miss Su's room, but it is truly comfortable, and my insomnia hasn't acted up once."

Her voice was soft and carried a hint of coyness.

"There's no need for the highest-grade bird's nest. President Duan spoils me so much, I don't even know how to repay you."

"As long as you like it. You deserve it," Duan Yubai replied indifferently.

Yet Su Nuo, who had just stepped out, froze in her tracks upon hearing those words.

Indeed, Mo Xiaoxue was the one who deserved it most.

If Mo Xiaoxue couldn't sleep well and wanted something luxurious, hundreds of thousands would gladly be spent on extra bird's nest.

While she, Su Nuo, was simply unworthy.

Therefore, whether she ate or not, or whether her room was taken away from her, none of it mattered.

The fact that the Duan family still deigned to shelter someone like her was already an act of grace.

What else could she possibly dare to ask for?

Catching sight of her emerging, Mother Duan waved her over warmly. "Come here, Xiao Nuo, eat something first."

"If she doesn't want to eat, let her be. There's no need to waste food."

Duan Yubai pulled out a tissue and meticulously wiped his mouth.

"Alright, there are other matters to attend to today. If you're not going to eat, head to the company first."

Mo Xiaoxue hastily stood up as well. "Right, I'll go change my clothes and be right down."

Before leaving, she didn't forget to cast a triumphant glance at Su Nuo.

Su Nuo had already changed into her professional attire—the exact one Mo Xiaoxue had instructed Sister Cui to send over yesterday.

Though it was also a white pantsuit and bore a strong resemblance to yesterday's outfit, it was undeniably entirely different.

There were numerous subtle variations in the details; it was a different version from the same brand.

The outfit was slightly loose on Su Nuo, but thanks to her well-proportioned frame and the addition of a belt, it gave off a uniquely charming vibe instead.

Watching her stand there respectfully with lowered head, exposing her soft, fair neck, Duan Yubai felt a subtle stir within him, compounding his irritation.

He averted his gaze and strode straight toward the front door.

"Are you not going to follow? Do you need a formal invitation every single time?"

Hearing his words, Su Nuo hurried after him.

Their joint appearance at the company entrance today created an even greater sensation than the day before.

Even with Duan Yubai present, Su Nuo could still hear whispered conversations all around.

"Is Miss Su really involved with President Wang? Surely not, their statuses are worlds apart."

"Wasn't she wearing this exact same outfit yesterday? Wait, does it look a bit different today?"

"President Duan was at yesterday's business dinner too, how could he possibly let her get mixed up in anything improper?"

"You never know. Didn't she have rumors with President Wang before? Did you all forget?"

Amidst the chorus of gossip, Su Nuo kept her head down, not daring to look up.

Since Chi Ling was away dropping off the car, Su Nuo had no choice but to trail closely behind Duan Yubai and Mo Xiaoxue.

However, upon reaching the elevator lobby, she stopped in her tracks again and quietly moved to join the regular queue.

The employee elevators were crowded, and numerous gazes landed directly on her.

Duan Yubai frowned slightly. "What kind of nonsense are you pulling now? Didn't I tell you to use the executive elevator normally from now on? Why aren't you following?"