The 18th floor was indeed, as the butler had said earlier, a massive garden.
In a moment, the rich yet not cloying floral scent rushed up to meet her, making her feel slightly dizzy.
At this time of year when ginkgo and maple trees colored the scenery, coming across the seemingly endless field of pure white magnolia at first glance brought a refreshing sense of delight.
"That Qi Weiran really likes magnolias."
Before the pigsty was built, the backyard was full of them.
Magnolias took up the majority here as well.
"Were magnolias life-saving to him before?"
Speaking of which, when she was very little, she liked those flawless white flowers for a period of time too.
As for why she didn't like them later, she couldn't quite remember.
Little Jiji struggled out from Yi Qingju's pocket, and she put the little turtle on her shoulder accordingly.
It shook its head explaining: [I remember the original book mentioned Qi Weiran's reason for liking magnolias]
[At that time there were constant internal disputes within Qi's Group, and side branches were eagerly watching for a chance to seize power, so they planned a kidnapping. But young Qi Weiran ran away and stayed in a very remote place for almost a year before his elder brother found him and brought him back]
[After coming back, aside from a big change in personality, Qi Weiran also developed a new hobby]
[That is, magnolias]
Yi Qingju found a carved chair to sit on, listening eagerly with legs swinging as Little Jiji told her these things.
She then commented: [If you ask me, this is definitely the usual trashy storyline - the lost young master met a pure village girl in a remote mountain village, and because of her, also fell in love with the flowers resembling the girl]
[Finally due to some inevitable reason they had to separate, and in the end only the flawless white magnolias stayed in Qi Weiran's heart~]
Like she had watched some sappy, cliche TV drama, she put down her plate, hands clasped together, making clucking sounds praisingly.
Little Jiji: [If you fail at pig farming, you can consider changing career to be a writer even if you don't join the entertainment industry]
Yi Qingju laughed out loud unceremoniously, but because of the big movement, her leg accidentally hit the fork placed at the edge of the plate.
Just as she leaned down to grab the fork, the smile at the corner of her mouth hadn't faded yet, and she caught a glimpse of a pair of feet appearing silently in front of her with her peripheral vision.
Every hair on her stood upright, and Yi Qingju looked up sharply.
She was met directly with a pair of light-colored eyes of the person in front of her.
At that moment, she even suspected she had seen an elf.
The man in front of her had a head of semi-long snowy white hair draped behind him, brows and eyes like wisps of smoke, like a mouthful of cool spring water, exuding an aura of "do not disturb".
But this coldness was melted away along with his smile as warm as the spring sun.
"The little turtle on your shoulder is very cute, may I borrow it to take a look?"
Probably after three or four seconds, Yi Qingju reacted from the impact of his beauty.
At the same time she also realized there were no elves, and the person in front of her was obviously an albino.
Taking the turtle from her shoulder, Yi Qingju held it out.
The man was about to reach out, when she suddenly spoke up: "Fifty to touch, no bargaining."
The man froze.
With his outstanding looks and pitiful condition, it was still the first time he had encountered this situation despite his invincibility.
He immediately pulled his lips into a smile, waves rippled in his clear eyes: "You're very interesting."
Yi Qingju was indifferent: "Interesting still costs money."
The man retracted his hand: "Then I'll bring money next time before touching it."
Seeing Yi Qingju's utterly unabashed gaze, he felt somewhat curious.
Most people usually don't stare directly at him after seeing him, only sneaking glances, as if his fragile heart would make him commit suicide immediately if people looked at him too much.
"My name is Xie Zhiyu. It's my honor to meet you."
Yi Qingju blinked: "Do you know who I am?"
Xie Zhiyu nodded, ripples rose in his clear eyes: "At this age, appearing in Qi's Mountain Villa, it can only be Madam Qi."
Yi Qingju expressionlessly nodded, leaning back in her seat: "Since you recognize me, things will be easy then."
Xie Zhiyu's face revealed obvious confusion: "Hmm?"
She looked up, examining Xie Zhiyu, then said seriously: "Speak, how long have you been kept by Qi Weiran?"
"From when did it start, the locations and times, as well as the transaction amount."
Damn, how dare that Qi Weiran use her inheritance to keep someone!
Moreover keeping it a secret from her!
This is delightful news hahahaha.
Compensation.
The evidence is right here, she would certainly claim damages for mental distress.
Xie Zhiyu, who was misunderstood as a male mistress: "......"
He gave a wry smile and shook his head, then sat down opposite her.
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself."
"I'm the gardener responsible for caring for these magnolias, and occasionally do some minor research as well."
Yi Qingju clearly didn't believe him.
A gardener who looked like this...
Seemed not entirely impossible either.
"But doing this work, avoiding sunlight is obviously unavoidable. You...."
If she didn't remember wrongly, albinos couldn't be under the sun for long right?
Xie Zhiyu nodded: "What you said is right, but I'm a little different from others. I can be under the sun."
He got up, and soon came back with some tools.
"Look, these are nutrients for the magnolias."
Only then did Yi Qingju reluctantly believe him.
"Sorry I misunderstood you, my apologies."
Xie Zhiyu indicated he didn't mind with a slight nod, a beautiful curve at the corner of his lips: "No problem."
His smile like the warm breeze in the mountains made Yi Qingju's eyes shine for an instant.
He's truly good-looking.
Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly received a call from Auntie Zhang.
The other party was clearly anxious: "Madam! Why did you go to the 18th floor? The master just came back suddenly and someone told him about it."
"Except for the master, no one else can enter there!"
Yi Qingju was startled, then reacted belatedly that she seemed to have been sabotaged.
After hanging up the phone, she hurriedly got up.
Then her face twisted in frustration.
Damn, she forgot her foot was still injured and she was limping.
Just as she was about to fall forward, she was caught in an embrace filled with the scent of magnolias.
At that moment, Yi Qingju believed he really was just a gardener.
After all, without long term immersion in a sea of flowers, how could he be permeated with such a strong floral scent.
She didn't get to voice her thanks when sounds suddenly came from the elevator exit not far away.
"Master, 18th floor, have a safe trip."
