Chapter 126: Mysterious Popularity

After two days of investigation, Yu Ningmeng had basically grasped the situation within the villa.

The maids in the villa had initially been selected through rigorous screening. They had no major issues with their personalities and were not troublemakers, which made Yu Ningmeng’s work extremely convenient.

At the same time, she understood why An Siyao had fired the head maid.

The direct trigger was the head maid’s unauthorized reassignment of An Siyao’s personal attendant, but the root cause lay in the head maid’s growing insubordination.

In addition, Yu Ningmeng also uncovered some kickback issues. The head maid, who controlled the procurement authority for the villa’s supplies, had embezzled a significant amount of money over the years.

It wouldn’t have been a big deal if she had just taken a little extra while remaining loyal. What was unforgivable was that the head maid was taking Yu family’s money while simultaneously siding with the An family, betraying her own employer.

Yu Ningmeng had also heard about An Siyao’s previous confrontation with the head maid, which surprised her.

First, she gave her a warning, then intimidated and placated her. When had this girl become so capable?

Moreover, An Siyao, who had never had any friends before, now had two very close friends aside from the woman she kept outside?

Even more surprising was that when Yu Ningmeng proposed that, due to the departure of the head maid, a regular maid should be assigned to be responsible for An Siyao around the clock, many of the maids volunteered eagerly.

It was just a replacement job—the position of head maid couldn’t possibly go to any of them. It was a demanding role that offered little reward. Unless they wanted to advance and earn An Siyao’s favor.

However, there shouldn’t be so many ambitious maids. Most of them should have been the kind to simply go with the flow!

“Those who want to take this job, leave your names. I’ll present them to the young mistress for selection,” Yu Ningmeng set the procedure.

A group of maids then stepped forward to register.

“Wait, Ci Ci, what are you doing? Who will take care of the studio if you go to attend the young mistress?” Yu Ningmeng stopped Dong Ci.

“Tsk.” Dong Ci gave up.

Yu Ningmeng became even more convinced that something was off. After finishing the registration, she called Dong Ci out.

“What’s going on with you all? Why are you competing for this job? I was even prepared to do it myself,” Yu Ningmeng was filled with confusion.

“Because doing this job gives us an excuse to get close to the young mistress,” Dong Ci said.

“???”

Although my dear Yaoyao was indeed adorable, surely she hadn’t reached the point where everyone was scheming to get close to her?

Could it be that all the maids in this villa were abnormal?

Thinking about An Siyao keeping a woman outside, Yu Ningmeng formed a bold hypothesis.

She felt a bit scared.

Had this villa really turned into such a place?

“You’re not misunderstanding, are you?” Dong Ci explained. “It’s just that the young mistress is likable.”

Yu Ningmeng felt relieved. “So the young mistress is this popular?”

“You’ll understand after spending some time with her,” Dong Ci said.

“I’ve watched the young mistress grow up. Don’t I know her best?”

After saying goodbye to Dong Ci, Yu Ningmeng went to An Siyao’s room to let her decide which maid would be assigned to her.

At this time, Xia Yu was in control of An Siyao’s body. He casually picked a maid he found agreeable.

“There’s also something regarding the former head maid. She manipulated many procurement records and has already been sent to court,” Yu Ningmeng said.

Had the head maid really tampered with procurement records? Xia Yu was surprised—he hadn’t noticed this yet.

However, this wasn’t unusual. When two suppliers offered similar quality, it was standard practice to cooperate with the one offering kickbacks.

The items used in the villa were all high-end, so although the quantities weren’t large, the amounts involved were significant enough to allow for some kickbacks.

He had underestimated the pleasures of the rich, completely failing to realize that corruption could even arise from such things.

“That’s all. I still have other matters to attend to, so I won’t stay any longer.” Waving her hand, Yu Ningmeng left the bedroom. She had more work to do.

Xia Yu was happy to be left alone.

He looked out the window.

In the courtyard downstairs, An Feixiong was playing with a toy rifle.

The maid set up the dolls for him, and then he shot them down one by one.

Dong Ci had been reassigned to the studio; this maid was sent by Luo Yali from her own home.

This maid was strong and robust, capable of serving both as a maid and a bodyguard.

Taking out his phone to check the time, Xia Yu went downstairs.

He had arranged with the Feng sisters to visit their house today.

As he descended the stairs and crossed the front courtyard, he inevitably caught An Feixiong’s attention.

An Feixiong stood up from the ground, holding his toy rifle, and approached Xia Yu. “Don’t move!”

Xia Yu stopped and considered how to respond.

Should he humor An Feixiong or demonstrate his ability to disarm him barehanded or dodge bullets?

“Young Master! You mustn’t point the gun at people!” The maid tried to pull An Feixiong’s hand but was dodged.

“If you move again, I’ll shoot!” An Feixiong threatened the maid again.

The maid could only stop her actions.

Turning his gaze back to Xia Yu, recalling past grievances, An Feixiong mimicked a cold smirk from crime dramas.

He looked at the gun in his hand, then at the maid beside him who served as a bodyguard, feeling confident.

“Do you remember An Feixiong, who you knocked down under the big tree three days ago?” An Feixiong asked.

Had he switched from a crime drama to a romance drama?

Xia Yu had no mood to argue with An Feixiong and continued walking toward the door.

“This is your own doing!” Reciting another line, An Feixiong pulled the trigger.

The bullet landed far away on the grass. Xia Yu had already dodged before the shot was fired.

“Your reflexes haven’t gotten worse,” Xia Yu remarked, reloading. An Feixiong adjusted his aim and fired again.

After Xia Yu dodged once more, An Feixiong’s expression turned serious. “I underestimated you.”

As An Feixiong continued reciting lines, Xia Yu felt as if he were merely playing pretend with him. Stepping forward quickly, Xia Yu grabbed the toy gun and caught An Feixiong.

“Damn it! You actually mastered this move!” An Feixiong struggled. “Dahei, help me!”

“Dahei” was the nickname for his maid, but she pretended not to see anything, maintaining a composed demeanor.

As a maid, how could she interfere in the conflict between the young master and mistress?

Seeing that the maid beside him had no intention of helping An Feixiong, Xia Yu pressed him to the ground with one hand, grabbed the barrel of the toy rifle with the other, and swung it to tap his bottom.

Smack—

“According to the Moon Foreign Treaty, I demand to be treated kindly!”

Smack—

“I didn’t expect you to be so despicable!”

Smack—

“I know I was wrong.”

After a couple more smacks, when An Feixiong was nearly in tears, Xia Yu released him.

An Feixiong immediately jumped up and hid behind the maid.

“Go teach her a lesson, Dahei!” He ordered the maid, but she was studying the clouds in the sky.

Xia Yu raised the gun again to scare An Feixiong, then smashed the toy rifle and walked out of the villa.

Seeing his beloved gun broken into two pieces, An Feixiong finally burst into tears.

He buried the gun in a corner of the front courtyard and went to find Luo Yali, asking her to get him a new one.

After hearing the story, Luo Yali slammed the table. “What? An Siyao actually hit you?”