‘Is Qiang Jia Tao the culprit?’ Jia Tu asked.

  ‘No,’ Yi Tu said. ‘Tu Tuan the gardener.’


  ‘Why?’ Jia Tu asked.

  ‘Tu Tuan has been secretly in love with Qiang Jia Tao for years,’ Yi Tu said.

  Jia Tu looked out the window with Yi Tu at the busy gardener.

  In the pink bedroom, Yuan Gun Gun rubbed her swollen face. She didn’t understand why Hao Yan Che killed Xiao Bi in such a cruel way.

  Two minutes to nine in the morning, Mrs Chen quietly walked into Yuan Gun Gun’s bedroom. Mrs Chen sat on the bed, and her heart ached while she gently rubbed Yuan Gun Gun’s swollen face.

  Xiao Bi jumped onto the bed, and pulled its mistress hair. Yuan Gun Gun opened her eyes, and thought she saw Xiao Bi on her bed holding nuts.

  ‘Xiao Bi?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

  Xiao Bi rubbed its head against Yuan Gun Gun’s neck. Yuan Gun Gun sat up on the bed and hugged Xiao Bi.

  ‘Gun Gun, this is your Xiao Bi,’ Mrs Chen said.

  Mrs Chen smiled and rubbed Yuan Gun Gun’s head.

  ‘Aunty Chen……’ Yuan Gun Gun called.

  ‘Gun Gun, forgive me for hitting you,’ Mrs Chen said. ‘It’s the only thing I could think of to protect you. No one knows what Hao Yan Che is capable of when someone pushes his patience limit.’


  ‘Aunty Chen, I understand,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

  ‘This morning Xiao Bi followed Lam Ling to buy food,’ Mrs Chen said. ‘The chipmunk you saw isn’t Xiao Bi.’


  Mrs Chen rubbed the gluttonous Xiao Bi’s head.

  ‘Gun Gun, young master gave permission for you to leave your room,’ Mrs Chen said. ‘Remember young master is the king in his home. No one dares to raise their finger or raise their voice at young master in his home. Here, young master controls everyone’s fate including whether they live or die.’


  Mrs Chen gave Yuan Gun Gun a red apple. For the first time in Yuan Gun Gun’s life, Yuan Gun Gun only held an apple instead of eating it.

  ‘Gun Gun, I know someone wants to cause discord between you and young master,’ Mrs Chen said. ‘I don’t know their motive. All I know is that today you misunderstood young master.’


  Xiao Bi looked left and right then Xiao Bi bit the red apple in its mistress hands. Mrs Chen picked up Xiao Bi and put Xiao Bi in her apron.

  ‘Gun Gun, I’ll take Xiao Bi outside and let you rest,’ Mrs Chen said.

  Yuan Gun Gun sat on her bed in shock. Xiao Bi didn’t die, she falsely accused Hao Yan Che.

  A while later, Yuan Gun Gun jumped out of bed and she ran bare feet to Hao Yan Che’s bedroom.

  Yuan Gun Gun stared at the violet door. She sat on the floor and deliberated for the whole day whether to knock on the violet door. She thought Hao Yan Che wouldn’t want to see, because she said hurtful words to him.

  At half past eight the next morning, Hao Yan Che woke up in a bad mood because he didn’t see Yuan Gun Gun. He got out of bed, brushed and washed in the bathroom. Then he opened the violet door and saw his rice ball sleeping in front of the violet door.

  ‘Yuan Gun Gun,’ Hao Yan Che called.

  Yuan Gun Gun didn’t wake up.

  ‘Yuan Gun Gun!’ Hao Yan Che called.

  Yuan Gun Gun’s eyes were firmly closed.

  ‘Wake up and eat,’ Hao Yan Che said.

  ‘Eat where……’ Yuan Gun Gun murmured.

  Yuan Gun Gun opened her eyes, and saw a long pair of legs. She looked up, the long pair of legs belonged to Hao Yan Che.

  ‘Young master……’ Yuan Gun Gun called.

  Hao Yan Che didn’t want to look at Yuan Gun Gun. He didn’t want to see her swollen face, blood stains on her hands and her bare feet. He walked away from her.

  ‘Young master……’ Yuan Gun Gun called and followed Hao Yan Che.

  Hao Yan Che ignored Yuan Gun Gun, and he kept walking.

  ‘Young master!’ Yuan Gun Gun called.

  ***