Chapter 577 - 17: The Cannon Fodder Daughter and Her Cannon Fodder Dad (Part 17)

The front hall was filled with busy people, mostly helpers and maids. Jiang Lai observed this and proactively approached someone to ask.

"Excuse me, have you seen my sister?"

The person was an elderly woman, wearing a blue top, with neatly combed hair, and her temples white, looking somewhat stern.

"Who is your sister? And who are you?"

"My dad is Jiang Hai, the cook here for today’s event. I’m Jiang Lai, here to help him out. My sister is Shen Yaoyao; she just mentioned going out to find something and now she’s missing. I’m worried she might get lost."

"Who allowed your sister to wander around the party today? What if she offends a guest!"

Jiang Lai shrunk his neck, looking very frightened, and whispered.

"I’m sorry, please don’t blame my sister. I saw her heading towards the backyard, but I didn’t dare to follow."

"The backyard?"

The woman frowned, her expression displeased.

From where did this wild girl come, daring to run to the backyard as soon as she’s in the host’s house!

"Take me to find her!"

Jiang Lai nodded nervously, and his timid demeanor satisfied the woman as she nodded approvingly.

That’s how it should be.

Entering the director’s house without keeping your head down, daring to wander around, is truly disregarding the director’s face!

As the housekeeper here, apart from the owner, she was the top authority, ensuring that everyone here was orderly and well-behaved.

"Don’t be afraid. I’m not an unreasonable person; I won’t do anything to you."

"I can tell at a glance that you are kind and gracious. I’m just worried about my dad; he takes this occasion very seriously and has been staying up the past few nights thinking about the menu..."

"Hmm, as long as your dad cooks well, nobody will say anything. Take me to find your sister!"

This kind of person is audacious and reckless, maybe causing a problem.

She needs to be found and dealt with before the banquet starts.

Jiang Lai led her to the backyard, where the garden was lush and vibrant, with no sign of autumn’s bleakness. It was clear that every tree here was purchased at a high price.

Compared to the dull and misty world outside, this place was like paradise.

It was true; no matter the time, wealthy people could live carefree lives.

"The male and female leads have just met and are chatting now,"

Little Buding reminded.

"If you don’t look carefully, you probably won’t find where they are until it gets dark."

Jiang Lai scanned around; aside from trees and paths, there was a standalone white house in the back, painted with brightly colored flowers and plants in vibrant hues, making this little house look like a fairy-tale world, very conspicuous.

The plot mentioned that the male lead enjoys painting, and the female lead does too, so they share this interest and talked the entire morning, forgetting themselves.

Interestingly, Jiang Lai was also good at painting; she still retained her previous memories and skills.

So she immediately noticed the little door hidden in the painting.

The doorknob was painted as a blooming flower, concealed among the vibrant colors, not easily noticeable without close inspection.

Three or four people searched the backyard, footsteps approaching, while the two inside the little house held their breath and smiled at each other.

Zhang Shuci, for the first time, encountered someone who shared his interests. The girls here mostly were timid, not daring to look people in the eye when speaking—feudal and conservative.

But this girl in front of him was enthusiastic, cheerful, and very gentle and generous, giving him a refreshing sense.

The brief interaction made him feel relaxed inside.

So, upon realizing someone was looking in the backyard, he didn’t hesitate to bring her into his secret world.

"Shh, don’t make a sound; they won’t find you..."

"Creaaak—"

Before he could finish, a glaring light suddenly shone in as the little door was opened. Against the light, a silhouette stood at the entrance, peeking inside.

"Have you seen my sister?"

Zhang Shuci was stunned, instinctively wanting to ask Shen Yaoyao if she recognized the person.

Unexpectedly, when he turned back, Shen Yaoyao had already hidden behind the bookshelf, clearly not wanting to be discovered.

Given this, Zhang Shuci understood that the sister being sought was undoubtedly Shen Yaoyao, so he chose to conceal the truth.

"I don’t know; it’s just me here."

"Oh."

Jiang Lai nodded and was about to leave but suddenly glanced back at the other person, asking with curiosity.

"Are you the director’s son, Zhang Shuci?"

Zhang Shuci frowned, somewhat displeased.

"Why? Do you know me?"

People who randomly claim relations are the most irritating, especially those who approach him with ulterior motives.

So Zhang Shuci instinctively distanced himself from these people.

Jiang Lai smiled and nodded.

"Of course, I know you. Your photo is displayed in the living room, seen by everyone who enters, making it easy to recognize."

"Photo?"

Zhang Shuci frowned. When was his photo displayed in the living room? He wasn’t aware of this.

"You didn’t know? Then it must have just been put up. Since my sister isn’t here, I’m sorry for bothering you.

However, if you see someone named Shen Yaoyao, please let her know that her sister Jiang Lai is looking for her, and tell her to return to the kitchen to help, not to wander around, or it could trouble my dad."

Zhang Shuci’s brow furrowed even deeper.

From Jiang Lai’s few words, he discerned a lot.

"Who is your dad? How did you get in?"

"My dad is the cook here, and we’re in to help out. Alright, time is short, I need to go."

With that, Jiang Lai said nothing more, helping him close the door before leaving contentedly.

In the dim light, Zhang Shuci slowly turned to face Shen Yaoyao, a hint of wariness in his eyes.

"Didn’t you say you didn’t know me?"

Shen Yaoyao was tense all over, her mind a jumble of confusion, regretting not rushing out to stop Jiang Lai from talking!

How should she explain now?

She didn’t want to appear too flustered; that would be admitting guilt voluntarily.

So, in her anxiety, she blurted out.

"I haven’t seen that family photo; I think when in someone else’s house, one shouldn’t look around, really, there’s no need to lie to you.

And if you think I’m that kind of person, there’s nothing I can say in explanation.

Today was nice chatting with you, but I have things to do, so I must go first."

With that, Shen Yaoyao left without looking back, her dejected tone and decisive manner made Zhang Shuci think he might have misunderstood her.

Indeed, it’s just a photo; she might not have noticed it.

With these thoughts, Zhang Shuci didn’t want to stay there anymore and followed her out to the front hall.

Then, at the moment he saw the photo hanging in the front hall, his expression darkened.

"Family photo..."

The person named Jiang Lai never mentioned that the living room displayed a family photo.

But Shen Yaoyao directly said she’d never seen that family photo.