Chapter 380

Alarieka brought a large bowl of tangyuan from the kitchen, plopping it before Shi Yao. She thrust a spoon into Shi Yao’s hand. “Eat. Can’t leave till it’s gone.”

She plopped down opposite Shi Yao, lowering her head to shovel food into her mouth.

Tamika was showering in the bathroom, leaving only Alarieka and Shi Yao in the living room.

Shi Yao stared at the nearly overflowing bowl, her mouth twitching. “Trying to burst my stomach?”

Alarieka swallowed her food. “Stop talking. Just eat.”

Shi Yao watched Alarieka for a long moment before taking a deep breath. She stuffed tangyuan into her mouth like a warrior facing battle.

They ate in silence until both bowls were spotless.

Without a word, Alarieka took Shi Yao’s bowl, stacked it with hers, and walked to the kitchen.

Noticing Alarieka’s expression, Shi Yao’s eyes flickered. She rose and followed.

Alarieka bent over the sink, squeezing dish soap onto the bowls before scrubbing carefully with a dishcloth.

Shi Yao leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. Her gaze drifted casually across Alarieka’s face as she murmured, “Alarieka… you’re in a bad mood today?”

Alarieka tsked.

Shi Yao leaned closer, her face inches away. “Did someone upset you?”

Alarieka swiftly raised her hand, flicking water from her fingertips onto Shi Yao’s face, frowning as she said, “Don’t stand so close.”

Shi Yao dodged, but the water still splashed onto his cheek.

Wiping the droplets away with his hand, he craned his neck near Alarieka’s face. “Seems you’re really in a bad mood, resorting to this after just a few words.”

Alarieka placed the bowls into the sink, slanting a glance at him. “Since you’re so free, wash these bowls for me.”

Shi Yao immediately rolled up his sleeves. “Of course. Consider it repayment for that bowl of sweet rice balls I had at your place.”

Alarieka rinsed her hands clean and stepped aside, making space. Shi Yao moved over, picking up the bowl with practiced ease to scrub it clean.

Arms crossed, Alarieka supervised from the side. At first, she focused on his movements, noticing his long, well-defined fingers. The knuckles held a pinkish-white hue that grew more pronounced—almost elegant—when submerged in water.

Alarieka stared at those hands, her gaze drifting into emptiness.

Shi Yao’s voice seemed to reach her from afar, muffled as if through thick walls: “You still deny it…”

Her mood tonight was indeed foul—truthfully, it had been sour all day.

On this very day in her past life, she’d been trapped inside the Argent’s villa, six months pregnant. Locked in her room, she’d secretly downloaded her National College Entrance Examination admission ticket online. To avoid suspicion, she’d stayed quiet and obedient all day, agreeing to everything, even retiring to bed early.

By 3 a.m., clutching her phone and cash, she’d slipped out of her room.

The entire villa was so quiet a pin drop would echo. Alarieka hunched low, even removing her shoes to tread soundlessly across the floor.

Her room was on the first floor—one among the servants’ quarters—not far from the main entrance.

Guided by her phone’s faint glow, she inched toward the door, slowly gripping the handle and pulling it down.

“Alarieka, where do you think you’re going?”

A bone-deep chill instantly seized her.

It was Wallace Argent’s voice—aged, stern, and icy.

Her hand fell limply from the handle.

The moment she heard Wallace’s voice, escape became impossible.

Yet defiance surged. She whirled back, supporting her waist as she knelt before Wallace, ignoring the servants’ cold stares. Tears and blood seemed to lace her desperate, broken pleas.

“Wallace, I beg you… I just want to take the exam. Nothing else. Please… just let me go, I’m begging you…”