The Perks of Being a Beauty

“Second Miss, if it were something significant, it wouldn’t be resolved in such a manner, would it?”

‘To be poked in the butt?’

‘Absolutely not!’

Thankfully, Bai Muya found such a notion utterly revolting. She merely rolled her eyes at Yu Lian and declared, “Beauties never need to use the restroom. Since you are a beauty, asking such a thing is simply speechless.”

“…”

Yu Lian wanted to protest that she hadn’t known this.

Yet, for the past five days, it was true that she hadn’t used the restroom much. Could this be a privilege inherent to her mermaid identity? Surely, it couldn’t all be bad without any benefits.

“Then I won’t ask.”

Bai Lingyi, now fully dressed, approached Yu Lian and whispered, “Miss Yu Lian, you can rest assured. If you truly need to go… you only need to squat down, and Second Miss will instantly sense it, then voluntarily undo it for you.”

She had just revealed the method to undo the hidden mark, which showed her genuine care for Yu Lian.

Yu Lian understood and felt a surge of gratitude. ‘Lingyi, she’s my ride or die.’

Bai Lingyi’s hushed words were perfectly audible to Bai Muya, who stood so close. However, she said nothing. She merely aimed to prevent any mischief or being ‘cuckolded,’ rather than restricting Yu Lian’s restroom usage.

After all…

Should the mark be touched by a stranger, she would sense it immediately. She would then rush over to catch the ‘adulterer.’ As for extended ‘play’ or similar matters, those were merely secondary concerns.

Bai Muya then left, stating she needed to rest for a while.

Only Yu Lian and Lingyi remained in the room.

Yu Lian touched her chest, sighing as she looked at the discarded underwear on the nearby bed. She had never imagined that, besides her lower body, her upper body had also fallen victim. This Second Miss truly left her no privacy at all.

Bai Lingyi sat beside Yu Lian, gently stroking her back, attempting to soothe her emotions.

Anyone would struggle to cope with such sudden treatment. Therefore, comfort was essential.

Yu Lian looked up and asked Lingyi, “Lingyi, Second Miss has always treated you this way. Don’t you ever get angry or resent her?”

“No,” Bai Lingyi shook her head.

“On the contrary, this is when Second Miss truly feels alive. Don’t you find her rather adorable like this?”

‘Adorable?’

‘Ah, yes, terrifyingly adorable.’

“Perhaps you’re just used to serving her. If it were me, serving her like this every day, I would have snapped long ago. It’s like… well, like you being watched while using the restroom. For such disrespectful behavior, I might just give her a slap to vent my frustration.”

“Shhh, don’t speak such nonsense in the future. If you must say it, don’t let Second Miss hear.” Bai Lingyi gently covered Yu Lian’s mouth.

Yu Lian pushed her hand away. “Lingyi, I’m not criticizing you, but don’t you ever try to fight for your personal freedom? Working yourself to death as a maidservant all day for her, don’t you find it exhausting?”

“Once you get used to it, it’s not tiring,” Bai Lingyi replied with a smile, shaking her head.

Yu Lian’s words clearly failed to sway her. After all, she had come to regard serving Second Miss as a normal, everyday occurrence. Not to mention, she harbored a hidden, distinct affection for Second Miss.

Seeing that she couldn’t persuade her, Yu Lian could only give up. She changed the subject. “By the way, Lingyi, are Second Miss’s abilities immortal arts? Second Miss must be an immortal, right? I never would have guessed she possessed such profound, hidden techniques.”

Among the three individuals she had met, all possessed inhuman abilities. Lingyi, of course, went without saying. Yixiya, not long ago, also clearly had something to allow her to move so swiftly. And Second Miss had just demonstrated her own.

Only she… had nothing, knew nothing, merely possessing the useless identity of a mermaid.

“Miss Yu Lian, how many times do I have to tell you? Possessing a few minor techniques doesn’t make one an immortal. Second Miss is not the immortal you speak of, nor am I, and Miss Yixiya isn’t either.”

“Then her abilities…”

Bai Lingyi touched Yu Lian’s lower abdomen through her clothes as she explained, “They are simply unusual abilities she was born with. Second Miss has no talent in cultivation. I can only tell you this much; I cannot reveal anything further.”

“Oh.”

‘Why so mysterious?’ Yu Lian wrinkled her small nose.

“Lingyi, does Second Miss truly never use the mark on you to… feel you?” Yu Lian felt a strange discomfort thinking about it, likely a pang of jealousy.

Bai Lingyi patted Yu Lian’s head. “No, it’s merely a symbol of subordination. I am her trusted housekeeper, and having a mark placed on me is quite normal. It’s proof that I am her private possession.”

“Private possession… are you her concubine too?”

A flicker of melancholy clearly crossed Bai Lingyi’s eyes, though Yu Lian didn’t notice it. She shook her head and replied, “I am not.”

“Then could it be her official wife?”

“Not that either.”

“Neither? Then why did she place a mark on you?”

“It’s simply a private possession; there’s no other meaning.”

“Is that so? Speaking of which, I haven’t inquired. Does Second Miss have an official wife? I’ve been living here for several days, and I haven’t seen her bring any other women to meet me or introduce them.”

Yu Lian felt a slight surge of happiness upon hearing that Lingyi was neither a concubine nor a wife. It seemed Lingyi only held the position of housekeeper, and Second Miss didn’t treat her specially.

“Official wife…” Bai Lingyi twirled a strand of hair at her chest.

“Do you wish to meet Second Miss’s official wife?”

After she asked this, a red wisp of energy floated above her head. Yu Lian watched the red mist, muttering inwardly, ‘What is this thing? Why has it appeared again?’

The red mist lasted only a brief moment before vanishing. Judging by Lingyi’s expression, there was no significant change.

Yu Lian shook her head. “Of course not! Think about it, if Second Miss brought her official wife here, wouldn’t I be severely suppressed and bullied by her?”

She had read about such incidents in books; the main wife would often torment concubines to assert her status and prove her position. Yu Lian had no desire to be a pawn or to be tormented.

Bai Lingyi’s expression brightened, and she finally couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. “With Second Miss around, such a situation would never occur. However, you are very fortunate. Second Miss currently has no wife. She only has you, her concubine. You are the first woman she has taken, and though called a concubine, your status is actually no different from that of a wife.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Was Yu Lian very happy? A little, but not overwhelmingly so. After all, without an official wife, she didn’t have to worry about being tormented, and her mood was undeniably lighter.

The two spoke for a while.

Seeing that Yu Lian had recovered from her low spirits concerning the mark, Bai Lingyi prepared to withdraw. Staying too long was never a good idea; wasn’t that how gossip started? This was Second Miss’s concubine, and she was the housekeeper. They shouldn’t be alone or too close.

However, the meal delivery arrived at that moment.

A maid knocked on the door, then entered with a procession of sumptuous breakfast dishes. After arranging the platters, they bowed to Yu Lian and Bai Lingyi before promptly bowing again and exiting the room.

“Lingyi, you haven’t had breakfast yet, have you?”

“How about we eat together?”

Observing Yu Lian’s joyful expression, Bai Lingyi felt a strange sensation for some reason—

‘Is Miss Yu Lian perhaps a little too affectionate towards me?’