Chapter Five: Investment.

Watching the female approaching, Lu Xia sifted through the original owner’s memories to identify her—Duchess Lanya, a frequent companion of the original owner. Since they were similar in age and shared a mischievous streak, they often engaged in trouble together.

Lu Xia looked at her as she came closer and said, “You’ve come at just the right time. I’m planning to restart the Number One Courtyard Research Institute, but funds are tight. How about you invest some?”

She spoke plainly and naturally, as if she weren’t asking for money but commenting on the fine weather.

Duchess Lanya’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you out of your mind? You’re making money just by staying out of trouble. Don’t mess things up!”

Clearly, even Lanya, who was a close partner in crime, didn’t trust Lu Xia’s business acumen.

Lu Xia knew this was a leftover problem from the original owner.

“This time, you can invest with peace of mind. When we make a profit, I’ll distribute the earnings according to the investment ratio,” she said seriously, not joking.

Lanya stared at her for a long moment. “Wait, are you serious? What’s gotten into you?”

It was truly unexpected for her playmate to suddenly become so ambitious.

“I just don’t want to drift anymore. I want to do something meaningful. So, what do you think? Interested in joining me?” Lu Xia smiled invitingly.

Duchess Lanya came from a wealthy family. From the original owner’s memories, Lu Xia knew that rather than letting her waste money on reckless escapades or bullying men, it was better to have her invest in something worthwhile.

“How much do you need?” Lanya was tempted by Lu Xia’s earnestness but worried about losing money. After all these years together, she knew Lu Xia better than anyone.

“Start with five million. If it’s not enough, we’ll talk again.” Lu Xia said “five million” as casually as if it were five dollars.

“That much?” Lanya was stunned. She had expected maybe one or two million, not five million upfront—and that implied it might not even be sufficient. “What exactly are you planning? Are you sure you won’t lose money?”

“Any business has risks. I can’t guarantee it’ll never fail, but I promise this time I’m serious.”

Hearing this, Duchess Lanya wavered again. “Alright, I’ll prepare it and transfer it to you. But what exactly are you doing?”

The research institutes under the ducal family were once profitable, but after the previous duke’s death and Lu Xia’s takeover, they had nearly collapsed. Now, with Lu Xia determined to revive them, Lanya felt uneasy but couldn’t help wondering—what if Lu Xia succeeded? Then she would profit as well.

“You don’t need to know the details yet. It’s definitely a profitable venture. Hurry up—I can only wait two days. If I can’t raise the money by then, I’ll find another way.” Lu Xia’s tone was nonchalant, as if it didn’t have to be Lanya’s money, which made Lanya feel the pressure of possibly missing out on a rare opportunity. She nodded in agreement. “Okay, got it. I’ll get started right away.”

Watching Lanya leave in a hurry, Lu Xia thought the initial five million should be sufficient.

Unexpectedly, today’s visit brought an unexpected gain.

The head gardener’s workers were impressively efficient. By the time Lu Xia left, the garden cleanup was complete, and barring any unforeseen issues, pruning and replanting could begin tomorrow.

Compared to restoring the garden, hiring specialized researchers was far more complicated. Still, Lu Xia was not very worried—if the salary and benefits were attractive, she believed people would come. As the saying goes, money can make even the impossible happen. No matter where you are, there will always be those who succumb to reality.

So her reputation—good or bad—was hardly an issue.

After returning from the Number One Courtyard, Lu Xia felt unusually weak. She hadn’t done much, just walked a few steps, but the original owner’s physical condition was truly fragile. Clearly, some exercise was necessary.

Rubbing her sore shoulders, she returned to her room and planned to take a hot bath to relax, but unexpectedly, she fell asleep in the tub.

When she woke, she saw Grace kneeling beside the bathtub, and for a moment, it felt like a flashback to the previous night, startling her. “What are you doing here?”

Moving caused her to notice the bathwater had grown cold. Had she really slept that long?

Grace held a towel in her hands, obviously prepared for her. “I just came back. The butler said you hadn’t come down for dinner and was worried, so he asked me to check on you. I only wanted to help you out. You’ve been in the water too long—it’s cold, and you might catch a cold.”

Lu Xia reached out to take the towel. “Thanks. You can leave now—I’ll manage on my own.”

Grace stood up. “If you need me, just call. I’ll be outside.”

Lu Xia nodded. As Grace turned to leave, she couldn’t help but say, “Don’t kneel so casually from now on. I don’t like it.”

She truly couldn’t stand that behavior. It made her feel like a slave owner.

Grace’s back stiffened as he walked away, clearly not expecting her to say that. Without turning back, he simply replied, “Understood.”

It was no illusion. The more time Grace spent with Lu Xia, the more he sensed something different from the rumors.

Many females were skilled actors—outwardly approachable, but privately devilish. Grace had encountered plenty like that.

But Lu Xia was the opposite. Despite the poor reputation she had in public, she was entirely different in private.

Grace couldn’t understand why Lu Xia would maintain such a facade if she wasn’t the person the rumors described. Was there some hidden reason behind it?

Though he wondered, Grace dared not be careless. Being deceived was one thing; giving your heart and being betrayed was far worse.

Soon, Lu Xia dressed and left the bathroom. The nap had eased some of her fatigue, but her appetite remained poor.

Still, Grace’s behavior at dinner was acceptable—he didn’t hover awkwardly by her side, but sat quietly with her, saving her from having to argue.

Yet after dinner, Grace lingered close by as if he had nothing else to do. He remained silent and still, but the feeling of someone constantly shadowing her was unsettling.

Finally, Lu Xia turned to him. “Don’t you have anything else to do?”

Grace was momentarily taken aback, as if he hadn’t expected the question. After a brief pause, he answered, “Don’t you need my service?”

As the lowest-ranking servant in the household, all his actions were to prioritize his mistress. Her needs always came first. No matter his status outside, once home, he had to be ready to appear at a moment’s notice whenever Lu Xia required him.