Chapter 2

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CHAPTER TWO

The morning sun filtered through the windows of the Li estate, casting a soft golden glow over the courtyard. Li Meilin sat at the vanity, staring at her reflection in the polished bronze mirror. The face staring back at her was beautiful, but it wasn’t hers. Not really. It belonged to Li Xinyue, the spoiled and feared daughter of Magistrate Li. The servants whispered about her temper, her sharp tongue, and her cruelty. Meilin had seen it in their eyes—the way they flinched when she spoke, the way they obey every single command she said, as if afraid of what she 

might do if they displeased her.

It made her stomach churn and feel guilty. 
A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. “Miss Li,” a soft voice called. It was Xiaoling, one of the younger maids who became her personal maid “Your breakfast is 

ready.”

Meilin sighed and stood, smoothing the folds of her red hanfu. She opened the door to find Xiaoling standing there, her head bowed and her hands trembling slightly as she held a tray of food. The sight made Meilin’s heart ache. This girl couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen, yet she looked as though she were facing a wild demon 

rather than her mistress.

“Thank you, Xiaoling,” Meilin said softly, taking the tray from her. The maid’s eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly stepped back, as if afraid she had done something 

wrong.

“Is… is everything to your liking, Miss Li?” Xiaoling asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Meilin look at her confused before quickly smiling widely 

and reassures her, "Of course!"

Xiaoling blinked, clearly unsure how to respond and slightly confused with her mistress' behavior. She bowed again and scurried away, leaving Meilin standing in the doorway with the tray in her hands. She sighed and set 

the tray down on a nearby table.

She couldn’t keep living like this. The servants were terrified of her, and she couldn’t blame them. The original Li Xinyue had been cruel, treating the staff as if they were beneath her. Well they are but Meilin wasn’t her. She couldn’t stand the thought of people being afraid of her.
As she ate her breakfast—a simple meal of congee and pickled vegetables—Meilin made a decision. She would start small. She would be kinder and gentler to the staff. Maybe, over time, the servants would see that she wasn’t 

the same person they had feared.

Later that morning, Meilin found herself in the kitchen, a place Li Xinyue would never venture. The servants froze when she entered, their eyes wide with fear and shock. The head cook, a stout woman with flour dusted on her hands, stepped forward, her expression wary.
“Miss Li,” the cook said, bowing deeply. “Is there something you need? We can bring it to your room—”
“No, no,” Meilin interrupted, forcing a smile. “I just wanted to see how things are done here. I’ve never been in the 

kitchen before.”

The servants exchanged uneasy glances, clearly unsure what to make of her sudden interest. Meilin ignored their discomfort and walked over to Xiaoling who was peeling vegetables. The girl stiffened as Meilin approached, her hands trembling and she quickly bowed in respect.
“Let me help,” Meilin said, reaching for a knife.
Xiaoling’s eyes widened in panic. “Miss Li, you shouldn’t—

this is servants’ work—”

“It’s fine,” Meilin said firmly but gently. She picked up a radish and began peeling it, her movements clumsy but determined. The servants watched in stunned silence, too 

shocked to protest.

As the morning wore on, Meilin helped with small tasks—chopping vegetables, stirring pots, even sweeping the floor. The servants slowly began to relax, though they still kept their distance. Xiaoling, in particular, seemed to warm up to her, offering hesitant smiles and quiet words 

of thanks.

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A few days later, Meilin found herself in the courtyard, watching as a group of maids struggled to wash piles of laundry by hand. Their hands were red and raw from the cold water, and their shoulders slumped under the weight of their labor. Meilin shook at the sight and 

massaged her shoulder as if she could feel it. 

She had been trying to be kinder to the servants, but it wasn’t enough. She needed to do more—something that would truly make their lives easier. As she watched the maids scrub the fabrics, an idea began to form in her mind. What if she could create a device to help them? Something that would reduce their workload and make 

the process faster and less tiring.

Meilin hurried to her room, her mind racing with plans. She grabbed a piece of parchment and began sketching, her hands moving quickly as she sketched her design. It was a simple wooden washing machine—a barrel-like structure with a crank and a mechanism that would rotate the water when a rope was pulled. It wasn’t 

perfect, but it was a start.

Meilin spent the next few days in the estate’s workshop, a small, dusty room filled with tools and scraps of wood. The servants were hesitant to help her at first, unsure of what she was trying to do. But Meilin was determined. She worked tirelessly, her hands covered in splinters and 

her robes stained with sawdust.

At one point, she needed more water to test her invention. She was so absorbed in her work that she didn’t notice the tall figure standing in the doorway. Without looking up, she called out, “Could you bring me a 

bucket of water, please? Quickly!”

The figure hesitated for a moment, then nodded and disappeared. A short while later, he returned with a bucket of water, setting it down beside her. Meilin barely glanced at him, muttering a quick “Thank you” before 

returning to her work.

It wasn’t until much later that she realized something was off. The man who had brought the water wasn’t dressed like a servant. His robes were simple but elegant, and there was an air of quiet authority about him. But 

whatever she doesn't care.

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Wei Changying had been exploring the estate when he stumbled upon the workshop. He had heard the sound of hammering and sawing and had been drawn to the noise. When he saw Li Xinyue—rumored to be spoiled and cruel—working diligently on some strange contraption, he was 

intrigued.

When she had mistaken him for a servant and asked him to fetch water, he had been too curious to correct her. He wanted to see what she was working on. 

A few hours later, Meilin gathered the servants in the courtyard to demonstrate her invention. The wooden washing machine stood in the center, its simple design belying its potential. The maids watched with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism as Meilin explained how it worked.

“You just pull this rope,” she said, demonstrating, “and the barrel will rotate, agitating the water and cleaning the clothes. It should make your work much easier.”

The maids exchanged uncertain glances, but Xiaoling stepped forward, her eyes shining with hope. “Can I try, 

Miss Li?”

Meilin nodded, handing her the rope. Xiaoling pulled it tentatively, and the barrel began to rotate. The maids gasped as they saw the water churn, the fabrics inside 

swirling and tumbling. It worked.

“This is amazing!” Xiaoling exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy. The other maids crowded around, eager to try it 

for themselves.

Meilin smiled, a warm feeling spreading through her chest. For the first time since she had transmigrated into this world, she felt like she was making a difference.
Unbeknownst to Meilin, Wei Changying had been watching the entire scene from a distance. He had followed her to the courtyard, curious to see what she would do with her invention. As he watched the maids’ faces light up with joy and gratitude, he felt a strange 

sense of admiration.

This was not the Li Xinyue he had heard about. This was someone entirely different—someone kind, inventive, and selfless. But of course, some rumours are fake and some turned out to be real. Wei Changying’s curiosity deepened, and he found himself wanting to know more 

about her. 

But as he stepped forward to speak to her, Meilin turned and walked away, her mind already racing with new ideas. Wei Changying watched her go, a small smile 

tugging at his lips. 

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