Chapter 3: High Rank and Prestige
1468 Words
Ge Si-han was woken up by Usa the next morning. She resisted the urge to speak instinctively—she meant in Chinese—and said in a voice still hoarse from just waking up, “Usa.”
Usa smiled at her. “Good morning, Saengkea.”
Ge Si-han noticed that Usa seemed much more relaxed than the night before, and given the current circumstances, the reason for Usa’s relaxation was likely good news for her as well.
It was already Ge Si-han’s second day in this world. Her head wasn’t as foggy as before, but she still felt exhausted, weak all over, and quite miserable.
Following Usa’s instructions, she went to the bathroom to wash up and changed into the clothes Usa had picked out for her: a long, off-white, long-sleeved dress and a pale yellow knitted cardigan.
By the time she came out, Usa had already packed several outfits for her as luggage.
“Khun Lop is taking you to Bangkok.” Usa knew Ge Sihan couldn’t understand, but she still held her hand and spoke softly, hoping to ease her fear: “We’ll leave after you finish eating, Saengkea. You’ll get better.”
Ge Si-han heard the name of this body she was inhabiting. She realized the good news that had put Usa at ease must have something to do with her.
A doctor had come yesterday, and today Usa was helping her pack her bags—so it was likely she was being sent to a hospital for treatment.
As long as it wasn’t some kind of mental institution, Ge Si-han felt she could accept it.
…It shouldn’t be a mental institution, right?
Perhaps she shouldn’t think this way, but in that moment, Ge Si-han couldn’t help but feel a twinge of doubt: Was Usa so relaxed because she knew she was about to be rid of this major burden—her?
But that thought quickly vanished under Usa’s sincere gaze, and Ge Si-han felt ashamed of herself.
She obediently finished her breakfast and took her pills, then, led by Usa, stepped out of that room for the first time.
Beyond the tall, turquoise-green doors lay a luxurious, spacious corridor. Her own room—spacious yet minimalist—had merely suggested that this family was well-off, but the ornate decorations in the hallway and the portraits hanging on the walls made Ge Sihan realize anew just how wealthy this family truly was.
By the time Usa and Ge Sihan had walked a considerable distance to the main gate and saw the fountain at the entrance, Ge Sihan knew she had been wrong again… This family was far from merely wealthy.
She let out a sigh of relief.
Of course, there were bad people among the wealthy, but in her current state—where she knew nothing and could say nothing—being rich was better than being poor, wasn’t it?
At the very least, the likelihood of her being abandoned had decreased slightly.
Parked at the entrance was what Ge Si-han considered an old-fashioned vintage car. Standing beside it was the handsome, fair-skinned, tall, and slender young man she had seen the day before.
The driver got out of the car, took the luggage from Usa’s hands, and placed it in the trunk.
Usa pressed her palms together in a bow: “Thank you, Khun Lop.”
Ge Si-han watched Usa’s gesture and copied it exactly: “Thank you, Khun Lop.”
Adit glanced down at her, nodded, and returned their gesture with a prayer-like bow. He opened the back door of the car and motioned for Ge Si-han to get in.
Ge Si-han felt a bit uneasy. She looked at Usa, who squeezed her hand encouragingly.
Ge Si-han knew she had no choice but to go, so she settled into the back seat of the car with a heavy heart.
Adit said to Usa, “Go home.” With that, he climbed into the car.
Usa took two steps forward and said in a pleading tone, “Khun Lop, if Saengkea has done anything to offend you…”
Adit smiled faintly. He turned to look at the pale, visibly anxious little girl sitting beside him, then nodded reassuringly at Usa. “Usa, I’m glad to see you care so deeply for your family.”
He closed the door.
The driver started the car, and it gradually pulled away from the Golden Roof.
Adit didn’t finish his sentence, because he knew that if he did, Usa would become anxious again; after all, Usa was just a child herself.
If Usa were an adult, he would have said, “I’m glad to see you care so much about your family, but if you think I’m the kind of person who would fly into a rage at a poor, sick ten-year-old, aren’t you underestimating me a bit?”
But saying that out loud would be a bit ridiculous.
The driver drove in silence. In the backseat sat only Adit and Ge Sihan. Ge Sihan turned her head toward the window and began to look at the scenery along the way.
As she turned to look at the scenery, Adit would occasionally glance at her, observing what state she was in:
At the very least, she knew how to greet people and wasn’t throwing a tantrum for no reason—that’s good news, isn’t it?
Once the car had driven away from the buildings, the surroundings were nothing but trees and dirt roads on both sides. Ge Sihan realized that this mansion wasn’t located in the city center but must be in the suburbs.
After driving for about half an hour, they arrived at the train station, where the driver got out to help with the luggage.
Ge Si-han didn’t try to open the car door herself—since she was now a person who had lost her memory and knew nothing—but chose to follow Adit out after he opened the door and got out.
Adit had originally planned to walk around to the other side to open the door for Ge Si-han, but he didn’t expect her to follow right behind him. Yes, she didn’t understand anything and would need a lot of guidance and patience.
He held out his hand to Ge Si-han: “Saengkea, stay close to me.”
It was a fair, slender, broad, and strong hand.
Ge Si-han looked up into his eyes, and only after confirming that he truly meant well did she hesitantly place her hand gently in his.
The little girl’s hand was delicate, soft, and warm; Adit knew this was because she was still running a low fever.
He held her small hand with a light yet reassuring grip.
The driver accompanied them to Bangkok. As they walked toward the platform, the station master—who had been waiting there for some time—spotted Adit and hurried over to greet them: “Khun Adit, you’re here. I hope you have a safe journey.”
Adit nodded. “Thank you.”
Ge Si-han glanced at the middle-aged man in the white shirt and black slacks, then turned to look at Adit.
She wasn’t sure if she should say hello, or how to go about it.
Adit introduced them: “This is my sister, Saengkea. Saengkea, this is Khun Abpie.” He spoke these words calmly.
He had already seen Ge Si-han mimic others, so he knew she was capable of it.
Although the middle-aged man was clearly her senior, he was the first to greet Ge Si-han: “Hello, Khun Saengkea.”
Adit didn’t let go of Ge Si-han’s hand, so she knew she didn’t need to perform the wai. She nodded and said in a soft voice, “Hello, Khun Abpie.”
The stationmaster smiled as he led the three of them onto the train. After exchanging a few words with Khun Adit and making sure they were settled, he stepped off the train.
It was a green-and-white train. The carriages were clean, and the windows weren’t sealed shut—they could be opened. Just like in China, the seats were arranged in two rows facing each other, with a table in the middle.
Adit and Ge Si-han sat in one of the rows. The driver didn’t sit across from them but in the row behind them.
Ge Si-han understood: this was because the driver was a “servant.”
Then what about that Khun Abpie?
He’d escorted them onto the train—surely he must be a station employee? He wasn’t a servant, yet he’d been the one to greet Adit and attend to him; Adit hadn’t even asked her to bow to him…
Yes, Ge Sihan began to feel uneasy again, because she realized this family seemed to be more than just incredibly wealthy…
- Writer
