Ning Wei and the others retreated to the sofa, not out of laziness, but because they had hidden the silver dinner knives they had secretly taken during the day.
These were the tools for their survival tonight, and they certainly wouldn't let Sheng Kaiwei's group get their hands on them.
Previously, Wu Qing would leave the room when guests were dining, so Ning Wei and her group had no trouble stealing cutlery.
Sheng Kaiwei and his companions had planned to do the same that night, but Wu Qing had instead hidden in the shadows.
Just as the maids began to clear the table, Sheng Kaiwei signaled to one of the girls, indicating that she should try to take one discreetly.
However, Wu Qing's eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness, and the girl dared not proceed.
But Sheng Kaiwei's gaze was fierce, leaving her no room to refuse.
She was seated at the front of the table, where the maids began their clearing.
She had to be the first, so others would know if they could try to steal something.
Ning Wei and her group watched the unspoken communication among Sheng Kaiwei's group. Zhu Yulian, in particular, was contemptuous. Sheng Kaiwei, who called himself their leader, was risking a girl's safety first when danger was present.
Sheng Kaiwei's face darkened as he felt their eyes on him.
Seeing the maids begin to move, he issued a silent warning to the girl: "Hurry up if you don't want to die!"
The girl finally made her decision, her trembling hand reaching for the dinner knife. She intended to slip it into her sleeve to conceal it.
However, halfway through, cold sweat broke out on her back, and the others kept glancing at her nervously.
Suddenly, a bony hand landed on the girl's shoulder. She instinctively screamed.
The hand's grip was too tight, and the sharp dinner knife sliced through her arm. Blood seeped through the thin fabric of her clothes, staining the milky white tablecloth beneath her arm.
"Guest, what are you doing?" Wu Qing's chilling voice sounded near the girl's ear.
She shivered and explained, "Just playing around, feeling bored."
Wu Qing's eyes saw through her. A cold smile touched her lips as she addressed the group, "Please, guests, conduct yourselves with decorum. Stealing items from the castle has severe consequences."
Well, with one person bleeding as a warning, everyone had learned another rule.
However, this rule had a loophole. As long as these petty actions were not done under Wu Qing's watchful eye, there would be no threat to life. Ning Wei had already tested this.
Wu Qing's warning left the girl trembling uncontrollably. Fear of having narrowly escaped death was etched on her face.
Wu Qing's hand remained on her shoulder. Feeling the slight tremor beneath her palm, Wu Qing was deeply satisfied.
This was the proper attitude guests should have towards her, the housekeeper. Unlike some people who not only weren't afraid of her but also made various demands. And more disturbingly, Wu Qing felt a sense of being brainwashed.
What she had lost with Ning Wei, she was now regaining from the other guests.
It was a pity for the girl. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breathing grew rapid.
No one spoke up for her, not even when she looked to each of her teammates with a plea for help in her eyes.
The girl despaired.
Just then, Ning Wei intervened.
Ning Wei sat with her legs crossed on the sofa, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hands. She casually said to Wu Qing, "Guests should not engage in combat. Is this rule also applicable to the housekeeper?"
"What do you mean?" Wu Qing asked, confused.
Ning Wei smiled. "If you don't remove your delicate hands soon, I'm afraid you'll scare a distinguished guest to death before the werewolf even appears."
She used the rules to test Wu Qing. Wu Qing glanced at the guest beneath her hand. Indeed, her face was pale, and the color had drained from her lips.
If a guest were to die from fright due to her personal actions, the rules would surely not let her off.
However, Wu Qing hadn't expected Ning Wei to be so kind as to remind her.
It must be said, Wu Qing was incredibly gullible. Though she was ugly, she was innocent.
She quietly moved her hand away. Being cold-blooded, she wouldn't thank Ning Wei publicly, but she could secretly offer Ning Wei special treatment.
Ning Wei hadn't expected that she had simply felt pity for the frightened girl and spoken up to save her, only to receive an unexpected bonus.
But these were matters for later, not to be discussed now.
After Wu Qing's reminder, she retreated back into the dark corner.
The maids continued their work as if nothing had happened, tidying the table with due diligence.
The maids showed no reaction even when their hands touched the napkin stained with blood.
They moved like soulless dolls, numbly carrying out their duties.
Sheng Kaiwei's plan to steal cutlery had failed, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he was hatching another scheme.
As for the girl whose arm had been cut by the dinner knife, she remained seated at the table, staring blankly. Her head was bowed, and her trembling body slowly began to stabilize.
Hidden by her long hair, no one saw the resentment in her eyes.
"A guest is injured. Could you bring us bandages and antiseptic?" Bai Yang dared to ask a maid.
However, she didn't hold out much hope, even though Wu Qing had said the maids could fulfill all guest requests.
"Please wait." The maid replied.
Bai Yang was somewhat surprised, then went to the girl's side, comforting her.
The maid quickly returned with a first-aid kit. Bai Yang, Qi Qi, and Qing Qing helped her tend to the wound.
Throughout this process, Sheng Kaiwei and his followers remained silent, not even lifting their heads.
Indeed, in critical moments, it was the girls who helped other girls.
After this minor incident, everyone fell silent again, quietly awaiting the arrival of the werewolf.
Qing Qing was currently suspected of being the ghost. Ning Wei had also observed her secretly; she appeared to be a perfectly normal girl.
Somewhat timid, she had remained silent throughout and seemed to have a very low presence.
Sheng Kaiwei's group, perhaps busy with something during the day, began yawning one after another after dinner.
Since the sofa was occupied by Ning Wei's group, and the time for open confrontation had not yet arrived, Sheng Kaiwei had to resort to napping on the dining table.
People like them had slept in all sorts of places on the streets; they were highly adaptable.
Soon, snoring could be heard from the dining table.
However, they had agreed to take turns resting, fearing that no one would wake them when the time came, leaving them vulnerable to the werewolf.
This small detail indicated that this group was only superficially united.
Or perhaps their cooperation was based on shared interests.
If an unexpected event were to disrupt their balance, what a spectacular scene might unfold.