"You are called Charles, and you are from Songjiang? How is it that you don't even have a single academic title?" The woman's voice was very hoarse, and this question clearly showed some dissatisfaction with Charles Harper. At the very least, anyone coming here should be a tongsheng; although there are no juren, there are still quite a few xiucai. In comparison, Charles Harper's disadvantage was obvious.

If it were someone else, after being questioned by this woman, they would have been at a loss for words. But Charles Harper answered calmly, "Miss, you may not know, but my family used to be well-off, so although I studied, I never had the intention to pursue academic titles. But now..." He forced a bitter smile, leaving the rest for the woman to guess on purpose.

The woman's expression was blank; she seemed neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with this answer. However, with Charles Harper calling her "Miss" again and again, at first it didn't feel like much, but after hearing it several times, it actually sounded quite pleasant to her ears. Her expression softened a little, and she was just about to pose a question.

But Charles Harper suddenly said, "Miss, this bracelet of yours is clearly very valuable, and the style is beautiful. When my family was still well-off, I once accompanied my father to visit the prefect of Songjiang, and the prefect's wife also wore such a bracelet."

Charles Harper had long noticed that this woman would unconsciously touch the jade bracelet on her wrist, and he had already guessed in his heart that this bracelet must be one of her most cherished possessions.

A so-called master of romance is best at moving a woman's heart. And to move a woman's heart is much like what a physician does: observe, listen, question, and feel the pulse. Observation means watching, using your eyes to observe a woman's expressions and actions. For example, when this woman saw him arrive, although she appeared unmoved on the surface, her body instinctively shrank back a little. This showed that she had a natural aversion to men, but deep down, there might also be a certain longing. This is a common reaction among maidens secluded in their boudoirs. Therefore, Charles Harper concluded that although she was not young, she was still unmarried.

Then, when he called her "Miss," her eyes remained sharp, but deep within them, a trace of indignation seemed to flash by. Charles Harper surmised that although this woman was still a "Miss," she did not want others to see through this identity. After all, she was not young and still unmarried, which was something she was ashamed to mention.

But after being called "Miss" several times, she gradually got used to it, which reflected a complex mindset. She was a proud woman; she disliked being seen through, but deep down, she was also faintly proud of still being single.

It might seem that there was a contradiction between these two things, but such matters are common. It's like a man who has many women around him—he feels proud in front of his peers, but in front of elders or certain people at home, he feels ashamed.

Of course, more importantly, whenever this woman felt uncomfortable or had an emotional fluctuation, she couldn't help but touch that jade bracelet. Charles Harper could be certain that this bracelet meant a great deal to her.

So, just as Charles Harper expected, a gentle smile indeed flashed in the woman's eyes.

That's human nature: when something you cherish is "accidentally" noticed by someone else, and they show interest in it, no matter who you are, it will make you happy.

The woman said proudly, "This was given to me by Madam."

Every cherished item is loved because someone has imbued it with a certain emotion. Even a worthless pendant, if it has special meaning, can be treasured as if it were a priceless gem.

Charles Harper quickly realized that this woman must have deep feelings for the Madam she spoke of, and that she was certainly the most trusted confidante of the Lu family Madam, who was in charge of selecting and instructing the staff.

Charles Harper immediately showed a bit of envy and said, "Such a precious jade bracelet, and Madam was willing to give it to you, Miss. It seems Madam not only trusts you greatly, but also has deep affection for you. What a wonderful Madam—if it were any other household, the Madam would never be so generous."

The woman's eyes lit up, especially when Charles Harper "sincerely" praised Madam Lu. She quickly said, "Yes, our Madam is not only kind but also has a very good heart."

The relationship between the two seemed to become much closer all of a sudden. The woman, who had just been so stingy with her words and sharp-faced, now seemed in the mood to chat, and she went on and on about how Madam treated her servants. Charles Harper could only listen patiently.

After listening for a while, Charles Harper couldn't help but say, "May I ask your name, Miss?"

The woman replied, "My name is April, you can call me Sister April."

"Sister April..." Charles Harper smiled, quickly seizing the opportunity, then shook his head in regret.

Seeing Charles Harper looking regretful, April couldn't help but ask, "Why do you sigh, sir?"

When Charles Harper first came in, April was not so polite to him, but now, her tone had softened a lot, and even the coldness on her face had completely disappeared.

Charles Harper sighed, "Now I understand why Sister April is still unmarried. I suppose it's because Sister April can't bear to leave Madam. If it were me, if I met such a good Madam, I wouldn't want to marry out either."