Chapter 7
Lu Yanzhou suspected that was a dig at him.
But he wasn’t sure.
He glanced again at the little valet, who’d delivered the answer with a perfectly serious, expressionless face.
Anyone who saw this would think the boy was earnest, with a touch of dry humor.
In reality, though…
[Hahahahahahahaha Yanzhou, why aren’t you laughing hahahahaha is laughing just not your thing, Yanzhou hahahahahahahahaha]
Lu Yanzhou raised a hand and pressed his temple.
If he hadn’t been so curious, he would dearly have liked Shi Liaoliao to shut up, and to stop calling him by that ridiculous nickname.
His ringing phone interrupted his thoughts.
Shi Liaoliao noticed his expression darken for an instant when he saw the caller ID.
But he quickly regained his composure.
“Carry on.”
With that and a nod to her, Lu Yanzhou walked out, holding the persistently ringing phone.
Shi Liaoliao immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Wanwan hopped out, looking concerned. [Something seems a little off with the male lead.]
Lifting the cover from the metal bowl and poking the dough, Shi Liaoliao answered absently, [Then the heroine can feel sorry for him. What’s it got to do with us NPCs?]
Wanwan thought that was fair.
Sneaking a glance at Shi Liaoliao happily kneading her dough, it suddenly felt rather moved.
It had been a long time since it had seen a host this hard-hearted.
…
Leaning against the wall, Lu Yanzhou gazed silently down at the caller’s name for a moment before answering.
“Father.”
His tone was strictly business. If he hadn’t said “Father,” no listener would have guessed he was speaking to someone who shared such a close blood tie with him.
A deep, husky male voice came through the phone. “Once the holiday ends, I’ll have Shi Liaoliao go to the academy with you.”
“Those useless things planted in the back garden should have been gone long ago.”
“I don’t want to hear about that embarrassing hobby again.”
“That’s all. Goodbye.”
The call ended, returning the phone to its lock screen.
Daisy petals swayed in the wind, bathed in brilliant golden sunlight. The vitality in the image was so abundant it nearly spilled out of the screen.
Lu Yanzhou looked down at it. After a moment, his lips curved in mockery.
Something that had happened only a short while ago, and Lu Tingfeng already knew.
The first thing he’d said upon calling was an order, followed by criticism. Sometimes Lu Yanzhou couldn’t tell whether the man was his father or his boss.
“I’m not a child anymore, Lu Tingfeng.”
His refined face lay in shadow, his tea-brown eyes full of derision… along with weariness and numbness. As though the youthful energy proper to his age had drained out of this body, leaving only a pool of dead water.
…
Shi Liaoliao was shaping buns when the hamster crouching beside the chopping board suddenly dragged her phone over.
[Host, your little thing’s ringing~]
Shi Liaoliao’s first reaction was to look down at her crotch.
“That can’t be right. This model has no sound or vibration. Why would it ring?”
Wanwan: [………]
Realizing it meant her phone, Shi Liaoliao gave the hamster a reproachful look.
[Speak properly. No more cutesy baby talk.]
She grabbed a tissue to wipe her hands, then unlocked her phone.
She had very few contacts. Apart from her late butler grandfather, there was only one person in her address book.
Lu Tingfeng’s Secretary: You passed the previous exam.
Lu Tingfeng’s Secretary: From tomorrow, you’ll be entering Shengdon Academy as an honors student on a scholarship. Your admission letter will arrive tomorrow.
Lu Tingfeng’s Secretary: The master wants you to stay at the young master’s side. Whatever he does, report it.
Lu Tingfeng’s Secretary: Remember, without the Lu family, you’re nothing. If you don’t want to be thrown out, behave yourself and obey.
Wanwan craned its head to read beside her. By the end, it was indignant. [How can he talk like that?! So rude! Boo-hoo, the male lead is so pitiful.]
[Host! You mustn’t agree!]
Shi Liaoliao calmly scattered a little flour to keep the dough from sticking to her hands.
[Do you know the highest art of conversation?]
Wanwan humbly waited to be enlightened.
Shi Liaoliao curled her lips. [Answering a question no one asked.]
Wanwan’s eyes widened. [Oh?]
Right on cue, another message arrived.
Lu Tingfeng’s Secretary: Did anything happen today?
Shi Liaoliao: Yep, I shat my pants.
Wanwan: [………]
The secretary receiving the message at the other end: “Huh???”
After a brief pause, another warning arrived. Shi Liaoliao replied perfunctorily, then tossed the phone to Wanwan so it could carry on playing its match-three game.
[Weird. He’s testing me. Is there another spy around Lu Yanzhou?]
She hadn’t reported anything that had happened today. Otherwise, why would this person suddenly message her with a warning, as though he knew something had gone wrong here?
Wanwan waved its little paws. [Well, you haven’t spied on him, but the male lead doesn’t know that. Maybe that call just now was from Lu Tingfeng. The male lead might think you were the one who told on him.]
Shi Liaoliao didn’t know what Lu Yanzhou thought, but by the time her buns were ready, he still hadn’t reappeared.
Now that was normal, she thought.
…
When Shi Liaoliao’s parcel arrived the next day, she was still in the back garden. The servant who’d targeted her from the start signed for it on her behalf.
His name was Liu Ren. His grandfather was the gardener who’d worked here for years. Liu Ren had grown up on this estate. Everyone, himself included, had assumed the position of Lu Yanzhou’s personal valet would be his. Then Shi Liaoliao had appeared out of nowhere and ruined everything…
Looking at the thin parcel in his hand, Liu Ren sneered.
“Who’d write that little bastard Shi Liaoliao a letter? Don’t tell me he got some sweetheart outside pregnant, and now she’s after money.”
An idea struck him. Liu Ren found a small knife, slit open the cardboard packaging, and took out what was inside.
Then his gloating look froze into stupefaction at the sight of the envelope embossed in gold with the words ‘Shengdon Academy.’
Liu Ren’s first reaction was…
Tear it up!
“What are you doing?”
The cool, clear voice was unlike other men’s, resembling a boy’s voice that hadn’t broken yet. It was difficult to tell whether it was male or female.
Liu Ren hastily stuffed the letter inside his jacket, then turned.
Shi Liaoliao stood there in a crisply pressed suit, looking at him without expression.
While he was still wearing the Lu household’s standard servants’ uniform.
That suit should have been his!
Liu Ren thought darkly.
How could that sissy have been admitted to Shengdon Academy? He must have pulled some trick!
“What? Why aren’t you wiggling your ass for the young master? What’s it got to do with you what I do?”
Sneering, he headed inside, slamming his shoulder hard into Shi Liaoliao’s as he passed.
Shi Liaoliao turned after him and surveyed the surroundings. Once she’d confirmed that no one was around…
The instant Liu Ren stepped onto the stairs, she snatched up a wooden stick someone had left on the ground, strode over in a few steps, and smoothly crouched down.
With one thrust of her arm, she jabbed the stick straight up into Liu Ren’s butt crack!
Lu Yanzhou, who’d just come through the side door and happened to witness the whole thing: “…………”