Li Miao was woken up by the aroma of food.
He threw off the covers, sat on the edge of the bed, and took a moment to fully wake up.
When Li Miao yawned and walked out of the bedroom, the food was already set on the table.
Shen Yu was busy with something in the kitchen. By the time he came out, Li Miao had already sat in his usual seat, picked up his chopsticks, and was poking at the rice in his bowl.
Shen Yu: …
If he could do it all over again, he would rather have died in that alley than let Li Miao save him!
He took a deep breath, turned back into the kitchen, and grabbed a new set of bowls and chopsticks.
“Your blanket is too rough.” The moment Shen Yu sat down, Li Miao spoke, his tone as entitled as ever.
A pure cotton duvet cover, and he still found it rough?
Wait, how did he get sidetracked by Li Miao! Shen Yu frowned. This was Shen Yu’s home!
Forget about sleeping in his bed, now he was being picky too. Did he really think this was his own house?
“We poor people can only afford this kind of stuff.” Shen Yu’s words were laced with sarcasm.
“It’s fine, I’ll just bring my own favorite set next time I come,” Li Miao said matter-of-factly. “The food is pretty good.”
Next time?
“I didn’t make any for you,” Shen Yu said, annoyed.
“Really?” Li Miao set down his chopsticks and glanced meaningfully at the food in Shen Yu’s bowl. “This is the first I’m hearing that A-Yu likes cooking for two at once.”
Shen Yu gripped his chopsticks tightly, speaking word by word, “Don’t call me A-Yu!”
Seeing that Shen Yu was about to get truly riled up, Li Miao knew when to quit. He stood up with a smile. “I’m leaving.”
Just as Shen Yu started to relax, Li Miao turned back at the door. “Oh, right. I want sweet and sour spare ribs next time.”
Listening to the door slam shut behind him, Shen Yu threw down his chopsticks in exasperation.
His gloomy brows now held nothing but fury.
What sin did he commit in his previous life to owe Li Miao a life in this one?
One day, he was going to make Li Miao’s life a living hell!!!
Li Miao strolled back to the villa.
When the butler saw Li Miao, he instinctively reached for the phone on the table.
“Hold on.” Li Miao shot him a casual glance, and the butler’s hand froze mid-air before drawing back.
“What is it, Second Young Master?”
“Calling the old mansion?” Li Miao asked knowingly.
The butler hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. The Master said to notify him when you returned.”
Li Miao let out a soft laugh and stepped forward. “Are you Li Shun’an’s man, or mine?”
Meeting Li Miao’s sharp gaze, the butler froze, about to answer, when Li Miao waved a hand dismissively. “Go get Li Qi and Li Jiu.”
By the time Li Qi and Li Jiu arrived, Li Miao was already seated on the single sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window in the villa.
Legs crossed, arms resting loosely on the armrests, fingers propping up his head like he had no bones.
Sunlight spilled over Li Miao, but it couldn’t penetrate the chill in his bones.
“Everyone’s here?” Li Miao heard the footsteps behind him.
“Yes.” The butler stood before Li Miao, bowing slightly.
“How long have you all been with the Li family?” Li Miao’s gaze swept over the three of them.
“Twenty years,” the butler answered first.
“Eight years,” Li Qi said.
“Five years,” Li Jiu followed.
Li Miao nodded. “And then… how long have you been with me?”
The butler seemed to realize something. He hesitated. “I’ve been with you since you moved here, Second Young Master. It’s been ten years now.”
Ten years.
Li Miao curled his lips in a cold smile. The original self was how old now, yet he had already lived independently for ten years.
“Li Jiu and I were both sent here five years ago,” Li Qi answered quickly, his brows furrowing slightly.
Only Li Jiu, the big goof, still hadn’t figured out the situation.
“Ten years… five years…” Li Miao repeated softly, then looked out the window and murmured, “So… are you Li Shun’an’s men, or mine?”
The day had finally come. The butler’s heart sank.
To be honest, he had considered this question before. If he had been asked when he was first assigned to the Second Young Master, he would have chosen Li Shun’an without hesitation.
But ten years was ten years.
The human heart was made of flesh. He had watched Li Miao grow day by day, like a willow sprout, slowly shedding his childishness until now, when his quiet authority already bore some resemblance to the Master’s.
Even if Li Miao was arrogant and overbearing, the butler knew that Li Miao’s heart was kind.
He just occasionally splurged on little trinkets or made a public show of chasing someone.
He was just a kid. It was understandable.
The butler didn’t hesitate long. He smiled. “These old bones of mine still want to retire by the Second Young Master’s side. Don’t send me back to the old mansion, Second Young Master.”
Seeing the butler state his position, Li Qi weighed the pros and cons, tugged his simple-minded brother, and bowed. “Second Young Master, we both will always be your men.”
Even if they went back to the old mansion now, the Master already had trusted people around him. It was better to stay here and take a gamble.
At least the Second Young Master hadn’t been acting foolish lately… homework aside.
Li Miao nodded. “Think it over carefully. I’ll give you one last chance to back out.”
“I don’t tolerate disloyalty. If I ever find out you’ve betrayed me… I will make you regret your decision for the rest of your lives.”
“We won’t regret it.” Li Qi shook his head, then tugged his brother. Li Jiu shook his head as well.
The butler also smiled and shook his head. “No regrets.”
“Good.” Li Miao stood up and headed upstairs. “Oh, right. What did Li Shun’an want you to do before?”
The butler smiled. “Look at me. Age is catching up, my memory’s failing. I’ve forgotten. But I figure… it can’t have been anything important.”
Li Miao smiled in satisfaction.
『Awesome.』 Li Miao returned to his room, and the system popped out again. 『You sure know how to win people over step by step.』
Li Miao gave a soft laugh, opened his computer, and began his next plan… finding a reliable investment partner.
After all, he was still a student. Doing everything himself was inconvenient… well, mainly because he was lazy. Better to let others handle it.
According to the plot, he would be kicked out of the family in three years. Plus, there was a major villain lurking, hell-bent on taking his life. He had to plan ahead.
The system chimed in too. 『This guy’s good! Twenty years of investment experience!』
Li Miao glanced at the screen. 『Too old.』
『This one looks solid too! Such a high return rate!』
Li Miao flipped to the next page. 『Too ugly.』
He went through the whole list and not a single one caught his eye.
The system was at a loss. 『Are you hiring an employee or looking for a partner?』
Li Miao ignored it.
The truth was, their investment philosophies didn’t align. If they couldn’t even see eye to eye on that, disagreements would pop up down the line.
But he couldn’t be bothered to explain that to a mindless non-human creature.