Old Master Liang was still speaking from the head seat, essentially explaining that he was going to hand over the responsibility of the foundation to a distant branch relative whom Xiao She didn’t recognize. This relative was none other than the young man sitting at the table who had repeatedly targeted Xiao She earlier.
Normally, for a task that brought both fame and fortune, families would assign it to the primary heir. It was hard to say what Old Master Liang was thinking, but it seemed Liang Mu didn’t have as good a life in the Liang family as everyone had imagined.
Xiao She nonchalantly shifted his gaze away and said to the system in his mind, “Change the task target.”
System: 【Change successful. The task is: Speak rudely to Xiao She.】
Xiao She said without hesitation, “Add a new action: Make me leave.”
System: 【Adding now. Checking permissions… Addition is delayed, please wait.】
Xiao She frowned deeply: “No waiting.”
System: 【…Must wait. Modifying.】
Xiao She didn’t wait; if he waited any longer, Liang Mu would take action!
He turned his head and said imperiously to Liang Mu, “Pick up some food for me.”
Still pondering how to complete the task, Liang Mu paused: “…What?”
Old Master Liang, who was in the middle of speaking, was also stunned. The entire table turned around to stare at Xiao She. The young man said discontentedly, “Second Brother, what’s up with this person you brought along? Did you bring him back on purpose just to cause a scene?”
Liang Mu: “Ah.”
The young man continued, “Look at him, just now, when Grandpa said he was going to hand the foundation over to me, his expression turned as ugly as could be. Cousin, could he be a plant you hired just because you couldn’t bear to lose face?”
A middle-aged woman piped up, “How can you think of your Second Brother like that?”
“You’re not much better either! Just because Grandpa hasn’t finished speaking, does that mean the foundation won’t belong to me?” The young man pointed at the chubby boy sitting next to the woman. “When he interrupted just now, you grinned like a giant blooming morning glory. Did you really think that if it didn’t go to me, it would go to your son or husband? Too naive! If you don’t believe me, ask this Xiao guy and see if he agrees!”
Xiao She was practically applauding in his heart. He was precisely lacking a friend like this who could throw the whole place into chaos.
Hearing this, Liang Mu also turned his head to look at Xiao She.
“What are you looking at? Do you have to listen to every single thing everyone says? Aren’t you busy as hell?” Xiao She shoved his bowl toward Liang Mu, pretending to be impatient: “I want to eat.”
He showed no regard for the setting whatsoever. Old Master Liang, sitting at the head seat, grew dark-faced as well, slowly standing up with the help of his walking cane.
Xiao watched the varied expressions of everyone present with utter satisfaction. Once he acted out of line one more time, Old Master Liang would become genuinely enraged. Then, Liang Mu could take advantage of the moment to reprimand him and kick him out, completing the task perfectly.
Plan accomplished.
Just as Xiao She was admiring his own genius in his mind, the system’s voice abruptly echoed in his head:
【System delayed… Inputting action… ‘Pick up food for me’ action successfully added.】
Xiao She: “…”
“What successfully added?!”
Xiao She’s pupils dilated in shock: “System, repeat that for me?!”
The little glowing ball zipped away and hid right behind Old Master Liang, who was currently standing up. Meanwhile, Liang Mu received the new task a beat late, his movement of setting down his bowl pausing mid-air.
He gave Xiao She an indescribable look. He had originally thought this guy wanted him to go against his grandfather on his behalf, but now he was supposed to come out of the closet right in front of his grandfather?
Meeting his gaze, Xiao She felt a sudden pang of guilt and pulled his hands, holding the bowl, slightly back.
Liang Mu caught sight of the food inside Xiao She’s bowl and suddenly understood.
First, he picked up a piece of lettuce, the food Xiao She hated the most, and placed it into Xiao She’s bowl. Then, while everyone at the table was still dazed and out of the loop…
Liang Mu uttered his rude words: “Always being a picky eater!”
Xiao She: “…Me?”
“Don’t bother making excuses!”
“Can’t you stop acting up like this? Every single time you’re so picky about this and that, demanding that I pick up food for you regardless of the occasion.”
“Don’t you have your own chopsticks!”
【Ding! Task completed.】
Liang Mu naturally brought his tirade to a close.
Xiao She: “?”
No… that’s not what ‘speaking rudely’ was supposed to mean, hey!
Old Master Liang, who was halfway out of his seat, sat back down. Sharp glimmers shot from his clouded eyes: “Xiao She, are you standing up for Liang Mu?”
Xiao She: “Umm… how could I?” He forced a smile and said, “I just had a sudden moment of being needy, wanting Liang Mu to pay a little attention to me as his friend.”
The old master chuckled knowingly, “It’s a good thing for young people to be close, but one must know moderation.”
Xiao, she knew full well how little weight the original body carried at this dinner table. He cleared his throat lightly: “I understand.”
The meal ended quickly, and the topic of the foundation was never brought up again. After putting down his chopsticks, Old Master Liang tapped his cane again: “Xiao Mu, come with me.”
Liang Mu stood up at the call. Noticing Xiao She’s gaze floating uncontrollably toward the head seat again, he paused, leaned down, and asked in a low voice, “What on earth are you looking at?”
Xiao said, “Look at the floor.”
Liang Mu followed his gaze and spotted a coin-sized circular reflection on the floor. He said speechlessly, “You’ve been staring at this?”
“That was poked out by your grandfather’s cane,” Xiao She said hesitantly. “Your family really needs to replace the flooring.”
Liang Mu’s expression grew complex.
Liang Mu slowed his steps to follow Old Master Liang. By the time they reached the outer hall, Old Master Liang was already standing in the hallway with his hands behind his back, waiting for him for a moment, the expression on his side profile majestic and solemn.
It was still drizzling outside the hallway, and as soon as Liang Mu stepped closer, the wind splashed a face full of raindrops onto him.
He looked at Old Master Liang’s seemingly deep and reliable back, silently wiped his face, grabbed an umbrella from the doorway, and held it over both of their heads.
“Grandpa, what did you call me out here for?”
“What do you think?” Before Old Master Liang even turned his body around, his hand gripped the head of the cane and tapped it against the ground first.
Hearing that sound, Liang Mu couldn’t control himself from glancing downward.
No, Xiao, her words were way too corrupting…
Noticing Liang Mu’s struggling gaze, Old Master Liang asked in a deep voice, “What are you looking at?”
Liang Mu immediately retracted his gaze: “Nothing.”
A waiter carrying a fruit platter walked past them. Liang Mu reached out to stop him and whispered a few instructions into the waiter’s ear. Old Master Liang watched him with an increasingly profound gaze. When Liang Mu turned back around, the old man spoke sternly, “Liang Mu.”
Liang Mu turned around, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, “Grandpa, what’s wrong?”
“What on earth is going on between you and that Xiao She?”
Liang Mu frowned: “Grandpa, I made it very clear on the phone. I brought a friend back…”
“Friend!” Old Master Liang slammed his cane down heavily. “Ask yourself, honestly, is he just a friend?”
Liang Mu pulled up the system screen and waved it in front of Old Master Liang. Confirming that he had no reaction whatsoever, Liang Mu felt reassured: “…Yes, he is.”
“Are you still trying to hide it from me?!” Old Master Liang snapped.
Liang Mu thought for a moment. Indeed, his actions at the dinner table had been somewhat bizarre, so he shifted his tone, intending to explain. Unexpectedly, Old Master Liang said emotionally, “Look at the way he acts toward you! Where does he look like just a friend?”
Liang Mu: “?”
He remained silent for a moment, deciding to go along with the conversation. Not only could this avoid a scolding, but it could also tarnish Xiao She’s image in his grandfather’s eyes.
He said, “But I really do treat him as a friend. I didn’t expect him to be like this.”
“Look at the longing for you in his eyes; it’s practically overflowing! Showing no restraint at all in front of everyone.”
Liang Mu continued to fan the flames: “Surely not…”
“Why not!” Old Master Liang said. “Grandpa knows you’re upset about the foundation and the company matters. Xiao She cares a lot about you and tried to stick his neck out for you. Although his method was wrong, it’s normal for you to feel a little moved.”
“Xiao She is young and good-looking, and he’s an illegitimate child anyway. If you really want to, I’ll allow you to play around with him,” Old Master Liang said. “But don’t get carried away.”
“?” Liang Mu blinked, sensing that the direction of the conversation was getting wildly distorted. “Grandpa? I didn’t.”
“You didn’t get carried away?”
“Picking up food for him, remembering what he eats and what he’s allergic to, and even asking someone to swap out his fruit platter?” Old Master Liang’s face gradually flushed with anger. “Are you telling me you’re not?”
Liang Mu, who had been forced by the system task to memorize the three hundred questions regarding Xiao She’s likes and dislikes: “…Fine then.”
After being scolded by Old Master Liang, Liang Mu returned to the table feeling utterly drained. Upon returning, he saw his own untouched kiwi fruit platter, then looked up at the half piece of mango on Xiao She’s fork: “…What are you eating?”
Xiao She still had the last half piece of mango in his mouth: “Mm?”
“Didn’t I ask the auntie to swap out the fruit platter?” Liang Mu felt a throbbing headache coming on. “What are you eating right now?!”
“My fruit platter.” Xiao She swallowed the fruit in his mouth and pointed to the spot across from him in front of Liang Mu: “The fruit platter you ordered, didn’t I leave it for you?”
Liang Mu said with suppressed irritation, “Do you not know you’re allergic to mangoes?”
The fork in Xiao She’s hand dropped: I didn’t know that.
Seeing Xiao She unconsciously scratch at the red rash popping up on his neck, Liang Mu immediately lunged forward and grabbed Xiao She’s hand: “Stop scratching!”
Old Master Liang, who was following behind them, saw the two of them tangled together: Good grief! What a deeply scheming pair!