Lu Yanzhou suspected he was being subtly mocked.
But he wasn’t sure.
He glanced again at the little manservant with his deadpan expression, earnestly giving his answer.
Anyone seeing this scene would think he was a serious young man with a bit of dry humor.
But in reality—
[Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Yanzhou why aren’t you laughing hahahahahaha is it just not in your nature to laugh Yanzhou hahahahahahahahahahahaha]
Lu Yanzhou raised a hand to press against his temple.
If not for his curiosity, he really wanted to make Shi Liaoliao shut up and stop letting her continue using this silly nickname.
The ringing of the phone interrupted Lu Yanzhou’s thoughts.
Shi Liaoliao noticed his expression darken for a moment when he saw the caller ID.
But it quickly returned to calm.
“Continue.”
After saying this and nodding to her, Lu Yanzhou walked outside with the incessantly ringing phone.
Shi Liaoliao immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Wanwan popped up, somewhat worried: [The male lead seems a bit off]
Lifting the iron basin and poking the dough, Shi Liaoliao casually replied: [That’s for the female lead to worry about, what does it have to do with us NPCs]
Wanwan thought that made sense.
Stealing a glance at Shi Liaoliao happily kneading dough, it suddenly felt a bit emotional.
It had been a long time since it encountered such a cold-hearted host.
…
Leaning against the wall, Lu Yanzhou lowered his gaze and quietly stared at the caller contact for a moment before answering the phone.
“Father.”
His tone was businesslike. If not for the word “father,” no one would think he was speaking to a close blood relative.
From the other end of the phone came a hoarse, deep male voice: “After the holiday ends, I’ll have Shi Liaoliao accompany you to the academy.”
“Those useless things planted in the backyard should have been removed long ago.”
“I don’t want to hear about this embarrassing hobby a second time.”
“That’s all. I’m hanging up.”
The call ended, returning to the lock screen.
Large daisy petals bathed in golden sunlight swayed in the wind, the scene’s vitality so vibrant it seemed ready to burst from the screen.
Lu Yanzhou looked down at the screen, a moment later, a sarcastic smile curling at the corner of his lips.
Lu Tingfeng already knew about what had just happened.
The first words of the call were an order, followed by criticism. Sometimes Lu Yanzhou couldn’t tell whether he was a father or his superior.
“I’m not a child anymore, Lu Tingfeng.”
His handsome face hidden in shadow, his tea-brown eyes filled with mockery… and weariness and numbness. The youthful vitality belonging to someone his age seemed to have vanished from this body, leaving only stagnant water.
…
Shi Liaoliao was wrapping dumplings when the little hamster squatting beside the cutting board dragged her phone over.
[Host, your phone is ringing~]
Shi Liaoliao’s first reaction was to look down at her crotch.
“That shouldn’t be, this is the silent, vibration-free model, how could it ring.”
Wanwan: […]
Realizing it was her phone, Shi Liaoliao shot a reproachful look at the little hamster.
[Speak properly, no more reduplicated words from now on]
Grabbing a tissue to wipe her hands, Shi Liaoliao opened her phone.
She had very few contacts. Besides the late butler grandpa, there was only one person in her address book.
Lu Tingfeng’s Secretary: You passed the previous exam
Lu Tingfeng’s Secretary: Starting tomorrow, you will enter Saint Dun Academy as an honors student with a scholarship. The admission letter will arrive tomorrow.
Lu Tingfeng’s Secretary: The master wants you to stay by the young master’s side. No matter what he does, you must report it.
Lu Tingfeng’s Secretary: Remember, without the Lu family, you are nothing. If you don’t want to be kicked out, behave obediently.
Wanwan leaned over to peek, and after reading, she was quite indignant: [How can he speak like that! So rude! Wuwu, the male lead is so pitiful!]
[Host! You absolutely must not agree to this!]
Shi Liaoliao calmly sprinkled some flour to keep the dough from sticking to her hands.
[Do you know what the highest level of conversation is?]
Wanwan humbly sought guidance.
Shi Liaoliao curled the corner of her lips: [It’s answering without addressing the question.]
Wanwan widened her eyes: [Oh?]
Coincidentally, another message came through just then.
Lu Tingfeng’s Secretary: Did anything happen today?
Shi Liaoliao: Yes, I pooped my pants.
Wanwan: […]
The secretary who received the message on the other end: “Huh??”
After a pause, the next message was a warning. Shi Liaoliao replied perfunctorily and tossed the phone to Wanwan, letting her continue playing Candy Crush.
[Strange, he’s testing me. Is there a spy around Lu Yanzhou?]
Otherwise, why would he suddenly send a warning message when she hadn’t reported today’s events? It was as if he knew something had happened here.
Wanwan waved her little paw: [Well, you aren’t acting as a spy, but the male lead doesn’t know that. Maybe that call earlier was from Lu Tingfeng. It’s possible the male lead thinks you’re the one who tipped him off.]
Shi Liaoliao didn’t know what Lu Yanzhou was thinking, but even after she finished making the buns, she never saw him appear again.
That’s normal, she thought.
…
The next day, when Shi Liaoliao’s express delivery arrived, she was still in the backyard. It was signed for by the servant who had targeted her from the beginning.
The servant was named Liu Ren. His grandfather had worked here as a gardener for many years, and Liu Ren had grown up on this estate. Everyone, including himself, believed the position of Lu Yanzhou’s personal valet would be his. But then Shi Liaoliao appeared out of nowhere and ruined everything…
Holding the thin express package in his hand, Liu Ren sneered.
“Who would write a letter to that brat Shi Liaoliao? Could it be some little lover from outside got pregnant by her and is coming to demand money?”
Liu Ren’s mind raced. He found a small knife, slit open the cardboard, and took out the contents.
Then, his gleeful expression turned to shock when he saw the envelope embossed with the gilded emblem of ‘Saint Dun Academy.’
Liu Ren’s first reaction was—
Tear it up!
“What are you doing?”
The cool, clear voice was unlike other men’s, resembling the voice of a boy who hadn’t yet gone through puberty, somewhat ambiguous in gender.
Liu Ren frantically stuffed the items into his jacket and turned around.
Shi Liaoliao stood there in a crisp suit, staring at him expressionlessly.
And he was still wearing the Lu family’s uniform for servants.
That suit should have been his!
Liu Ren thought with a gloomy expression.
How could this sissy possibly be admitted to Saint Dun Academy? She must have pulled some trick!!
“What? Not busy wagging your ass to please the young master? Why bother with what I’m doing?”
He sneered and walked toward the house, roughly bumping into Shi Liaoliao’s shoulder as he passed.
Shi Liaoliao turned around, glanced around to confirm no one was nearby…
As Liu Ren stepped onto the stairs, she reached over, grabbed the wooden stick forgotten on the ground nearby, and strode over in two or three steps, swiftly crouching down—
With a forceful thrust of her arm! She accurately jabbed the stick right into Liu Ren’s butt crack!
Lu Yanzhou, who had just emerged from the side door and happened to witness the entire scene: “”