Zhu Zhiqian was the son of the old butler Wen Cheng, and he took his mother’s surname.
Although his family had worked for the Wen household since his great-grandfather’s generation, to the Wens, he was always an outsider.
There was no employer-employee relationship he was merely the butler’s son.
If the Wens ever ran into him, they would offer courteous pleasantries, but nothing more.
A man of ambition as he had always been, he was hardly content with that. If he simply wanted a stable life, his best choice would have been to take over his father’s playbook and continue serving as the Wen family’s butler.
But Zhu Zhiqian didn’t choose that path. He was now a minor singer, not yet famous.
His motive for approaching Yun Fan was clear: since his father refused to pull strings for him, he could use others to get close to the Wen family.
The Wen family was vast and wealthy, with fingers in countless industries. A mere loosening of their grip would be enough to keep him fed and comfortable.
He had assumed the new young butler would be as stiff and proper as his father, but he never expected the man to be so striking.
One glance, and he nearly couldn’t turn his head back.
His father’s voice snapped him back to his senses: “Xiaoqian, what are you doing here?”
“Just passing by. Bought some pastries and thought I’d bring them to you.” Zhu Zhiqian smiled at the old butler.
Yun Fan was wary of every move Zhu Zhiqian made, but he didn’t show it, not wanting to embarrass the old butler.
He gave a polite smile, and Wen Zhaofu’s voice drifted down from the second floor, rescuing him.
Seeing Yun Fan leave, Zhu Zhiqian also took his leave from the old butler. The sudden arrival and equally sudden departure left the old butler thoroughly puzzled.
Stepping out of Wen Yanlan Manor, Zhu Zhiqian got into a black car in the night. The young man in the driver’s seat wore a mask, his figure indistinct in the darkness.
After getting in, Zhu Zhiqian leaned over and kissed the man on the forehead: “Saw him. Young, and looks just like my dad a butler machine.”
“Decent-looking, but looks don’t matter. Inside, he’s just a newer clockwork.”
The car drove off, and the driver pulled off his mask, revealing delicate features. He was Zhuo Yan, a minor celebrity who had debuted in Hong Kong this year, and also Zhu Zhiqian’s secret lover.
Both were scraping by at the very bottom of the entertainment industry, which made them understand each other well.
“Being brought home by the old lady means this guy has serious backing,” Zhuo Yan analyzed. “Qian-ge, the Wen family is one of the top households now, and we have a chance we can’t give it up. Wen Zhaofu will take over the reins someday; he’s the most critical. Liu’er Xing is the god-grandson of Wen Tingwang, head of Wenshi Entertainment also a key figure.”
“Alright, I’ve got it.” Zhu Zhiqian waved a hand. “For you, I’ll naturally get closer to them.”
“It’s just a minor butler, I can handle him.”
The next morning, Yun Fan went to Wen Zhaofu’s room as usual to wake him. When he entered, Wen Zhaofu was picking out his suit.
In the dressing room, the suits were all dark-colored. Exquisitely tailored, clearly worth a fortune, but the muted tones felt somewhat somber.
“Which one? Let me get it.” Yun Fan walked over.
Wen Zhaofu raised a finger to point, and Yun Fan carefully took it down, gently removing it from the hanger.
“Does sir prefer navy and black?” Yun Fan asked.
Wen Zhaofu shook his head. He had initially meant to pick a black tie, but his finger shifted direction: “Take that light blue one.”
“Who wouldn’t love a splash of color?” Wen Zhaofu said, glancing at Yun Fan with a faint smile.
Though he’d only just gotten up, Wen Zhaofu’s expression was already clear and sharp. His features were deeply defined, his gaze serene Yun Fan had never met anyone like him, and whenever their eyes met, he couldn’t bear to look away.
“Got it life’s pressures.” Yun Fan grinned. “Even our all-powerful Mr. Wen has his moments of helplessness.”
Wen Zhaofu laughed, letting Yun Fan push him out of the dressing room as he replied, “In a 24-hour day, I’m helpless for about 16 of them.”
“The moment I open my eyes, there are countless decisions that must be made with reason.”
Perhaps an employer shouldn’t say such things to a housekeeper, but looking at Yun Fan, Wen Zhaofu felt compelled to pour out everything on his mind.
“Sir, you’re too tense.” Yun Fan patted Wen Zhaofu’s shoulder. “But with all the responsibilities you carry, it’s only natural that you’d have less freedom to choose.”
Wen Zhaofu looked up at Yun Fan, bathed in the morning light. Yun Fan tilted his head with a smile, glanced at the time, and said, “Hurry and get changed, sir the old butler will be nagging us any minute now.”
“Him…” Wen Zhaofu shook his head with a resigned smile.
Before leaving Wen Zhaofu’s bedroom, Yun Fan quietly asked, “Sir, could you tell me what the grudge is between Young Master Cheng and Young Master Liu? So I know how to tread carefully.”
Wen Zhaofu smiled. “I can tell you.”
When they were children, Liu Erxing had kept a dog. It wasn’t a large dog, but to a small child, it was still somewhat frightening.
Cheng Yu had been pampered since he was little he wasn’t afraid of cats, but he was afraid of dogs. Every time he met Liu Erxing, he’d be scared into tears.
Cheng Yu told his maternal grandfather about it. At the time, the Wen family was going through internal strife, and his grandfather used the incident as ammunition to criticize the third branch of the family.
And so, Liu Erxing’s dog was sent away.
“Tsk, the dog was innocent.” Yun Fan said with deep sympathy. “Your family is so complicated.”
Wen Zhaofu opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing neither defending nor agreeing.
At three in the afternoon, Wen Haochen waited at the gate in his flashy bright-red convertible. The moment Liu Erxing arrived, he pointed at the car and scolded him: “This car’s great for showing off when picking up girls, but we’re going on business! The back seat’s so narrow no one can fit are me or Housekeeper Yun supposed to run alongside the car?”
When Liu Erxing spoke quickly, Wen Haochen couldn’t follow at all, only catching the tail end: “You run.”
“Run my ass!” Liu Erxing turned and dashed toward Li Pavilion, his own car was still in the shop, so he had to go borrow one from his god-grandfather.
Once they were in the car, Yun Fan looked up at the sky with some concern. “This car really has no roof? Looking at that sky, it doesn’t bode well.”
“Quick and decisive! Housekeeper Yun, we’re counting on you.” Wen Haochen said eagerly.
They met Liu Erxing at the gates of Wen Yanlan’s residence, and Liu Erxing shot Wen Haochen a glare. Yun Fan chuckled and asked, “Did you light a firecracker?”
“What? Great-grandpa doesn’t allow firecrackers.” Wen Haochen replied, confused.
Right communication barrier. Yun Fan simply shut his mouth and started planning how to handle the person they were about to meet.
Yun Fan had seen plenty of con artists in his day, but a con artist in a suit and tie sitting in an office building? That was a first.
When they arrived, Yun Fan had Wen Haochen stand behind him. They were about the same height, and when Wen Haochen spoke near his ear, the breath tickled him, so he sidestepped a pace away.
Liu Erxing, who had been silent the whole time, reached out and yanked Wen Haochen, then tilted his chin upward.
“Bro, you call this caviar? Go home and taste your hair gel it’s the same flavor!” Yun Fan slammed a jar of caviar onto the guy’s table and started cursing. “No, wait it’s like those marbles we played with as kids, that’s exactly what it tastes like in your mouth!”
“I never played with marbles.” The guy was stunned, actually following along with Yun Fan’s rant.
No one expected that when Wen Haochen said he wanted to talk, he’d bring someone like this. The guy didn’t waste a word, just started laying into them no caviar buyer had ever acted like this before.
Usually, wealthy families didn’t care about the small amount of money they were swindled out of; most just treated it like a flea bite. That was the loophole they’d been exploiting to scam people all over the world.
But now, fresh off the boat in Harbor City, they’d hit a tough nut. Word was Wen Haochen had already gotten into a fight with the classmate who’d introduced him to the seller, and now he’d brought in a mouthpiece.
Impressive.
“Twelve-year sturgeon, my ass. Why don’t you say it’s the fish your grandpa here released in a past life? It’s clearly an industrial miracle dredged up from a sewage ditch.”
“Your grandpa isn’t here to ask for money today that chump change isn’t worth my time.” Yun Fan paused, though he was actually still sore about it. “Consider it a crowdfunding effort to buy you a cremation urn.”
“But I’d suggest you watch your spending. With this shabby setup of yours, you won’t last more than thirty-five days.”
Liu Erxing listened to Yun Fan’s booming voice, his smile growing wider and wider. He’d originally thought that with Yun Fan’s small frame, if he couldn’t out-argue them, he could jump in with a few words.
Who would’ve thought the guy had such fighting power?
Wen Haochen had never seen anything like this either growing up, he’d never heard anyone curse so fluently.
If Yun Fan hadn’t finished yet, he would’ve applauded.
Yun Fan turned around, waved his hand casually, then looked back at the man’s stunned face and delivered his final line: “Mr. Xue, I wish you explosive diarrhea every day from now on gray and lumpy, just like this caviar, each pellet perfectly distinct!”
“Let’s go!”
The caviar boss and his lackeys stood frozen in place, staring blankly at the three who’d swept in like the wind and left like fire, not even a retort on their lips.
Damn. They’d probably never be able to look at caviar the same way again. After all, it was either shit or caviar you could only pick one.
In the elevator, Wen Haochen, still processing what had happened, was holding back laughter. Liu Erxing rubbed the back of his neck, took a breath, and sincerely patted Yun Fan on the shoulder: “Impressive. You’ve got my style.”
“You flatter me!” Yun Fan quickly clasped his fists in salute.
Liu Erxing thought for a moment, then smacked Wen Haochen on the back of the head: “Xiao Er, treat us to some beef offal tonight. Not at a fancy restaurant find a street stall. That’s the good stuff.”
“No problem!” Wen Haochen, basking in the joy of victory, agreed to anything.
Downstairs, Wen Haochen fully let loose, high-fiving Yun Fan and circling around him. This little steward had really earned his respect.
Just as he was about to hug Yun Fan, Wen Zhaofu’s car pulled up at the building entrance. The window rolled down, revealing Wen Zhaofu’s stern face.
“It’s raining. I came to pick you up.”