“Young Master.”
At exactly eight o’clock in the morning, She Yi stood punctually outside the bedroom door. He bent his fingers and knocked gently a few times, just like the task he had repeated every day for the past month.
Yes, ever since arriving at the Qin family that day, She Yi had been in the position of butler to the young master of the Qin family for over a month. Qin Zhuang was quite generous, paying him monthly wages just like an ordinary employee, though that salary was much more substantial than that of a regular worker.
“Come in.”
Receiving permission, She Yi pushed open the door and walked inside. The youth sitting on the bed still had traces of weariness on his face, yet his pitch-black eyes were incomparably clear.
She Yi curled his lips into a smile and walked straight to the wardrobe to take out the clothes that needed changing. He handed them to the youth, who had already stepped down from the bed, then walked into the bathroom attached to the bedroom to squeeze out the toothpaste action by action, in an orderly fashion.
Qin Tian looked at his back and furrowed his brows.
To be honest, at the beginning, he didn’t expect the other party to do very well. Being someone his father had pushed onto him, he felt he should keep him regardless; it wouldn’t matter even if his ability was poor. But looking at it now, it wasn’t bad at all.
At least, during the month or so since the other party took office as his butler, he had never been able to find fault.
“Young Master, what are the arrangements for today?”
Standing to the side, She Yi looked at the youth changing clothes with a gentle smile.
“Where is Father?” Qin Tian smoothed his short black hair and asked a different question.
“The Head of the House just went out.”
“Going where?”
“That is unclear.”
Qin Tian paused, then turned back with a smile before entering the bathroom. “It’s Sunday; naturally, we’re going out to play.” This remark was clearly answering She Yi’s earlier question.
She Yi maintained his smile and said, “Yes, Young Master.”
The pleasant breakfast time was interrupted by a lady who suddenly burst in or more accurately, a girl; a beautiful girl who definitely did not exceed fifteen years of age.
“Qin Tian, let’s go to the zoo together! I heard a precious Cuban crocodile arrived recently; I must go see it!”
The girl who suddenly intruded propped her hands on the dining table and leaned forward to look at Qin Tian, her eyes flashing with a light of excitement as if she could not wait.
Qin Tian swallowed the food in his mouth and looked at the excited girl; his gaze was somewhat helpless, yet carried a hint of indulgence.
“Zheng Yuwei, if I remember correctly, you seem to be currently grounded by your father, aren’t you?”
The Zheng family was considered a family on the same first-rate level as the Qin family in the Esper world. The head of the Zheng family was on good terms with Qin Zhuang, so the children beneath them also played together. A situation like this, where the eldest daughter of the Zheng family made a sudden visit, had clearly happened many times before; the surrounding servants were very accustomed to this scene.
She Yi thought about the plot in the novel. After the Qin family was exterminated and various rumors smashed against them, it seemed that among the group of powers “on good terms” with the Qin family, the Zheng family was the quickest to defect?
Looking at the girl who was now beaming with joy after winning an argument with the male lead by intentionally being unruly, the corners of She Yi’s lips sketched a gentle arc.
In the original plot, the Zheng family did not have a girl of the same age who had a “very good relationship” with the male lead.
Zheng Yuwei, who was describing today’s outing plan to the male lead, suddenly shivered for no reason. After looking around strangely, she continued with the topic of the day’s trip.
“…After seeing the Cuban crocodile, we’ll go on the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel, and then see a movie!”
The day’s itinerary was packed full; it didn’t look like a couple, yet it was better than a couple. Perhaps because this sort of thing had happened too many times, Qin Tian, who figured today’s original plans were likely ruined, did not refuse Zheng Yuwei’s company.
“When do we leave?” He interrupted the girl’s excited words and asked.
“Uh…” Looking at Qin Tian’s breakfast, which he clearly hadn’t finished yet, Zheng Yuwei’s cheeks reddened slightly. “Then… in half an hour.”
“Then might I ask the beautiful young lady to wait over there for a short moment?”
Qin Tian revealed a smile, and Zheng Yuwei’s face grew even redder.
No one could resist the charm of the male lead. Even though this male lead was still somewhat young, he had already begun to radiate his own brilliance especially to a girl who already harbored certain feelings for him.
There was still one year until the Qin family was exterminated. Since she couldn’t stop the extermination from happening, she at least wanted to become the most important person in Qin Tian’s heart!
Zheng Yuwei lowered her head and smiled secretly, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
“Eh, who are you? How come I’ve never seen you before?”
When they were setting off, Zheng Yuwei noticed the young man who had been following behind Qin Tian. For someone like her, who claimed to know those around the male lead like the back of her hand, how could she not recognize this fresh face?
Surprised for a fleeting moment by the young man’s refined and outstanding appearance, Zheng Yuwei arched her thin eyebrows.
She Yi was also secretly surprised at this moment not because of Zheng Yuwei, but because of a side mission suddenly issued by the system.
[Triggered Side Mission: Capture the heart of the transmigrator, Zheng Yuwei]
This was the second time She Yi had received a mission to “capture” a plot character throughout his five worlds. Furthermore, it wasn’t to drive away or eliminate an outsider, but actually to “capture” them?
She Yi slightly arched an eyebrow and pressed down the corners of his mouth which were curving up too much, saying with a gentle smile, “Miss Zheng Yuwei, I am the Young Master’s butler. You may call me She Yi.”
Zheng Yuwei nodded slowly and suddenly broke into a smile: “Big Brother She.” However, a trace of doubt flashed in her eyes.
In the original work, was there ever such a butler with such an outstanding temperament by Qin Tian’s side?
The answer was naturally no.
On the way, Zheng Yuwei paid extra attention to She Yi, talking to him from time to time. In reality, she was trying to fish for information, clearly suspecting whether She Yi might also be a transmigrator like herself.
To this, She Yi responded to everything one by one, his attitude natural and composed.
Gradually, the probing in Zheng Yuwei’s eyes faded away, replaced by a hint of realization.
The beginning of the original work starts with the extermination of the Qin family. Now there was still one year until the plot began; before then, it was possible for any kind of character to appear around the male lead. This young butler did not appear in the later plot, so he was likely “cannon fodder” during that extermination event.
Feeling a slight pity in her heart for his handsome and gentle appearance, Zheng Yuwei thought no more of it. Her goal had always been the male lead, Qin Tian.
[Zheng Yuwei’s Current Favorability: 5]
…
The zoo was exceptionally popular, especially for a weekend. Looking along the way, various rare animals were surrounded by crowds of tourists. Among the three of them, Zheng Yuwei’s interest was the highest.
After half a day, they finally arrived at the target site. Zheng Yuwei’s eyes clearly lit up, and she squeezed frantically into the layered crowds of onlookers. To the two bodyguards disguised as ordinary tourists behind her it must be hard work for you.
She Yi stood beside Qin Tian: “Young Master, aren’t you going to look?”
Qin Tian crossed his arms over his chest, looking at the energetic Miss Zheng in the crowd: “There are plenty of ways to see it if I want to.”
She Yi heard the underlying meaning in his words and smiled slightly: “But like Miss Zheng Yuwei is doing now, it is also a kind of wonderful and indescribable fun experience, isn’t it?”
Qin Tian glanced at him sideways in surprise, then slightly furrowed his brow: “I don’t like crocodiles.”
She Yi was stunned for a moment, then revealed his usual gentle smile and said, “As the Young Master’s exclusive butler, it was my oversight.”
“Hey Xiaoxue, look at him. Isn’t that Boss She from that coffee shop?”
She Yi faintly caught this sentence and felt the voice was somewhat familiar. When he turned to look, he happened to see two young girls jogging toward him.
When those two girls saw She Yi, their eyes clearly lit up.
“Boss She, I really didn’t expect to meet you here.” One of the girls had eyes curved like crescents, her gaze bright, as if radiating joy from the bottom of her heart.
She Yi turned to face the girls and nodded with a gentle smile. They were the two girls he met on the night the coffee shop closed, and they were regulars of the shop in the past.
Before She Yi could speak, a string of questions poured from the girls’ mouths:
“Boss, when are you reopening?”
“Is that brat very hard to train?”
“Is the Boss here at the zoo with his girlfriend?”
The “brat who is hard to train” walked over to She Yi’s side: “What reopening?”
She Yi turned his head to look at him and smiled: “That was a coffee shop I used to run.”
Qin Tian also clearly guessed the reason why that coffee shop had closed. He glanced at She Yi. “I will have Father increase your salary.”
She Yi maintained his smile and said, “Then I shall thank the Young Master in advance.”
Qin Tian moved his gaze away somewhat uncomfortably, looked at the girls opposite, and lifted his head: “Who are they?”
Before She Yi could introduce them, the girls crowded in front of Qin Tian.
“Hi, are you Boss She’s younger brother? You’re so handsome, what a handsome boy!”
Younger brother? Qin Tian turned to look at She Yi.
She Yi took a step forward, blocking in front of Qin Tian to cut off the girls’ overly enthusiastic gazes. He explained with a gentle smile: “Actually, he is the child a friend asked me to help look after…”
“Eh, he looks very well-behaved.”
“Mhm, he probably hasn’t caused Boss She any worry…”
Qin Tian, who had heard their entire conversation, looked at She Yi gloomily: “What do you mean by ‘causing you worry’? What do you mean by ‘naughty brat’?”
She Yi suddenly grabbed his hand and smiled apologetically to the girls: “Sorry, we have to leave. I will definitely notify you when the coffee shop reopens.”
Having said that, he pulled Qin Tian toward Zheng Yuwei, who had just squeezed out from the crowd.
On the spot, the girl gazed blankly at his back. Suddenly, her arm was pushed; she turned her head only to see her friend smirking at her meaningfully.
“Oh my, since you’re so reluctant to let go, why didn’t you ask him to stay?”
The girl’s cheeks reddened as she grumbled, “Xiaoxue, as if you don’t like Boss She yourself?”
The other girl was instantly left speechless.
After walking a few steps, She Yi let go of Qin Tian’s hand and smiled gently: “I was discourteous.”
Qin Tian glanced at him. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Zheng Yuwei approaching in their direction with a satisfied expression on her face. She smoothed her slightly messy hair and then shouted with full vigor:
“Roller coaster GO!”
That appearance was truly like a real thirteen or fourteen-year-old child, an age of innocence and playfulness.
She Yi glanced at the boy beside him, who only reached up to his ear, and said: “The Young Master should also be a bit more lively…”
Before he could finish, a figure rushed out from the side, chasing after Zheng Yuwei ahead. In his line of sight, that figure, which had caught up to Zheng Yuwei and was now running side-by-side with her, suddenly turned back and arched an eyebrow at him.
“Who said this Young Master isn’t happy?”
She Yi curved his lips into a smile and stepped forward to catch up.
I didn’t say that, Little Young Master.