Just as Tang Tian was about to carry the last two flowerpots back into the villa, she bent down, and someone approached from the side.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a pair of long, slender legs, with the first thing that came into view being a pair of expensive, custom-made leather shoes.
Before she could react, the flowerpot in front of her was already picked up by a pair of pale, slender hands.
Tang Tian straightened up and looked at Shen Yanli’s back, unable to hide her surprise.
Was he… helping? Where had Liu Xiaozhi gone?
She glanced around, but Liu Xiaozhi, who had been nearby just moments ago, was nowhere to be seen.
Tang Tian thought Shen Yanli was just lending a hand casually and didn’t expect him to come back again, so she walked to the other side to pick up the last flowerpot.
Just as her hand touched the flowerpot, the light around her dimmed, and her slender hand was covered by a warm, large palm. At the same time, the scent of agarwood from the man enveloped her.
Tang Tian froze for several seconds. The warm touch on the back of her hand felt like it was burning her. Her ears flushed red, and she hastily withdrew her hand, ignoring the flowerpot.
He stood very close to her. The man’s tall frame seemed to envelop her entirely within his presence.
The intense aura of masculinity emanating from Shen Yanli made Tang Tian’s heart race. That overwhelming sense of invasion left her breathless and disoriented.
“Mr. Shen?” Tang Tian flusteredly stepped back, putting distance between them.
Shen Yanli seemed unaware of her retreat. His impeccably handsome features were partially hidden in the night.
“Finish up early and rest.”
His voice, like the deep tones of a cello in the quiet night, was captivatingly pleasant.
Tang Tian nodded. “I’ll take care of it.” It didn’t feel right to have the boss help with tasks while she was being paid.
She tried to take the flowerpot from his hands, but Shen Yanli strode toward the villa with long steps, silently refusing her offer.
Tang Tian had no choice but to follow him into the villa, though she didn’t dare walk too quickly. She couldn’t quite understand why Shen Yanli was helping her move things.
Neither in the story nor in the original owner’s memories was Shen Yanli the type to do such a thing, which was why Tang Tian found it odd.
Shen Yanli set down the flowerpot. Perhaps because his hands were now covered in soil, he frowned slightly.
Tang Tian stood behind him, unsure whether to leave or stay. Hesitantly, she wanted to thank him.
“Mr. Shen, thank you for your help.”
Shen Yanli turned around and looked at her somewhat uneasy expression.
He said, “No need to thank me. Tomorrow morning at 7, heat a cup of milk and bring it to my room.”
Hearing this, Tang Tian felt relieved. No wonder he had helped… It was because he wanted her to wake up early tomorrow to heat milk and bring it to his room. She agreed readily.
“Yes, Mr. Shen.”
“Wait.”
At that moment, Fu Xi’s lazy voice came from behind Tang Tian. Surprised, she turned around.
Fu Xi, with his perfect model-like physique, was dressed in casual clothes, his hands tucked into his pockets. A pair of over-ear headphones hung around his long, pale neck, and his handsome face was bright and charming, exuding a lazy aura as if he had just come from the gym.
Shen Yanli watched Fu Xi approach, neither annoyed nor angry, his expression calm.
“I’ll be swimming tomorrow morning, so I’m afraid you’ll have to find another maid to bring you milk, Brother Li.”
Fu Xi casually tried to sling an arm over Tang Tian’s slender shoulder, but she reacted quickly, sensing his intention and dodging his arm just in time.
Fu Xi clicked his tongue, clearly displeased with her avoidance.”Fu Xi, watch your behavior.”
Shen Yanli’s voice was low as he stopped him: “Tang Tian is of the opposite sex. Mind your boundaries.”
Fu Xi was somewhat irritable: “Of course I know she’s of the opposite sex. I was just testing her.”
Based on her understanding of Fu Xi over these past days, Tang Tian knew that this man appeared frivolous on the surface and was indeed quite unprincipled in reality.
“Mr. Fu need not test me anymore in the future. From now on, I will keep at least three steps away when speaking with you and will absolutely avoid any contact.”
Fu Xi raised an eyebrow. Was she trying to draw a line between them? He took a few steps forward to approach her but was pulled back by Shen Yanli, who prevented him from getting closer to Tang Tian.
True to her word, Tang Tian retreated three steps, putting distance between them.
Fu Xi was both angered and amused: “Tang Tian, come here.”
Seeing his challenging expression, Tang Tian had no intention of going over.
“If there’s nothing else, gentlemen, I’ll be clocking out now.” She turned to leave but didn’t manage to escape successfully.
Fu Xi turned the tables on her: “This month’s servant bonus…”
Tang Tian immediately turned back, wearing a polite smile: “Is there anything else you need to discuss, gentlemen?”
She believed in not yielding to force, but… money was another matter. The servant bonus wasn’t the same as the new servant bonus—the former amounted to almost a month’s salary.
So far, both Liu Xiaozhi and Liu Huihua had been criticized by the butler, disqualifying them from July’s bonus. It was highly likely she would receive this substantial sum.
Amused by her sudden change in attitude, Fu Xi chuckled and teased her: “Tang Tian, you used to come for us, now you come for the money. Quite clever.”
Tang Tian smiled politely: “Because I’ve realized that the money I earn myself is more reliable.”
Fu Xi narrowed his eyes, studying her. Just as he was about to reach out and pinch her fair, delicate cheek, Shen Yanli stopped him once again.
Shen Yanli shot him a cold glance before turning to Tang Tian: “Ignore him. Tomorrow, the butler will assign another servant to him.”
Fu Xi said unhappily: “It has to be you tomorrow.”
After speaking, Fu Xi tilted his head and locked eyes with Shen Yanli. This was the first time Tang Tian sensed tension between the two of them.
She was simply puzzled. It wasn’t as if she was the only servant in this villa…
Just as Tang Tian was about to speak, Liu Xiaozhi, who had returned, overheard that Shen Yanli and Fu Xi were actually competing over Tang Tian?!
Liu Xiaozhi thought Mr. Shen and Mr. Fu didn’t know there were other servants still on duty.
She hurried over and stood before the two gentlemen: “Mr. Shen, I will bring hot milk to your room tomorrow morning.”
Whether it was Shen Yanli or Fu Xi, Liu Xiaozhi didn’t want Tang Tian to have too much contact or interaction with them. But if she had to choose one, she chose Shen Yanli.
Shen Yanli looked at Liu Xiaozhi, who had rushed over, his thin lips pressed into a straight line. He said nothing.
Meanwhile, Tang Tian was delighted to see this. She had just been about to suggest sending a message to the work group chat, asking which of the other live-in servants would be willing to take on the task of delivering milk, when Liu Xiaozhi appeared.
Tang Tian couldn’t handle two tasks at once. The butler had said she was responsible for the gentlemen’s swimming sessions, so the only duty she could delegate was delivering milk to Shen Yanli.
Fu Xi watched Tang Tian with a faint, amused smile. He loved watching drama the most.
Tang Tian’s reaction was subtle, but he still noticed it—she… seemed to have breathed a sigh of relief?