Long Aotian’s Beautiful Butler Has Run Away chapter 69

Chapter 69: Gentler

Following Long Shaoye’s suggestion, Shen Bingsi personally trimmed the grass and flower branches inside and outside the courtyard and cleared the dust on the ground and beams. Feeling he had done a good job, he called the three little ones over to look.

The three little ones had been trembling with fear these past few days, not knowing why the Grand Villa Master suddenly changed his personality. To be safe, they still praised Shen Bingsi’s labor results with the most extravagant words.

Shen Bingsi was very satisfied and rewarded each of the three with a handful of spirit stones as pocket money.

Thus, on the day Rong Xie returned, he saw the results of labor that had been tidied up once but were still rough around the edges.

Shen Bingsi originally ambushed in the back courtyard, listening to the conversation between Rong Xie and Shen Yan with his spiritual consciousness while transmitting his voice to Shen Yan, instructing Shen Yan to speak according to his meaning. He wanted to wait for Rong Xie’s attitude to soften, then go out and admit he trimmed the lawn, admit his mistake to Rong Xie, and express that he would take care of all lawn trimming in the future.

Who knew things didn’t develop according to his wishes. The pruning work he thought he did well was “done on a whim” and “for others to see” in Rong Xie’s eyes. This caused Shen Bingsi some internal injuries.

But he had to admit, Rong Xie was right.

Shen Bingsi always knew managing the Villa wasn’t that simple. It was just that he was the one enjoying it before, so he didn’t think about many problems in detail. Now that he started doing it himself, he realized that even simply trimming a lawn had so many tricks to it.

And the most important trick was putting in heart.

He didn’t dare think about how much effort Rong Xie spent on the impeccable Huanxue Villa before, nor did he dare think about what Huanxue Villa would become if Rong Xie left, and what his life would become.

Huanxue Villa couldn’t do without Rong Xie. He couldn’t do without Rong Xie even more!

Thinking like this, when Rong Xie revealed his intention to leave, Shen Bingsi couldn’t hold back anymore, rushing out of the middle gate to Rong Xie.

“Why are you leaving again!”

Rong Xie was clearly stunned.

Taking advantage of Rong Xie’s daze, Shen Bingsi racked his brains for words to keep him. Of course, admitting he trimmed the lawn was impossible now. He simply pushed it all onto the three Attendant Boys. They couldn’t manage the Villa’s cleaning and organizing work at all. What if they ruined the Villa?

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Rong Xie indeed hesitated. Shen Bingsi thought somewhat sorrowfully that using the Villa as leverage was indeed more effective than using himself, shaking Rong Xie more.

However, no matter what he used, as long as it could shake Rong Xie and make him reluctant to leave, Shen Bingsi was willing to try.

Rong Xie hesitated for a moment and said, “Don’t worry. I will teach them again before I leave, ensuring they learn everything before I go.”

Shen Bingsi choked.

That wasn’t what he meant. Why did it sound like he wouldn’t let Rong Xie leave because he was afraid no one would manage Huanxue Villa? What “don’t worry”… as long as it wasn’t Rong Xie, he wouldn’t be at ease!

“No, you can’t go.” Shen Bingsi thought for a long time and squeezed out a dry sentence.

Rong Xie seemed very helpless, looking at him with that look reserved for relics again. Shen Bingsi saw with his spiritual consciousness just now that when Rong Xie stood outside the main gate, he was looking at the lintel and roof tiles of Huanxue Villa with such a look.

Since he was reluctant, why leave! Was it just because he caught the illness of “liking”?

Shen Bingsi hated “like.” If there were no “like,” he and Rong Xie would still be fine…

Suddenly, Shen Bingsi had a flash of inspiration.

He thought of the long speech his new military advisor Long Shaoye gave him, which summarized: As long as the person being liked neither accepts nor rejects, and is a bit gentler to the person who likes him, then the person who likes him will be unable to extricate themselves and will naturally follow him devotedly.

Gentle. The key was still being gentle.

His temper was still too impatient. To persuade Rong Xie to stay, he certainly couldn’t rely on a dry “you are not allowed to leave.”

The grass-cutting operation failed, but he could do other things. He couldn’t give up completely just because one operation failed, right?

Shen Bingsi composed himself and softened his tone. He noticed he was tightly gripping Rong Xie’s shoulders, and Rong Xie’s expression showed slight discomfort. Shen Bingsi immediately released his hands, changing the grip to a touch, gently brushing the dust off Rong Xie’s shoulders.

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Rong Xie was just feeling a bit uncomfortable from being pinched. Seeing Shen Bingsi’s action, he couldn’t help feeling traces of doubt. He thought Shen Bingsi would lose his temper again and this reunion would end unhappily, but it didn’t.

Shen Bingsi touched Rong Xie’s shoulders a few times, as if seriously smoothing the wrinkles on his clothes. Finally, he looked up, revealing a strange smile, speaking slowly and softly, “Sorry, did I pinch you and make it hurt?”

Rong Xie shivered, looking at Shen Bingsi suspiciously. Shen Bingsi was clearly impatient just now, but suddenly smiled and even changed his tone. It was a bit scary.

“It’s… it’s okay.” Rong Xie answered hesitantly.

“The journey was tiring; you must be exhausted. Go in and rest first. I’ll draw hot water for you. We can talk after you’ve rested.” Shen Bingsi maintained his smile and stepped into the middle gate first.

Rong Xie stared at Shen Bingsi’s back in astonishment. If not for the fact that Shen Bingsi’s cultivation had passed the Nascent Soul stage and this was Huanxue Villa, Rong Xie would have thought he was possessed by demons or ghosts. How could even his visage change so suddenly?

Rong Xie looked at Shen Yan standing aside. Shen Yan was also somewhat surprised and puzzled. However, Shen Bingsi had been in an abnormal state these past few days, so Shen Yan wasn’t as amazed as Rong Xie.

“What’s… wrong with him?” Rong Xie couldn’t help asking.

“I don’t know either.” Shen Yan shook his head. He wanted to tell Rong Xie about Shen Bingsi asking the incompetent advisor Long Shaoye for advice, but thought better of it. That matter shouldn’t have anything to do with Rong Xie. The person Shen Bingsi said liked him must be someone else, definitely not Brother Rong anyway.

“Never mind.” Rong Xie called Shen Yan to go in with him, asking about the Villa’s situation this month as they walked, how Long Shaoye and Fang Renji were, and if Shen Bingsi made things difficult for them. Shen Yan answered truthfully.

Except for the grass trimming matter.

“How could it be cut like this…”

The further Rong Xie walked into the back courtyard, the more mottled grass appeared before his eyes. He looked at the patchy grass in surprise, unable to stop asking if Shen Yan and the others really trimmed this grass.

“Mn…” Shen Yan dared not deny it, after all, Shen Bingsi hadn’t gone far.

Rong Xie observed for a while and sensed something was wrong.

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“This wasn’t trimmed by you guys. The grass is cut very evenly, looking like it was sliced quickly at once. It’s just that the person cutting the grass was distracted thinking about something, striking without measuring force. Sometimes a whole patch of grass was shaved off. If you trimmed slowly, it definitely wouldn’t have this effect.”

Rong Xie said with certainty, “This was trimmed by Shen Bingsi, wasn’t it?”

Shen Yan sighed secretly. As expected of Brother Rong, seeing clearly into everything. This wasn’t something he said; it was deduced by Brother Rong himself.

“Yes, the Villa Master trimmed the back courtyard first. He wasn’t very skilled then. By the time he trimmed the front courtyard, he was much more skilled, especially the patch just inside the main gate. The Villa Master spent a lot of effort. Except for you, Brother Rong, who could spot faults, the three of us really couldn’t tell.” Shen Yan said.

“So that’s it.” The strangeness Rong Xie felt before made sense now. But why did Shen Bingsi suddenly decide to trim the lawn on a whim? Fine if he trimmed it, but why didn’t he tell him?

Rong Xie couldn’t figure it out, but they had arrived at the bathroom door. Shen Bingsi had clearly gone in to heat water. Bursts of white mist drifted out from the half-open door. Who knew how big a commotion Shen Bingsi had made inside.

Thinking of those patchy lawns, Rong Xie’s scalp went numb. He turned back and instructed Shen Yan to take Long Shaoye and Fang Renji to the front courtyard first, do whatever they needed to do, and try not to come to the back courtyard. He would find them after sorting out Shen Bingsi here.

“Yes!” Shen Yan breathed a sigh of relief but was still somewhat worried about Rong Xie. “Brother Rong, be careful.”

“Mn, don’t worry.”

Fortunately, Shen Bingsi was skilled in heating water.

Rong Xie walked into the bathroom and saw Shen Bingsi standing amidst swirling clouds and mist, with three big buckets of hot water in front of him.

Rong Xie hesitated but couldn’t resist the temptation of a hot bath after a long journey. He walked up and reached out to test the water temperature.

It was slightly hot, but he could imagine the feeling of fatigue and chill in his bones being driven out after soaking in, every muscle and bit of skin becoming soft and comfortable.

Rong Xie looked up at Shen Bingsi, about to thank him, when he saw that strange smile still hanging on his face, looking at him silently with a smile.

Rong Xie clenched his fists vigilantly.

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Suddenly, a fragrant breeze blew.

Rustling petals drifted down from Shen Bingsi’s raised hand, landing on the water surface.

Rong Xie looked in surprise at the water surface covered by flowers from who knows where. Shen Bingsi not only knew how to heat water but now also knew how to sprinkle petals?

Shen Bingsi, who could only think of eating noodles when bathing before, now actually knew how to sprinkle petals? Such dithering and impractical behavior was always considered “sick” by him. Now, he actually did it too.

Could it be… Shen Bingsi was really possessed?

Perhaps Rong Xie’s suspicious look was too obvious; Shen Bingsi gave a dry cough and said, “Then I’m going out.”

“Mn…” Rong Xie breathed a slight sigh of relief. At least Shen Bingsi didn’t ask to take a petal bath with him.

“I’ll be right outside. If you need anything…” Shen Bingsi walked to the door and turned back again.

“Okay… I don’t need anything,” Rong Xie said.

“The bath robe is on the cabinet outside,” Shen Bingsi opened the door, turned around again, stood at the door, and said to Rong Xie.

Rong Xie was just about to take off his steam-dampened outer clothes. Hearing this, he tightened his collar again. “Okay… fine.”

“Call me if there’s anything.” Shen Bingsi said it again before slowly closing the door.

Rong Xie saw Shen Bingsi’s shadow standing outside the door. After a while, it walked to the side and lowered, presumably sitting on the bench next to the cabinet.

Rong Xie frowned, tilting his head suspiciously at the water surface. He thought for a while but couldn’t figure it out.

The urge to take a bath overwhelmed everything. Rong Xie removed his clothes, stepped on the small stool into the tub, and hot water surrounded him from all sides.

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“Hoo… so comfortable.”

Rong Xie slowly leaned against the edge of the tub, sighing comfortably.

Truth be told, those petals became even more fragrant when steamed by the heat. Who knew where Shen Bingsi got the petals in late autumn.

The feeling of the bath was so good that Rong Xie felt the fatigue of such a long time released.

Just as Rong Xie emptied his mind and felt like floating, a knocking sound came from the door again.

Rong Xie sat up abruptly, shrinking into the tub, looking suspiciously at the shadow leaning over the door again.

“Cough, just wanted to ask if you need a shoulder massage… I can do this too…” Shen Bingsi’s voice came.

“No, no need.”

Although the bath was comfortable, seeing Shen Bingsi’s shadow swaying in front of the door whenever he looked up, Rong Xie somehow couldn’t relax and soak.

Rong Xie finished washing and packing up at the fastest speed, got out of the tub, took out the bath robe from his pouch and put it on, then pushed the door open.

Shen Bingsi saw him come out neatly dressed. His expectant eyes suddenly fell flat. He pointed at Rong Xie. “You… brought a bath robe?”

“Mn, I brought it.” Rong Xie couldn’t help worrying and reached out to touch Shen Bingsi’s forehead.

Shen Bingsi felt joy in his heart. The new military advisor’s words were indeed useful. As long as he helped Rong Xie do some small things and was a bit gentler, Rong Xie wouldn’t have the heart to push him away. Not only did he not push him away, but he also touched him on his own initiative. No one knew how comfortable it was to be touched by Rong Xie’s cool and soft hand. Shen Bingsi could hardly suppress the corners of his mouth.

“…Bingsi, did you practice too hastily and damage your Sea of Consciousness?”

Rong Xie’s hand left Shen Bingsi’s forehead and grabbed his sleeve tightly. “No, let’s go to the main peak to find Old Sect Master Xue! Or, go up the Supreme Immortal Mountain to find your master…?”

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