Chapter 10: Please Give Me Four Dining Knives; Your Favorability with Xi Yun +…
At 10:00 AM.
Having slept until he was groggy and his hair was a messy chicken’s nest, Le Can slowly lifted his head from the covers.
His sleepy peach-blossom eyes blinked rapidly, finally struggling to tear open a slit, staring blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings.
Another two seconds passed, and his sluggish brain booted up successfully. Le Can recalled that this was the bedroom of the No-CP, solitary king, big male lead Xi Yun.
Thinking of Xi Yun, his drifting gaze slowly began to focus, then landed beside him.
As expected, Xi Yun’s figure was long gone from his side.
Looking at the neat and tidy half of the bed, Le Can sighed at the hardships of being a domineering CEO while reaching out with slight shame to tug at his own messy duvet and sheets.
A couple of tugs made it even messier, so he decisively gave up and let it rot.
Xi Yun wasn’t around, so there was a high probability the message he conveyed last night had gotten through.
After all, he was going out to snatch money today. Le Can didn’t linger in the soft, fluffy bedding any longer and quickly got ready to go downstairs.
However, a small episode occurred while looking for a change of clothes.
Xi Yun was highly efficient, which unfortunately meant Le Can had entered the big villa empty-handed.
Imagine a whole, lively person like him; aside from the three-for-100-yuan non-negotiable clothes from the street stall, the most valuable thing on him was his phone, which froze for three seconds with every tap.
Cough, besides “robbing the rich to help the poor,” the second most urgent thing for Le Can when he went back was to bring two sets of clothes to make do for now.
But he had no choice this morning; he had to put his original clothes back on.
Although wearing dirty clothes again was a huge test for the hygiene-conscious Le Can, he clearly recognized his current status.
To put it nicely, he was Xi Yun’s fiancé; to put it bluntly, he was just continuing to live under someone else’s roof in a different place.
Sigh! Kuku sauna, nothing but heartbreak.JPG*
Unfortunately, Le Can was late, or rather, he got up late.
He wandered around the shower room twice, rummaging through every crevice, but couldn’t find the clothes he had taken off after washing up last night.
Clearly, the domestic staff hired by Xi Yun were also highly efficient.
(xз」∠)_
Just as Le Can was pondering whether to strut around in his pajamas, he opened the door to the walk-in closet as if possessed.
He couldn’t say what thought prompted him to do this at the time, but the moment the closet door opened, Le Can froze on the spot.
In the cabinet made of unknown wood, next to a row of low-key, expensive dark formal wear, hung brightly colored clothes that were vastly different.
There wasn’t a difference in quantity between the two. One glance was enough to tell that the person who arranged this closet was an absolute master of fairness!
Of all these clothes, the former belonged to a mature, steady man, while the latter matched a younger, more lively male.
Le Can reached out and compared two of the garments; there was at least a two-size difference…
He reflexively looked down at the physique of his current body. It wasn’t him being sentimental; it absolutely met all the aforementioned requirements.
Given that Xi Yun had no brother from the same mother, no friends who could stay in his room, and certainly no young, beautiful partner. Oh wait, he had one now, but it was a fake one.
The young man looked left and right at the well-fitting pajamas he was wearing, no longer able to deny the other party’s kindness against his conscience.
For Xi Yun, this might have been nothing more than a verbal order to his subordinates. But Le Can knew very well that Xi Yun had no obligation to do so.
Since Xi Yun had thought of it and done it, whatever the starting point, the fact was that he owed the other party a favor.
Money is easy to pay back, but favors are hard to settle.
But what is the male lead after?
Le Can, brows knitted together in conflict, quickly and decisively selected a set of simple and generous sweatshirt and jeans, then finished changing in a minute.
He moved his joints a couple of times, confirming that the clothes wouldn’t restrict any movements. Le Can finally settled down, casually estimating the price of these clothes with no brand or wash labels.
Money kept adding up, adding until he was tired of it. The youthful and bright young lad suddenly wiped all expression from his face.
Le Can thought expressionlessly: Time to go downstairs for brunch.
As for whose heart was bleeding? Whoever it was, it certainly wouldn’t be him in the end.
It was still the familiar living room from last night, still the familiar…
“Madam is awake!”
Just as he stepped off the last stair, Le Can suddenly stumbled. He jerked his head up to see Aunt Liang poking her head out of the kitchen.
However, the speaker had a rough, middle-aged uncle’s voice, clearly not Aunt Liang, who beamed with a smile and immediately turned back into the kitchen to bring out various Cantonese dim sum for him.
“Hey, slow down, don’t rush. I’ll help you serve Madam.”
The gratitude Le Can had just felt for Xi Yun this morning vanished completely amidst these one or two calls of “Madam.”
Attempting to smile. Attempt failed.
Once all the breakfast was served on the table, Le Can sat in the chair rubbing his aching glabella, catching a glimpse of the strange middle-aged man who had just spoken out of the corner of his eye.
Coincidentally, he saw the man being elbowed by Aunt Liang, nudged away from him.
“Thanks, Aunt Liang. Who is this gentleman beside you?”
Judging by the small movements, there was a high probability they were close.
Aunt Liang was pouring tea brewed in the pot, the fresh tea aroma rolling into the cup along with the clear tea water.
Smelling the scent, Le Can couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows slightly. Just waking up in the morning, the lingering turbid air between his brows seemed to be washed away instantly.
Seeing a faint smile ripple across the handsome face opposite her, Aunt Liang smiled kindly too, taking the opportunity to pick up the poured tea.
“He’s my husband, surnamed Zhao. Madam, you can just call him Old Zhao usually.”
Old Zhao smiled simple-mindedly and chimed in, “Aren’t you going home today? Young Master Xi instructed me this morning to drive for you.”
Le Can paused for a moment, then heard Aunt Liang continue, “Our family is quite lucky to have caught the employer’s eye.”
“I usually busy myself in the kitchen, Old Zhao looks after the garden daily and occasionally drives for Young Master Xi, and even my son is helping out at the auction house under the Young Master!”
The cup was extended to his hand.
Nodding at the couple, Le Can took the cup and then pressed it to his lips for a shallow sip.
Fresh and elegant, with the unique astringency of tea leaves upon entry. But the astringency skipped on the tip of the tongue and vanished in an instant, followed by a lingering sweet aftertaste.
One sip left a fragrance on the teeth and cheeks. The tea leaves brewed inside must be of excellent quality, and the price exceptionally beautiful.
The young man’s eyes curved, shaking his head with a smile in his eyes: “Aunt Liang, Uncle Zhao, no need to be humble.”
“Xi Yun knows how to assign people to suitable posts and is clear about rewards and punishments. The fact that your family of three can help under him is enough to prove your abilities.”
Very good, one compliment lifted four people. Watching the two beaming faces opposite him, Le Can picked up a crystal-clear shrimp dumpling and sent it into his mouth as his own reward.
Bingo!
Goal of corrupting the people around Xi Yun today: Achieved.
Teeth broke the crystal-like skin, and the delicious juice of the shrimp dumpling immediately rushed towards the opening. A light suck, and it was sweet enough to make the tip of the tongue tingle.
Impatiently biting into the pale pink filling, swallowing the mixture of fresh, bouncy shrimp and lean meat in two or three bites, he somehow felt a complex mix of satisfaction and dissatisfaction.
Le Can’s smile became even more sincere.
Although his praise had some deliberate elements, every sentence was well-founded. It wasn’t intentional flattery, as the facts were just as he said.
However…
“Aunt Liang, why do you also call me Madam?”
If he remembered correctly, after their first friendly exchange, she had shown no alienation towards him and affectionately called him “Ah Can.”
He began to lower his eyes skillfully: “I really like being called Ah Can. Ever since my parents passed away… no one has called me that.”
It wasn’t exactly a lie.
After all, in his previous life, those two scumbags called him “Le Le,” and in this life, the scumbag uncle’s family shouted his full name when ordering the little soft bun around.
It seemed that ever since Xi Yun’s “Madam,” everyone in this house had started using this awkward address.
Le Can’s face crumpled, and the braised chicken feet in black bean sauce in his mouth lost their flavor.
Young Master, Madam, add a Master and Mistress, and they could form a mahjong table. Ew—it felt especially like some stubborn feudal remnant.
If there were a favorability notification sound, it would probably be broadcasting right now: “Your favorability towards the target [Xi Yun] -1.”
“Ah, this,” Aunt Liang looked a bit embarrassed, “it was what that kid Yuan Cheng said this morning.”
Then, seeing Le Can’s expression, Aunt Liang misunderstood and hastily corrected herself, “I’m sorry, Ah Can. At first, I misunderstood that you were Young Master Xi Yun’s friend.”
Le Can’s expression became even stranger.
Could he say that he wasn’t even Xi Yun’s friend?
Also, so the culprit was that kid Yuan Cheng with no filter! Thinking about it now, the one who first called him “Madam” seemed to be that kid too!
Le Can secretly added back the deducted impression points for Xi Yun in his heart, adding a little extra out of guilt. As for Yuan Cheng?
He clenched his fist and smiled through gritted teeth, “Oh, so it was Ah Cheng…”
One eye and one arm—Le Can would still try his best to save them for Yuan Cheng. But regarding other harmless little troubles, he didn’t mind giving the guy a bit more.
After all, only by experiencing more of society’s sinister side and tasting life’s bitterness can one become more composed. Right?
Aunt Liang and Uncle Zhao looked at each other and nodded in tacit agreement.
It was true that Ah Cheng said “Madam” first, but the key was that Xi Yun, who was drinking coffee, heard it and didn’t voice any objection.
Although Yuan Cheng was a bodyguard to the outside world, he grew up with Xi Yun, and they were like brothers. Anyone who stayed in the villa long enough knew not to treat him as just a bodyguard.
Aunt Liang had also stayed long enough to hear from other workers in the house that her predecessor had lost her job because she didn’t recognize her own status or the other party’s status.
At that time, Aunt Liang had lingering fears. Fortunately, their family was usually kind to others and not the type to snobbishly trample on those below while fawning on those above.
But that kid Yuan Cheng was naturally lively; his words could be listened to, could be heard, but couldn’t be fully believed. However, since Xi Yun didn’t object, it was likely true.
Actually, Aunt Liang and Uncle Zhao had a moment of doubt.
After all, they had never heard of Le Can before. But soon, that sliver of doubt vanished completely.
Even though they were older, they kept up with the times. Nowadays, what was popular among young people… that, that… Right! Flash marriage!
After some self-justification, Le Can’s status as the true Madam was settled within the circle of the villa’s workers.
Le Can, one of the completely oblivious parties: “By the way, I have another point of curiosity.”
“This address of Young Master and Madam…”
He found it a bit hard to say.
Could there really be Master, Mistress, Miss, Grand-aunt, and so on?
Aunt Liang was very experienced in dealing with such questions. She also noticed Le Can’s discomfort with these titles and changed her address slightly when she spoke.
“Originally, the employer didn’t require us to call him that, but many of the domestic helpers in the house came from the old employer’s place. They originally called him that at the old employer’s, and later they just didn’t change it.”
As for latecomers like them, seeing the “old hands” calling him that without the employer objecting, they just kept calling him that.
“Old employer?” Le Can put down his chopsticks. “Old Master Xi?”
Aunt Liang and Uncle Zhao nodded in unison.
The older generation’s traditional thinking was deeper, Le Can understood.
Among Xi Yun’s relatives, besides his deceased parents, his relationship with the Old Master was slightly better. But this “better” was merely respect rather than intimacy.
Now that the Old Master was gone, perhaps only these people who once worked under him could retain some lingering sentiment from their long association.
Not changing the address meant he didn’t mind, or perhaps it was nostalgia for the past?
Le Can sighed softly in his heart. After wiping his hands clean, he pulled a shiny silver stainless steel dining fork from his pocket.
“Aunt Liang, I took a fork from the kitchen earlier. I’m returning it now.”
The Zhao-Liang couple, who didn’t see how the fork was conjured: ???
Le Can didn’t panic at all; instead, he continued cordially and politely, “But I might need to use a dining knife later. Can I take a few directly from the kitchen?”
“Dining knife? A few?”
The kind-hearted Aunt Liang stuttered.
Later? Later? Aren’t we sending Mr. Le Can home later?! Uncle Zhao, who had been pulled in as a temporary driver, widened his eyes.
Is it popular to bring a few dining knives when going home nowadays?
Le Can pursed his lips and smiled shyly: “Yes.”
His beautiful peach-blossom eyes carried the laziness of being full. Their owner seemed to be stared at for too long and embarrassedly licked his dry lips before continuing his request:
“If possible, please give me four.”
One for each person, he thought, should be enough…
[Author’s Note]:
Although Baby Can looks normal, it’s only looks. [Lop-eared Rabbit Head]
Kuku sauna, nothing but heartbreak.JPG*
From the recently popular Meme sauna, Shen Jiarun’s “One Spot”.
Recommended Reads
