Chapter 12: The Foreman of the Workplace

Chapter 12: The Foreman of the Workplace

The sewer under maintenance provided the perfect assist for Li Mingzhi. Ning Jiang, who had been meticulously groomed, was now covered in sewage and mud, no longer the dignified figure from moments before.

Ning Jiang obviously didn’t expect to have an intimate encounter with a smelly ditch in this lifetime. The usually sharp-minded conman was unusually dazed for a moment.

"Why, Zhizhi?" Ning Jiang climbed out of the ditch, limping and holding his butt. "What are you talking about? Did your brothers say something bad about me again?"

As Ning Jiang moved, the stench from his body became even more pungent, like a mix of expired herring and spoiled stinky tofu.

Jing Butler covered his nose and took a big step back.

Li Mingzhi covered his nose, choking on the smell, and said in a muffled voice, "It's not anyone else's business. I just figured it out myself. I don't want to be deceived anymore. We're done. Don't come looking for me again."

Ning Jiang hurriedly said, "Zhizhi..."

"Don't call me that! Damn it, I'm not some little mouse, and I've had enough of you!" Li Mingzhi, infuriated, burst out shouting.

Ning Jiang stood there, stunned, his mouth hanging open.

The sound of a police siren grew closer, and uniformed officers arrived at the entrance of the Li family's mansion.

Li Wenzhao got out of the car, exchanged a few words with the police, and soon Ning Jiang was adorned with a pair of shiny new handcuffs.

"Ning Jiang, you are suspected of multiple romance scams. The victims have filed a joint lawsuit, and we've been looking for you for a long time." The police put the handcuffs on Ning Jiang and, wrinkling their nose at the smell, added, "What happened? Were you hiding in the sewer?"

"Officers! I'm reporting a crime! I'm pressing charges! Li Mingzhi kicked me into the sewer! You heard me! I'm going to make him compensate me!" Ning Jiang pointed at Li Mingzhi and shouted angrily.

Li Mingzhi coldly watched as Ning Jiang was taken into the police car. The police ignored Ning Jiang's accusations, shook hands with Li Wenzhao, and left with Ning Jiang.

As the police car disappeared at the end of the street, Li Mingzhi stood there, staring blankly into the distance, his first love that he had believed to be genuine now completely over.

Li Wenzhao reached out and patted his younger brother's head, comforting, "It's all over. Let's go home."

Li Mingzhi wiped his eyes. "Brother, am I very stupid?"

Li Wenzhao didn't say anything.

Li Mingzhi said softly, "The friends I've been associating with aren't good people. They've been bringing trouble into our family. I'm so stupid, unable to see people clearly."

Before Li Wenzhao could respond, Jing Butler began chattering beside them.

"It's not so bad. If we're talking about bringing trouble into the house, the eldest young master is the real expert. He practically opened a prison."

"I think instead of terminating contracts with those criminals, we should just pack them up and create a Prison Reality Show. It would definitely be a hit!"

"A groundbreaking reenactment of self-narrated crimes, voted on by the audience, and sentenced based on scores."

"It would be a groundbreaking innovation in the entertainment industry."

"After all, no other company has the resources to gather so many talented individuals. It's a real shame."

Li Wenzhao's expression darkened, and his hand unconsciously used a bit more force.

"Brother, stop! You're going to make my head bald." Li Mingzhi, hugging his head, dodged to Jing Butler's side, his hair messed into a lion's mane.

He blinked and looked at Jing Yi.

What’s going on here?

Is my usually composed older brother making a fool of himself too?

From what Jing Butler said, it sounds like my brother’s mistake is way worse—serious enough to land him in jail.

Tsk tsk. I wonder what's going on here.

Curious.

Wanting to push the limits of getting in trouble.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Li Mingzhi, arm-in-arm with Jing Yi, prepared to ask warmly, "Jing Butler, what did you do at the company today..."

"Jing Butler."

Jing Yi turned his head, "Hmm?"

"Go notify the kitchen to prepare dinner half an hour earlier," Li Wenzhao said coldly.

"Oh, okay." Jing Yi didn’t suspect anything and hurried off to the kitchen. After all, these minor tasks were part of his duties, and he was hungry too.

After Jing Yi left, Li Mingzhi pursed his lips in dissatisfaction. "Big brother, why didn’t you let me ask Jing Butler? Are you also making a fool of yourself like me and afraid it'll be discovered?"

Li Wenzhao shot him a sharp look.

The young master immediately shrank his neck and ducked his head as he scuttled into the house. Only when he was far away did he dare to talk back to his brother, "Big brother, you're too controlling!"

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Alone at the front gate, Li Wenzhao stood silent for a moment before taking out his phone to call Fan Ming. "Fan Secretary, how is the process of terminating contracts with the artists at the Shengshi branch going?"

Secretary Fan replied briskly, "It’s ongoing, but we’ve encountered some resistance. There are too many artists, and they’re preparing to sue Shengshi together in court."

"Let them sue," Li Wenzhao said expressionlessly. "The termination agreement must be signed. Shengshi doesn’t need artists with a tainted record."

Secretary Fan: "Understood, Mr. Li, I’ll arrange it right away."

Li Wenzhao: "Can it be done in a week?"

Secretary Fan gave a professional response, "Three days should do it."

Li Wenzhao: "Speed up the process."

This temporary warden role was something he couldn’t bear for even a minute longer.

·

·

Back at home, dinner was already on the table. Li Mingzhi pulled Jing Yi to sit in the dining room. "Big brother, I want Jing Butler to have dinner with us. Is that okay?"

Jing Yi smiled reservedly. "Young Master, that’s against the rules."

Li Wenzhao sneered. The young butler’s eyes were fixed on the food, and he was practically sitting down already.

His actions contradicted his words.

"Take a seat."

Jing Yi plopped into the chair at the far end of the table, his face beaming with satisfaction. "Thank you, eldest young master."

Li Wenzhao gave a long, drawn-out sigh.

Only shows up when it's time to eat.

Aunt Fang went upstairs to invite Li Xu and Li Ting down for dinner. Li Xu said he wasn't hungry, but Li Ting, still in his pajamas, yawned and came down the stairs. "Man, work is exhausting. I need an assistant like you do, bro."

Li Ting's eyes kept glancing toward Jing Yi.

He had heard rumors about what happened at the headquarters. On Jing Yi's first day of work, his brother had let go of hundreds of soon-to-debut artists. The staff couldn't figure out Li Wenzhao's move, but Li Ting knew. Clearly, Jing Butler must have uncovered something big.

Otherwise, his brother wouldn't have acted so decisively and ruthlessly.

Li Ting was curious about what those artists did wrong and wanted to take the young butler to the company for a tour. Maybe they could uncover something important too.

Too bad Jing Yi is under his brother's watch, so he’d need to ask for permission to borrow him.

Li Wenzhao remained expressionless. "There's no need to inform me about branch company hiring."

"I'm not here to hire anyone." Li Ting smiled.

Li Wenzhao raised his eyes.

Li Ting grinned at Jing Yi. "Young butler."

Jing Yi, sitting at the corner of the table, was busily stuffing his face, his mouth full of food, chewing vigorously. Suddenly being called out, he looked up confusedly. "Hmm?"

"Be my assistant for a few days. Whatever salary eldest young master gives you, I'll double it. Come on?" Li Ting tempted him with a tone that was hard to resist. "Interested?"

Jing Yi squinted suspiciously.

Something's off.

Third Young Master was eyeing him like a juicy prize, ready to be snatched up.

As a villain, it's better to be careful.

Jing Yi immediately shook his head. "I’ve already accepted payment from the eldest young master. I can’t take on side jobs right now."

Li Ting offered, "I’ll triple your pay."

Jing Yi was tempted for a second by this unexpected fortune but still shook his head with difficulty. "Third young master, one must be honest. It’s not cool to try and poach me right under the eldest young master’s nose."

Li Ting: "Oh, so you’ve already pledged your loyalty to my brother?"

Jing Yi humbly smiled. "Just a small virtue."

Li Ting: "……”

"Let’s eat." Li Wenzhao cut in. "Third, you'll send the branch company's documents to the headquarters tomorrow. Young butler Jing will be responsible for organizing them."

Jing Yi: ???

Outsourcing work?

"You’re not creating work; you’re just moving it around."

"I should have agreed to the Third Young Master's triple pay."

Now it's too late.

Doing all this work for nothing.

Li Wenzhao: “……”

Li Ting couldn't hold back and snorted with laughter.

Jing Yi felt like crying but held it in, angrily picking up a piece of braised pork and chewing it fiercely.

"Jing Butler." Li Mingzhi put a chicken leg in Jing Yi's bowl, "I grabbed the last one for you, eat quickly."

As if afraid someone else would snatch it.

Jing Yi, deeply moved, said, "Thank you, young master."

Still, a simple child is the most harmless.

Li Mingzhi asked, "Jing Butler, what else would you like? I'll get it for you."

Jing Yi not so subtly hinted, "The grilled eel in front of the eldest young master looks pretty good."

The next second, Li Wenzhao could only watch as his younger brother took the entire plate of grilled eel and placed it in front of Jing Yi.

"Jing Butler, eat up. It's all yours. Neither the eldest young master nor I like it."

Jing Yi couldn't help but feel extremely grateful to the young master.

Li Wenzhao: “……”

Li Ting: “……”

By the end of the meal, the young butler's mouth was shiny with oil, his pretty face full of satisfaction. It was the first time the Li family's dinner table saw a clean plate initiative.

After dinner, servants cleaned up the table. Jing Yi let out a small burp and walked out. "I ate too much. I'm going for a walk."

He hadn't had a good look around the CEO's estate since he arrived.

"I'll come with you," Li Mingzhi offered.

The Li family estate, like something out of a novel, covered a vast area. There was a large golf course in the back, and both sides of the mansion, as well as near the main gate, were gardens maintained by professionals. They were adorned with beautiful small night lights, and there wasn't a mosquito in sight.

This was a classic CEO's estate.

While others had villas, the Li family owned an entire estate.

As they strolled through the garden, breathing in the fresh air, Li Mingzhi relaxed and said, "I feel like you're different from when you first joined the Li family."

Jing Yi asked, "How so?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it." Li Mingzhi thought for a moment. "When you first came, I really didn't like you. You were quiet and reserved, and everything you did seemed... lifeless, but now, you're much livelier."

Of course, I've changed since then.

Jing Yi smiled. "People change."

Li Mingzhi burst out laughing. "Sometimes I wonder if you're possessed by a ghost! Hahahaha."

Jing Yi was horrified.

Jing Yi, you're closer to the truth than you know.

And he really was a ghost, one who had taken over Jing Butler's body.

After a half-hour of wandering, Jing Yi and Li Mingzhi returned, still whispering to each other. As they approached the door, Jing Yi could already hear Li Ting's voice.

"Big brother, in a few days, it will be second brother's birthday. Should we throw him a birthday party? He's turning 25 this year, which is kind of a milestone. What do you think?"

Though Li Ting and Li Xu were twins, they were born at different times. Li Xu was born just before midnight, while Li Ting was born in the early hours of the following day.

Because of this, the two brothers had birthdays a day apart.

Li Ting preferred low-key celebrations for himself but loved organizing parties for Li Xu.

Li Wenzhao nodded. "With everything that's been going on, a party would be a good way to lift everyone's spirits. Go ahead and plan it."

"Alright," Li Ting replied.

Just as Jing Yi stepped inside, his thoughts seemed to echo through the Li family's living room.

"Li Xu's birthday party!"

"This could be another turning point for the Li family. If things don't go well, the second young master might end up broke!"

Li Wenzhao and Li Ting were startled, their expressions turning serious.

Li Mingzhi shot a quick, nervous glance at Jing Yi.

Unaware of the brothers' serious expressions, Jing Yi stood there, stroking his chin as he lost himself in thought.

After a tense, suspense-filled moment, Jing Yi finally broke the silence.

"What exactly happened at the birthday party? Hmm... I seem to have forgotten. Didn't someone steal something important from the second young master? Ah, my memory's a bit fuzzy on that one."

......