Chapter 39: Shaken to the Core

Chapter 39: Shaken to the Core

Li Wenzhao seemed at a loss for words, his gaze fixed on Jing Yi's face for a long time without speaking.

Feeling guilty under such scrutiny, Jing Yi's eyes darted around nervously.

[This is from the guest at table 9, who wants to invite you to watch a movie tonight.]

For some reason, Jing Yi's mind suddenly flashed back to the waiter's words.

He blinked, following Li Wenzhao's example and freezing on the spot.

“……”

“Figured it out?” Li Wenzhao, seeing Jing Yi's sudden change in expression, knew the young butler had come to the realization on his own. Fortunately, he wasn't too dull.

“Yes.” Jing Yi, with his mouth pursed, was straightforward, “He wants to hit on me, right?”

Thank goodness, the young butler had finally caught on.

Li Wenzhao hummed in response, “Any thoughts?”

Jing Yi shook his head, “I can't even think about it.”

“……”

Jing Yi truly didn't dare to think. As a character in a classic early-era romance novel, where all the main and supporting characters were romantically interested in the opposite sex, how could an extra with no name and no significance dare to approach the pure love villain's sidekick? What audacity!

You're on the wrong wavelength, you know?

Li Wenzhao was stunned by the young butler's wandering thoughts, letting out a silent scoff.

Jing Yi looked up.

Li Wenzhao's gaze was somewhat dark, his tall and slender figure backlit by the overhead lights, casting his broad shoulders and straight back in shadow.

In the quiet corridor, Jing Yi felt even more uneasy, tugging at Li Wenzhao, “Eldest young master, don't make that expression. You look like one of those shady characters from an anime who's about to kill someone.”

“……”

“If you've got nothing to hide, why worry about being killed?”

Jing Yi muttered, “Serial killers don't pick their victims carefully.”

Realizing his own thoughts had also gone astray, Li Wenzhao frowned slightly and restrained himself from speaking further.

Jing Yi quickly changed direction, his gaze meeting Li Wenzhao's for two seconds, “So, eldest young master, did you come back just to save me?”

Li Wenzhao looked down at the boy in front of him. He had indeed come back for a reason, but it wasn't entirely selfless.

He spoke softly, “Yes.”

Jing Yi let out a sigh of relief, “Then I must thank the eldest young master.”

Li Wenzhao looked at him, “Didn't you like that person?”

“Just a stranger.” Jing Yi furrowed his brows, “How can that be considered liking or not liking?”

“The only thing that could make me instantly obsessed is money!”

Li Wenzhao: "..."

He was reading too much into it. With how off-track the young butler was right now, even the smoothest talker wouldn't stand a chance. No one could sway him at the moment.

Jing Yi wanted to keep ranting, but Li Wenzhao suddenly turned and left. He quickly chased after him, "Eldest young master? Not talking anymore?"

He always felt like Li Wenzhao still had something unsaid.

"We're done talking," Li Wenzhao said, not bothering to look back.

"Why?"

Li Wenzhao sighed softly, "You're way off course."

"……??"

Jing Yi looked down at his feet.

Li Wenzhao: "..."

·

Li Wenzhao swiped his card and headed straight into the master bedroom.

The suite Boss Zhao had arranged was top-notch. The guest bedroom was bigger than the one he stayed in during his last business trip to Shengshi, complete with its own bathroom and a tub with a view.

Jing Yi soaked until his skin felt warm and almost melted before climbing into bed.

Lying on the comfy bed, Jing Yi closed his eyes, but sleep eluded him tonight. After tossing and turning like a pancake on a griddle, he remembered there was something he needed to do.

He got up and pulled out his phone: [Is Secretary Fan still awake?]

[Fan Ming]: Tell me what it is first, Young Master Jing, then I’ll let you know if I’m awake.

[You Jing Da Ye]: "..."

[You Jing Da Ye]: I wanted to say that Secretary Zou asked me to give you something, but I think I forgot to give it to you.

[Fan Ming]: What is it? [Alertly pushes up glasses.jpg]

[You Jing Da Ye]: A secret guide for the civil service exam.

[Fan Ming]: "..."

[Fan Ming]: What's wrong with him? I'm not taking the exam, so why is he pushing this on me?

Jing Yi thought for a moment: [Maybe he's trying to find some confidence in you. (Evil charming smile.jpg)]

[Fan Ming]: "..."

In the opposite room, Fan Ming had just finished washing up. Looking at the chat interface, he suddenly curled his lips.

Settling comfortably in bed, he sent a message to Jing Yi.

[Young Master Jing, is Mr. Li asleep?]

Jing Yi was startled. Just as he was about to say he didn't know, he worried that Fan Ming might have something important to report. So, he silently raised his voice in his mind, "Eldest young master, are you asleep?"

Lying peacefully in bed, about to drift into dreams, Li Wenzhao opened his eyes: "..."

"Eldest Young Master?"

Li Wenzhao pressed the bedside lamp and took out his phone: "What's up?"

Jing Yi turned to send a message to Fan Ming.

[Fan Ming]: Mr. Li needs a glass of milk before bed to help him sleep, Jing Butler. Otherwise, he’s prone to insomnia in a new place. I’m in the middle of finishing some reports, could you please bring it to him?

Jing Yi narrowed his eyes suspiciously: [Secretary Fan, you’d better not be messing with me.]

How come he had never heard of this habit in all his time with the Li family?

[Fan Ming]: I swear on Secretary Zou’s IQ, 24K pure truth!

"..."

Li Wenzhao turned on the light and sat up, listening to the young butler’s quiet mutterings in the next room. He stared at his phone for a long time, but Jing Yi didn’t send any more messages.

"..."

The crazy young butler is now making fun of his superior in the middle of the night.

Li Wenzhao made a mental note, put down his phone, turned off the light, closed his eyes, and went back to sleep.

Tap tap tap.

There was a soft scratching sound at the door.

Li Wenzhao opened his eyes again: "..."

Jing Yi stood outside the door, holding a full cup of milk he had just taken from the fridge. He knocked lightly: "Eldest Young Master, I’m here, could you open the door?"

The door opened the next second.

The young butler, clad in a white bathrobe, was freshly bathed and looked rosy and soft. The hotel bathrobe was one-size-fits-all, and it fit Mr. Li quite well, but on Jing Yi, it was a bit too large, with the collar crooked, revealing large areas of delicate pinkish skin.

"You..."

Before Li Wenzhao could say anything, the young butler bowed his head and marched straight in, holding a cup of some unknown liquid in both hands: "Move, move, it’s going to spill!"

Li Wenzhao: "..."

The master bedroom was significantly larger than Jing Yi’s room, with a more intricate layout. Jing Yi glanced at the bed, then carefully placed the milk on the bedside table as if he were defusing a bomb: "Eldest Young Master, drink this milk before you sleep."

Li Wenzhao’s gaze lingered on the young butler’s straight, fair legs beneath the bathrobe, his eyes darkening: "You came to knock on the door just to deliver milk?"

"Mhm." Jing Yi nodded. "It’s for better sleep, drink up."

The newly awakened Li Wenzhao was speechless.

Jing Yi tilted his head and looked at him: "Would you prefer it warm instead? I can heat it up."

Li Wenzhao stopped him, his voice lowering. "No need, this will do."

Jing Yi paused, giving him a curious look.

Li Wenzhao: "What’s up?"

"Do you have a cold? Why is your voice so hoarse?" Jing Yi ran over, tiptoed, and reached up to touch Li Wenzhao's forehead.

His oversized bathrobe slipped as he moved...

Li Wenzhao: "..."

"You feel a bit warm, eldest young master. Looks like you might have a fever..."

"Get out."

Before Jing Yi could finish, Li Wenzhao grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and shoved him out of the room.

The door slammed shut behind them.

Jing Yi: "...?"

Jing Yi didn’t have time to think about what Li Wenzhao meant before his phone buzzed in his bathrobe.

[Fan Ming]: Jing Butler, did you drop off the milk?

Jing Yi blankly typed: [Yeah, I delivered it, but something seems off with the eldest young master.]

[Fan Ming]: How is he off?

[You Jing Yi]: Looks like he has a fever.

[Fan Ming]: ...

·

The next morning, Jing Yi sleepily walked out and saw Li Wenzhao already up, tying his tie in front of the mirror.

Jing Yi hovered close and asked, "Are you feeling better?"

Li Wenzhao yanked the tie too tight, nearly choking himself.

He turned to look at the boy next to him, "Better how?"

Jing Yi: "You seemed to have a fever last night. As your butler, I should go out and buy medicine for you right away."

"..." Li Wenzhao took a deep breath, "No need."

Jing Yi nodded and floated off, "Guess you’re fine now."

"..."

After getting dressed, Jing Yi took the briefcase and waited by the door while Li Wenzhao finished his call.

However, as soon as the door opened, Jing Yi saw a crack in the opposite room, and Fan Ming peeked through the gap, observing them.

Fan Ming: |.0)

Jing Yi: (0.|

"Secretary Fan, what are you doing?" Jing Yi asked, showing half of his face.

Fan Ming said, "I’m waiting for Mr. Li to say if we’re off today."

"That's a nice thought." Jing Yi said, "With your high salary, why are you always thinking about resting?"

Fan Ming smiled. "Yes, I should learn from Jing Butler."

The door shook, and Jing Yi grabbed it. "Secretary Fan, how about we both show our faces properly? It's tiring to chat like this."

"..."

Fan Ming opened the door, completely shedding his previous sneakiness, now suddenly all businesslike. "Good morning, Jing Butler."

Jing Yi opened the door, carrying a heavy briefcase. "Good morning, Secretary Fan."

Seeing the item in Jing Yi's hand, Fan Ming hurriedly took it, his attitude very attentive. "Thanks for your effort, Jing Butler. I'll take this."

"?" Jing Yi squinted. "Secretary Fan, after just one night, you seem to have developed a different attitude."

Fan Ming said, "Isn't it much more amiable?"

Jing Yi stated seriously, "It's the smug look of someone who got what they wanted by sneaky means."

Pausing, he stared closely at Fan Ming's face and added, "Someone who backstabs others and gets away with it."

Fan Ming: "..."

Li Wenzhao came out of the room with a blank face. "What backstabbing? Who's the petty person?"

Fan Ming said, "I'm just joking with Jing Butler."

Li Wenzhao, recalling the suspicious glass of milk from last night, shifted his gaze to Fan Ming. "You love jokes so much? Should I crack one when I pay you?"

"..." Fan Ming faltered. "Mr. Li, I can apologize."

---

They were set to meet Boss Zhao at 9 AM for the site inspection. The hotel arranged a car to send Li Wenzhao and his team to the suburbs.

The resort needed to be peaceful, scenic, and spacious enough for all amenities and views. After comprehensive consideration, only the suburbs could hold such a place.

After an hour’s drive, they reached their destination.

"Mr. Li." Boss Zhao had arrived a few minutes earlier and got out of the car to shake hands with Li Wenzhao. "What do you think? It's near the highway and has an expressway close by. We don’t need to worry about transportation."

The area was beautiful, with fresh post-rain air and mist rising from the forest. The nearby residential buildings were short and simple, giving off a rustic feel, far from the technology-filled city center.

Li Wenzhao nodded. "It's good. The scenery and air are excellent, suitable as a holiday destination. But if it's overly developed, it will lose its natural beauty."

"Exactly." Boss Zhao was excited. "That's a major reason I want to work with you. I've spoken to many partners before, and their plans were all about large-scale development, which is very damaging to the environment. Only you share my viewpoint, Mr. Li."

With aligned philosophies, the two sparked unique ideas and chatted for two hours.

"Jing Butler."

Jing Yi, who had been gazing at the distant scenery, turned his head. "Hmm?"

"Are you tired?" Fan Ming said. "If you're tired, just go rest. Mr. Li won’t mind."

Fan Ming: "..."

The dark clouds in the sky gathered, as if it were about to rain again. Jing Yi turned around to fetch an umbrella from the car.

On the road, a bicycle wobbled over. A boy was riding it, with a girl sitting on the back seat, both laughing and chatting affectionately.

A luxury car passed by behind them, and the boy looked at it enviously.

"Assistant Jing, would you choose to laugh while sitting on a bicycle, or cry while sitting in a BMW?"

Fan Ming had somehow appeared and asked Jing Yi.

Jing Yi glanced at him, his eyes suggesting he thought Fan Ming was being ridiculous. "In this weather, no one can smile on the back of a bicycle. It's too uncomfortable, Secretary Fan."

Fan Ming: "..."

·

Li Wenzhao and Boss Zhao finalized their preliminary cooperation agreement, deciding to sign the contract after returning to the city, thus locking in the resort project.

To celebrate their successful partnership, Boss Zhao treated everyone to dinner.

They chose a health-focused restaurant for the occasion.

"The ingredients here are fresh, free of pesticides, and the water is sourced from mineral-rich mountain spring water," Boss Zhao said with a smile. "Mr. Li, give it a try. If you like it, we could meet here again on the project’s completion day."

Li Wenzhao chuckled lightly. "Alright."

Secretary Fan had already drafted the contract according to their discussion and, after confirming it with Boss Zhao's accompanying secretary, Li Wenzhao and Boss Zhao signed the contract.

The business trip was now successfully concluded.

Not long after the contract was signed, all the dishes were served. Jing Yi, who was already starving, saw the table full of delicious food, swallowed, and quietly scooted his chair forward.

As soon as he got comfortable, he noticed someone watching him.

Jing Yi looked over suspiciously.

Li Wenzhao pulled back the shoe that had been brushed by Jing Yi's sole. "Do you have ants in your pants or something?"

"I was worried I wouldn’t be able to reach the dishes from where I was sitting."

"It’s not my place to spin the lazy Susan at such a big table."

"If it rotates too fast, could you help me slow it down, Mr. Li?"

Li Wenzhao: "..."

"Here, Mr. Li," Boss Zhao said, lifting the lid of the central casserole. "This is their signature dish—a flavorful mushroom and free-range chicken soup. Give it a try."

In good spirits, Boss Zhao didn’t forget to invite Jing Yi and Fan Ming. "Assistant Jing, Secretary Fan, help yourselves. Don’t be shy."

"Thank you, Boss Zhao."

Jing Yi wasn’t sure what kind of soup it was, but after tasting it, he found it rich in aroma, with a creamy white broth that warmed his whole body with every sip.

"Delicious."

After finishing, Jing Yi savored the taste before glancing back at the table.

"The three-cup chicken is coming around next, get your chopsticks ready!"

Li Wenzhao: “……”

Before he could even turn his gaze, his peripheral vision had already caught sight of the young butler fidgeting restlessly.

The Three Cups Chicken spun in front of Jing Yi, and Li Wenzhao extended his chopsticks. The rotating tray immediately stopped, allowing Jing Yi to finally eat the dish he had been craving.

Throughout the meal, apart from chatting with Boss Zhao, Li Wenzhao’s attention was completely drawn to the person next to him. Occasionally, when he saw Jing Yi missing out on the food because he couldn’t keep up with the spinning table, Li Wenzhao couldn’t help but pick up the communal chopsticks to help.

Jing Yi ate his fill, even finishing three bowls of soup.

Even Boss Zhao noticed Jing Yi’s condition and found it odd. For this young man to be served food by the CEO, just what kind of status must he have?

After the meal, Boss Zhao arranged other activities and invited Li Wenzhao to experience the hot spring therapy, but Li politely declined.

Seeing this, Boss Zhao didn’t insist further and instead had his secretary arrange a car to send them back to the hotel for rest.

It was already late, so Li Wenzhao decided to return to the capital city the next day.

When they returned to the hotel, it started raining again. The sky was misty and gloomy. Jing Yi, having eaten his fill, felt soft and not the least bit cold.

He even had the mood to face the sky and mutter, “All you ever do is rain. Why don’t you rain money, huh? Hahahaha!”

As soon as he finished laughing, Jing Yi let out a burp.

“So full.”

“My stomach is so stuffed.”

Li Wenzhao, without changing his expression, glanced sideways at him. “I thought your stomach was a treasure chest, capable of holding everything.”

Jing Yi shyly pressed his lips together. “Full.”

“……”

Secretary Fan, ever dutiful, handed over a box of digestive pills. Jing Yi immediately took it. “Secretary Fan, you’re truly an excellent secretary.”

Fan Ming pushed his glasses up. “Young Butler, you flatter me.”

There were over twenty steps at the hotel entrance. Fan Ming offered, “Young Butler, would you like me to help you up the stairs?”

Jing Yi turned his head. “Are you underestimating me?”

Li Wenzhao glanced at him. “As long as you eat yourself round enough, no one can see you as flat.”

Jing Yi: “……”

Late at night, Jing Yi lay on the bed like a limp noodle.

He had eaten too much in the afternoon, so he decided not to take a bath that night. He thought he’d be tired enough to fall asleep after such a busy day, but he couldn’t fall asleep no matter what. His whole body felt overheated, as if he were soaking in hot water.

Thinking it was because he had worn too many clothes, Jing Yi shed his bathrobe and wore only his shirt, but he was still hot.

After tossing and turning in bed for a while, he noticed he had a nosebleed.

The moment he saw the blood, all he could think about was—

"Oh no, I must have some incurable disease."

"A nameless NPC destined to die, maybe the final fate of Jing Butler in the novel is to die of illness..."

"Otherwise, it wouldn't do justice to the tragic ending for everyone."

"I'm done, done, done, done..."

Hearing this from outside the door, Li Wenzhao was startled. He thought something unexpected had happened to Jing Yi and barged in without even knocking.

Seeing Jing Yi in a rumpled shirt, he paused in surprise.

Jing Yi had just climbed out of bed, his legs bare as he jumped down from the bed. Seeing Li Wenzhao, he immediately said, "I'm doomed, doomed, eldest young master, I'm dying!"

Li Wenzhao was momentarily dazzled by the scene. Seeing him holding his nose, he approached and then sighed in relief, "It's nothing."

Jing Yi whimpered, "How is it nothing? Who randomly gets nosebleeds for no reason?"

Li Wenzhao said, "You've overdone your tonic."

Jing Yi asked, "Ah?"

Li Wenzhao reminded him, "The turtle soup from noon. It was quite potent."

Jing Yi was confused for a moment before it clicked, "In this place, you call turtles treasures of the water?"

If it had been called something else, like turtle, tortoise, or softshell, he would have known.

Li Wenzhao couldn't be bothered to argue further and headed to the bathroom, "Come here."

"Why, aren't we going to the hospital?"

"It's just a small bleed. Don't you see it's already stopped?"

Jing Yi let go of his nose and, sure enough, it had stopped. He obediently ran over.

The bathroom still smelled faintly of shower gel. He followed Li Wenzhao to the sink, where the mirror reflected two figures, one taller and one shorter.

"Keep your head down, don't tilt it up."

Jing Yi obediently lowered his head.

Li Wenzhao wet a towel and wiped away the traces on Jing Yi's face.

Standing close, less than half a meter apart, Li Wenzhao's warmth and the fresh scent of his shower wafted through his bathrobe and fingertips.

Jing Yi didn't know where to look.

Li Wenzhao's bathrobe fit him perfectly, the belt at his waist accentuating the lines of his strong and lean muscles.

Jing Yi quickly looked away, feeling even more flustered.

A sudden itch in his nose made him think he was about to get another nosebleed. He tried to step back but was held in place by Li Wenzhao's hand on his shoulder, "Don't move."

The familiar itch overwhelmed him, and Jing Yi instinctively tried to pull away from Li Wenzhao's grip, "I can't stay still..."

"I think I'm going to get another nosebleed!"

Jing Yi hurriedly stepped back, but his toe suddenly slipped, causing his body to tilt backward. He was about to hit the edge of the sink behind him.

A strong sense of weightlessness washed over him, and Jing Yi's eyes widened in horror, his mind racing with a continuous loop of “I'm done for, I'm done for, I'm done for…” Just as he closed his eyes, awaiting death, a powerful force yanked him back.

"What are you doing!" Li Wenzhao's irritated voice brushed against his ear. "Do you not care about your life, messing around in a place like this?"

Like a startled quail, Jing Yi flailed in Li Wenzhao's grasp for a moment before finding his footing on his bare feet. He muttered softly, "You were too close; it was making me feel hot..."

"So you were trying to kill yourself?"

"I wasn't..."

Jing Yi's words came to an abrupt stop. His heart thumped once.

His body tilted as he was held in Li Wenzhao's embrace, a warm palm pressed against his lower back, causing him to tremble all over. It felt as though something between them, at their closest point of contact, was slowly awakening.

Jing Yi's eyes widened in shock, his body trembling violently.