Chapter 3: Conquering Through the Art of Tea

Chapter 3: I Will Master the Art of Tea

"Ding—Green tea behavior detected! Green Tea Points +5."

Jian Ye: ?

Green Tea Points? Didn’t the system mention this before?

"System 748: Host just gained approval from others through manipulative sweet-talk. The system automatically rewards Green Tea Points."

"Jian Ye: You said earlier that accumulating Green Tea Points to a certain extent would grant different titles and reputations. What’s the benefit of achieving these?"

"System 748: With each achievement you unlock, you can freely exchange Green Tea Points for Green Tea Coins, which can be spent in the system mall."

"Jian Ye: I see. So what’s available in the system mall?"

"System 748: Host hasn’t unlocked any achievements yet. The system mall isn’t available yet."

"Jian Ye: Right now, at this initial stage, how many Green Tea Points do I need to unlock the first achievement?"

"System 748: Take a guess?"

Jian Ye: …

After only a short time together, he already realized this system was pretty cheeky.

It loved playing tricks on him and teasing him.

Guess? I refuse!

Tell me or don’t—whatever!

Anyway, there’ll be a system notification when it’s time to level up.

"Young Master? Young Master!"

Butler Zhang’s concerned voice snapped Jian Ye back to reality.

His earlier conversation with the system looked no different from zoning out to outsiders.

Butler Zhang assumed Jian Ye was depressed about the marriage arrangement and comforted him, "Young Master, though entering a wealthy family is like jumping into deep water, I believe the marriage with the Yi family may not be all bad for you."

Jian Ye: …

You have no idea how miserable this marriage will make me in the future! Readers would tear the character Jian Ye apart!

Not to mention marrying the main protagonist—someone like me doesn’t deserve it at all!

Butler Zhang: "The Yi family is an ultra-wealthy, top-tier family renowned nationwide, with enormous financial assets. As far as I know, although the Jian family is also considered a wealthy family, it’s not even a tenth of the Yi family’s stature."

No matter how rich they are, that wealth belongs to the protagonists! What does it have to do with a minor side character like me?

"The Jian family is nothing but a pit of suffering for you. If you leave the Jian family and secure the affection of Third Young Master Yi, I believe you’ll live a much better life than now! You can start by doing this… then that…"

"…"

Why does a butler sound like an ancient palace schemer, peddling toxic advice to his master?

Hoping for the master to climb the social ladder, reap the benefits, and live in luxury—based on his years of novel-reading experience, such plots usually end badly...

Nothing good ever comes of it.

Jian Ye felt like Butler Zhang was trying to turn him into a seductive little temptress for the male lead—fast.

But selling his looks wasn’t his style. What did he have now? A Green Tea System! A cheat code-like existence!

He’d conquer with his *tea art*—the art of subtle manipulation—not this flashy, shallow exterior!

Though his appearance *was* drop-dead gorgeous...

"Jian Ye: Right, System?"

"System 748: ..."

"Jian Ye: I’m still respecting the persona you gave me, you know. Hear the fury in my soul?"

"System 748: Stay in character and don’t mess up. Even though you call me a golden-finger cheat, there will be punishment if you fail."

"Jian Ye: Isn’t it just following the plot—hook the male lead up with his White Moonlight,* then make a graceful exit?"

"System 748: *Smirks.jpg*"

Jian Ye: ??

Wtf! This system can send memes inside his head?!

Why are there so many socially awkward people in the world? Because face-to-face conversations don’t allow emojis, that’s why!

Ugh! The system totally one-upped him!

Seeing that smirky expression, Jian Ye got a bad vibe.

But he didn’t dwell on it, quickly pushing it aside to focus on his game plan after tying the knot with the male lead.

—

After dinner, Jian Ye zoned out and crashed hard.

He slept straight through till morning.

The original host had pulled a starvation act, popped sleeping pills, and even staged a bathtub suicide stunt the day before.

No shock Jian Ye was wiped out after transmigrating into this body at such a critical moment.

Now, he woke up completely recharged, energy restored.

Yesterday, his mind had been foggy from the original host’s lingering influence, but today he could finally deal with some loose ends.

Top priority: dye back this mermaid-hair green mane, then handle the peacock-core wardrobe...

He already told Butler Zhang to post all these clothes online for resale.

Throwing them away would be a waste—some were brand new, all luxury labels. Each ran four or five digits easy.

Jian Ye wasn’t about that wasteful life. Who knew if he’d have money to burn once he entered the Yi Family? Stashing a nest egg early never hurt.

The young man lounged on the bed scrolling through his phone, the sheets tangled around him, showing off a slim calf.

- *Footnote: "White Moonlight" refers to the male lead's idealized love interest—pure, unattainable, and often contrasted with more complex characters.

The sunlight gilded his long lashes into delicate, translucent wings.

When Butler Zhang knocked and entered, he was greeted by the sight of his young master lounging lazily yet beautifully, like a vivid painting.

In the past, he had written Jian Ye off as a fool and harbored no real respect for his master, brimming instead with scorn and disdain.

But now, having resolved to serve Jian Ye wholeheartedly, Butler Zhang found himself growing fonder of the boy.

His young master was exceptionally handsome, with a face like polished jade—a match even for the Yi family’s heir.

If the young master could handle that person after moving in, Butler Zhang would naturally share in his good fortune.

"Young Master, breakfast is ready. I brought Auntie Liu back."

Auntie Liu was the kitchen maid who had once taken care of Jian Ye’s daily meals, someone who’d worked here since his parents’ time. However, after Butler Zhang was sent over from the Jian family’s old estate, Auntie Liu had been dismissed.

The Jian family ensured no one close to Jian Ye remained—everyone sent was just a spy for the Jians.

Now in the old estate’s good graces, Butler Zhang had enough authority to replace the villa’s staff without raising suspicion.

Jian Ye didn’t recognize Auntie Liu—even if the book mentioned her, he hadn’t paid much attention.

He simply went downstairs to meet her.

When Auntie Liu saw Jian Ye, her tearful fussing left him flustered.

"Young Master, you’ve lost so much weight! Those Jian family monsters—how have they been taking care of you? When I left, you still had a bit of baby fat, and now you’re all skin and bones!"

Butler Zhang: "...” He *knew* he was being insulted—but couldn’t prove it.

Jian Ye: "..." He *knew* she was calling him chubby before—but couldn’t argue.

What truly surprised Jian Ye was that, in this cutthroat world where side characters always died, there was actually someone who genuinely cared about the original host.

It struck a chord in him. Auntie Liu’s gaze and expression held no deceit—she was probably the person who cared most about the original host after his parents, someone he could trust.

"Auntie Liu, I’m doing fine. I’m so happy to have your cooking again—welcome *back*!"

The boy’s bright smile and the word “home” warmed the middle-aged woman’s heart, making her tear up again.

"Good, good… From now on, Auntie Liu will cook your favorites *daily*!"

"The Young Master can cook now too, and he’s quite skilled. I tasted his food yesterday—it rivals yours, Auntie Liu."

Butler Zhang couldn’t help but praise, still savoring yesterday’s meal.

But to Auntie Liu, his words carried a different meaning.

Her chest tightened for Jian Ye. Her young master had never set foot in the kitchen before, living like royalty—clothes and meals delivered on demand.

If he had learned to cook now, it must mean he had suffered greatly under the Jian family’s hands.

Those Jian family vultures—weren’t they just taking advantage of the fact that the master and mistress were gone, picking on her defenseless young master?

Auntie Liu already knew about Butler Zhang’s decision to serve Jian Ye faithfully from now on.

That he had seen the light and stopped aiding the Jian family’s old estate was both unexpected and a relief to her.

If even the person closest to the young master was full of schemes, how tragic would *that* be?

...

This breakfast was a hearty spread for Jian Ye.

Auntie Liu seemed determined to make up for all the love she’d neglected to show him. After he came downstairs, she went back into the kitchen and made even more dishes.

Jian Ye was drowning in affection.

Could a universally hated punching bag really get treated this well? Jian Ye thought it was probably the calm before the storm—*Yeah, right, the calm before the storm.*

The boy scrolled through the original owner’s phone while eating breakfast.

He opened WeChat, and the contact pinned to the top wasn’t anyone from the Jian family—it was that scumbag who played the original owner’s heart.

The scumbag’s name was Yu Wei, and the original owner had labeled him *“My Darling Fishy Gege.”*

*Yue—* (Chinese onomatopoeia for disgust/gagging)

Jian Ye nearly spat out his food.

*You wanna be a hopeless simp? Fine. But could you *be* any cringier?* he mentally groaned.

Clicking into the chat, he skimmed through the messages. They were disgustingly lovey-dovey enough to make him want to yeet his phone across the room.

The conversation ended with the scumbag breaking up, followed by the original owner spamming desperate, soap-opera-level pleas.

Jian Ye couldn’t stomach another word and deleted the contact on the spot.

*Why keep a two-timing loser around? For Christmas cards?*

*Fishy Gege? More like Nemo’s deadbeat dad.*

Besides the scumbag, the rest of his WeChat contacts were just Jian family relatives who blew up his phone weekly, nagging him to come back to the family estate.

These relatives were absolute pains in the ass—they treated Jian Ye like trash but still worried he might one day fight them for the inheritance.

Were they scared he’d suddenly have an epiphany, ditch his spoiled ways, and become some prodigy outta nowhere—the family’s golden child?

With the original owner, those fears were pointless.

But now that *he* was here, all bets were off.

Though Jian Ye didn’t care about the family fortune, he still owed it to this body to get payback for everyone who had wronged the original owner.

In other words: *Why should I take your crap just because I’m in this skin now?*

Even if he *did* feel slighted, he’d fake it—*all* an act—just for *them*.

His green tea persona suddenly came in handy. If he played it with every member of the Jian family, he could farm a ton of Green Tea Points...

Still scheming, he finished breakfast and turned to Butler Zhang. “Where’s the nearest barbershop?”

“Young Master, you need a haircut? No need to go out—you’ve got your own personal Tony. Didn’t he do your hairstyle already?”

Jian Ye’s eyes bugged out.

*A personal Tony?!*

Is this really how rich kids play around?

Guess I underestimated him.

Worried Butler Zhang might suspect something, Jian Ye quickly coughed twice. "Of course I know about Tony. I just wanted to try a different hairstylist."

Butler Zhang: "Oh, I see... Then I'll arrange another stylist for you. The Jian family has a partnership with the largest hair salon in Yunjing, so you can pick any stylist you want from there."

Is that so? This green-tea cannon fodder character's starting perks aren't half bad!

Damn impressive.