Chapter 1

Chapter 1

This butler is panicking.

-

Island G, a Mediterranean island nation spanning over 30 square kilometers, is home to Zhou Yan, the wealthiest individual on the island and the biggest tycoon in District G. With ventures in finance, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and insurance, his net worth exceeds 100 billion euros. He consistently ranks in the top ten of the Forbes list.

Jiang Yao, dressed in understated attire, lounged lazily on the yacht’s deck, exuding an air of nonchalance.

The sea breeze lifted the hem of Jiang Yao’s T-shirt, revealing a glimpse of his taut waistline, accentuated by well-defined abs. His striking Eastern charm drew the attention of countless bikini- and swimwear-clad tourists.

Through his telescope, Jiang Yao surveyed the microstate of just over 30 square kilometers.

His mission was to successfully enter the Shen household and work for Shen Mo. According to his contract with the company, once he earned 3 billion euros, he could retire at any time.

After probation, the Shen family would pay him a monthly salary of 300,000 euros. If he relied solely on his salary—without factoring in raises or bonuses—he’d need to work for 833 years to retire at the impossible age of 855!

The System: "The management said it! Landing a job working for a billionaire like this is an incredible stroke of luck—a blessing from your past life!"

Jiang Yao’s lips twitched. What a blessing indeed.

Moreover, he couldn’t afford to be fired during his tenure. If dismissed, he’d lose the job and be sent back to the surface world. His body had been in a vegetative state since the car accident—if he were repatriated, it would mean certain death.

Jiang Yao’s reflection in the azure sea was distorted by the restless waves. He raised the telescope, focusing on the coastal villa district.

Finally, he couldn’t resist whistling in admiration.

That was the creme de la creme of the G District’s wealthy elite!

The System: "Oh, right! The management said you can choose one special ability. A beginning butler gets three uses."

Jiang Yao lifted his hand, thumb and forefinger spread apart, estimating the land value between them as he casually replied, "Put me on the Forbes list."

The System thought it misheard: "That’s obviously impossible!"

Jiang Yao put away the telescope and left the deck. A voluptuous brunette passed by, removing her sunglasses to eye him. Jiang Yao smirked, whistled at her, then disappeared below deck.

The ship slowed, preparing to dock.

Jiang Yao adjusted his slightly uncomfortable shirt in the mirror. "Tsk. Looking good."

The System: "You're definitely handsome, but—well, never mind. You are handsome."

"I’m just an ordinary housekeeper, nothing special." Jiang Yao straightened his collar in the mirror.

He opened a drawer, retrieved a velvet box, and took out a diamond watch, fastening it to his cuff. "Just an ordinary housekeeper, nothing special."

"Just—"

The System: "What are you doing?"

Jiang Yao: "These are the NPC lines I designed for myself."

The System: "Huh?"

Jiang Yao: "Learned from you."

The System was slow to react: "...Are you complimenting me?"

"Hahahahaha." Jiang Yao burst into laughter.

His outfit was the standard-issue uniform from the Quick Transmigration Bureau—silk shirt and trousers, cool and breathable with a luxurious feel. But there was one downside: under strong sunlight, the fabric became semi-transparent.

Though the yacht was filled with gorgeous, barely dressed men and women, after seeing so much exposed skin, who wouldn’t be curious about the Asian guy’s physique beneath that silk shirt? Some things were all the more tantalizing the more they were concealed.

He only had one chance to choose his special ability, so Jiang Yao had to consider carefully. After all, the Shen family wasn’t easy to infiltrate. According to the System’s inside information, the Bureau had sent over a dozen top-grade butlers before—all fired.

And this special ability had limited uses. As a newbie, he’d only get three chances during his tenure. Choosing the right ability and using it at the right time to maximize its effect would be a test for a greenhorn like him.

Jiang Yao absentmindedly fiddled with his telescope and asked humbly, "What did the seniors pick?"

The System: "One chose mind-reading but got fired for knowing Shen Mo too well—suspected of ulterior motives. Another picked super beauty, tried to climb into his bed, and got fired. One chose superhuman fighting skills, but the Peaceful Nation, and Shen Mo doesn’t lack bodyguards. Then there was—"

Shen Mo lived in the most luxurious hillside villa, its main gate said to remain permanently shut. The System didn’t know the exact routes through other entrances, and the navigation map bore no resemblance to the intel Jiang Yao had. He’d have to figure it out as he went.

This wasn’t surprising—the wealthier the elite, the more they valued privacy, leaving little information accessible.

G Nation had a population of only about 40,000, with one millionaire for every three to four people. The exchange rate between the local euro and his home currency was over 7:1, meaning the entire nation was practically teeming with millionaires and billionaires.

Where the wealthy gathered, living costs soared. G Nation’s real estate ranked first globally, with even the cheapest areas priced at 500,000 per square meter. If he failed to secure the Shen job today...

Jiang Yao checked his phone, nearly fainting at the hotel rates.

If he couldn’t report for duty, he’d have to fork over 10,000 to 20,000 for a cramped few-square-meter room tonight.

Millionaires were everywhere here, tipping hundreds of euros without a second thought. Only Jiang Yao was flat broke—all expenses before his first paycheck were fronted by the Bureau, basically a cash advance on his earnings.

And the Bureau would take a 70 percent cut of his salary as a "referral fee." The crew waited ashore to see passengers off and collect their final tips.

Jiang Yao swiftly retracted the hand offering a tip.

The 10-euro note barely grazed the crewman’s palm before being snatched back. The man blinked in confusion: "?"

Jiang Yao smoothly folded the bill, tucked it into his breast pocket, blew the crewman a kiss, and hopped lightly off the deck.

-

G Nation—the capital of the wealthy.

A place known for style, sophistication, and affluence, home to the world’s highest concentration of millionaires, top-ranked real estate prices, and high-net-worth individuals.

On this mere 3,000-square-meter land, every square inch was priceless—yet the Shen family had audaciously claimed half a mountain and plain, building the nation’s most extravagant villa, commanding the finest sea views and forests.

Word was Shen’s land cost 300,000 euros per square meter—2.1 million yuan—and that was the price years ago. No one could even guess the current value of this half-mountain estate.

"Please give me another chance, Mr. Shen Mo!"

"Just one more opportunity, I promise—"

A man in his thirties in a suit was shoved out a side door, which slammed shut. After futile pounding, he slunk away defeated.

"Excuse me, is this Mr. Shen Mo’s residence?"

The man turned to see an Asian man holding a suitcase, hands folded respectfully as he gazed at the Shen family’s side door like a pious supplicant.

The man shook his head. "Don't bother. Getting into the Shen family is harder than the White House!"

Just then, the side door opened, and a Filipino maid emerged carrying a bamboo basket. Spotting Jiang Yao, she immediately pressed the call button.

Moments later, she reappeared. "Mr. Jiang, please follow me. Butler Jenny is expecting you."

The man spluttered. "Why does he get to see Jenny?! I’ve tried so many times! That's not right—Butler Jenny! Butler Jenny!"

The door slammed shut with a bang.

The man fell to his knees with a loud thud, pointing at the door and roaring, "I worked at the Queen's residence for six years! You look down on me and picked some inexperienced youngster instead! What qualifications does he have? Just because he's a bit better-looking? The Shen family judges people by appearances—mark my words, sooner or later, you'll take a huge fall because of this little bastard!"

The side door led to a garden, not very large, just wide enough for three people to walk side by side. But once inside, the entrance resembled the narrow neck of a gourd, with vines from the two largest trees intertwining to form a fairytale-like archway.

System: "Looks pretty... basic? Just some flowers and plants."

Jiang Yao: "The ornamental trees flanking the entrance have blossom-shaped leaves, pointed in shape, vibrant in color, swaying in the wind with dense foliage. Not native to G Country—likely imported M Country maple varieties. Two hundred-year-old trees that crossed the Pacific, each worth millions. Even the potted plants along the path cost hundreds of thousands each."

The system chuckled awkwardly: "Heh, shows what I know... I guess I lack knowledge..."

Passing through the side door, Jiang Yao entered the "gourd's bulbous interior," where the man's angry shouts could no longer be heard. Soon, he finally met the fabled Housekeeper Jenny.

Housekeeper Jenny, the Shen family's longtime head housekeeper, was now sixty years old. For decades, she had managed Shen Mo's estate. Nearing retirement, she sought a successor, searching worldwide for the perfect candidate.

This search had lasted a full year, yet no candidate had lasted more than two weeks.

Jenny smiled warmly, tweaking her earpiece before offering one to Jiang Yao: "Hello, Mr. Jiang."

Jiang Yao quirked his lips, politely declining the translator. Instead, he introduced himself fluently in the local language, adding, "I believe language is a fundamental requirement. As the next steward of the Shen family, please test my abilities with even stricter standards."

Jenny's smile remained kind, her stout figure exuding warmth and approachability, but her words were uncompromising: "You have a seven-day trial period."

"Of course." Jiang Yao's eyes curved as he placed his right hand over his left chest, bowing slightly at 15 degrees. A wayward strand of hair fell over the corner of his slanted phoenix eyes. "It would be my honor to serve the Shen family."

As they walked, the path was lined with flowers and plants. Under the blazing sun, a salty sea breeze carried the panicked cries of the estate's maids.

"Master Ian!"

"Don't run around!"

Jiang Yao glanced around, spotting a tiny figure—blond hair, blue eyes, dressed in tiny boots, knee-high socks, a small shirt, and suspenders, topped with a European-style hat. The child stumbled through the garden's front corridor, nimbly dodging maids and footmen, making a beeline for the side door.

So small—barely reaching Jiang Yao's knees at first glance.

Jenny went pale with alarm: "Master Ian! Stop running! You'll fall!"

The sixty-year-old woman dropped everything, hitching up her long skirt like a woman chasing chickens, scrambling after the child.

Jiang Yao chuckled, casually sidestepping as the child dodged between legs and recklessly ducked under Jenny's arm. With one swift motion, he grabbed the back of the child's suspenders, planting him firmly on his feet.

The child in his arms wriggled but went eerily still when Jiang Yao spoke.

The morning sun glowed molten gold. Jiang Yao, dressed in a white shirt and black suit pants, sleeves rolled up, stood lazily with one hand in his pocket. Backlit, his figure was gilded in platinum light, his proportions impeccable.

Ian stared, transfixed. In his three-year-old eyes, the man resembled an angel from cartoons. But when Jiang Yao crouched down, Ian's perception shifted.

An archangel's face, yet his eyes held the mischief of a black-winged demon. That moon-shaped eye smile seemed devoid of warmth, almost mocking.

"Master Ian?" Jiang Yao knelt on one knee, lowering himself as much as possible, putting on what he thought was his kindest smile. "Hello, I'm Jiang Yao."

The demon spoke!

Ian scrambled backward, his tiny body swaying. Jiang Yao, still half-crouched, reached out again to steady him.

"Master Ian!" The servants gasped, rushing forward in panic.

Jiang Yao straightened, stepping back from the crowd, tucking his right hand into his pocket as he studied Ian curiously.

Jiang Yao: "Tsk."

System: "What?"

Jiang Yao: "They say children have the purest eyes in the world."

System: "And?"

Jiang Yao: "So they can see a person's true nature."

System: "?"

Jenny scolded the child: "No more running around! What if you trip on a stone and get hurt? What would your father do then?"

Ian kept his head down, silent, only occasionally peeking at Jiang Yao before hiding further behind Jenny.

System: "They say the young master of the Shen family rarely speaks or interacts with others—showing mild autism. Among previous stewards, several tried to bond with him to secure their position, but all failed."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Everyone, including Jenny, stared in shock at Ian—the first time he had ever willingly approached someone.

Shen Mo, an ultra-wealthy magnate under 35, in his prime, had only one wife and one child. Of course, Jiang Yao figured a man of his standing wouldn't lack romantic partners—he likely just kept them private. But as the Shen family's sole heir, the child's importance was undeniable.

Three-year-old Ian clutched Jenny's pant leg tightly, his small, snow-white hands straining but failing to hide their adorable dimples.

Though tiny, his expression mirrored his stone-faced father—stern and distant. His round face pressed against Jenny's side, cheeks squashed like pancaked mochi.

"My word..." Jenny, seeing Ian show this rare display of affection, immediately scooped him up. "Goodness, I'm holding Master Ian—without even asking permission first!"

"Housekeeper Jenny! Congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Housekeeper Jenny!"

The sixty-year-old Jenny hugged Ian, tears streaming: "Mr. Shen! I've finally... finally earned Master Ian's acceptance."

Jiang Yao: "..."

Standing outside the crowd, Jiang Yao narrowed his eyes, locking gazes with the grape-round eyes peeking over Jenny's shoulder. It dawned on him—the biggest obstacle to his new job had just appeared.

"Ian." A man's voice cut through the air, drawing all eyes.

Shen Mo—the alpha male protagonist of this foreign-set romance, with a quarter of Eastern blood. In the novel, his "son" Ian was actually the result of his sister's fling with a scumbag ex in M Country.

For plot purposes, only Jenny and Shen Mo knew the truth. The story required the protagonist (the "bottom") to engage in a hundred-chapter push-and-pull romance with Shen Mo, with Ian serving as a crucial supporting character.

According to the book, to help his mildly autistic son, Shen Mo hired a child therapist—someone Ian adored, who in turn helped the boy overcome his struggles.

Strangely, Ian shared an uncanny resemblance to this companion, whose name happened to be Sean.

On day one, Shen Mo discovered this companion was Ian's biological father. But to his shock, Sean had a twin brother with 90% DNA similarity.

After the brother's death, to protect the family business from being swallowed, Sean assumed his identity. Carrying this burden of secrets and grief, he traveled and worked abroad.

Never did he expect to meet his brother's son!

Yes—this was a fake-"secret baby" plotline with a dash of taboo. The child companion's true identity? The novel's protagonist (the "bottom"): Sean.

Falling for the man who abandoned his sister, Shen Mo's life was upended. Worse, this man was the father of his sister's child—someone he couldn't love freely, yet couldn't bring himself to kill.

And Sean?

His only thought was to steal his brother's son. What a brilliant novel this was.

The tall, well-built man stood on the balcony of the villa's second floor, one hand resting on the hip-high solid wood railing. With his low-key black-framed glasses, golden hair, and blue eyes, he gazed coldly at his son, who was surrounded by others.

Ian came back to his senses, quickly broke free from Jenny's embrace, and turned to run toward the blond man.

Only when his son hugged his leg did the man freeze in shock.

Jenny suddenly cried out: "Ah!"

Jenny: "Sir, you've finally arrived at this moment too!"

Jiang Yao: "..."

Suddenly, without warning, deafening applause broke out across the entire courtyard.

"Clap clap clap clap clap!"

Like pounding rain, the applause was dense, endless, and overwhelming.

All the servants clapped and cheered in unison, with many even breaking into loud sobs!

Jiang Yao: "......"

Now he got why so many butlers had tried to win over this little one. Being hugged by the esteemed Master Ian was apparently a privilege on par with an honor comparable to meeting the president! In this novel, the three-year-old child before him was clearly at the top of the food chain.

No wonder the bottom protagonist in the original story had managed to win over Shen Mo, heaven's favorite, simply by earning Ian's affection.

And then there was himself.

Ian clutched his father's hand, glaring fiercely at the devil not far away—a hypocritical demon cloaked in an angel's guise.

"Haha." Having no other choice, Jiang Yao could only offer his most sincere smile to Master Ian on the balcony.

Ian immediately pouted!

"Waaah waaah waaah!" The little golden-haired master burst into tears. "No... no... devil..."

Jiang Yao: "..."

Jiang Yao dropped his smile.