Chapter 46 Cushion

Chapter 46: The Pillow

Cheng Feng recounted in detail everything he had done that morning.

Once he finished, Cai Yun couldn’t help but sigh.

She was also acutely aware of how exorbitantly expensive everything was at that elite school. Not coming from a wealthy family herself, she could naturally empathize with his distress.

“If you need to bring meals,” she waved her hand dismissively, “the young master’s food can always be packed. Why go all the way to the cafeteria? Next time you come to work, just bring the lunchbox with you—I’ll pack it for you.”

Cheng Feng felt an immediate wave of relief, and a smile instantly spread across his face. He nodded rapidly. “Thank you, Sister Caiyun.”

He hung his backpack on a nearby hook, first checked the fridge to ensure they had sufficient ingredients, then called the grocery supplier to review the day’s shopping list. Afterward, he began cleaning.

When it was time to wake the young master, Cheng Feng set down the rag in his hand, went upstairs, stood outside Shang Shaohao’s bedroom door, knocked firmly, and called out loudly:

“Young master, time to get up—”

Silence answered him—complete and absolute.

He knocked again, a little harder this time, raising his voice slightly:

“Young master?”

After a long pause, an angry roar finally erupted from inside:

“Go away! I’m not going to school today!”

Cheng Feng turned to look at Cai Yun, who stood at the top of the stairs.

Cai Yun walked over, raised her hand to knock on the door, and softened her tone as much as possible:

“Young master, we’re coming in. If you skip school, you’ll get scolded—and spanked.”

Silence returned—deafening and unbroken.

Cai Yun paused, waited a moment longer, gave the young master fair warning, and pushed the door open:

“Young master, we’re coming in. It’s time to get up.”

The instant the words left her mouth, a pillow shot out from beneath the covers and struck her squarely on the head with a loud *thwack*.

She staggered slightly from the impact but showed no surprise whatsoever—merely picked up the pillow habitually, placed it back on the bed, and let her gaze settle on the quilt, bunched up like a small mountain. Then she launched into a steady stream of coaxing, trying to persuade him.

Meanwhile, Cheng Feng entered the walk-in closet, retrieved the clothes Shang Shaohao needed for the day, folded them neatly, and laid them beside the bed. Then he approached the bed, preparing—as usual—to help the young master dress.

Suddenly, the quilt shifted. Shang Shaohao threw off the covers in one abrupt motion, revealing a face still drowsy—but brimming with malice.

The moment he spotted Cheng Feng standing by the bed, he lifted his leg and kicked hard toward him:

“Go away! Don’t come to work anymore!”

Cheng Feng instinctively stepped back, narrowly avoiding the kick—but his heart plummeted with a heavy *thud*, palms slick with nervous sweat.

Being hit or scolded didn’t matter—but he absolutely could not be fired.

If he lost this job, he’d never again afford his mother’s medical treatment.

His voice tightened slightly:

“Young master, I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to yesterday. Punish me however you like. I promise I won’t tell the eldest young master.”

Cai Yun was taken aback—only then realizing something must have happened yesterday afternoon that she knew nothing about. No wonder the young master was in such a foul mood today; he was throwing a full-blown tantrum.

She quickly stepped forward, positioning herself between the two, blocking any further kicks from Shang Shaohao while murmuring soothingly:

“Young master, hurry up and get up. If you don’t get up soon, you’ll really be late for school. And if the eldest young master finds out you skipped class, he’ll definitely be furious.”

But Shang Shaohao acted as if he hadn’t heard a word. He flopped back onto the bed, hugging the quilt tightly and rolling around, muttering under his breath:

“I’m not going! I’m just *not* going! Mind your own business! Who do you think you are?! Go away!”

Cai Yun and Cheng Feng exchanged a helpless glance.

They couldn’t truly defy the young master’s will—forcibly dress him, drag him to breakfast, and shove him into the car to send him off to school.

All they could do was stand by the bed, patiently coaxing him—one sentence after another.

Of course, Cai Yun wasn’t unwilling to inform the eldest young master—if things escalated beyond control, she’d have no choice but to report the truth.

But until then, she still hoped to coax the young master into compliance first. After all, if the eldest young master got angry, it wouldn’t just be the young master who suffered—the servants would bear the consequences too. And, above all, she feared the young master might fire *her*.

About half an hour later, Butler Liu called.

Cai Yun answered: “Yes—the young master says he’s not going to school today.”

Just as Butler Liu opened his mouth to respond, Shang Shaohao suddenly scrambled upright on the bed, knelt beside it clutching his quilt, and fixed Cai Yun with a glare so fierce it seemed he wanted to devour her alive.

Cai Yun’s heart clenched—and she instantly changed her tune:

“The young master is already having breakfast and will be leaving for school shortly.”

After hanging up, she turned to Shang Shaohao:

“Young master, Butler Liu said the eldest young master will be here soon.”

Shang Shaohao frowned—his expression shifting instantly:

“Then hurry up and get me dressed!”

Cheng Feng immediately stepped forward, helped him out of his pajamas and into his school uniform, brought water for him to wash up, and even lifted the toilet seat lid for him.

After he finished using the toilet, Cheng Feng helped him wash his hands—his expression remaining perfectly neutral throughout.

All the while, Shang Shaohao kept staring intently at Cheng Feng’s face, his gaze sharp and piercing, as if he wished he could bore holes through it with his eyes.

Shang Shaohao hastily shoveled a few bites of breakfast into his mouth—just as footsteps echoed at the living room entrance.

Shang Xu had already walked in.

Shang Shaohao instantly pouted, discarding his earlier agitation and pretending to be a well-behaved child.

Shang Xu walked over and sat beside him, his calm gaze resting on him as he spoke:

“Does your bottom hurt?”

Shang Shaohao pouted, glaring at him, his tone thick with grievance:

“What do you think? I’m never speaking to you again! I’m telling Mom—I’m telling Dad!” Shang Xu remained unmoved—and continued asking:

"Did you put the medicine on?"

Shang Shaohao said, "No."

Shang Xu looked up at Cheng Feng, his voice quiet but authoritative. "Who's supposed to put his medicine on?"

Cheng Feng blinked. He had no idea about putting medicine on the young master.

"I'm the one who helps the young master get dressed, sir."

"After Shaohao finishes eating, you put the medicine on him," Shang Xu instructed.

"Yes, young master," Cheng Feng quickly nodded.

Shang Xu chatted with Shang Shaohao for a little while, gave him a few more reminders about school, and then stood up to leave.

After the elder young master left, Butler Liu walked over to Cheng Feng and lowered his voice to remind him:

"Be careful when putting the medicine on the young master, don't hurt him, understand?"

Cheng Feng nodded. The elder young master seemed cold, but he truly cared deeply for his younger brother.

Did he hit the young master yesterday just because he skipped school and didn't attend classes properly?

Or was it for some other reason?

Otherwise, how could he bear to hit his own brother?

Could it be because Shang Shaohao takes punishment into his own hands with the servants?

After Shang Shaohao finished breakfast, Cheng Feng walked over with the ointment:

"Young master, let me put the medicine on for you."

But Shang Shaohao glared at him. "I don't want you to. Have Cai Yun do it."

Cheng Feng had no choice but to hand the ointment to Sister Caiyun.

Caiyun led the young master upstairs.

Over ten minutes later, Shang Shaohao limped downstairs, his face a picture of obvious resentment. His usually pale, sickly cheeks now held a bit more color.

By the time the two arrived at school, they were already late.

They stood at the classroom door.

Shang Shaohao had his hands in his pockets, looking half-asleep, lazily leaning against the doorframe, with no intention of saying "report."

Cheng Feng, on the other hand, stood ramrod straight, looking at the teacher seriously, his attitude very proper.

"Report."

Teacher Zhang frowned at the two.

He didn't know Cheng Feng, but Shang Shaohao was a familiar face. After a pause, he said:

"Both of you, go inside. If you're late again next time, you'll stand outside the classroom as punishment."

"Yes, teacher," Cheng Feng immediately responded.

Teacher Zhang looked at Cheng Feng's attitude and nodded with satisfaction. Compared to Shang Shaohao, he naturally preferred this kind of well-behaved student. In this kind of elite school, teachers wouldn't be too hard on a student with a proper attitude either.

As soon as Shang Shaohao sat down, he hissed and jumped up, clearly in a lot of pain from his backside.

Seeing this, Cheng Feng took out a soft cushion from his backpack and handed it to him, whispering:

"Here, young master, this will make sitting more comfortable."

Shang Shaohao glared at him but still snatched the cushion and placed it on the chair.

After sitting down, his expression noticeably softened. Although his mouth was still pouting, looking very unhappy, his brows had relaxed, clearly indicating most of his anger had subsided.

When buying lunch boxes in the morning, Cheng Feng had thought about the young master's spanking and how sitting must hurt.

So, he spent over a hundred yuan on this gray soft cushion.

Now it seemed the money was well spent. He had thought the young master might look down on such a cheap item, but apparently not, and the young master seemed less angry now.