Chapter 33 Mr. Sheng, Your Tail Is Showing 3

Chapter 33: Mr. Sheng [Sheng Ye], Your Tail Is Showing 3

Qiao Ling nodded politely but stiffly, a faint curve at the corner of his lips while his expression remained indifferent and devoid of a smile. "Thank you, Butler," he said.

Aunt Yun also walked over with a smile. "Young Master Qiao, from now on I'll be in charge of your daily needs. Just call me Aunt Yun. Your room is ready—wash up and you can come down for a meal. Today's food is light; I hope it suits your taste."

Both the butler and Aunt Yun were respectful and warm, yet Qiao Ling still felt uneasy inside because of the original owner's lingering psychological influence.

He said softly, "You two can just call me Qiao Ling."

Qiao Ling was self-aware—a fallen phoenix is worse than a chicken, let alone the fact that he was now a physically and mentally unwell weakling. He knew he was nowhere near deserving of the title "Young Master" and felt uncomfortable with such respectful forms of address.

The two exchanged a glance, then looked toward Sheng Ye.

Sheng Ye didn't seem to pay it much mind, only giving a faint nod.

Aunt Yun's smile returned gently. "Alright, since Xiao Ling is back, treat this place as your own home. Don't be shy."

Qiao Ling nodded, and a hint of relaxed smile finally appeared at the corners of his lips.

Aunt Yun led Qiao Ling to his room to wash up, while the butler walked over to Sheng Ye, frowning. "Young Master Qiao seems..."

Sheng Ye let out a soft sigh and walked to the sofa to sit down. "He's been through a lot."

He casually handed Qiao Ling's examination report to the butler, whose eyes nearly bulged out of his head. He never expected that the son of the esteemed Deputy General Qiao would have been subjected to such treatment.

"So don't make it too obvious at home. Don't put too much psychological pressure on him."

The butler nodded. "Understood, young master."

He let out a breath, composed his expression, and said, "Young master, the old master sent word this morning, asking you to return home for a visit."

Sheng Ye frowned and simply said, "Not going," before walking away.

Qiao Ling's room was simple but had everything he could need. In the Commander's residence in the S-class residential district, of course, nothing was lacking.

However, regarding personal items and stylistic arrangements, Aunt Yun had added nothing, only saying that if he needed anything, he could write a list and place an order—robots would deliver it right to his door.

---

Qiao Ling smiled in acknowledgment, washed up briefly, and went downstairs to eat.

Aunt Yun and the butler had both been sent from the old estate to serve Sheng Ye. The butler had been at the Commander's residence for years and was reliable; Aunt Yun had been serving Sheng Ye since he was a child—one could say she knew him better than he knew himself.

Qiao Ling didn't have much of an appetite, but since it was his first day at the residence and Aunt Yun was so warmly hospitable, he forced himself to stuff food into his mouth. He showed no sign of discomfort on his face and kept complimenting Aunt Yun's cooking, but Sheng Ye could tell he was pushing himself.

After the meal, Sheng Ye had intended to invite Qiao Ling to the study for a proper talk, but Aunt Yun quietly said to him, "Young master, look how drained Young Master Qiao is. Better let him rest and get familiar with the place first."

Sheng Ye nodded, and had just told Qiao Ling to rest well when Mo Xi returned.

Mo Xi's expression was calm, and Sheng Ye didn't react much—he simply went straight into the study.

Aunt Yun gently placed a hand on Qiao Ling's shoulder, looking at the frail young man with a soothing voice. "Don't be so formal. The young master is usually very busy, so he won't be home all day."

Qiao Ling nodded and smiled. "I understand."

Qiao Ling seemed very well-behaved—the type who would never cause anyone trouble. But the more he was like that, the worse Aunt Yun felt inside.

Most members of the Sheng family carried beast-kin genes, so they'd been as sturdy as little bulls since childhood. She had never seen anyone as frail as Qiao Ling.

Just then, the hospital equipment sent over dietary recommendations for Qiao Ling, and Aunt Yun went off on her own to devise a plan for him.

Back upstairs in the study, Mo Xi said, "That man has been taken to the interstellar detention center. All the corresponding evidence has been collected—we're just waiting for the sentencing date. These are the relevant documents, Commander, please review them."

In a place like the slums, it was nearly impossible for a man in that position not to have dirty dealings under the table, and the shady transactions between people went without saying.

In some of the footage, he saw the man heading to Qiao Ling's dwelling in the dead of night. In a communal sleeping area with nearly ten people on a single large bed, Qiao Ling slept at the very edge.

---

The man's intentions upon entering were obvious. The boy hadn't been asleep at all—once awake, he fled in panic and jumped straight out the window.

The sight made Sheng Ye's chest ache.

He crumpled the paper in his grip, his knuckles turning white.

Sheng Ye tossed aside the playback device and said flatly, "Make sure he rots in prison."

Mo Xi wasn't surprised by the man's fate. He nodded and gathered the equipment and evidence for submission.

"About the Qiao family matter..." Mo Xi frowned, asking hesitantly, "How should this be handled?"

Qiao Ling's uncles and aunts had indeed gone too far, but regardless, they were Deputy General Qiao's own brothers—family, after all. Mo Xi truly wasn't sure where to draw the line.

Too harsh would look bad; too lenient... the Qiao family had been absolutely outrageous!

Sheng Ye sat in the leather chair, his fingers tapping lightly and slowly on the desk, his dark eyes devoid of any emotion.

He paused at the words, then curled his lips into a smirk. "Doesn't the Qiao family enjoy making their young master 'experience life'?"

Mo Xi was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and left.

Qiao Ling lay face-down on the bed and slept heavily for a full day and night before finally feeling a bit better.

With his skinny arms and legs, a month of hard labor wasn't something he could recover from in a day or two. At this rate, Qiao Ling even doubted whether he could ever "get back in the game."

The system couldn't help but chuckle at its host's thoughts. "Don't worry, host. S-grade mental strength is no joke—we've got the genes for it."

Qiao Ling deeply suspected the system was just feeding him empty promises.

After sleeping for over a day, his mind felt a bit foggy. He pulled open the curtains and found the world outside dim—it was already late at night.

---

The summer wasn't hot. Opening the window, Qiao Ling could catch the faint fragrance of roses drifting up from below.

The room Aunt Yun had arranged for him had a perfect view—standing at the floor-to-ceiling window, he could overlook the entire garden of the Commander's residence.

Qiao Ling closed his eyes. In his ears were the sounds of the garden fountain and rustling leaves; in his breath was the fresh air laced with floral scent—it was soothing to the soul.