Chapter 7

Since Tang Mingxi had taken the initiative to wash his feet, Tang Yu figured he ought to enjoy it properly!

Besides, Tang Mingxi was exceptionally handsome. His skin was snow-white, fine blue veins faintly visible beneath it. His fingers were long and jade-like, their rounded tips tinged pink against the white—prettier than even a top hand model's.

With hands like that washing his feet... Tang Yu could not help letting his thoughts wander.

Just as his imagination ran wild, an abrupt change occurred.

Tang Mingxi carried the foot-washing water over and, without warning, dumped it all over Tang Yu's head.

"Splash—"

The water came down with force, drenching him from head to toe.

The tremendous splash left everyone present stunned.

Tang Yu, who had taken off his shoes and was waiting to be served, stood there gaping.

After dumping the foot-washing water, Tang Mingxi tossed the wooden bucket onto the floor.

"Thud, thud, thud." It rolled three times before coming to a stop in front of Tang Yu.

Ye Heng stared at Tang Mingxi, surprise and scrutiny in his eyes.

Tang Mingxi smiled faintly, like an innocent little fox who had gotten his way. "Cousin, I thought washing your feet wouldn't be enough to convey my sincere apology. How about I give you a bath instead?"

Tang Yu cut a miserable figure. His hairstyle, which had cost thousands to maintain, had been drenched in foot-washing water. His hair clung to his scalp, rivulets trickling down from his crown along his cheeks. His suit was soaked through, and he looked as though he had just been fished out of the water.

Still barefoot and humiliated beyond measure, Tang Yu's rage ignited in an instant. His eyes bulged as he roared, "Tang Mingxi! Are you looking to die?!"

"Calm down, Cousin." Tang Mingxi clapped his hands and sat on a stool, crossing his long legs. Then he said slowly, "Has no one ever taught you that even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner?"

Ye Heng stood at Tang Mingxi's side, his expression dark, his young body tall and striking.

He truly looked like an unruly, vicious wolfhound at Second Young Master's side.

"You!" Tang Yu slapped the table and rose, just about to lash out when the doors swung open.

"What is all this noise?" Tang Yun, the current head of the Tang Family, finally appeared.

At once, every member of the Tang Family present rose to their feet and stood respectfully. Even Tang Yu swallowed the curses he had been about to spit out. Only Tang Mingxi remained seated in his "spoiled" fashion, not moving at all.

It was not that Tang Mingxi did not want to move. He simply could not.

In the original novel, Second Tang was spoiled and overbearing, the only ruthless character who dared to act coy and throw tantrums before Tang Yun.

If Tang Mingxi stood up to greet his elder brother, that would be suspicious!

Fortunately, Tang Mingxi had been an only child in his previous life, raised dotingly by his parents. Acting spoiled and putting on airs came naturally to him.

There was nothing to fear. This was simply his true colors showing :)

Tang Yu's expression was ugly as he gritted out, "Young Master."

Tang Yun lifted his eyelids and saw Tang Yu soaked from head to toe, standing barefoot on the floor and looking as wretched as a beggar beneath an overpass.

Meanwhile, his younger brother Tang Mingxi sat leisurely on a stool. Tang Yun's eyelid twitched.

"What happened?"

"I played a little joke on Cousin." Tang Mingxi blinked. "Brother, you won't blame me, will you?"

"You call this a joke?!" Tang Yu instantly bristled like an enraged grasshopper, nearly jumping three feet into the air. Grinding his teeth, he said viciously, "Young Master, this is the annual banquet, and so many people are watching. No matter how much you favor Second Tang, you should at least give my father some face and give me an explanation, shouldn't you?"

Tang Yun frowned slightly. "What exactly happened?"

Tang Mingxi said, "Cousin thought sitting with Ye Heng would make him lose face, so he made Ye Heng wash his feet as an apology. I thought that wasn't sincere enough, so I decided to give Cousin a bath as well. Who knew Cousin couldn't take a joke and flew into a rage?"

He paused, patted his chest, and said with lingering fright, "So scary."

Tang Yu: ...

Tang Yun looked at Tang Yu. "You made Ye Heng bring you foot-washing water?"

Tang Yu's mouth twitched. This live-in son-in-law truly could not be brought before polite company; no one thought much of him.

But he was still Tang Yun's brother-in-law. Tacitly allowing others to bully him when everyone understood the situation was one thing; having Tang Yun catch them red-handed was another.

"I... I was just joking with my brother-in-law too." Tang Yu said sulkily, forced to suppress his fury.

Tang Yun said, "If it was a joke, then don't make such an ugly scene of it. Go change your clothes quickly, before you catch a cold."

Tang Yu ground his teeth. His eyes shifted and landed on Ye Heng's expensive suit, and an idea came to him.

"Young Master, a joke is a joke, but Second Tang has gotten me completely soaked. You should at least have Second Tang compensate me with something to wear."

Tang Yun said, "The residence has spare clothes. I'll have someone fetch some from your room."

"Wait, Young Master. How much could the clothes in this residence possibly be worth?" Tang Yu gave a dry laugh. "This suit of mine was custom-made. You should compensate me with something of equal value, shouldn't you? Ye Heng's suit looks rather nice. Why not have him take it off and let me wear it?"

Tang Mingxi was taken aback, a strange expression crossing his face. "You really want to wear it?"

Seeing this, Tang Yu thought he had struck Tang Mingxi's sore spot and immediately grew smug. "Of course! What, Second Tang? You dare do it but not own up to it? Are you trying to weasel out of this in front of your brother?"

The strange look on Tang Mingxi's face became even more pronounced. He even exchanged a glance with Ye Heng.

Then he saw the male lead's undisguised look of disgust.

Tang Mingxi: Hehe :)

Yet, unusually enough, Ye Heng did not refuse this unreasonable demand. His handsome young face remained utterly expressionless as he calmly took off his suit jacket. He even asked coldly, "Do you want the pants too?"

Tang Yu: ...

You have no shame taking off your pants in public, but I do!

He snatched Ye Heng's suit over, and the moment he felt the fine fabric, he was overjoyed and impatiently put it on.

The instant he did, stifled laughter broke out throughout the banquet hall.

Tang Yu froze. He looked up and saw the barely visible smile at the corners of Tang Mingxi's lips. His eyes curved slightly, carrying an innate charm as he gazed at Tang Yu with detached amusement.

Even Ye Heng looked far more relaxed, his eyes holding a trace of mockery and ridicule.

Panic rose in Tang Yu's heart. Sensing something strange, he looked down, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

Ye Heng was one meter eighty-seven, with a fit, well-proportioned build. Tang Yu, however, was only a little over one meter seventy. Years of indulgence had long hollowed out his body, leaving him skinny and bony.

Ye Heng's clothes hung far too long on him, making him look like a scrawny monkey who had stolen someone else's clothes.

Tang Mingxi held back his laughter and sighed. "Cousin, I just remembered a saying."

With an innocent yet faintly sly expression, he drawled, "Even in a dragon robe, you still wouldn't look like a crown prince."

Chapter 6: Cannon Fodder Huo Yiran

This farce ended with Tang Yu storming out in a rage and slamming the door behind him.

He tore off the expensive suit with both hands and viciously threw it to the floor. Still not satisfied, he stomped on it twice as he rushed out.

The clean, neat suit instantly became a rag.

Tang Yun sighed and said in a deep voice, "Clean up the floor."

The attendants, as though granted amnesty, promptly began tidying the floor.

The remaining Tang Family relatives in the banquet hall also breathed sighs of relief. They each resumed their conversations, raising glasses and approaching Tang Yun to greet him. Everything returned to normal.

It was as though nothing unpleasant had happened.

Ye Heng gazed coolly at the clothes lying on the floor like a rag, the corner of his mouth twitching imperceptibly.

He did not know what madness had taken Tang Mingxi again, that his attitude toward him had actually changed.

Did Tang Mingxi think that after receiving a small benefit, he would wag his tail like a dog and be overflowing with gratitude?

If not for Ye Yue... Thinking of his younger sister, Ye Heng's eyes darkened deeply, and he wished he could kill Tang Mingxi with his own hands.

Tang Mingxi suddenly felt a chill down his back, as though some cold-blooded beast had fixed its gaze on him.

He turned around and saw Ye Heng standing behind him, cold and expressionless.