Meng Zhiyuan understood when he saw the complicated expression on Jiang Ze's face, but he did not call him out.
"What? Not satisfied?"
Jiang Ze shook his head like a rattle drum. This man was a fairly important supporting character; he could not just let him go.
"Isn't having him be my bodyguard a bit overkill?"
Meng Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Cheng Feng. The man could fight and had plenty of brute strength, but he was far too guileless.
"He can usually help Feng with the heavy work around the villa. Just remember to take him along when you go out. I'll pay his wages as usual."
Cheng Feng hurriedly nodded beside them, afraid Jiang Ze would reject him and kick him out.
And so Feng found Cheng Feng a room and got him settled in.
Seeing that Meng Zhiyuan had gone straight back to working in his study after returning home, Jiang Ze grew bored and curled up on the sofa to eat the fruit Feng had brought him.
"Hey, System, you haven't made a peep lately. Still there?"
He called several times before the system finally responded. Even its mechanical voice sounded sluggish, as though it had been startled awake from a dream.
"Ding! Host, sorry I'm late! Congratulations on earning another 500,000 points and successfully obtaining the Lucky Jade Pendant!"
Jiang Ze's hand paused over the fruit. Only then did he remember he had such a thing.
Too preoccupied to get excited about the points, he hurried upstairs and took the Jade Pendant he had traded for with Shen Yun out of his suitcase.
"System, is this Jade Pendant very useful to me?"
The system's mechanical voice fell unusually silent. It took a while before it answered.
"Host, with this system's support, your luck is already very high. This Jade Pendant would just be icing on the cake for you~"
Oh, so it wasn't all that useful.
After thinking it over, he took the Jade Pendant to the study anyway.
Seeing Jiang Ze poke his head through the study doorway, Meng Zhiyuan shook his head helplessly.
"Hungry? Don't wait for me. Just ask Mrs. Wang to make you something."
Jiang Ze walked up to him and placed the Jade Pendant on the desk.
Meng Zhiyuan took off his glasses and frowned.
"What's this?"
Never forgetting to stay in character, Jiang Ze flushed slightly and nervously clutched the hem of his clothes with both hands as he said shyly,
"Uncle Zhiyuan... thank you for rescuing me from the mountains. As you know..."
At this point, Jiang Ze made a show of wiping the corners of his eyes before continuing.
"My mother died when I was little, and my father never treated me well. All my mother left me was this Jade Pendant. It's my most precious possession, and now I'm giving it to you! To repay you for saving my life..."
Seeing the man frown, ready to refuse, Jiang Ze raised his voice before he could speak, making himself sound even more pitiful.
"Boohoo, Uncle Zhiyuan, I don't expect you to like me, but you have to accept this and take good care of it. At least... at least let me repay you!"
As Jiang Ze sobbed, he secretly opened one eye to study the big shot's expression.
Did my sorrowful speech move him? If I didn't know he didn't like me, I'd definitely offer myself to him!
But this Jade Pendant can improve your luck. It's a treasure I snatched from Shen Yun, so you'd better keep it on you!
Meng Zhiyuan's eyes darkened. This kid thought of him at every turn. Why hadn't he kept something like this for himself?
"All right. I understand."
Delighted, Jiang Ze still could not resist adding another reminder.
"Then make sure you keep it close to you and take good care of it. Don't lose it!"
Meng Zhiyuan nodded and tucked the Jade Pendant against his body under Jiang Ze's watchful gaze.
"Ding-dong! Congratulations, Host, your simp points are back online! Congratulations on earning five thousand points!"
With so many points pouring in over the past few days, Jiang Ze had almost forgotten his original line of work. Now, he actually found these few paltry points beneath his notice.
He returned to the sofa and continued eating his fruit. Unfortunately, he had barely enjoyed a moment of peace before an uninvited guest arrived.
"Butler Feng, where's my second uncle? I need to talk to him."
Jiang Ze had just finished a bunch of grapes when he heard Feng talking to someone outside the door. The visitor seemed to want to walk straight in, but Feng had stopped him.
Thinking it was one of Meng Zhiyuan's guests, he was about to head upstairs, but as soon as he stood up, he came face-to-face with the newcomer.
"Why are you here?!"
Meng Zimu pointed at Jiang Ze, his expression full of disbelief.
"Why shouldn't I be?"
Seeing that it was Meng Zimu, Jiang Ze leisurely lowered himself back onto the seat he had just been about to leave. He had not had nearly enough of that spectacular expression yet.
"What are you doing in my second uncle's house? Are you two really..."
Whatever Meng Zimu had imagined, he looked at Jiang Ze with utter disgust, his face flushed red.
"Jiang Ze, you're just... utterly shameless! I didn't believe A Yun when he first told me, but you really have hooked up with my second uncle! You make me sick!"
Ignoring his abuse, Jiang Ze continued leisurely eating his fruit, watching him as though he were a performing monkey.
"Young Master Meng, watch your words!"
Feng's expression turned stern, his gaze filled with displeasure as he looked at Meng Zimu.
"Feng, why are you defending him? This slut failed to seduce me, and now he's trying to seduce my second uncle. He's a whore to his core. Don't let him fool you!"
"Try saying that again."
Meng Zimu was in the middle of his tirade when the man's icy voice suddenly rang out. He fell silent at once.
"S-second Uncle..."
"It seems you've forgotten whose family you belong to. Do you need me to remind you?"
Jiang Ze clearly saw Meng Zimu shudder at those words, a trace of fear appearing in his eyes.
Damn, just how badly has Meng Zhiyuan traumatized him? I like it, though. I hope he gives this scumbag a good thrashing.
Jiang Ze saw that Meng Zhiyuan had appeared on the second-floor staircase at some point and was looking down at Meng Zimu. His sheer presence was already overwhelming.
Meng Zhiyuan glanced discreetly at Jiang Ze, then looked at the nephew below him who had originally been this world's protagonist. A dark glint flashed through his eyes.
"Apologize to Jiang Ze."
"What? Me, apologize to him? Dream on!"
The demand that he apologize to Jiang Ze brought Meng Zimu's temper flaring up, even diminishing his fear of Meng Zhiyuan considerably.
"Where's Cheng Feng?"
Meng Zhiyuan directed the question at Feng beside them.
"A shipment of replacement plants for the courtyard just arrived. He went to help unload them."
Meng Zhiyuan nodded, then slowly descended the stairs and stopped in front of Meng Zimu.
"I'll say it one more time. Apologize."
Determined to defy him this time, Meng Zimu stiffened his neck and stubbornly refused to speak, even shooting a vicious glare in Jiang Ze's direction.
"Heh."
Meng Zhiyuan chuckled. Although he was laughing, the sound made everyone present's skin crawl.
Crack.
Before Jiang Ze could even see what had happened, Meng Zimu was already on his knees, his face filled with terror. He was facing precisely in Jiang Ze's direction.
Then came a scream like a pig being slaughtered.
"Aah! My leg!!!"
Meng Zimu bent his arms and clutched his knee, screaming in agony. Even Jiang Ze marveled at the sound.
Tsk, tsk. That sound could rival a pig slaughter. In a word: satisfying!
Jiang Ze gazed at Meng Zhiyuan with stars in his eyes, not forgetting to kick Meng Zimu while he was down.
"Oh my, Zimu, why are you kneeling to me? A simple apology would have done. I'd forgive you without such a grand gesture."
While Jiang Ze gloated, Meng Zimu looked as though he wanted to devour him alive.
"Second Uncle! You're treating me like this over this slut? Aren't you afraid my dad will find out..."
Before he could finish, the man glanced at him with teasing amusement, as though he had heard something funny.
"And what if my older brother does find out?"
Meng Zimu fell silent this time. Seemingly at last beginning to fear his second uncle, he lowered his head without another word.
"Young Master, I'm sorry I got back so late!"
Cheng Feng had just returned and, seeing the scene, assumed someone had come to cause trouble. Believing he had failed in his duties, he was about to apologize.
But Meng Zhiyuan waved a hand. "Carry him to the hospital. I'll cover the medical expenses."
Cheng Feng hurriedly nodded and carried the grimacing man out of the house.
Meng Zimu had not even managed to explain the real reason for his visit before he lost any chance to speak.
The big shot is fucking awesome!! I'm waving his banner with all my might!
Jiang Ze's voice rang in his ears, but for once, Meng Zhiyuan did not find it particularly noisy.
Before you continue