Butler Tao, you're rather interesting

Tao Zhiyan had just walked into the kitchen when the phone he had left on the table rang.

At the sound, Feng Ze instinctively glanced over and saw a familiar name pop up.

[Gu Min: 1]

Gu Min was Feng Ze's rival and was currently developing a Smart Brain as well.

Feng Ze knew that Tao Zhiyan was a mole Gu Min had planted to find out the progress and direction of Feng Ze's research so he could prepare a response in advance.

But Feng Ze didn't care. Everyone in the Gu Family was useless, and he wasn't researching the Smart Brain for fame or fortune.

It was for the person he loved.

Bzz, bzz-

Tao Zhiyan hadn't replied to Gu Min, who seemed to grow impatient and placed a voice call.

The phone vibrated and spun on the table, then stopped a few seconds later.

So... why would a mole leave his phone right under Feng Ze's nose without taking any precautions?

Recalling how Tao Zhiyan had acted just now, Feng Ze decided it was probably an intelligence issue.

"Young master," Tao Zhiyan said, trotting out of the kitchen with a tray. "There was only a little oatmeal left, so I added some milk."

"Please give it a try. If you don't like it, I'll ask Aunt Zhao to make something else."

As he spoke, Tao Zhiyan bent down and arranged everything in front of Feng Ze.

Feng Ze lowered his gaze to look at him.

In Feng Ze's eyes, Tao Zhiyan had always been a little mole whose every scheme was written all over his face.

A few days ago, that impression had changed slightly: he had become a little mole with a bit of a temper.

But today, Feng Ze had formed yet another opinion.

The way he had looked when Feng Ze caught him earlier, ears red and face flustered, was very amusing.

A hint of laughter softened Feng Ze's narrow, dark eyes, making him look gentler than ever. He lifted his chin. "Your phone rang just now."

Tao Zhiyan had just raised his head when he met those eyes, and his heart suddenly jolted.

The man was sitting on the sofa, and with Tao Zhiyan bent over, the two of them were very close.

Feng Ze asked, "What are you staring at?"

"Nothing... sorry." Tao Zhiyan rubbed his nose, came back to his senses, and picked up his phone before stepping aside.

Feng Ze watched Tao Zhiyan with interest.

After stepping aside, Tao Zhiyan stood in a daze for a while before opening the chat history on his phone. His expression then grew serious.

He pondered for a moment and began typing.

Feng Ze's gaze shifted slightly, and the interest Tao Zhiyan had just sparked in him vanished in an instant.

Ultimately, Butler Tao's loyalties didn't lie with the Feng Family.

Tao Zhiyan looked at his phone screen.

[Gu Min: 1]

[Incoming voice call. Unanswered.]

He swiped upward a few times. There was no chat history.

He tapped the other man's profile picture to check his Moments, only to find a single horizontal line.

Tao Zhiyan slowly furrowed his brows.

Wait... who was this guy?

After thinking long and hard, he solemnly typed a reply:

[Peach: 2]

Feng Ze had an international meeting the following morning, so his flight was at seven that evening.

Not long after Feng Ze left, Feng Yan returned.

With a small cake in one hand and a plush toy in the other, he pushed open the door with a smile. "Ruanruan, I'm home."

Feng Yan had promised to come back that afternoon, but it was already evening.

Bai Ruan had a bit of a temper, but not much of one.

He rushed down from the Attic excitedly, but stopped short when he reached Feng Yan. Folding his arms, he put on a fierce expression. "Hmph! You said at noon that you'd be back soon, and now it's evening!"

"You're only just getting back! You broke your promise!"

Feng Yan chuckled and handed the plush toy to Tao Zhiyan. "Something came up and held me up."

"Like I'd believe you!" Bai Ruan turned his back on Feng Yan and ignored him.

Holding the plush toy, Tao Zhiyan helped close the door and glanced at Feng Yan's neck.

There weren't any hickeys.

Damn it, no evidence!

"Are you angry? I'm sorry, I was wrong." Feng Yan walked over and hugged Bai Ruan from behind, gently rocking him as he said softly, "I bought a cake on the way home. Forgive me?"

Bai Ruan glanced at the cake and took it from him, but kept a stern face. "You think one cake is enough to buy me off? Tell me the truth! Where did you go this afternoon?"

"There was an incident at the mall this afternoon. A pregnant woman was assaulted," Feng Yan said. "Something like that has serious repercussions. I had to step in."

"Huh?" Bai Ruan's eyes widened. After a moment's pause, he turned to Feng Yan and asked anxiously, "Was it serious?"

"Fairly serious." Feng Yan sighed. "When she was taken to the hospital, the doctor said the baby couldn't be saved. Her family wanted to sue the mall."

At this point, Feng Yan seemed a little irritated and unwilling to discuss it further. "Anyway, we paid to settle it."

Bai Ruan pressed his lips together. A moment later, he reached out to hug Feng Yan and gently patted him in comfort.

Watching Feng Yan's expression as he spoke, Tao Zhiyan didn't think he looked as though he was pretending.

But after searching online, he couldn't find any news about a pregnant woman being assaulted at a mall and suffering a miscarriage.

Even if the matter had eventually been settled, surely some passersby would have seen it? With information spreading so easily online these days, there should have been some trace of it in local posts.

So Tao Zhiyan remained skeptical about the incident.

When dinnertime came, Bai Ruan suddenly ran into the kitchen and told Tao Zhiyan quietly, "I've decided to take your advice. I'm not dropping out."

Tao Zhiyan was preparing the meal. With a plate in each hand, he nodded. "Good. Staying in school is the right choice."

Bai Ruan brought out the cheese-baked milk custard he had spent all afternoon making and walked over to Tao Zhiyan, pressing his lips together. "But he's really scary when he gets angry."

"Then tell him I told you to do it." Tao Zhiyan wasn't afraid of that scumbag. "Let him take his anger out on me."

After saying that, Tao Zhiyan felt he hadn't sounded imposing enough. He raised his chin and added, "I'm pretty formidable."

Bai Ruan chuckled at that. "Butler Tao, you're rather interesting."

Tao Zhiyan felt a little proud.

Of course he was. He wasn't some ordinary NPC!

When Bai Ruan carried the cheese-baked milk custard to the table, Feng Yan was smiling, which put him a little more at ease.

He gave Feng Yan a piece of the sliced custard first, then sat opposite him and watched him expectantly, trying to work out how to broach the subject.

Feng Yan noticed something was up. His lips curved as he asked, "What is it, Ruanruan? If you have something to say, say it."

He picked up his fork and slipped a piece of baked milk custard into his mouth, his eyelids half lowered and his gaze carrying a hint of amusement.

Tao Zhiyan finally realized what was odd about Feng Yan.

Although he smiled often, his smiles never reached his eyes. There was always a mocking, toying quality to them, as though he had absolute control over everything.

After hemming and hawing for a long time, Bai Ruan asked, "Well, I made this cheese-baked milk custard. Does it taste good?"

Feng Yan seemed a little surprised. He took another bite, then smiled and nodded. "It's delicious. I thought you'd bought it."

"You're amazing, Ruanruan."

Bai Ruan smiled. Feeling that the mood was right, he finally gathered his courage and looked at Feng Yan. "I'm not planning to drop out anymore."

Feng Yan's smile remained as he put another piece of custard into his mouth. He looked up as though he hadn't heard clearly and asked again, "What did you say?"

"I said..." Bai Ruan took a deep breath and summoned his courage. "I'm not planning to drop out anymore."

Bai Ruan's voice was neither loud nor particularly quiet, and Tao Zhiyan heard every word clearly.

Once he finished speaking, neither of them said anything. They simply stared at each other.

The room fell silent for more than ten seconds.

Even Tao Zhiyan was starting to feel nervous.

Feng Yan looked at Bai Ruan, then nodded. "All right."

All right?

That easily?

Tao Zhiyan raised his brows in surprise.

Bai Ruan hadn't expected it either. His eyes widened in surprise, and his lips curved into a smile. "Really? That's wonderful!"

"Of course." Feng Yan's smile didn't falter. He put down his fork and asked mildly, "Why don't we just break up, then?"