Tang He didn't seem particularly angry at those words. He chuckled and remarked, "Quite the sharp tongue."
Then he settled back into his seat and asked, "Are you that close to the Feng Family?"
Only after Tang He started behaving more normally did Tao Zhiyan restart the car. "It's just an employment relationship."
"Being the Feng Family's butler must be exhausting, huh?" Something seemed to occur to Tang He, and he sneered. "I've been friends with Feng Yiqian for so long, and I still can't stand him."
Tao Zhiyan hadn't expected Tang He to complain about Feng Yiqian right in front of him.
But Tao Zhiyan had no complaints about Feng Yiqian.
The third young master's ideas might be a little out there, but he wasn't a bad person, and he had a strong sense of justice. Tao Zhiyan rather liked making friends with people like him.
But... this was the first time someone had bad-mouthed his employer to his face. It felt rather novel.
He really wanted to hear what grievances Tang He had.
"Do you have that much of a problem with the third young master?"
Tang He glanced at Tao Zhiyan. "Don't you?"
"..." Tao Zhiyan pressed his lips together and answered against his conscience, "A little, I suppose."
"Right? Everyone must, surely? I just can't stand how carefree he is all day."
Just mentioning Feng Yiqian annoyed Tang He.
He couldn't understand how someone could be so carefree, happy every day, as though he didn't have a single worry.
What gave him the right?
Was it just because he was the Feng Family's third young master?
Because he'd been born in Rome, already at the finish line, he could have anything he wanted?
"Heh." Tang He sneered. "I just don't get it. We're both in the cesspool that is the entertainment industry. How can he still be so naive?"
"He believes whatever you tell him. There must be something wrong with his brain."
As he spoke, Tang He took a cigarette from his pocket, lowered the window, and lit it. "Does he really think he can win Best Actor at the Milky Way Award? Him? Is he even worthy?"
Tao Zhiyan was a little startled.
But back at the Feng Family's house, Tang He had said Feng Yiqian could win. Why had he changed his tune now?
"Didn't you just say the third young master could win?"
Tang He smiled at the question but didn't answer.
He hadn't come to congratulate Feng Yiqian on his nomination. He wasn't that kind. He'd come this time to praise Feng Yiqian into a downfall.
He would deliberately build him up, make him think he was certain to win Best Actor, then snatch the award out of his hands and send him crashing down!
The Milky Way Award was fairly well-known within the industry, and its selection process had always been very strict.
But the organizers had changed this year, leaving plenty of room to rig the results.
Tang He had already secured the winning slot.
So he wouldn't just make Feng Yiqian think he would win. He would also hire promotional accounts and paid commenters to make the entire internet believe Feng Yiqian would win.
That way, once the award was announced, he could thoroughly humiliate Feng Yiqian and leave him unable to hold his head up!
The thought filled Tang He with immense satisfaction.
His Talent Agency was a little far away. It took over half an hour to get there.
As he was getting out, Tang He made a point of taking out his business card and offering it to Tao Zhiyan. "Butler Tao, take it."
He raised an eyebrow at Tao Zhiyan. "In case you ever want a new employer."
Even if I wanted a new employer, I wouldn't pick you.
I'd collect trash before I worked for you.
Tao Zhiyan shook his head and declined. "That won't be necessary."
Tang He forced his business card into Tao Zhiyan's hand, even deliberately brushing his fingers across Tao Zhiyan's palm. His smile was teasing. "Take it. You never know."
With that, Tang He gave Tao Zhiyan what he considered a perfect smile, then turned and pushed the door open.
Just as he was about to get out, Tao Zhiyan saw a flicker above Tang He's head, followed by a line of text: [Spent 13 million to secure Best Actor. Going to pay now.]
What?
He bought the Best Actor award?
Only then did Tao Zhiyan realize why Tang He had come all that way.
So he'd built Feng Yiqian up just to see him disappointed?
He was even willing to spend 13 million to secure the award, just to humiliate Feng Yiqian?
Dude... just how much do you hate Feng Yiqian?
Tao Zhiyan truly couldn't understand how this man's mind worked. He wanted to complain, but didn't even know where to start. In the end, he could only turn to his Moments feed and vent anonymously.
[Anonymous: Turns out romantic love isn't the only kind of twisted relationship. Friendship can be twisted too??
It's bad enough that our third young master is an idiot. Why are the friends he makes such weirdos too??
That good buddy of his can't open his mouth without making snide remarks and putting his friend down to make himself look better. He's even spending 13 million to buy an award, just to keep our third young master from winning.
And he, he, he! Touched my hand!!!
Damn it, nobody told me being a domineering CEO's butler was a high-risk job too!!!]
Comments started appearing soon after he posted.
[Anonymous]: A butler? What's dangerous about being a butler? Ours is in his forties or fifties.
[Anonymous]: You're a butler? Great! I want to ask, have you ever said, "The young master hasn't smiled like that in ages," or "You're the first woman the young master has ever brought home"? Have you? All the butlers I know have said it! It's so strange!
[Anonymous]: To the person above, our butler has said that!! Every time I bring a girl home, he says it, and he even gives me that proud-father smile!!!
[Anonymous]: Wait, you can buy an award for just 13 million? What award? I want one too, and I'll get one for my bestie while I'm at it~
[Anonymous]: Thanks for asking. I'm a butler, and I'm already lying in my boss's bed.
Maybe young masters from wealthy families never had to work, because the replies came in fast.
Tao Zhiyan refreshed the screen, and a new reply popped up.
[Anonymous]: Who touched you?
Tao Zhiyan glanced at it and scrolled past.
Whoever it was, I can't tell you. Wouldn't that give away who I am?
Tao Zhiyan sat in the car for a while before driving away.
He had only driven a dozen or so meters when he slowly reversed back.
He turned his head and looked at a cake shop by the road.
There was a small cake in the display window.
It was pink, with a kitten, a puppy, and a piece shaped like a peach.
It looked a little like the background image on Feng Ze's Moments page.
He considered it for a moment, then parked the car, got out, and walked toward the cake shop.
Feng Ze opened the post over and over, wanting to see whether Tao Zhiyan had replied, but there were never any new notifications.
Three hours later, Feng Ze realized the other man wasn't going to reply.
According to his original plan, Feng Ze was supposed to work late that evening. Now, however, his mind was clearly no longer on his work.
If he couldn't concentrate, there was no point in staying at the office.
After a moment's consideration, Feng Ze got up and left the office.
That night, plenty of other cars shared the road with him.
It was already past midnight when he got home. He opened the door to find the room pitch-black.
Everyone must have gone to bed.
Feng Ze rubbed between his brows, set his things on the table, and turned on the light.
The instant the light came on, the first thing Feng Ze saw was Tao Zhiyan asleep on the sofa.
Then he saw the cake on the table.
Feng Ze's pupils trembled slightly, as though something had pinned him in place.
The man on the sofa seemed to have been woken by the disturbance.
First he frowned, then rubbed his eyes. His lashes fluttered twice before he slowly sat upright and raised his head.
Having just woken up, Tao Zhiyan's eyes couldn't yet adjust to the sudden light, and a film of moisture veiled them.
His tone was gentle and his voice soft as he greeted Feng Ze. "Eldest young master, you're home..."
At the sound of his voice, Feng Ze's fingers abruptly clenched.
Then he took a discreet, deep breath before looking at Tao Zhiyan.
Before you continue