“Uh…” the boy was speechless. It wasn’t like he intended to neglect her. He cupped his fists and bowed, “Sorry, Young Miss Wang, it wasn’t my intention to do so.”

“That’s better,” Wang Meimei’s expression softened.

“What are you apologizing for?” Li Chyou berated him, “She’s just a fat sow! No need to entertain her.”

“What did you call me washboard?” Wang Meimei exploded.

“A. Fat. Sow.” Li Chyou enunciated every word slowly. “You do nothing but seduce men with those lumps of fats,” she pointed at Wang Meimei’s breasts which undulated as she heaved with anger.

“Hmph!” Wang Meimei snorted. “Says the washboard! I’ll have you know men like them bigger!” She then threw Li Chyou a provocative smile, “If you don’t believe me, why not ask your butler?”

Li Chyou snapped her head towards the boy and glared at him, “Tell me! Who do you like?”

“I…” the boy was caught in tears. Fight all you want but why the hell are you bringing me into this!?

“Now!” Li Chyou pressed him. The boy’s mind ran at a million miles an hour trying to find a way out.

When he finally found one, he smiled, “Young Miss, that’s not an appropriate thing to ask.”

“Why not?” Li Chyou was still angry but something told her that she should listen to him.

“If I did reveal my answer, wouldn’t our rivals have a topic to start a scandal with?” the boy calmly spoke. “If it was revealed that one of Li clan’s butlers was in love with either with you, then it would tarnish Li Clan’s reputation as well as Young Miss’ reputation.”

Li Chyou couldn’t help but shudder as she thought of the implications. It seems her butler saved her from narrowly falling into a trap.

“Yes, I see that you understand,” he nodded and then looked towards Wang Meimei, “It was an elaborate scheme by Young Miss Wang to drag Li Clan’s name through the mud!”

“It was?” Wang Meimei frowned. I’m so clever? Then her frown eased and a smug smile formed on her face. She patted her chest and declared boldly, “That’s right! This was a plan concocted by this great aunt[1]!” Now, mama can’t call me dumb anymore!

Now it was the boy’s turn to be dumbfounded. He was throwing a stone in the dark but didn’t expect such a twist! Both clans’ entourages were flabbergasted as well. But it was the Wang Clan’s people who wanted to hide inside a hole at the moment.

The Wang Clan guards lowered their heads in embarrassment. Truly, all breasts and no brains!

The plain-faced maid tugged at Wang Meimei’s clothes. In a good mood, Wang Meimei turned towards the maid, “What is it, Xie?”

The plain-faced maid, Xie tried to pull her Young Miss away from here, “Young Miss, it seems we’ve wasted too much time here. We should leave before Old Master becomes angry!”

“Mou!” Wang Meimei pouted, “I couldn’t even eat because of this washboard!”

“You-!” Li Chyou looked like she wanted to bite a pound of flesh off from Wang Meimei.

“Young Miss…” Xie pleaded. Looking at Xie’s puppy-like look, Wang Meimei’s expression softened.

“Fine!” She patted her maid’s head. “I’ll leave now!”

“Yay!” Xie cheered and giggled, “Young Miss, treats me the best!”

“Don’t worry; I’ll keep on spoiling you!” Wang Meimei pinched her cheek. Soon, she left with her entourage.

Throughout that entire exchange, the boy felt that something was off; he couldn’t put his finger on what was wrong though.

“Young Miss, you should keep on eating!” the boy urged Li Chyou when he saw the half-eaten dishes on her plate.

“No,” Li Chyou refused and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “That sow soured my appetite!”

She then stood up and walked towards the stairs, “Come on. Let’s go!”

Li Chyou and her group left the tavern and made their way back to the Li Clan Mansion. Along the way, Li Chyou kept sneaking peeks at the boy and found him to be in deep thought.

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“What are you thinking about?” when the boy lifted his head, he saw Li Chyou looking at him with a curious expression. It was a bit cute! But that wasn’t important.

“Young Miss, is there a reason you fight with the Young Miss of Wang Clan?”

“Hmm…” she pondered while stroking her chin, “I don’t remember. We were always from rival clans but I don’t remember whether if that was the reason we fought or something else.”

“So, you don’t even know why you fight?” the boy asked with a dumbfounded look on his face.

“Yeah!” Li Chyou nodded.

“Then wouldn’t it be better to reconcile?” the boy couldn’t help but ask.

“Oh?” she raised an eyebrow. “And how do you propose we do that?”

“Try to improve your attitude towards her. Apologizing when errin-”

“Why should I apologize!?” Li Chyou snapped at him.

“Young Miss,” the boy smiled slightly. “Let me remind you, you are going to be the next clan head. And at that time, it would be better to have more allies than enemies.”

“You-!” Li Chyou wanted to refute but couldn’t. Her butler made good points. But then an excuse popped up and she smiled smugly, “Don’t worry, once I win the inter-clan tournament, I’ll single-handedly raise the Li Clan to prominence.”

“Say those things after you win,” the boy shook his head. “And can you beat Young Miss Wang or Young Master Murong right now?”

“Of course, I can beat that sow!” she snapped angrily. However, she said the next part very quietly, “And that pervert…”

“I wonder how you’ll achieve that, seeing as how both of their strength don’t pale in comparison to yourself!”

“Mou!” Li Chyou pouted in annoyance. Again, her butler made really good points but sometimes she wished he didn’t! “Why talk about them?” she snorted, “Can you beat me?”

“Young Miss,” the boy looked at her in disbelief, “Are you asking if an ordinary mortal can beat a Cultivator? And even then why am I in the equation?”

“S-Shut up!” Li Chyou turned around and felt her cheeks burning. She said such a stupid thing in the heat of the moment and was embarrassed even more.

Behind them, the guards looked dumbfounded as all of them had a single thought in their minds. Is this really our prestigious Young Miss? Why does she act like a dullard?

Soon, they entered the Li Clan Mansion. The guards went back to the Enforcement Pavilion and Li Chyou went back to her room followed by her butler. Before going into the room, she turned around to the boy and ordered, “Take off that mask of yours.”

“Very well,” he said and took down the black cloth he had on the lower half of his face. He took a deep breath. It was a bit hard to breathe with the cloth on. But it worked wonders!

Li Chyou opened the doors and went inside. However, she immediately froze when she looked inside.

“Young Miss, is something the matt-?” the boy asked in a low voice.

“Mom!” Li Chyou ran inside with an ear-to-ear smile on her face.

Mom!? The boy froze. He remembered what Butler Yu had told him about the Mistress. He stood outside the door and waited for the exchange inside.

Inside, Li Chyou hugged a voluptuous woman. She was wearing a yellow peplum dress which went down to her legs. It had a hole in the middle, showing her navel and exposed her shoulders. She had a face which bore resembled Li Chyou’s but was even more mature exuding a graceful aura. Her breasts seemed to burst out of her dress.

If the boy had seen this sight, he’d likely question life and think- Are you really her mother?

“How are you doing, dear?” Li Fen asked with a gentle gaze as she stroked her daughter’s hair.

“I’m doing fine!” Li Chyou assured her.

“So, where did you go?”

“I went to Whitewood!” Li Chyou smiled happily.

“Oh?” Li Fen raised an eyebrow, “Did anything interesting happen?”

“I met that sow, Wang Meimei,” Li Chyou pouted.

“Language, young lady!” Li Fen warned her sternly.

“Yes, Mom!” Li Chyou obeyed.

“What happened then?”

“She tried to trick me but my butler stopped her plot!” Li Chyou smugly revealed.

“Ho?” Li Fen revealed a curious gaze, “Your butler? Where is he now?”

Li Chyou turned around, “He was right behind-” but her words fell short when she noticed no one behind her. “Where is he?” she scratched her head. She walked outside and saw her butler standing to a side.

“What are you doing here?” she berated him.

“Young Miss never ordered me to come in!” the boy helplessly said.

“Okay, come in!” the boy followed Li Chyou inside her room as per her order. And when he saw the person inside, he cupped his fists and bowed, “Greetings, Mistress!”

“Oh?” Li Fen raised an eyebrow, “You know me?”

“Yes, Mistress is the current Clan Head’s wife!”

“Have you seen me before?”

“I have not,” the boy admitted honestly.

“Then how did you know it was me?” Li Fen asked with an amused look on her face.

“I did not. But there aren’t many who can command such a refined and noble aura.”

Li Fen covered her mouth as she laughed, “Haha! Quite the flatterer I see!” She then looked at the boy, “Now, tell me the real reason.”

“I heard Young Miss address someone as ‘Mom’ and that was a dead giveaway.”

“Quite perceptive, aren’t you?” Li Fen who was sitting on a chair crossed her legs.

“I thank Mistress for the praise.”

“So, you’re the butler my goofy husband chose for Chyou`er,” Li Fen revealed a thoughtful expression.

When he heard what she said, the boy gulped. Yikes! Calling the Clan Head ‘goofy’…guess I know who wears the pants in the relationship!

“So, tell me why were chosen to be her butler?” Li Fen asked as she rested her cheek on her hand.

“I believe it is to make up for the Young Miss’ flaws.”

“Oh? And what flaws does she have?” Li Fen looked at Li Chyou who was just looking blankly at the exchange in front of her.

“I’m sorry but I can’t say that!” the boy refused with a helpless expression.

“Why not?”

“Speaking of Young Miss’ flaws in front of her would have negative repercussions to our relationship!”

“And-” Li Fen let out a smile, “-what kind of relationship would that be?”

When the boy heard that question, he smiled slightly. He raised his head, looking into Li Fen’s eyes for the very first time.

“A master-servant relationship.”