Chapter 89: The Third Day

When Ji Xiao woke up, it was already the third day.

He was starving.

“Master…”

He looked up.

He met the eyes of a gentle, refined young man.

“?” Who are you?

After a while, he remembered. This was Mo Hongru, the tutor for him and Zeng Rongsu.

“Awake? You must be starving? Don’t move recklessly. I’ll go call someone to bring you food.”

Ji Xiao moved his lips. “Thank you… Tutor.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say ‘master’.

Mo Hongru looked at him in surprise, then said warmly, “Lie still.”

“Yes, Tutor.”

But after Mo Hongru left, Ji Xiao still propped himself up to sit.

Forcibly recalling had caused such damage.

The one who erased his memories, what method did they use?

Soon, a maidservant brought him hot congee and prepared to feed him.

Ji Xiao had no intention of eating. He looked at Mo Hongru behind her and said weakly, “Where is the young master?”

“In the study,” Mo Hongru revealed a gentle smile. “You missed me, so I came. Now that I’m here, why are you unhappy again?”

“?” Who missed you?

Not to mention him, even the original host Lu Xiao wouldn’t miss this tutor, alright?

Mo Hongru looked at him as if he were a child throwing a tantrum. “Be good, eat first.”

The maidservant also looked at him. “Brother Lu…”

Ji Xiao’s gaze was indifferent. “Go find the young master.”

Lu Xiao had long established authority in the courtyard. The maidservant put down the bowl without hesitation and walked out.

Mo Hongru looked at him disapprovingly. “You’re always so willful.”

Ji Xiao was not in a good mood. He said coldly, “Sorry to make a fool of myself before you, Tutor.”

Mo Hongru walked to the bedside and said warmly, “How did you end up like this? Over the years, you’ve been very mischievous, rarely falling ill.”

Ji Xiao lowered his eyes and didn’t answer.

Thinking of the young master’s pitiful look wanting him to accompany Ji Xiao, Mo Hongru let out a light sigh. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay here with you until you recover.”

Ji Xiao looked up and said seriously, “Tutor need not do this. I merely have a minor illness; I’ll recover in a few days. Tutor must have matters at home, so it’s really unnecessary.”

It’s just that I learned a bit from you. Was it worth it?

As Mo Hongru was about to speak, Zeng Rongsu arrived.

Ji Xiao’s cold brows softened, and he reached out his hand.

Zeng Rongsu obediently walked to the bedside, glanced at Mo Hongru, then took Ji Xiao’s hand.

Ji Xiao said, “Have someone escort the tutor home.”

Zeng Rongsu curved his lips. “Okay.”

Mo Hongru said helplessly, “No need to escort me. I can go by myself.”

He glanced at their joined hands, shook his head, and left.

Ji Xiao lightly squeezed his hand. “How did the tutor come?”

Zeng Rongsu had one hand held by him, so he could only gesture with the other.

Ji Xiao: “I called him? How could that be.”

Zeng Rongsu: You called.

Ji Xiao: “You mean, when I was unconscious, I called for ‘master’?”

Zeng Rongsu nodded.

Ji Xiao was helpless. He patted his head. “Young master, help me bring the bowl over. I’m a bit hungry.”

Zeng Rongsu nodded, brought the bowl over, and wanted to feed him.

Ji Xiao reached out. “I’ll do it myself.”

Zeng Rongsu shook his head, scooped a spoonful, and brought it to his lips.

Ji Xiao: “…” Fine.

When Black Cat returned, he saw his own host lying half-bedridden and sickly, while the mission target carefully fed him congee mouthful by mouthful.

Black Cat: “Host… could it be that you let the young master top?”

He was dumbfounded.

Ji Xiao: [Overindulgence.]

Black Cat: “…”

[What benefits did you get from attending your group leader’s birthday banquet?]

Black Cat: “Not telling you, hehehe.” A very smug tone.

It seemed he got a lot of benefits.

[Fine, I won’t ask about that. Then can you tell me, how many more tasks do I need to do?]

“…Very soon.”

[Specifically.]

[After finishing, you’ll unbind from me and send me back to my original world?]

“Yes.”

[The world of my initial memories?]

“…Anyway, it’s sending you back to the original world.”

Ji Xiao’s eyes flickered. [The world of my initial memories, isn’t that the original world?]

Black Cat: “Host, keep it up! There are only two more worlds and then you can go home. Your family misses you very much.”

Ji Xiao: [Stupid cat, in my memories, my family is already gone.]

Black Cat: “…” Ah, want to die.

Ji Xiao: [So my memories are fake after all?]

Black Cat said seriously: “No, I remembered wrong. When I bound you, I didn’t know your life story. I thought your family was still there. If they were, they’d definitely miss you.”

Ji Xiao: [Fine, I forgive you.]

Enough. If he really exposed the memory tampering, huh.

Two worlds.

His eyes turned cold.

Sending him back to his own world, or was it to remake him, change the system and start over?

He needed to think of a plan.

The bowl of congee was finished.

Zeng Rongsu asked him: Want more? Ji Xiao: No.

Zeng Rongsu took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth.

Ji Xiao lay in bed for three days and then fully recovered.

After that, he didn’t return to his own room. Instead, he ate and lived with Zeng Rongsu.

The entire Zeng mansion knew about his relationship with the young master.

The kind that had the approval of the master and madam.

They only lacked the wedding ceremony.

One day. Ji Xiao and Zeng Rongsu were invited to the main courtyard.

Madam Zeng gave him a pile of account books.

Ji Xiao: “Madam, this is…”

“We only have two sons. The eldest is serving in the capital, so the family business will certainly be given to Susu,” Madam Zeng said. “But Susu cannot speak, making it inconvenient for him to manage. Originally, we planned to give it to Susu’s wife, but he doesn’t intend to marry a woman. He only wants you. If you stay with him well, we won’t treat you poorly. The Zeng estate’s industries, you will assist Susu in managing.”

Ji Xiao was somewhat surprised.

It was known that in the original plot, Lu Xiao had been unable to get the Zeng family property for a long time. That’s why he had the idea to use Zeng Rongsu’s hand to poison the Zeng family.

How come this time, when he and Zeng Rongsu had only been together for a while, they were already handing over the property?

Madam Zeng saw his surprise and couldn’t help laughing. “What? Xiaoxiao, are you worried you can’t handle it? You’ve been clever and lively since childhood, and you studied with the tutor together with Susu. Although studying and doing business are different, you have knowledge. You’ll surely pick it up quickly.”

Ji Xiao said softly, “Lu Xiao was a servant by status…”

“That’s no longer the case,” Madam Zeng said. “I have already cancelled your indenture contract and made you a commoner. Your marriage date has also been set, half a month from now. Your household registration will be entered into our Zeng mansion.”

Ji Xiao: “…”

Although this world allowed taking a male wife, it was very rare.

Most people who couldn’t afford a wife would take a male wife to live with.

Even if wealthy families had men who liked men, they would at most take a male concubine. For them, continuing the family line was still the most important.

“For this half month, you and Susu first familiarize yourselves with the estate’s industries. Your father and I will arrange the wedding well. Steward Chen will accompany you. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask him.”

“Yes, Madam.”

These account books were moved to Zeng Rongsu’s study.

Ji Xiao hugged Zeng Rongsu. “Did you hear that? Young master, we’re getting married.”

Zeng Rongsu’s eyes also brimmed with joy.

Black Cat: “This really was effortless. By using Zeng Rongsu to control everything in the Zeng family, you’re about to succeed. All that’s left is to find an opportunity to eliminate the roots and completely take over the Zeng family.”

Ji Xiao: “…” Get rid of your ass.

Ji Xiao let go of Zeng Rongsu and pulled him to look at the account books.

The reason the Zeng mansion was wealthy was because they had many industries.

The best restaurant in town, the best inn, the best clothing store, the best cosmetics shop, the best gold shop and pawnshop, all were opened by the Zeng family.

Besides these, there were also some scattered small shops.

“The master and madam are really amazing, they’ve gathered so many talented people.”

To have every shop be the best in town surely required many talents.

Zeng Rongsu nodded proudly: Really impressive.

Besides the shops, there were also special rent collection account books.

On the busiest street in town, eighty percent of the shops belonged to the Zeng family. But they didn’t run all of them themselves; they rented out a portion to others.

No wonder Lu Xiao was so envious.

It wasn’t hatred of the rich, just blinded by greed.

Ten days later. The eldest son of the Zeng mansion, Zeng Rongjing, returned.

Ji Xiao also met this eldest son who, in the original plot, tortured the original host to death.

He looked different from the delicate Zeng Rongsu. Sword-like brows and starry eyes, with the oppressive aura of officialdom.

“Susu likes men?” His voice was also quite commanding.

Zeng Rongsu nodded with a slight blush.

“Liking men doesn’t affect marriage. He’s just a servant. Even if you don’t want to take a wife, you could marry a noble young master. If you really like this person, just take him as a male concubine.” Zeng Rongjing said bluntly.

Zeng Rongsu said anxiously: I don’t want that.

Zeng Rongjing didn’t like Lu Xiao.

Before he left home to serve in the capital, he often made trouble for Lu Xiao.

He always felt that Lu Xiao harbored ill intentions and wasn’t as harmless as he appeared.

Several times he tried to drive him out of the mansion, but Lu Xiao always timely sought out Zeng Rongsu and escaped.

Later, Zeng Rongsu was almost inseparable from him. He thought a mere servant couldn’t cause big waves, so he stopped bothering.

Who would have thought that after just a few years in the capital, his younger brother would want to marry a servant?

He believed it must be Lu Xiao’s scheme.

“Susu, listen to brother, this person…”

“I won’t listen!” Zeng Rongsu glared at him angrily, pulled Ji Xiao, and left.

In the room. Zeng Rongsu was very unhappy: Big brother is too much!

Ji Xiao smiled gently. “It’s fine. Elder brother is serving in the capital. Even if he takes leave to come back, it won’t be long.”

Zeng Rongsu was still unhappy. Xiaoxiao was so good, yet brother wanted him to be a male concubine.

Ji Xiao pressed him into his arms and kissed him. “In a few days we’ll be married. Don’t be unhappy, hmm?”

Zeng Rongsu: I don’t want anyone else, only you.

Ji Xiao chuckled. “I only want you too.”

Black Cat: “Liar, you clearly want different people in every world.”

Ji Xiao: “…” You don’t know shit. Good thing this stupid system.

On the other side, Zeng Rongjing was stared down by his own younger brother. Somewhat incredulous, he went to his parents.

“How could you agree to Susu marrying a servant? Just now he even glared at me for that servant. Susu was always so well-behaved. What has he been coaxed into?”

Madam Zeng scolded, “What servant? Xiaoxiao is now a commoner. In the future, he’ll be your brother-in-law. Show him some respect.”

Zeng Rongjing: “Have you been fooled by him too?” He had only been away for a few years, not decades, right?

“It’s Susu getting married, not you. If he likes it, that’s fine. Why do you bother so much?” Madam Zeng said impatiently. “Why are you back? Did you lose your official post?”

Zeng Rongjing said angrily, “I took leave.”

“Since you’ve taken leave, just rest well. Wait until Susu’s wedding is over before you leave.”

“…Aren’t you afraid Lu Xiao will bully Susu?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Zeng sighed lightly. “Xiaoxiao is a sincere child. Susu doesn’t know moderation, and he doesn’t know how to persuade him. A while ago, he was made unable to get out of bed for three days by Susu, and Susu was really worried.”

“?”

“Just put your heart at ease. Xiaoxiao won’t possibly bully Susu.”

“…” Not? When was my heart in my stomach?

“By the way, I see you’re doing well in the capital, your official position getting bigger. We plan to give all the family property to your younger brother. You don’t have any objections, do you?”

“What? I said Lu Xiao had ill intentions! Sure enough, he’s after the family property.”

“What are you saying? He’s just assisting Susu in managing.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Don’t believe it then. After Susu’s wedding in a few days, go back to the capital. Don’t come back unless it’s necessary.”

“?”

Zeng Rongjing saw his mother’s impatient expression and couldn’t help asking, “Mom, could it be that I was adopted?”

What did she mean by don’t come back unless necessary? He was the eldest son. Didn’t they miss him?

Madam Zeng looked at him in surprise. “After all these years, you finally noticed.”

Old Master Zeng burst out laughing.

Zeng Rongjing: “…” If he didn’t look almost identical to his father when young, he would have believed it.

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