Chapter 16 – Retorter Xiao Is Online

Within the brief three minutes of contact with this family, Xiao Fang felt an extraordinary coldness, even colder than what was described in the book. Thinking about Fei Xiangnan growing up in such a suffocating environment, Xiao Fang somewhat understood why he was so ruthless in his actions.

As the saying goes, if you’re not ruthless, there will be ruthless people waiting for you. This kind of man-eat-man place forces you to become strong, otherwise you’ll just be trampled underfoot.

Looking at Fei Xiangnan’s retreating back, Xiao Fang suddenly felt a pang of sourness. Even though he was an orphan and returning home only brought him loneliness, Fei Xiangnan probably couldn’t even get a peaceful night’s sleep at home. What about his child in the future?

Wait a minute? His child?

No, he couldn’t lose at the starting line. If he, the father, couldn’t even hold his own now, what would happen to this father and son in the future?

An image flashed through Xiao Fang’s mind: a pair of father and son with identical iceberg faces, holding hands and standing helplessly in the middle of a crowd. Beside them was a group of relatives and elders who wished they would die immediately. The grandfather stood to the side, constantly watching for their mistakes, ready to strike with his cane at the slightest misstep.

This, this, this! Absolutely not!

Xiao Fang’s brows shot up. This first battle must be won!

Zhang Yuliu didn’t see the little scheme brewing in Xiao Fang’s mind. She only knew that this nephew of hers didn’t easily bring people home. A calculating glint flashed in her eyes. She walked up to Xiao Fang with a smile, her newly dyed hair carrying a cloying sweet scent. Xiao Fang frowned uncomfortably. The next thing that made him uncomfortable was her mouth.

“Have a seat. Haven’t you ever seen such a grand place before? Really, when Xiangnan brought you back, why didn’t he explain things clearly? Look at you, making a fool of yourself,” her tone was that of someone treating him as Fei Xiangnan’s uncultured little lover.

Xiao Fang put on a standard fake smile and sat down on the sofa as if he hadn’t heard a thing. “Auntie, I’m thirsty. Is there any tea?”

A trace of astonishment flashed in Zhang Yuliu’s eyes. She had met her match. Maintaining the impeccable smile on her face, she continued, “Tea? We have Huangshan Maofeng, Meng Ding, Guzhu Zisun, Huiming, Nannuo Baihao, Silver Needle Baihao, Yandang Maofeng, Lushan Cloud and Mist, Nanjing Rain Flower, Jingting Green Snow, and Huading Cloud and Mist. See which one you’re used to drinking, and I’ll have the servants brew it. We can even chat about the art of tea together.” Zhang Yuliu pointed to the tea table not far away.

“Hehehe, what’s your name? Oh, and if you can’t remember these tea names, just name one you know. You people usually know about West Lake Dragon Well Tea, right? It’s fine, no harm done. We have that too if you want it. Dragon Well is unique among the many famous teas for its distinct ‘light yet distant, fragrant yet clear’ taste…”

“Plain boiled water will be fine.”

A single sentence completely cut off the pretentious speech Zhang Yuliu had prepared. Zhang Yuliu was so stunned she didn’t even react for a moment. She looked at Xiao Fang in bewilderment.

Xiao Fang chuckled. “Auntie, you drink tea every day, haven’t you heard of plain boiled water? I’m easy-going. Any tea you give me tastes the same. By the way, my name is Xiao Fang.”

Zhang Yuliu had originally wanted to make Xiao Fang lose face, but this guy… her smile was starting to crack.

“A person like this only deserves to drink plain boiled water. Xiao Liang, bring a glass of plain boiled water over,” Liu Qian said with a sarcastic tone, calling out to a passing servant. The servant acknowledged and went to the kitchen, returning shortly with a glass of water. Xiao Fang politely accepted it.

“What are you saying, sister-in-law? He should know these things now. He can’t always act like someone from the countryside,” Zhang Yuliu said, using the ladder Liu Qian had provided to continue her mockery. She was truly impressed by Fei Xiangnan’s taste. Wasn’t he all hot and heavy with that little Film Emperor named Xiao Qi before? Why did he now find someone whose looks were a notch below, who spoke and acted like a country bumpkin from who knows what remote corner of the mountains?

Xiao Fang’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. “Auntie, you’re too kind. We young people are busy with our careers these days. How would we have time to sit at home brewing tea like some idle person? If we spent time on that, our perfect attendance bonus would be gone.”

Zhang Yuliu was taken aback. Was he mocking her for being an idle person? Zhang Yuliu’s smile remained unchanged as she said, “That’s something for those office workers to think about. Now that you’ve entered the upper echelons of society, even if you don’t stay long, you should still know a few things, shouldn’t you?”

Xiao Fang continued to filter out Zhang Yuliu’s words. “Auntie, you know, when you were listing those tea names just now, you reminded me of someone.”

“What?” The moment Zhang Yuliu asked the question, she knew she had misspoken, but it was too late to take it back.

Xiao Fang grinned. “You were just like the waitress at my great-aunt’s mahjong parlor, calling out the tea names.”

Holy crap! Zhang Yuliu’s face changed dramatically. “What did you say?”

“Auntie, you’re not angry, are you? Young people are just joking around, don’t take it seriously, don’t take it seriously. Let’s talk about something else. Auntie, you look so young,” Xiao Fang unexpectedly threw out a piece of candy.

Zhang Yuliu’s expression softened somewhat, thinking that this Xiao Fang was at least sensible. Then, Xiao Fang threw out his next line.

“You don’t look like you’re the same age as Great-Aunt at all. Where did you get your fillers done? I’ll go to that place in the future too.”

“Pfft,” Liu Qian, who was sitting to the side, couldn’t hold back a snort.

Zhang Yuliu’s face became extremely ugly. It was always her saying things about others. “You’re just Fei Xiangnan’s boyfriend, yet your arrogance is even greater than mine.”

This was the exact sentence Xiao Fang was waiting for. He looked at Zhang Yuliu innocently. “Who said I’m Brother Fei’s boyfriend?”

Uh…

A long silence fell over the living room.

“You… you’re not?” Does Fei Xiangnan now have a hobby of bringing colleagues home for dinner?

Xiao Fang shook his head honestly. Not a boyfriend, but a husband. He wasn’t lying.

“Sigh, I was so shocked. So this is how the Fei family treats its guests? Is this what Old Master Fei taught you?”

Zhang Yuliu’s mind rapidly filtered through the list of Fei family guests. Could it be… could it be that person?

“You couldn’t be…”

Who? Of course, Xiao Fang didn’t know, but seeing their sudden change in expression, he found it amusing. And so, Xiao Fang began to demonstrate the basic qualities of an actor.

A smile, a noble smile! Looking at the two panicked faces, Xiao Fang could barely contain his real laughter.

This smile made both Liu Qian and Zhang Yuliu’s legs tremble. Zhang Yuliu quickly snatched the water from in front of Xiao Fang. Liu Qian no longer sat like a noblewoman; she immediately stood up to serve snacks. In less than three minutes, expensive pastries were placed in front of Xiao Fang.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Xiao, we mistook you for someone else just now. We thought you were Fei Xiangnan’s boyfriend. These are pastries air-freighted from England. Please try them. Our butler is a rigid person and didn’t have Old Mister Fei receive you immediately. We are truly sorry. Please wait a little longer,” Zhang Yuliu said cautiously. This was currently the Fei family’s most important guest. If she messed this up…

She couldn’t even imagine the consequences.

“What’s wrong with being President Fei’s boyfriend? As far as I know, President Fei should be the current executive of the group,” Xiao Fang adopted a calm demeanor, but his question was aggressive.

Embarrassment flashed across Zhang Yuliu’s face.

“This nephew of mine is just an illegitimate successor. Mr. Xiao should have heard that he sent his own uncle to prison. He is not worthy of being the heir. Otherwise, why would our family head personally receive you?” When it came to the matter of the heir, Liu Qian became half-irrational, ignoring Zhang Yuliu’s countless warning glances.

Xiao Fang looked at these two foolish women who weren’t afraid of stirring up trouble. It was a good thing they met him. If they had met a real business partner, this deal would have probably been ruined.

He was truly impressed. These two lived off the money Fei Xiangnan earned, yet they could still curse him. Boss Fei might be glorious on the outside, but having these few lunatics at home was enough for him to suffer. Plus his parents, sigh.

“Heh,” Xiao Fang let out a cold laugh.

The two of them looked at him inexplicably. It was Zhang Yuliu who asked first, “What is Mr. Xiao laughing at?”

“I was reminded of the story of the farmer and the snake.”

The two were not fools and immediately understood what he meant.

“Mr. Xiao doesn’t understand our situation, so it’s better not to make wild guesses. Fei Xiangnan is not as simple as you imagine,” Liu Qian started to lose control of her mouth again.

“I, on the other hand, think he’s much simpler than you all.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yuliu also started to get annoyed. Just as she was about to say something, she met Xiao Fang’s cold gaze. The two of them fell silent at the same time.

That gaze was very similar to a certain person’s.

“Mr. Xiao, Old Mister Fei has asked for you to come upstairs,” the butler announced, standing on the staircase.

Xiao Fang stood up in response, walking upstairs without even glancing at the two women.

How infuriating! Boss Fei was such a good boss, yet he had to be tormented by these fools every day.

All the way up, Xiao Fang’s face was as sour as it could be.

“This is the first time I’ve seen the two madams with such expressions,” the butler, who had been leading the way in silence, suddenly said.

Xiao Fang was stunned. Did he look like the type to be bullied? Besides his Boss Fei, who else was there in this family!

“We’ve arrived,” the butler opened a magnificent door. Inside, the furnishings were simple yet substantial. A white-haired old man sat behind a desk, with Fei Xiangnan standing ramrod straight to one side.

“Old Master, the person has arrived,” the butler bowed respectfully, then closed the door and retreated.

The old man grunted, his sharp gaze sizing up Xiao Fang. “You two have certainly hidden it well.”

An ordinary person would not be able to withstand the old master’s gaze. Some people who have been in certain positions for a long time can exert pressure with just their eyes. But as it happened, Xiao Fang was a carefree character who, through the caress of life, had developed the spirit of facing difficulties head-on, and ignoring them if they were too difficult.

He put on a proper smile and did something Fei Xiangnan had not anticipated.

He bowed deeply to Old Master Fei and shouted with great vigor, “Hello, Grandpa!”

Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought this was a triad meeting, and the person in front of him was the gang leader Xiao Fang had come to see.

Fei Xiangnan couldn’t help but twitch an eyebrow.

It wasn’t just him; the old master was also taken aback, but he quickly recovered.

“You don’t have to be so polite. Xiangnan has already explained everything to me. Given your family background, I do not approve of this marriage. You should also have an agreement to divorce immediately after giving birth,” Old Master Fei said clearly.

Xiao Fang’s expression remained unchanged. “You are right. President Fei and I have negotiated it just like that, no problem at all. But that still can’t stop my admiration for you!”

Fei Xiangnan wanted to cover his forehead. This guy was at it again. His grandfather wouldn’t fall for this.

Old Master Fei sized him up for a while, then suddenly laughed out loud. “You child, you speak so honestly. The baby is almost three months along, right? I have a lot of supplements here. Take them all back with you after dinner to nourish your body. My great-grandchild must learn to run faster than others when he’s born.”

“Grandpa, what are you talking about? Under your guidance, running is a small problem. I’m worried the child will be flying by the age of three,” Xiao Fang laid the flattery on thick.

Fei Xiangnan could barely resist the urge to slap this guy.

“Hahahahaha,” Old Master Fei laughed. “I just like an honest child like you. It’s good if he can fly, otherwise how could he be a child of our old Fei family?”

Xiao Fang also laughed along, then scurried over to pour more water into Old Master Fei’s empty teacup. “That’s because your genes are strong, Grandpa. Here, here, have some tea.”

Old Master Fei gave him a knowing look and picked up the teacup without any suspicion, taking a sip. “You’re more sensible than my grandson. We’ve been talking for so long, and he didn’t even know to pour me a cup of water.”

Xiao Fang’s smile never faded. “Grandpa, you see, isn’t this President Fei giving me a chance to perform?”

Old Master Fei patted Xiao Fang’s shoulder. If he didn’t know very well that the two were just putting on an act, Fei Xiangnan would have almost believed they were about to become sworn brothers.

“You’re an actor. This profession isn’t a long-term one. Grandpa has a position here that suits you. Want to come and try it out later?” He was already starting to recruit employees.

Xiao Fang smiled and pushed back. “Grandpa, my original intention for becoming an actor was because I admired your work. If I quit before I even get the role, I’d be letting down my childhood dream,” Xiao Fang said with a regretful look.

“Hahahaha! Good, good, good. Then Grandpa will help you look at the script when I have time. You child, you really have ambition,” Old Master Fei couldn’t help but laugh again.

Fei Xiangnan couldn’t even understand his own grandfather anymore. What happened to the iron-willed leader?

Could it be that both grandfather and grandson fell for this kind of flattery? No, he wasn’t included in this!

Fei Xiangnan felt that he could no longer fit into this picture. Boss Fei silently covered his face.