Chapter 12: The Workplace Contractor

The sewer under maintenance provided a perfect assist for Li Mingzhi. Ning Jiang, who had been carefully dressed up, was now covered in sewage and sludge, completely losing the neat and tidy appearance he had just moments ago.

Ning Jiang clearly never expected to have such an intimate encounter with a foul gutter in his lifetime. Even the usually quick-witted scammer was momentarily stunned.

“Why, Zhi Zhi?” Ning Jiang limped out of the gutter, clutching his backside. “What nonsense are you talking about? Did your brothers tell you bad things about me again?”

Whenever Ning Jiang moved, the stench of the sewer clung to him even more strongly, like a mix of expired herring cans and rotten snail noodles.

Jing Yi pinched his nose and took a big step back.

Li Mingzhi, also covering his nose, said in a muffled voice, “This has nothing to do with anyone else. I just thought it through myself. I don’t want to be deceived anymore. This is the end between us. Don’t come looking for me again.”

Ning Jiang was anxious. “Zhi Zhi…”

“Don’t call me that! Squeak, squeak, squeak! I’m not some little mouse! I’ve been putting up with you for too long!” Li Mingzhi snapped, his frustration bursting out in a loud shout.

Ning Jiang stood there, mouth agape, dumbfounded by the outburst.

A siren wailed loudly as a uniformed officer approached the Li family estate.

Li Wenzhao stepped out of the car, spoke briefly with the police, and Ning Jiang soon found himself adorned with a shiny new pair of handcuffs.

“Ning Jiang, you are suspected of multiple cases of emotional fraud. The victims have filed a joint lawsuit, and we’ve been looking for you for a long time.” The officer clasped the cuffs on Ning Jiang, wrinkling his nose at the smell. “Were you hiding in the sewer?”

“Officer! I want to report! I’m turning him in!” Ning Jiang pointed angrily at Li Mingzhi. “He intentionally hurt me! He kicked me into the sewer! Did you hear that? I want compensation!”

Li Mingzhi watched coldly as Ning Jiang was led into the police car. The police ignored Ning Jiang’s accusations, shook hands with Li Wenzhao, and took Ning Jiang away.

The police car vanished around the corner.

Li Mingzhi stood dumbfounded, staring into the distance. His sincere first love had come to a complete end.

Li Wenzhao reached out to pat his younger brother’s head and comforted him, “It’s all over now. Let’s go home.”

Li Mingzhi wiped his eyes. “Brother, am I really that stupid?”

Li Wenzhao said nothing.

Li Mingzhi whispered, “The friends I’ve been with aren’t good people. They’ve been inviting wolves into our home. I’m so foolish for not seeing it.”

Before Li Wenzhao could respond, Steward Jing began chattering nearby.

[Well, if we’re talking about inviting wolves into the house, the eldest young master is the real expert—he basically opened up a prison.]

[Honestly, why bother terminating contracts with those criminals? Just gather them all up and form a prison debut group 101. Guaranteed to be popular!]

[A blockbuster performance, confessing crimes, audience voting, points leading to incarceration.]

[This is truly a groundbreaking innovation in the entertainment industry.]

[After all, no company has the conditions to gather so many hidden talents and geniuses. Such a pity.]

“…”

Li Wenzhao’s expression darkened. His subordinate unintentionally gripped a little tighter.

“Brother, stop, you’re going to make me bald from all the head-patting.” Li Mingzhi held his head and scurried over to Steward Jing, only to emerge with a mane of lion-like hair.

He blinked at Jing Yi.

What does all this mean?

Even the usually composed and serious elder brother had made a blunder?

From Steward Jing’s words, his elder brother’s mistake seemed far worse than his own—he practically opened a prison.

Tsk tsk.

Curious.

Tempted to test the limits of punishment.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Li Mingzhi linked arms with Jing Yi affectionately and was about to ask, “Steward Jing, what exactly did you do at the company today…”

“Steward Jing.”

Jing Yi turned his head. “Hmm?”

“Go inform the kitchen to serve dinner half an hour earlier,” Li Wenzhao said coldly.

“Oh, okay.” Jing Yi didn’t suspect anything and hurried to the kitchen. After all, these trivial tasks were part of his duties, and he was hungry as well.

After Jing Yi left, Li Mingzhi pouted in dissatisfaction. “Brother, why wouldn’t you let me ask Steward Jing? Are you as foolish as I am and afraid of being found out?”

Li Wenzhao shot him a sharp glance.

The little young master immediately shrank his neck and slinked into the house, only daring to complain from afar, “Only the magistrate may set fires; commoners aren’t allowed to light lamps. Brother, you’re too tyrannical!”

Li Wenzhao: “…”

Only Li Wenzhao remained by the front gate. He was silent for a moment, then took out his phone and called Secretary Fan Ming. “Secretary Fan, how is the termination of contracts with the criminals at the Shengshi branch going?”

Secretary Fan answered briskly, “It’s underway, but we’ve encountered some resistance. The number of terminations is too high, causing dissatisfaction among the artists. They intend to file a joint lawsuit against Shengshi.”

“Let them sue,” Li Wenzhao said expressionlessly. “The termination contracts must be signed. Shengshi does not need artists with tainted records.”

“Understood, Mr. Li. I’ll arrange it immediately.”

Li Wenzhao asked, “Will a week be enough?”

Secretary Fan replied professionally, “Three days is sufficient.”

“Make it quick.”

This makeshift warden couldn’t stand wasting even a minute.

·

·

Back home, dinner was already on the table. Li Mingzhi pulled Jing Yi to sit in the dining room. “Brother, can Steward Jing eat with us?”

Jing Yi smiled with restraint. “Young master, that’s against protocol.”

Li Wenzhao sneered. The steward’s eyes were fixed on his plate, his bottom nearly sliding off the chair.

His words said no, but his heart said yes.

“Sit,” Li Wenzhao said.

Jing Yi plopped down at the end of the table, satisfaction shining from his brows and eyes. “Thank you, eldest young master.”

Li Wenzhao: “…”

The only thing he was enthusiastic about was eating.

Aunt Fang went upstairs to invite Li Xu and Li Ting down for dinner. Li Xu refused, saying he wasn’t hungry, while Li Ting, in pajamas and yawning, came downstairs. “Work’s so tiring, brother, I want an assistant too.”

Li Ting’s eyes kept drifting toward Jing Yi.

He had heard a bit about the headquarters’ affairs. On Jing Yi’s first day at work, his brother had terminated contracts with hundreds of prospective debut artists. No one really understood Li Wenzhao’s move, but Li Ting knew that Steward Jing must have uncovered something major.

Otherwise, his brother wouldn’t have acted so decisively and precisely.

Li Ting was curious about what offenses the artists had committed and wanted to take the steward to visit the company—perhaps they could discover something important.

Unfortunately, the steward was under his brother’s control; borrowing him required a formal request.

Li Wenzhao remained impassive. “You don’t need to inform me about branch office hiring.”

“I’m not recruiting,” Li Ting smiled.

Li Wenzhao raised his eyes.

Li Ting grinned at Jing Yi. “Steward Jing.”

Jing Yi was sitting at the corner of the table, eating voraciously, mouth full, chewing hard. Suddenly cued, he looked up in confusion. “Hm?”

“Be my assistant for a few days. I’ll double whatever salary brother offers. How about it?” Li Ting’s tone was tempting.

Jing Yi narrowed his eyes warily.

Something felt off.

The third young master looked at him like he was eyeing a fat little piglet ripe for the market.

As a villain, better to be cautious.

Jing Yi shook his head immediately. “I’ve already accepted the eldest young master’s pay. I can’t earn extra for now.”

Li Ting gave a hint. “Triple the salary.”

For a moment, the steward was tempted by the prospect of sudden wealth but still shook his head with effort. “Third young master, honesty is important. It’s not right to undercut the eldest young master in front of him.”

“Oh? So you’ve already lost all hope in big brother?”

Jing Yi smiled modestly. “Just a delightful quality.”

Li Ting: “…”

“Eat first,” Li Wenzhao cut off the conversation. “Third young master, take the branch’s files to headquarters tomorrow. Steward Jing will handle organizing them.”

Jing Yi: ???

Outsourced work?

[You don’t produce work, you just shuffle it around?]

[Should’ve accepted the third young master’s triple salary offer.]

Now it was unpaid labor.

Li Wenzhao: “…”

Li Ting couldn’t help but chuckle.

Jing Yi wanted to cry but had no tears, angrily grabbing a chunk of braised pork and chewing fiercely.

“Steward Jing.” Li Mingzhi placed a chicken leg on Jing Yi’s plate. “I snagged the last one for you. Eat, eat.”

As if afraid someone would snatch it away.

Jing Yi looked touched. “Thank you, young master.”

Pure children are the most harmless.

Li Mingzhi asked, “Steward Jing, what else do you want? I’ll get it for you.”

Jing Yi hinted without reservation, “The grilled eel in front of the eldest young master looks good.”

The next second, Li Wenzhao watched as the entire plate of grilled eel was whisked away by his brother and placed in front of Jing Yi.

“Steward Jing, eat quickly. It’s all yours. Big brother and third brother don’t like it.”

Jing Yi was about to adore the little young master to death.

Li Wenzhao: “…”

Li Ting: “…”

After the meal, the steward’s mouth was glistening with grease, his pretty face full of satisfaction. For the first time, the Li family dining table witnessed a clean plate.

Once dinner was over and the servants cleared the table, Jing Yi burped lightly and started to leave. Li Mingzhi tagged along like a shadow. “Steward Jing, where are you going?”

Jing Yi burped softly. “I ate too much, I’m going out for a walk.”

He hadn’t properly explored the domineering CEO’s estate yet.

Li Mingzhi said, “I’ll go with you.”

The Li family estate was just as described in novels—vast in scale, with a large golf course on the back mountain. Both sides and the area near the gate were gardens tended by professionals, dotted with charming little night lights, and completely free of insects.

This was the home of a classic old-school CEO.

While others had villas, the Li family had an entire estate.

“Steward Jing.” The two walked through the fresh-air garden, and Li Mingzhi relaxed and said, “I think you’re different from when you first came to the Li family.”

Jing Yi: “How so?”

“I can’t quite say.” Li Mingzhi pondered. “When you first arrived, I didn’t like you much. You were wooden and taciturn, everything you did was dull and lifeless. But now, you’re much more lively.”

Of course, he was different—the core had changed.

Jing Yi smiled. “People can change.”

Li Mingzhi laughed. “Sometimes I even suspect you’re possessed! Hahaha.”

Jing Yi was horrified.

Boy, the truth came out.

He really was a ghost—and he possessed Steward Jing.

After half an hour of strolling and whispering, they returned to the front door. Jing Yi heard Li Ting’s voice.

“Brother, in a few days it’ll be second brother’s birthday. Let’s throw him a party. He’s turning 25, a nice round number, worthy of a big celebration. What do you think?”

Although Li Ting and Li Xu were twins, their birth times were special. Li Xu was born just before midnight; Li Ting was born in the early hours of the next day.

Thus, the brothers had birthdays one day apart.

Li Ting didn’t like big celebrations for himself but enjoyed organizing them for Li Xu.

“Hmm.” Li Wenzhao nodded. “There’s been too much trouble at home recently. We do need a lively banquet. Let’s do it.”

“Great,” Li Ting said.

Just then, Jing Yi walked in, and an inner voice echoed through the Li family living room.

[Li Xu’s birthday party!]

[Another turning point for the Li family! Maybe second young master is going bankrupt!]

Li Wenzhao and Li Ting were stunned, their expressions growing serious.

Li Mingzhi glanced at Jing Yi secretly.

Jing Yi didn’t notice the family’s unusual mood. He stood still, scratching his chin in thought…

Amid the tense anticipation of the three Li brothers, Jing Yi finally spoke:

[What happened at the birthday party again? Hiss… I seem to have forgotten. Was it someone stealing something important from second young master? Ah, I can’t quite remember.]

“…………”