Chapter 1

I woke up inside a novel as an extraordinarily beautiful background character.

I had exactly three lines in the entire book.

"You're the first woman the young master has ever brought home."

"It's been so long since I last saw the young master smile."

"The young master's stomach trouble is acting up again."

Then I got fired on my very first day.

1

I'd transmigrated into a bit part in a CEO romance.

The book barely described the character. Just one sentence: The old butler smiled in delight.

The old butler said, "You're the first woman the young master has ever brought home."

The old butler smiled happily at the heroine.

"It's been so long since I last saw the young master smile."

I stood before the mirror for a long time.

This flawless face...

Are we sure about "old butler"?

I checked the lines again.

No mistake.

I was that old butler.

And the position was hereditary.

My father had been the CEO's butler. Once he retired, I inherited the job.

Today was my first day.

Impeccably dressed in a suit, I admired my beauty in the full-length mirror.

If my timing was right, the CEO would return today. According to the plot, he'd bring the heroine home.

That afternoon, a car horn sounded outside.

I went downstairs and saw him getting out.

Beside him was a... a man.

The CEO had a sculpted, angular face, an aloof air and cold eyes. Exactly as the book described.

The two men came in, one after the other.

I stood there with my mouth open.

Wait.

Wasn't this supposed to be a straight romance?

Could someone please tell me what was going on?!

Follow the plot?

Or not?

Trailing behind them, I saw a faint curve at the corner of the CEO's sharply defined face and couldn't help remarking, "It's been so long since I last saw the young master smile."

I hadn't spoken loudly.

Both men turned.

Looking at the man behind the CEO, I blurted another classic line by way of explanation.

"You're the first man the young master has ever brought home."

The CEO's face grew darker and darker.

Then he said, "Uncle."

I nearly died on the spot.

The man he'd called Uncle burst out laughing and pointed at me.

"What an interesting butler you have."

And that was how I lost my job.

Hired in the morning. Unemployed by the afternoon.

When I left, the new butler was already in place.

Hands clasped behind his back. Beaming with delight.

Seriously?

I hadn't even been gone that long, and they'd replaced me?

Was the competition that fierce?

At home, I got an earful.

My father looked at me with profound disappointment.

"Beibei, tell me something. How did you manage to lose a job like that?"

"High pay, little work, excellent benefits. Hereditary, too! If I hadn't given you a younger brother, would we have had to surrender the position to your second uncle's branch of the family?!"

Yes.

My father had been one of the CEO family's old butlers.

So had my mother.

Our entire clan served CEOs. Those three classic lines had become the family creed.

And I...

Was the first to come home fired.

Dad glanced at me and set down his teacup with a thump.

"Beibei, we can't let your second uncle's family laugh at us. Find yourself a new employer. Quickly."

After only a few days at home, I was sent out to look for work again.

According to the family's inside information, this city had only so many CEOs.

Only three households currently needed a butler.

Scarce positions. Fierce competition.

By the next morning, Dad had booked my interviews.

Fuck. This was more of a rat race than actual work.

At the first interview, I stepped forward, bowed deeply and delivered our hereditary lines.

Dad watched from the side, shaking his head.

Not because I wasn't good enough.

Because the employer wasn't.

You had to understand: for generations, our family had served the all-powerful male leads of CEO romances.

By the third interview, I stood straight and brought a little presence with me.

Dad didn't like that household, either.

Fine.

This ready-made father of mine certainly had high standards.

It took another two weeks and some strings pulled by Dad before I had a new employer.

Before I left, he patiently explained the stakes.

I absolutely must not get fired again.

At the new villa, I took a deep breath.

I knew those three classic lines by heart.

Lesson learned: this was a straight romance.

First day with my new employer.

Boring. Nothing to do.

Second day. Still no sign of him.

Third day. He finally appeared.

I hurried forward.

The three classic lines tumbled around on my tongue.

This time, I was checking carefully whether his guest was a man or a woman.

Just as before, an understated supercar pulled into the villa.

A pair of long legs emerged.

My gaze traveled upward.

His tall figure drew an involuntary sigh of admiration.

How many CEOs did this novel have?

Honestly.

Why were they all so high-quality?!

My gaze reached his face.

My expression froze.

A familiar face.

I was finished.

Dad, I might not be keeping this job, either.

Song Zhiyue looked at me meaningfully.