Chapter 2

Then a glamorous woman stepped out of the passenger seat.

Red dress. Seductive eyes. Every movement alluring.

This time, I was more careful.

I bowed respectfully.

"Welcome home, young master."

Song Zhiyue gave me a long, unreadable look, then led the beauty upstairs.

She followed as though I weren't there at all.

My time at home had taught me something peculiar about our family.

Once we took up a post, our identities and appearances automatically locked into the book's "old butler" role.

In other words, however beautiful I was, all they saw was a kindly, honest old man.

That reassured me.

Back at the male lead's house, even my own brother hadn't recognized me.

Surely this man couldn't recognize me after a single meeting.

I straightened at once.

When the woman came downstairs tomorrow, it would be my time to shine.

Except I didn't have to wait until tomorrow.

Ten minutes later, she came down looking distinctly dissatisfied.

I secretly covered my mouth in astonishment.

That fast?!

So this CEO was... not much of a performer!

I saw her to the door with a benevolent smile.

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

2

You really couldn't judge by appearances.

Especially CEOs.

No wonder she looked unhappy.

I was still reflecting on this when I turned and found Song Zhiyue leaning on the balcony, looking down at me.

For a moment, I felt guilty.

Then I recovered and held my head high.

Not just anyone could see through our family's old-butler buff.

If my own father took up the role, I probably wouldn't recognize him.

Never mind Song Zhiyue.

I clasped my hands in front of my chest and smiled up at him.

"It's been so long since the young master was this happy."

"The master and mistress can rest easy now."

I watched his smile disappear.

Then he hurried away.

I didn't see him for the next few days.

Life as a butler was unbearably dull.

Far too much free time.

I even managed a trip home for some family "team-building."

There, I met the younger brother who'd taken my old job.

Without his old-butler aura, I could immediately identify him from the original owner's memories.

He smiled shyly.

"Sis."

After a family dinner, I dutifully returned to my post.

That afternoon, Song Zhiyue came home again.

With a different woman.

Unlike the sultry beauty from last time, this one was a sweet, innocent little flower. Exactly the sort CEO romances liked.

His performance might be lacking, but his love life certainly wasn't.

Already a new woman.

He brought her in.

Before long, I heard a commotion inside.

A few minutes later, he emerged looking exhausted.

The girl's eyes were red, as though she'd been put through an ordeal.

He glanced at me.

"Prepare a room for Ms. Jiang."

"She'll be staying for a while."

I nodded respectfully and led Jiang Chi upstairs.

She followed cautiously.

So pitiful.

With my hands folded in front of me, I indicated a room on the second floor.

"You'll be staying here, Ms. Jiang. The young master's room is next door."

I opened it.

Everything inside was neatly arranged.

She stepped in.

I beamed with delight.

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

She turned, surprised and pleased.

"Really?"

Then she bit her lip.

"Mr. Song is so wonderful. Lots of women must like him, right?"

I heaved a heavy sigh.

Our family creed came to mind.

Beyond the three classic lines, there was one more rule: treat every woman a CEO brought home as the future lady of the house.

Because the defining feature of these domineering CEOs was this: she runs, he chases, and even wings won't get her away.

He could fall for any woman he outwardly claimed to despise.

The first requirement of a qualified old butler:

Be the CEO's second mouth!

I sighed heavily again.

"The young master's had such a hard life."

"Growing up in a mansion this big... apart from being rich, handsome and flawless, he's had nothing to make him happy."

"I think you're very special to him, Ms. Jiang."

Her cheeks flushed.

"Am I?"

That seemed like enough matchmaking.

I turned and quietly took my leave, claiming no credit.

At the bend in the stairs, I found Song Zhiyue watching me with interest.

"Lin Beibei."