Chapter 10: The Waste Disposal Center

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Another person had fallen into the large flowerbed. Jing Yi blinked and took a large sideways step—this time it wasn’t his doing.

One flowerbed had tripped up two people. Wen Su’an had charged in without any warning and lay on the ground for a long time without getting up. Judging by the distance and force of his fall, Jing Yi thought, hmm… it was probably quite a nasty tumble.

The posture, the place, the familiar groans of pain.

Wen Su’an finally struggled out of the flowerbed and tearfully turned to Li Mingzhi. “Mingzhi, I’m disfigured, wahhhh…”

A thin red scratch ran from the corner of his eye to his cheek, caused by a flower branch. No real wound, just an ugly mark; his face was dirty and bruised, clearly a solid fall.

Whenever Wen Su’an had accidents before, Li Mingzhi would rush over anxiously to show concern and help resolve the problem. But today, Wen Su’an waited left and right, yet no care came from Li Mingzhi.

“Butler Jing,” Li Mingzhi said, “Please call a car for Wen Su’an. I’m not feeling well, so I won’t be personally seeing guests out.”

After saying this, he turned and entered the villa.

Wen Su’an stretched out his hand like a pleading puppy. “Wait... Mingzhi, Mingzhi!”

Jing Yi calmly curled his lips. Such flimsy brotherly affection—who was he trying to fool? And with such poor acting. He had no desire to play along. He called a taxi with his phone, pushed Wen Su’an into the car, and that was that.

Just as Jing Yi was about to leave, the car window rolled down. Wen Su’an sat inside, looking at him. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

Jing Yi: ???

“You must have told Li Mingzhi something. Otherwise, he wouldn’t treat me like this. Don’t tell me it’s a misunderstanding. We used to be close. Ever since you appeared, he changed. What happened just now has everything to do with you,” Wen Su’an said coldly. “Butler Jing, I won’t forget you.”

Jing Yi smiled slightly. “Nope.”

“What?”

“Do you see that big flowerbed over there?” Jing Yi pointed behind him.

Wen Su’an touched his face and winced. “You...”

“That flowerbed carries bad energy. If you do too many bad things there, you’ll face retribution,” Jing Yi warned. “Don’t believe me? There are two human-shaped imprints right on it.”

Wen Su’an: “…”

He instinctively looked over—and sure enough, there were two human-shaped hollows.

Jing Yi waved his hand with rare politeness, “Let’s go. Don’t come back, or the flowerbed will punish you again.”

The taxi slowly disappeared from view.

Jing Yi stood still for a moment, then took out his phone, opened Weibo, found a popular entertainment gossip account, and sent them negative information about Wen Su’an—time, place, people, content—all well documented.

That was all he could do. The rest was up to karma.

· · ·

Back at the villa, Jing Yi felt the Li family members were looking at him oddly. He blinked, returning the gaze. What was wrong?

“Butler Jing,” Li Wenzhao suddenly spoke.

Jing Yi turned his head. “Hmm?”

“Going on an out-of-office assignment today. Come with me to the company.”

More extra work?

His job title shouldn’t be butler—it should be “non-butler.” Why was his workplace always outside the Li household?

Jing Yi felt unmotivated inside but put on a face of caring about the company. He replied perfunctorily, “President Li, I’m just a butler. Wouldn’t going to the company be inappropriate?”

Li Wenzhao said, “Be my assistant for a while. Your salary goes up by twenty thousand.”

Jing Yi: “Alright, President Li, you’re welcome.”

“…”

The butler’s original salary was 80,000 a month; with the increase, it was 100,000.

A poor college student had never seen so much money.

Jing Yi quietly calculated that if he worked for the Li family two years, he could achieve financial freedom. Even if he lost his job someday, he could move to a small city, buy a car and a house, and live comfortably.

Hehe.

Li Wenzhao went upstairs to change clothes, and Jing Yi obediently waited downstairs.

“Butler Jing,” Li Ting shook his newspaper, “Happy about the raise?”

“Happy,” Jing Yi’s smile widened. “If Third Young Master also gave me a raise, I’d be even happier.”

You know what I mean.

Li Ting smiled and stood up. “Third Young Master doesn’t have as much money as First Young Master. You should focus on First Young Master’s sheep. Second Brother, I’m off to work.”

Li Xu stood up as well, “Me too.”

Only Li Mingzhi was left in the living room, looking glum. Jing Yi thought for a moment, then leaned in and said softly, “Young Master, if I told you Wen Su’an is not a good person, would you believe me?”

Li Mingzhi was stunned. He looked up, his dark eyes steady and unreadable.

Jing Yi began to feel nervous.

“I would,” Li Mingzhi said. “I’ll never associate with him again.”

He took out his phone and immediately blocked Wen Su’an.

Jing Yi: ?

That was too easy.

In the original story, Li Mingzhi was stubborn, never turning back even when hitting a wall. Spoiled by his three older brothers, he was wild-tempered, breaking bottles and smashing dishes when upset, forcing everyone to bow to him.

A complete reckless, brainless rich kid.

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But now he seemed like a well-behaved good boy.

Jing Yi’s mind went blank for a moment and suddenly sensed something was off.

Since entering the book, none of the plot had followed the original text. The original storyline had been overrun by wild weeds, and now it had developed into something he couldn’t understand.

Li Mingzhi didn’t elope with Ning Jiang, thus escaping a certain death.

Li Ting didn’t invest in the amusement park, avoiding a sudden trap from the heavens.

First Young Master Li Wenzhao wasn’t drugged at the banquet, dodging the scheming of the vicious official’s wife.

Everything was heading in a better direction.

But why?

Were the characters in the book awakening? Or had the four Li brothers also been soul-transferred?

No, that couldn’t be.

If they were awakened or soul-transferred, they should have a god’s eye view. Then Li Mingzhi wouldn’t be fighting to the death on the first day over elopement. Li Wenzhao wouldn’t be so defenseless at the banquet. Li Ting wouldn’t have casually canceled the investment as a joke.

So where was the problem?

…Couldn’t figure it out.

Never mind. It was good news anyway; the reason didn’t matter.

Jing Yi chatted with Li Mingzhi for a while, then went to the kitchen for a simple breakfast. Just as he wiped his mouth, Li Wenzhao came downstairs in a sharp suit.

Jing Yi followed him outside and softly exclaimed when he saw the car waiting.

Another difference from the original.

In the book, the big villain Li Wenzhao lived ostentatiously, with a mode of transportation befitting a domineering CEO—always arriving by helicopter.

Li Wenzhao heard his surprised sound and stopped, “What is it?”

Jing Yi looked at the car and then around. “First Young Master, you drive to work?”

Li Wenzhao said, “Otherwise?”

Walk?

Jing Yi stated, “Doesn’t a domineering CEO take a helicopter to work?”

“…”

Sometimes Li Wenzhao really didn’t know what was going on in the little butler’s head. “Butler Jing, I’m a CEO, not a madman. Private helicopters aren’t allowed in the city center.”

Jing Yi was surprised—what a law-abiding domineering CEO.

Blame the original author.

Such nonsense.

Jing Yi walked forward but stumbled slightly, gripping a pillar to steady himself.

[What’s up with Li family’s floors? So slippery!]

Li Wenzhao was about to say something but when he saw Jing Yi’s shaken expression, the sharp look in his eyes vanished and a smirk appeared on his lips.

Jing Yi narrowed his eyes sharply: Hmm?

Why was First Young Master grinning slyly again?

Not laughing at him, right?

“First Young Master…”

But before Jing Yi could speak, Li Wenzhao raised his chin as if herding cattle into a pen. “Get in the car.”

“…”

The silver luxury car slid out from the villa gate.

· · ·

The headquarters of Li Group was located in the financial center within the Second Ring Road.

Two towering skyscrapers rose majestically, showcasing the Li family’s immense wealth and status.

The driver pulled the car right up to the company entrance. Li Wenzhao led Jing Yi inside. Along the way, all the employees greeted Li Wenzhao with reverent eyes, calling out “President Li” repeatedly.

Jing Yi followed behind, feeling what it was like to be watched.

They entered the elevator, a transparent glass box rising upward. The cityscape rapidly shrank on all sides, making Jing Yi dizzy.

He pressed himself tightly against the wall, shaking his legs to distract himself. “First Young Master, do you enjoy looking down at the vast empire you’ve built from this rising space?”

Li Wenzhao: “No.”

Jing Yi’s lips trembled. “Then why make the elevator transparent?”

Li Wenzhao: “To enjoy watching others tremble.”

“…”

Such a twisted CEO, and he says he’s not a madman!

The elevator rose higher and higher. Jing Yi clung to a corner like a gecko. When the elevator finally stopped, his legs felt weak.

Just as he was about to fall, a big hand steadied him.

Jing Yi fell against it. “Thanks.”

Li Wenzhao: “…”

Ding!

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The elevator doors opened.

“President, today’s departmental meeting is about to—” Secretary Fan stood at the elevator entrance reporting work, but when the doors opened, she saw two people tangled up in an embrace.

Secretary Fan: “?”

Inside the elevator, Li Wenzhao stood expressionless, his arm tightly held by someone. Jing Yi, eyes closed, limbs flailing, was clinging to the big boss like a koala.

“…”

“Butler Jing.” Li Wenzhao frowned and tore Jing Yi off his arm. “We’ve arrived.”

“Oh.”

Jing Yi supported himself against the elevator wall, walking out step by step, looking utterly defeated.

In the Li household, he was still a tender little radish. After one ride in a transparent elevator, he was turned into a dried radish.

Two thousand extra for out-of-office work wasn’t easy.

Secretary Fan kindly helped Jing Yi up. “Butler Jing, are you okay?”

“Fine, fine.” The dried radish waved weakly. “The raise was too much. I’m just overexcited.”

Secretary Fan: “…”

Li Wenzhao: “…”

Jing Yi weakly grabbed Secretary Fan’s arm. “Secretary Fan, you understand me, right?”

Secretary Fan didn’t want to discuss salary increases; it wasn’t allowed in the company.

She assisted Butler Jing into the president’s office. Li Wenzhao had another board meeting this morning and couldn’t skip it. He entered the meeting room without a breath.

After a while, Secretary Fan came with a large stack of documents. “Butler Jing, here is your work.”

“…”

Jing Yi glanced at the half-height folder. “Secretary Fan, you must be joking.”

Secretary Fan looked serious. “President Li’s orders.”

“…”

A few minutes later, Jing Yi sat at a small desk flipping through the materials Secretary Fan brought. “All entertainers.”

Secretary Fan nodded. “President Li said to select suitable candidates from among them. The head office will contact them for contracts.”

Jing Yi raised an eyebrow. “What criteria should I use?”

He was a butler who oversaw trivial matters. Was Li Wenzhao not afraid he’d pick a bunch of Wang Mas, Li Mas, and Chen Mas for the entertainment industry?

Secretary Fan didn’t know either—he merely relayed Li Wenzhao’s orders. He frowned and thought for a few seconds. “Intuition?”

Jing Yi’s mouth twitched. “…Secretary Fan, you’re really funny.”

Secretary Fan was serious. “Butler Jing, please start.”

Jing Yi sighed. Money talks, he accepted. He casually pulled out a folder and glanced at the name. “No good.”

Secretary Fan took out a notebook and began recording. “Reason?”

Jing Yi: “His forehead is dark, lips purple—obviously a bad guy. He’ll definitely be abusive in the future.”

“…” Secretary Fan’s hand tightened, her pen trembling and drawing an errant line.

“…”

· · ·

In the meeting room, Li Wenzhao sat expressionless at the head of the table, listening to subordinates report last quarter’s revenue.

“…President Li, this is the performance of our branch company.” The branch manager bowed and returned to his seat, awaiting the boss’s comments.

Li Wenzhao nodded. “Compared to the previous quarter, this time…”

[No, no, this one will do drugs later.]

Li Wenzhao: “…”

[This one will be abusive and unfaithful.]

[This one is a surrogate mother offender.]

[This one is even worse—gambles, visits prostitutes, and has AIDS.]

[This one is far worse, doesn’t pay taxes, sleeps around recklessly.]

[…]

[Is this selecting entertainers? It looks like a prison registry.]

[What kind of trash shelter is Li’s company? Why do they take in all these criminals?]

[Li’s trash shelter: no criminals allowed below felony level!]

“…”

Li Wenzhao’s face grew darker and darker. He lightly but firmly dropped his pen. The room fell silent.

The reporting department head wiped sweat from his forehead. “President Li… is something wrong?”

“No.” Li Wenzhao exhaled, still shaken. “That’s all for today. Meeting adjourned.”

He had more pressing matters to handle first.