After Snagging a Stuffy Giant-Wealthy Daddy - Chapter 5

Caught by Daddy, time to slide and kneel!

Half a month later, at the Shao Mansion.

The early morning sun was just right, making the massive outdoor pool of the Shao Mansion shimmer with turquoise light. Li Chu had just finished a few laps and leaned against the edge of the pool to wipe the water droplets from his face. Wearing only swim trunks, his skin appeared porcelain white and translucent under the sun, almost dazzling at first glance.

“Wow, Chu-chai, your swimming is so impressive!” A female voice came from behind.

Li Chu turned around and saw a young woman in a red dress walking along the poolside. She looked to be about eighteen or nineteen, with bold and striking features. Her chestnut hair was slightly curled over her shoulders, and a pair of trendy sunglasses covered half her face.

This was Shao Mingzhu, the daughter of the Shao family’s second branch, who had recently returned from the United Kingdom.

“Sister Mingzhu, you are here so early?” Li Chu reached for a white bath towel on a rattan chair and wrapped it around himself.

“Your form is so standard. Did you learn from a coach?” Shao Mingzhu sat on a lounge chair, took off her sunglasses, and looked him up and down with her lively eyes.

“I just swim for fun. I used to go to the local pool,” Li Chu said vaguely.

When Shao Mingzhu first returned to Hong Kong, she was extremely skeptical of Li Chu. A long-lost young master? Having grown up watching the dramas of wealthy families, her first instinct was to wonder if he was a fraud. She had privately approached Liang Wei, who simply adjusted his glasses and handed her a photocopy of a document. It was a birth certificate issued eighteen years ago by a private clinic in Malaysia, along with an old photo of Li Manni holding a swaddled infant. The evidence appeared authentic and aged, not like a recent forgery.

Shao Mingzhu’s doubts were mostly dispelled, but how could they prove Li Chu was that same baby? At present, the medical community generally used blood types and serum protein analysis for paternity testing. However, the accuracy was limited. Even if the eldest brother were alive, they could not be one hundred percent sure, let alone confirming the relationship between Shao Tingyue and Li Chu across a degree of separation.

Liang Wei had remained calm, stating that the boss would make the final decision upon his return. Left with no choice, Shao Mingzhu dropped the subject. Since a young master of unknown origin had suddenly moved into the mansion, she worried about the Old Madam and returned to visit every few days.

However, after getting to know Li Chu, Shao Mingzhu quickly bonded with him since they were of a similar age, and her doubts vanished.

“Tsk, your skin is too white.” Shao Mingzhu’s attention quickly shifted to his complexion, and she curled her lip. “It is as if you have never seen the sun. Young people should be vibrant! One day, I will take you to Repulse Bay or Shek O Beach to get a healthy tan. You would look so handsome!”

Li Chu smiled softly. His skin was naturally cool and pale; it never seemed to tan. Only when his body temperature rose would a very faint pink hue appear.

After spending time with Li Chu, Shao Mingzhu felt he was quite cautious. Her eyes darted around as she suddenly thought of something. She said with a smile, “Hey, Chu-chai, a new ballroom just opened in Central. The decoration is ultra-luxurious, and the band is from the Philippines! Do you want to go with me tonight?”

Character is revealed through drink, and she wanted to use this opportunity to test Li Chu’s personality.

A ballroom? Li Chu’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately recalled those unpleasant memories from the Westin Bar.

“I… I am not very good at dancing, and tonight I might…” He tried to find an excuse to decline.

“Oh, if you do not know how to dance, I will teach you! It is very simple!” Shao Mingzhu interrupted him and playfully pinched his cheek. “You have been back for half a month, and every day you just drink tea with the Old Madam or swim and read. It is so boring you are going to grow mold! Young people need a young person’s lifestyle!”

“You should meet more friends and see the world. If you hide in the mansion all day, people outside will think the Shao family’s young master is too ashamed to be seen!”

“Alright, then,” Li Chu finally nodded.

“That is the spirit!” Shao Mingzhu immediately beamed and patted his shoulder. “Do not worry, Chu-chai. Follow me, and I guarantee you will have fun! I will pick you up at eight tonight. Remember to dress handsomely!”

At eight o’clock that evening, Shao Mingzhu appeared at the mansion on time. She had changed into a silver sequined camisole dress, and her makeup was more exquisite and vibrant than it had been in the afternoon.

Li Chu wore a light beige suit prepared by Uncle Ming. Although there were no visible designer logos, the cut and tailoring were impeccable.

“Not bad, Chu-chai! You look completely different when you dress up!” Shao Mingzhu whistled and took his arm. “I brought a friend along. You do not mind, do you?”

Li Chu shook his head, indicating it was fine.

A burgundy convertible was parked at the entrance. The young man in the driver’s seat wearing a floral shirt was named James, a classmate of Shao Mingzhu from the UK. When James saw Li Chu, his eyes lit up behind his glasses. His gaze lingered on Li Chu’s face for several seconds before he greeted him with a smile. “Hi, so you are the nephew Mingzhu always mentions? You are indeed a fine-looking man.”

Shao Mingzhu turned back to complain with a pout. “What nephew? You are making me sound so old! Chu-chai can just call me Sister Mingzhu outside.”

James laughed and raised both hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. Can we go now, Sister Mingzhu?”

Shao Mingzhu tilted her chin up, and the sports car roared as it left the mansion, following the mountain road into the brilliant night scenery.

The Galaxy Ballroom was located in the most prosperous part of Central. The walls were covered in mirrors and metal lines, and blurred lights split in every direction along with the music. On the dance floor, brightly dressed men and women twisted their bodies, and the air was thick with the scent of perfume and adrenaline. Seeing the girls in short skirts carrying trays of drinks like nimble fish weaving through the booths, Li Chu instinctively averted his eyes.

“How is it? Is it not lively here?” Shao Mingzhu shouted in his ear over the deafening music. “Come on, our private room is over there!”

James seemed very familiar with the place and led them through the crowded throng. Inside the private room, the volume dropped slightly. Several other young people were already sitting on the sofas. Shao Mingzhu greeted them warmly; they were likely her friends. Champagne, whiskey, and various unnameable cocktails were served in a steady stream.

The music made hearts tremble. Shao Mingzhu quickly blended into the atmosphere and pulled Li Chu to dance. Li Chu was resistant at first, but after two cocktails, he gradually relaxed. After dancing for a while, he took off his jacket, leaving only a form-fitting shirt. James’s gaze frequently fell on Li Chu, following the line from his smooth back to his slender waist.

Shao Mingzhu was completely carried away. She even rushed onto the stage, grabbed the microphone from the singer, and gave an impromptu performance of “Love to the Point of Fever.” The crowd cheered while the singer, whose microphone had been snatched, stomped off the stage in her high heels. The bar manager, knowing the guests in the private room were not to be offended, smiled and apologized for a long time before inviting Shao Mingzhu down and sending over several fresh fruit platters.

Time flew by in the thumping music. Li Chu did not remember how much he had drunk; he only felt dizzy, as if everything were a dream. Later, in a blur, he heard Shao Mingzhu insisting on taking the Star Ferry in the middle of the night. James held her back and finally managed to get everyone into the car.

When Li Chu regained consciousness, he found himself in the passenger seat of the sports car. A cool morning breeze blew against his face, and the horizon was starting to turn pale.

“We are back, Chu-chai!” Shao Mingzhu’s voice was heavily laced with intoxication. She pinched Li Chu’s face. “Was tonight fun? Next time I will take you somewhere even more exciting!”

Li Chu rubbed his eyes, thinking he was back at school. “The car is not allowed at the dormitory entrance. I can just get off by the road.”

Shao Mingzhu burst out laughing. “What dormitory? Your tolerance is too low; you are this drunk after only a few glasses. This is the Shao Mansion. It is your home!”

Li Chu gave a vague response. His stomach was churning, and his footsteps were unsteady as he got out of the car. The servants had already heard the car and opened the side door for him, muttering, “Oh, Young Master Chu, why are you so drunk? The Old Madam will be angry if she sees this.”

Li Chu let out a hiccup and forced himself to stay conscious as he crossed the large courtyard and returned to the main building. Most of the servants were not yet awake at this hour, and the high-ceilinged foyer was silent.

Li Chu yawned as he went upstairs. However, as he looked up, the blood in his body instantly froze. On the white and gold spiral staircase, the light outlined a tall and upright figure. The man wore dark loungewear. His features were deep, his prominent brow cast a slight shadow, and his cold black eyes looked down at him.

The face from the dim booth in the bar a month ago overlapped with the person in front of him. Li Chu felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He sobered up instantly! His legs went weak, and he nearly fell to his knees on the stairs.

A servant nearby said with a smile, “Young Master Chu, this is your second uncle, Mr. Shao Tingyue.”

Second… Second Uncle?! Li Chu opened his mouth, his eyes wide with shock.

Shao Tingyue’s eyelashes dropped slightly as his dark eyes stared at Li Chu’s open collar. His voice was deep. “Coming back only at dawn? It seems you have adapted quite well to the Shao Mansion.”

Li Chu stammered a vague sound, his mind a complete mess. He never imagined that the man he had tricked while dressed as a woman would be the famous Second Young Master of the Shao family, the undisputed Shipping Magnate of Hong Kong.

The man asked calmly, “Do you not know how to greet people?”

“…Second Uncle.”

Li Chu unconsciously curled his lip. His Cantonese had improved significantly, but he spoke with a slight “lazy tone” that made him sound as if he were acting spoiled. They were not close in distance, but Shao Tingyue could already smell the alcohol on him and frowned. “Auntie Mei, go cook some sobering soup. You, come with me to the study.”

Li Chu knew he could not escape this time. He hung his head and followed the man’s footsteps. “Second Uncle, can I change my clothes first?”

His shirt was already wrinkled, clinging to his skin like dried seaweed, which felt very uncomfortable. Shao Tingyue looked at Li Chu’s flushed cheeks and the way his eyelashes fluttered as he spoke. There seemed to be starlight in his beautiful eyes.

Hmph. Calling him “Second Uncle” quite obediently now.