After Snagging a Stuffy Giant-Wealthy Daddy - Chapter 6

Li Chu went back to his bedroom and splashed some water on his face, only to realize his cheeks were flushed a deep red and his hair was windblown and messy. It was obvious to anyone that he had had a wild time last night.

After changing his clothes, he obediently went to the study on the second floor.

The air was permeated with the faint scent of cigars. Shao Tingyue was sitting behind a large desk, reading a document. The brown leather executive chair gave him a commanding presence.

Li Chu stood obediently in the middle of the room, waiting for him to speak. He could clearly hear his own slightly rapid heartbeat.

He was not sure about Shao Tingyue’s attitude toward him. Did he recognize him as the cross-dressing swindler from that night?

Although he had worn makeup and the lights had been dim at the time, for some reason, Li Chu felt a sense of dread deep inside.

Shao Tingyue finished reading the page before slowly raising his eyes, his gaze landing on Li Chu.

The look was calm and rippleless, yet it made Li Chu involuntarily straighten his spine.

“Did you have fun last night?”

Li Chu carefully considered his choice of words, acting obediently: “It is… it is alright.”

Shao Tingyue gave another faint look. “Mingzhu has been spoiled by the family since she was a child and has no sense of propriety. You should go out with her less often in the future.”

“Oh, I understand, Second Uncle.”

The study door was gently knocked. Auntie Mei, the maid, stood at the door holding a white porcelain pot. “Young Master Chu, the hangover soup is ready. Drink it while it is hot to warm your stomach.”

Auntie Mei placed the porcelain pot on the side table next to Li Chu, casting a worried look at the uncle and nephew.

Shao Tingyue had always been cold, restrained, and possessed his own set of principles. After his eldest brother, Shao Tingzhao, and his father, Shao Licheng, had passed away one after another, his demeanor had become increasingly sharp and authoritarian.

Returning home to catch Li Chu, who had stayed out all night, was like a planet colliding with another. He had immediately brought him up to the study for discipline.

Young people, after all, always loved to play and have fun.

Young Master Chu had been delighting the Old Madam lately, just at the height of being favored.

If the Old Madam were to find out. Auntie Mei quietly pulled the door shut and retreated.

“Drink it,” Shao Tingyue said concisely.

Li Chu dared not hesitate. He quickly picked up the porcelain pot and drank it in small sips.

The warm soup had a slightly sweet medicinal taste, which indeed made his churning stomach feel much better. He kept his eyes lowered, trying his best not to make a sound, while his heart remained in a state of turmoil.

After finishing the hangover soup, Li Chu stood still like a schoolboy, waiting for the man’s judgment.

Shao Tingyue set the document in his hand aside, leaned back into the chair, and locked his gaze on Li Chu again. “Since you have returned, it is time for you to know the house rules.”

With that, he pulled open the desk drawer and took out an antique-style thread-bound booklet. On the cover were four neat, traditional characters: Shao Family Rules.

He pushed the booklet to the edge of the desk. Li Chu immediately stepped forward and received it with both hands.

“Turn to Chapter 3, Daily Conduct.”

Li Chu followed instructions, flipping to the corresponding chapter. The clauses above were written neatly, exuding the strict, old-fashioned disciplinary tone of the family:

“Article 3: Family members must have upright character, be self-respecting, and be self-loving. They must not set foot in places of debauchery, specifically prohibiting addiction to bars, dance halls, and other chaotic places.”

Li Chu blinked, rendered speechless.

If he remembered correctly, the first time he met Shao Tingyue was in exactly that kind of chaotic place, and now he was pulling out house rules to lecture him.

However, he only dared to complain internally; on the surface, he remained as obedient and honest-looking as ever.

“Finished reading?” Shao Tingyue’s voice sounded again. “Once finished, copy the third article one hundred times.”

“Ah?”

One hundred times! Li Chu felt a wave of darkness pass over him. These characters were so dense. If he copied them one hundred times, his hand would surely break!

Shao Tingyue’s expression remained unchanged, but his words made Li Chu tremble: “If I do not make you copy it, I am afraid you will not learn your lesson. How dare you follow Mingzhu to such a mixed-bag of a place? Are you not afraid of being recognized?”

Li Chu stuttered: “Y-y-you. You know I was.”

He really knew! He recognized him! Not only did he recognize him, but he also knew about the trouble that happened later at the bar.

Countless thoughts raced through his mind. Li Chu felt his cheeks burning with embarrassment and lingering fear. There was also the shame of being seen through while dressed in women’s clothing.

Shao Tingyue frowned, his dark eyes deep. “Did Liang Wei not tell you? He went to the bar to find you under my orders. It just so happened that he ran into your friend being pursued by debt collectors from the underworld.”

If they had arrived a second later, not only would Wen Sitong have been in trouble, but Li Chu himself would have been dragged away to shoot adult films.

Li Chu was stunned, his head shaking like a rattle.

After the man named Liang had brought him back to the Shao Mansion, he had only mentioned that Wen Sitong’s matters were resolved and that the creditors would not harass her again for the time being, telling him to rest easy and accompany the Old Madam. He had not said another word.

Li Chu’s mind was in a complete tangle. Did Shao Tingyue even know that he had mistaken him for the wrong nephew?

Should he tell the truth?

“Now, go over there and copy it.” Shao Tingyue pointed to the desk by the window on the side of the study, where paper and pens were already prepared.

“Yes,” Li Chu replied in a low voice.

Copying the book was better than the feudal family style seen on television, where he might have had to kneel in the ancestral hall or be beaten with rattan sticks.

Li Chu held the house rules and sat down to copy them formally. The only sounds in the study were the scratch of the pen on paper and the occasional light rustle of turning pages.

Shao Tingyue did not look at him again, picking up the document from before.

Time slipped away, and the sunlight moved across the teak floor through the window.

At first, Li Chu forced himself to stay awake, trying hard to write the characters neatly, but the exhaustion of his hangover soon made his eyelids droop, and his writing began to slant.

Moreover, traditional characters were harder to copy due to the extra strokes. Sometimes Li Chu would subconsciously write in simplified Chinese, and upon realizing the mistake, he would quickly scribble it out and rewrite it.

“Must not… set foot in… places of debauchery.” His head sank lower and lower until, finally, his forehead rested gently on the desk.

Li Chu had fallen asleep.

Shao Tingyue looked up from his document, his gaze crossing the large study to land on the figure of the boy who had fallen asleep at the desk by the window.

He frowned as he walked over and picked up the paper, seeing the calligraphy. The handwriting was actually neat and graceful, showing that he had been trained to practice writing, though he had a habit of missing a few strokes.

The sunlight outlined the soft profile of Li Chu’s face, his bangs obscuring his drooping brows, his lips flushed and moist, sleeping without a hint of defense.

He had a peaceful sleeping expression, his breathing light, like a harmless little animal. He looked like an entirely different person from the smooth and worldly Bella at the bar.

He looked so young; cross-dressing and cheating at the bar to make money was just a misguided path he had taken.

He could be well-disciplined in the future and slowly guided back to the right path.

Shao Tingyue’s gaze swept over the back of Li Chu’s neck; the posture of him slumped over the table revealed his beautiful spinal lines, extending down to his taut, rounded hips.

He paused for a moment before quickly looking away.

Li Chu had only been dozing for a few minutes before being woken by the sound of fingers lightly tapping on the desk. He sat up with a start, his cheeks imprinted with faint creases.

He had had a dream. He dreamed he was in class, and his uncle had broken in with a creditor who had a face full of flesh, dragging him away in front of everyone’s strange gazes.

Seeing Shao Tingyue’s face as soon as he opened his eyes, Li Chu froze for a moment, and for some reason, he felt a sense of relief. He looked at the man with wide, damp eyes, like dew on spring leaves.

Li Chu suddenly remembered he was being punished by copying. His cheeks burned hot, and he scrambled to grab his pen: “I am sorry, Second Uncle. I just fell asleep. I will continue copying now.”

Just then, two light knocks were heard outside the study.

Shao Tingyue darkened his eyes: “Come in.”

Auntie Mei the maid pushed the door open, a kind smile on her face: “Second Young Master, Young Master Chu, the Old Madam has asked the kitchen to prepare breakfast and would like to invite you both to dine together.”

She glanced at Li Chu’s sleepy little face, her smile deepening. “The Old Madam said to let Young Master Chu wake up properly before coming over; there is no rush.”

This was clearly said to Shao Tingyue, with a bit of a subtle plea for mercy.

Shao Tingyue glanced at Li Chu and gave a faint “Hmm.” “Go have breakfast first.”

“Thank you, Second Uncle!” Li Chu felt as if he had been granted an amnesty, and a smile could not help but tug at his lips.

The dining room was located on the east side of the main building, a glass-style breakfast hall with excellent lighting. The Old Madam was already sitting at the head of the table, wearing a lotus-root pink qipao, smiling as she waited for him.

“Chu Zai is here? Come, sit.” The Old Madam’s expression was loving. Seeing his eyes were still a bit red and a tuft of hair was sticking up, he looked especially heart-wrenching. “Young people should take care of their bodies even when they love to play; you must not stay out so late next time.”

“Grandma, did you sleep well last night? You look like you have turned ten years younger!” Li Chu felt much more relaxed in front of the Old Madam and was as sweet-talking as ever. “The color of your qipao suits you so well; if you got your hair done, you could go straight to compete for Miss Hong Kong.”

The Old Madam was amused by him and laughed heartily, pretending to be angry: “Chu Zai is talking nonsense again! Grandma is already seventy or eighty! Are you not afraid people will laugh their teeth out if they hear that?”

Li Chu held her face, looking left and right: “I am serious! Even Miss Hong Kong is not as beautiful as Grandma. If you do not believe me, ask Second Uncle.”

Shao Tingyue personally served the Old Madam some congee. “Mom, let us eat first.”

Hong Kong was influenced by Western culture, and the upper class preferred Western-style meals.

However, the Shao family had a soft spot for Cantonese cuisine, so breakfast included not only thick, fragrant scallop congee, crystal-clear shrimp dumplings, and siu mai, but also golden, tempting toast, fried eggs, and bacon, along with various exquisite side dishes and fruit.

Li Chu was truly hungry; he had not eaten much at the bar last night.

He ate heartily but without being crude.

Biting into a shrimp dumpling, his cheeks puffed out slightly. When he encountered particularly hot congee, he would subconsciously blow on it softly, his long eyelashes lowered, looking focused and satisfied.

Occasionally, a bit of jam or crumbs would get on the corner of his mouth without him realizing it. Shao Tingyue held back and held back, then eventually handed him a clean napkin.

Only then did Li Chu blush and smile bashfully. That appearance was both obedient and innocent, which directly made the Old Madam beam with delight.

“Chu Zai, eat more, look how thin you are, barely any meat on you.” The Old Madam was in a great mood, but as she looked at Shao Tingyue, her tone shifted. “Tingyue, it has been a while since Chu Zai came back. I look at him and the more I see, the more I am certain he is truly a child of our Shao family. Putting him in the ancestral temple and adding his name to the family registry should be put on the agenda. Let us pick an auspicious day to hold a ceremony properly, so everyone can recognize our young master.”

Li Chu, who was sipping his congee, paused for a moment. Add him to the family registry? Wouldn’t that solidify his identity completely? It would be even harder to walk away later.

Shao Tingyue picked up his napkin to wipe his hands, his tone calm: “There is no rush for this.”

The Old Madam frowned: “Why not? My dear grandson is back; naturally, it should be made official.”

“Precisely because it must be official, we must be more cautious.” Shao Tingyue looked at Li Chu, his eyes meaningful. “Chu Zai has just returned and is not familiar with many things in the house. A hasty ceremony might not necessarily be a good thing for him.”

Li Chu nodded in agreement while munching away. He was still thinking about saving enough money to run away! If he were really added to the registry, it would be so embarrassing if he were accidentally exposed later.

The Old Madam pondered for a moment and eventually sighed: “What you say makes sense. Then we shall wait, but do not drag it out too long; we must give Chu Zai his rightful name.”

“I understand.”

Shao Tingyue responded, his gaze sweeping over Li Chu’s butterfly-like eyelashes. “When the time is right, it will naturally be done.”

After breakfast, Li Chu chatted with the Old Madam for a while before going for a walk in the garden to digest his meal.

The Shao Mansion’s garden was vast, and before he knew it, Li Chu had walked near the dog kennel.

A low, guttural bark echoed, and Li Chu paused, remembering Uncle Ming’s warnings.

In a spacious empty lot surrounded by a fence, Shao Tingyue was standing there. He was dressed in dark, casual clothes, his stature very tall, and the bucket at his feet was filled with bloody raw meat.

Several giant guard dogs surrounded him, but their posture was completely different from their usual ferocity. Their tails wagged slightly, their eager eyes fixed on the food in their master’s hand, occasionally letting out urgent whimpers, but daring not to overstep.

Shao Tingyue threw the pieces of meat to different dogs, his movements precise, carrying a sense of calm control over everything.

Sunlight danced on his shoulders through the leaves, and Li Chu watched, somewhat mesmerized.

A grey-brown Caucasian Shepherd seemed to sense something, suddenly turning its head and lunging forward with a fierce roar at Li Chu in the bushes.

Li Chu did not react in time, and with weak legs, he tripped and landed hard on his bottom.

Shao Tingyue turned his head, his gaze landing on Li Chu sitting on the ground, and the corners of his mouth hooked up slightly.

Li Chu: “…”

He definitely just laughed, right? What was there to laugh at! Was it funny to see him frightened? Cruel!

Shao Tingyue did not come over immediately but first made a gesture to the Caucasian Shepherd, commanding in a low, deep voice: “Bobo, back.”

The dog named Bobo immediately stopped its low growl, its tail slightly lowered, but it still eyed Li Chu vigilantly.

Shao Tingyue looked down at Li Chu’s sun-reddened cheeks and said calmly: “Come here.”

Li Chu froze for a second, stood up, patted the dirt off his bottom, and walked over.

“Bobo is the Caucasian Shepherd I have kept the longest. He is five years old this year.” Shao Tingyue stopped next to Bobo, and the giant dog immediately nudged his palm with its head, looking like a completely different animal from the ferocious one of a moment ago.

Li Chu pursed his lips, humming in his heart: A snobbish dog.

“He has a sharp sense of smell and intuition, but he is the most obedient.” Shao Tingyue looked at Li Chu, who was shuffling over slowly, and said in a deep voice: “Reach out your hand.”

“Ah?” Li Chu blinked, not reacting in time.

“Come here, reach out your hand, and let him get used to your scent.”

Li Chu watched as Bobo opened its blood-red maw, still dripping with saliva, and had no choice but to bite the bullet and move over, extending a trembling hand.

Shao Tingyue grasped his wrist with a firm grip—his wrist was so thin that the man’s large palm easily encircled it—and then guided his hand to touch Bobo’s forehead: “Take it slow, do not be afraid.”

So… so fluffy… Li Chu could not help but knead the fur with his fingertips. Bobo’s nostrils flared, and its wet nose sniffed at his hand, scaring him so much he almost pulled back.

But Bobo seemed to accept his scent; its tail wagged happily, and it even tilted its head to bring its ear closer to Li Chu’s hand, the meaning clear—you can pet me.

Li Chu suddenly did not feel it was so scary anymore.

Tentatively, he lightly stroked Bobo’s ear, and the giant dog narrowed its eyes in enjoyment.

Shao Tingyue released his wrist, his gaze lingering on the fingerprints left on his wrist bone for a moment before moving away.

Li Chu was getting addicted to petting the dog and subconsciously wanted to reach into his pocket to take out his phone to take a photo, but his pocket was empty. Awkward; he forgot that this era only had pagers and “big brother” mobile phones.

Bobo had received an excessive amount of petting and attention today, becoming very excited. Seeing that Li Chu had stopped, it lunged forward, pouncing toward Li Chu with its front paws raised.

“Ah!” Li Chu cried out in alarm, losing his balance and falling backward.

The expected fall never came. His back crashed into a firm, broad chest.

Li Chu was still reeling from the shock, his entire body nearly half-leaning into the arms of the man behind him.

Warmth radiated through the fabric of their loungewear, along with the feeling of powerful muscles. His nose was filled with a faint, mature male scent, a mixture of cigars and high-end aftershave.

Li Chu did not know where to put his hands or feet; his body was as stiff as a stone.

Above his head came Shao Tingyue’s steady voice, devoid of emotion, merely commanding Bobo: “Sit.”

Bobo immediately sat down obediently, tongue lolling out, watching the boy half-embraced by his master with an innocent expression.

Shao Tingyue, holding that posture, looked down at the stiff boy in his arms. Li Chu’s heart was beating fast; he could feel his breath brushing against the back of his neck.