Butler Ray saw Ethan's expression like he was about to smack the living day light out of the young master for spewing such nonsense and he quickly stepped forward, speaking in a low tone,
"Mr. Ethan, please don't get angry, you know the young master's situation. Actually, I am also here to ask for your help. You don't have to worry about your family's current state, the shop will operate as usual, I'll arrange for someone to take care of it whenever you are disposed.
The young master's father, Master Monroe Hayes, specifically instructed before his business trip that you're temporarily in charge of taking care of the young master's daily life since the young master and you are friends and you are more sensible.
The expenses will naturally be reasonably compensated."
He finished speaking and handed over a cheque with both hands.
Ethan looked down and saw the string of zeros after the number, and almost rolled his own eyes. This was the exact amount his pet dog, Toothless, spent in a week. It was much but still cheap to him in real.
He looked up, coldly staring at Ray. "Is this how you 'ask for help'? By silencing poor people with money?"
Butler Ray smiled wryly. "It's not about silencing, it's gratitude. If you're not willing, we can also consider it as... compensation for your trouble."
Adrian rolled his eyes beside him.
Compensation for trouble? That's just a bribe, isn't it? However, he couldn't help but smile inwardly. The round two of game is about to be a victory too!
Monroe Hayes? Business trip? Who would believe that? The old man must have run off to be with his second family… or the third or fourth one!
Still. The show must go on, then.
He suddenly looked up, putting on a pitiful expression. "Hubby... are you abandoning me?"
Ethan: "..."
Butler Ray quickly added. "Mr. Ethan, just consider this a favor for us. Once the young master's condition stabilizes, you can go back to the shop anytime."
His words were perfectly diplomatic.
Ethan closed his eyes and finally let out a helpless sigh.
"Alright. I need to get back to the shop early tomorrow to prepare for opening."
"Of course, of course." Ray nodded hastily, relieved.
'Yes!'
And so...
The group got into the car.
The night was deep, and the lights inside the car were soft.
Adrian was seated next to Ethan. As soon as the car started moving, he suddenly snuggled into Ethan's arms, closed his eyes, and became as docile as a kitten.
His head rested lightly on Ethan's chest, his breathing steady. He looked like he had fallen asleep.
Ethan didn't move a muscle, his body stiff and rigid, frozen solid. What was this kid really up to?!
"Can you... could you…." he lowered his voice and spoke to the front seat, "Mr. Ray, can you move him away."
Butler Ray didn't even turn around, his voice steady as he replied, "Mr. Ethan, don't move, let him lean on you. The young master's sleep has been unstable lately, and if he wakes up, he'll have an episode. Again. He might insist on having that baby when it starts."
Ethan: "..."
Aren't those two in cohort?!
The car fell silent again. The only sounds were the low hum of the engine and... Adrian's breathing.
The gentle warmth of his breath caressed Ethan's chest, bringing a subtle sense of warmth.
Adrian wasn't actually asleep. He was just keeping his eyes closed, quietly savoring the warmth.
In his past life as Adrian, he had actually never been held like this. There was no tenderness, no reliance.
He couldn't remember much about being "Adrian", but he was sure that this feeling of being cared for was new to him as Adrian. It was luxurious.
He took a gentle breath, feeling a bit disoriented.
Ethan's body heat, heartbeat, and even the clean scent of soap all made him feel strangely hot. He couldn't explain.
Yes, he was using this man. That much was true. But in that moment… he suddenly didn't want to move.
Through the rearview mirror, Butler Ray stole a glance and caught sight of them—the young master resting quietly in Ethan's arms, Ethan lowering his head, his expression unreadable.
For a fleeting second, Butler Ray couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Perhaps this "crazy" young master… wasn't so crazy after all. He could be so gentle without makeup on his face after all.
The car slowly drove into the night, streetlights flickering to life one by one in the distance.
When the car arrived at the Hayes mansion, the night was already deep.
After the car stopped, Butler Ray turned around to look at the back seat. The young master, who had been pretending to be asleep, had actually fallen asleep. He was leaning quietly against Ethan.
"I'll take the young master." Ray reached out to take Adrian.
But Ethan spoke in a calm tone, "No need, you lead the way."
Ray was taken aback, wanting to persuade him, but seeing Ethan's stern expression, he bowed and led the way. 'This man, didn't he say he was poor? How come his temperament is that of a rich man?'
The mansion was huge, with brightly lit corridors.
Ethan carried Adrian upstairs. The young man was light as a feather in his arms, breathing warmly against his neck, occasionally nuzzling him like a cat.
Ethan frowned, his face expressionless as he endured it.
Inside of him, he loved it. He only wished this was happened when Adrian was awake and fully conscious.
Butler Ray pushed open the door ahead. "This is the young master's bedroom."
As the door opened, Ethan was stunned.
Everything was pink; pink curtains, pink bed sheets, pink carpet, and even the dressing table was filled with perfume and feminine ribbons.
Ethan's eyes narrowed, his expression complex. This was Liam Hayes' room?
He had thought maybe the kid had really started to change. Maybe he no longer wanted to be a woman and wanted to remain a man. Maybe that kind of clingy dependence was a way of... getting close.
But everything in front of him told him—no. It was just another form of escape so later he can cook up a way to threaten everyone that he would kill himself if they didn't let him get that nose job or a lip filling surgery! Hmmph!
His eyes grew colder.
The next second, he callously tossed the person in his arms onto the bed.
Thud!
Adrian was tossed heavily onto the soft bedding, but he continued to sleep soundly, even rolling over slightly to get more comfortable.
Ethan sneered, turning to leave the room.
He slammed the door shut behind him with a loud "Bang!" after he stepped out of the sugar perfumed, Barbie doll-like room.
Butler Ray sighed, speaking softly outside the door, "Mr. Ethan, let me show you to the guest room."
Ethan didn't even turn around, "No need. I will find my way around!"
The next morning...
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, shining on Ethan's face. He had already washed up and dressed. A set of neatly arranged clothes was laid out on the table.
The fabric was fine and soft to the touch, clearly high-end custom-made.
His fingertips brushed against it, and he frowned slightly.
The world of the wealthy... was just too pretentious.
The fabric could not be compared with the one he usually wore in the Forrest Family Mansion. But it was still better than the apron he usually wore at that old restaurant.
He sighed, changed into the clothes, fastened the buttons on his collar, and headed downstairs.
Laughter came from downstairs.
"Young master, didn't you say you wanted to get your nails done? I brought the pink nail polish, but this time it's 'foreign red'. I can also mix in some light purple.."
"Ah, really?"
That was Adrian's cheerful voice, soft and bright, almost unrecognizable from the madness of the previous night.
Ethan's footsteps faltered. He frowned slightly.
He could tolerate tantrums, but this... excessive pampering rubbed him the wrong way.
He walked downstairs, just in time to see Adrian sitting in the corner of the dining area, wearing a pale pink robe, his hair slightly messy, and a sweet smile on his face.
The table was filled with a rainbow of nail polish bottles.
The maid was bending down, helping him pick a color.
Ethan's expression darkened, inch by inch.
Butler Ray happened to be coming from the other end of the corridor, saw the scene, and his expression subtly changed.
How could he possible explain to Ethan that this was the daily morning routine between the young master and this particular maid, Cherie, who always cozied up to the young master with feminine things?!
"Mr. Ethan…."
Before butler g EA Ray could finish speaking, Ethan had already stepped forward.
"What are you doing?"
His voice was low and cold, like suppressed anger.
The maid was so scared that she trembled, almost dropping the nail polish bottles.
But Adrian slowly looked up, meeting Ethan's freezing gaze with a smile on his lips.
"Good morning, hubby."