As the old wooden gate slowly open, Bai Liu's heart pound faster and faster. The loud screeching noise made by the old wooden gate made the whole moment more tense for Bai Liu. His back was full of sweat, his eyes was focused on the wooden gate, not daring to leave it sight on it.
Then, a soft young voice speak in a timid manner, "uhmm...is...is anybody here?"
Bai Liu was taken aback by how soft the voice of the protagonist was. Before he can recover a small head peek and then proceed on stepping in.
Bai Weichen eyes look around the courtyard perhaps to find someone or maybe in nervousness. He didn't notice Bai Liu standing not far away from him.
'how old is the main protagonist again is?'
[He is currently 10 yrs. old.]
'10? Then why does he look like his 6 or 7 yrs. old? Just how much abuse he suffer?' Bai Liu couldn't help but feel pity for the young protagonist. His face was dirty and has a pale and yellowish complexion.
He was as thin as a stick and his cheeks were shallow. He was also very small for his age.
The young Bai Weichen was wearing a dirty tattered gray uniform that was used by the lowest rank servants. It has a lot of holes in it and the look very used. The servant uniform was obviously too big for him, making him look more thin and small.
He was wearing a dirty shoes that look like it was just pieces of used rags that was randomly stitch together. He was carrying a green ugly bag that was made from fabric that looks like rag.
[He was hated and was abused by the 2nd madam of the Bai family. Even servants live better than him.]
Bai Liu's expression unconsciously soften after hearing what the system said. He couldn't help but feel pity for the kid even though he knows that this pitiful kid was the reason why he would face a horrible death.
While Bai Liu was in the middle of feeling bad for Bai Weichen, the latter's eyes landed on him. Bai Liu was taken aback by the young protagonist big sparkling ebony eyes. Bai Weichen's face was small making his eyes larger, giving him a hint of childishness.
Then, Bai Weichen avoid his gaze by lowering his head, he then put on a timid and scared expression. He begin to tremble and his fingers start fidgeting.
"H-hello, young...young master!" He said stuttering in fear. He bowed in very exaggerated way.
Bai Liu took in a deep breath, " what's your name?" He asked pretending not to know.
Bai Weichen's body flinched while he slowly look up to Bai Liu before lowering his head again. "I... I'm Bai Weichen, y-young master." He said in very low voice.
Bai Liu could see sweats starting to fall from Bai Weichen's forehead and his face also got more paler.
[Host, e already said his name earlier before he enters.]
'really?he did? I was too nervous earlier I didn't hear.'
Bai Liu cough two times to cover up his own embarrassment. " Are you send here to serve me?" He asked.
"Ye-yes, young master." Bai Weichen answers with a hint of nervousness. His eyes darts around and his clutch on his cloth bag hardened.
'poor kid it must have been so hard for him living all that abuse. Look how timid and gloomy he is at a young age.'
Bai Liu couldn't bear to watch the young as protagonist tremble anymore so he decided to let him go inside. "Okay then. Go and clean the inside already. " He said trying to make his voice as authoritative as possible.
"Understood." He said and ran inside like a tiny mouse trying to ran away from a big cat.
Bai Liu couldn't help to chuckle at the young protagonist timid appearance. While he was still looking at the door where Bai Weichen just enter, Bai Liu hear his system voice.
[Host, I think you should continue cutting the grass now. You're still at 40% on completing it.]
Bai Liu grunted in frustration, 'System can't you let me have a peace of mind even for a moment?!' he yelled in his mind.
[But, I already did, host. I actually going to remind you earlier but you're too focused on the protagonist, so I decided to wait. I already wait for almost two minutes.]
Bai Liu couldn't help to roll his eyes after hearing his system.
'wow... How nice of you for giving me a two minutes break.' he said with an obvious tone of sarcasm.
[You're welcome, host (◠‿◕)]
Bai Liu feel his temple hurting because of anger but he took in a deep breath to calm himself knowing that he wouldn't win against the system's shamelessness.
He squats again and pour his annoyance to the poor innocent grasses while imagining that it was the system he was cutting.
After about ten minutes of continues cutting, Bai Liu made it to 64%. He stood up to stretch up his crying limbs. While stretching his sore waist by rotating it, his eyes accidentally saw a small figure peeking at the door.
He turned his head around and saw Bai Weichen watching him cut the grass. "Are you done cleaning?" He asked in a loud voice afraid that he wouldn't hear him.
Bai Weichen's body flinched before timidly nodding, "I...I already c-cleaned all the rooms....young m-master"
Seeing how he scared the young protagonist by his loud voice Bai Liu try to soften his voice so that he won't scare him that much "Have you eaten already?" He asked.
[Host, you're voice sounds weird.]
'shut up.'
Bai Weichen was startled by how soft his tone while speaking to him, he hesitated for a period of time before nodding without looking directly at him. He can't look at the man's soft expression for a long time, he felt weird.
He was not used on people speaking at him at such tone. Mostly people will yell at him or curse him. He feel a weird feeling inside hearing someone asked him in a soft tone.
[He's lying, host. He haven't eaten anything since he woke up at dawn.]
Bai Liu let out a sigh and walk closer to the door. The young protagonist thought he got annoyed with him for some reason and was ready to be yelled at or to be hit. He lowered his head waiting for either of those things to happen, only to see a blue expensive shoes walked passed him.
He looked at Bai Liu's back with a surprise look on his face. He saw him go to the kitchen, then he heard noise.
'Is...is he cooking for himself?' he was ridiculous at his own thought, there's no way a spoiled young has ever set foot in kitchen floor, right?
Bai Weichen want to stop Bai Liu but doesn't dare to. He's afraid that if he asked him if he knows how to cook he would feel that he was looking down at him. But, if he let the young master cook but he doesn't know how to,then he might hurt himself.
While he's still immersed in his own thoughts when Bai Liu's head peeks out of the kitchen with a strange expression, "do you know how to make fire?" He asked awkwardly.
'sure enough...this young master doesn't know how to cook..'
He immediately go to the kitchen, he was shock to see a bowl of small white buns and bunch of vegetables lying on top of the table. He turned to looked at the young master wondering where he got these from, he was sure that there's no way that those people would give them fresh vegetables to eat instead of rotten ones.
After realizing that Bai Weichen was being suspicious about the vegetable he decided to made up a lie, "Oh, I found these vegetables at the back, maybe some servant use to plant there and forgot about it. The meat buns were bought by me before I was locked in here." He said and proceed to take one small meat bun to show him that it's safe.
[Host, are you really going to share your food supplies with the young protagonist? Remember you don't have that much.]
' It's fine. The most important thing is to get the young protagonist to trust me or at least lower his guard against me.'
[How do you plan to do that? By making him eat all the food?]
'*sigh* it's useless to explain it to you, just watch. It's time to fatten up the young protagonist.'
Bai Liu chew the small bun with a deadpan expression but his eyes were full of determination on pulling the young and still naive protagonist on his side.