Even though this wasn't how the original plot was suppose to play out, this could actually work as well.
After all, his overall goal for this plot is to help the pavilion owner and Ye Fan become acquainted with each other through a common enemy, obtain the inkstone for Luna, and then get himself eventually kicked out of the pavilion. As long as he manages to do all of those, then the plot will be considered an overall success.
And there was no better way to do that than to bully a seemingly innocent maid minding her own business.
Besides, it also fits great with his brainless rich second generation villain persona as well, so it's a win-win for everyone involved.
"I'm sorry?" Even though Iris shouldn't of have been shocked to hear Ronald insult her like this, considering that this was how he mostly acted towards others in his previous life despite knowing deep down that he was actually extremely nice, she was still so shocked that she subconciously responded in an extremely cold tone.
"You heard me, maid. Why would the pavilion hire a maid such as yourself if all you're going to do is stand around here and do nothing? Surely they didn't hire you just because of your looks, right?" Hearing Iris's cold response, Ronald became extremely cheerful in his heart while pretending to be upset on the outside.
Now this is exactly how a heroine should be looking at him.
Cold and disgusted by his presence!
'Good work, Iris!'
If he could, he wouldn't hesitate to pat her on the back and thank her for actually being normal compared to Luna and Xie Roulin, but alas, he still had a role to play, and a role to play he shall.
Iris on the other hand, couldn't help but feel actually hurt by Ronald's words despite still appearing cold on the outside.
Sure, she had already been used to Ronald's countless insults and behavior towards her in her previous life, but the difference between those times and now was that she genuinely loved him this time around.
Regardless, since Ronald was upset at her although she still didn't fully understand why considering that most of the pavilions' maids were also currently idling around, she planned to make things right.
"I-I'm sorry, I'll go ahead and do my duties now." Iris bowed down to Ronald and started to leave her position.
But before she could even take a few steps however, Ronald blocked her way.
"Hah, so you want to go do your job now after I confront you about it? Too late for that now." Truthfully, Ronald was confused as to why Iris apologized and tried to distance herself away from him so quickly, especially since she was suppose to give Ye Fan an opportunity to come swooping in like a hero and face slap him, but he didn't think much of it and scoffed.
"What can I do for you to forgive me then?" Iris asked timidly.
Ronald thought about it for a few seconds while still looking down at Iris before replying, "Kowtow down to me and then I'll leave you alone, that shouldn't be too hard to do, right?"
At first glance, this request might seem like something that would be easy to comply with, and normally, anyone, including most other elites, would gladly do it if it meant getting off of the hook with him.
However, he knew that Iris, and really any heroines for that matter, are an exception.
After all, Iris had not even once kowtowed to someone before.
Not even to Ye Fan back in his previous life.
Maybe she did so in the second half of the novel when Ronald was already gone from this world, but since he got transmigrated into the novel before he could even begin reading the second half, he wouldn't know.
But, that was exactly the point.
To get her to become even more angry at him and actually start arguing with him, which in turn allows him to start a huge commotion in the pavilion and allow Ye Fan to finally make his appearance.
This was also what was suppose to originally happen after Iris had purposefully served him terrible wine, but it's whatever.
To his absolute shock however, as he was giving himself a pat on the back for this amazing idea of his, Iris suddenly knelt down, placed her palms on top of her knees, then actually bowed down in front of him with her forehead nearly touching the floor.
That's right, she actually kowtowed to him!
Moreover, she did it in public!
'...'
'I swear, if this plot ends up deviating from the original plot again just like in the trade show...'