"Allen, what are you drooling over? Is that saliva I see?"
A teasing voice interrupted Zhao Lun, who had been lost in thought.
"Come on! Is that how you speak to the boss? Your legs are quite long; if they were in stockings, I might really drool," Zhao Lun shot back with a smirk.
What a joke! He had played such games before and wasn't fooled by it. Instead, he countered with a playful remark.
"…" Nicole looked at Zhao Lun, who had just entered the house, momentarily speechless. Their boss seemed to have changed; he had previously been a well-behaved child who followed the rules and rarely flirted with them. Now, suddenly, he was turning the tables and teasing them back, which left her a little unprepared.
Then, a smile crept across Nicole's face as she thought that this might make things more interesting. A boss like this was far more normal and matched his age and living environment.
"The hot water is ready! Who wants to join me for a bath?"
Just as she thought this, Zhao Lun's voice came from the bathroom.
"This jerk!" She muttered under her breath, her earlier amusement vanishing. He had already gone into the bathroom.
The hot bath lasted quite a while and was quite lively. By the time everyone emerged, it was not just Zhao Lun; a few beautiful ladies had joined him as well.
"Boss, your claws have finally reached your stunning subordinates!"
Monica began to chastise Zhao Lun as she stepped out of the bathroom, though her tone sounded more like encouragement. It felt as if a cat had lightly scratched her heart, leaving her feeling giddy.
"Fairy!" Zhao Lun replied with just that and ignored her.
The fairy was too enchanting; with every smile and frown, she made one's heart race.
The aroma of food wafted through the air, causing Zhao Lun's stomach to rumble, shifting his focus entirely to the delicious meals prepared.
Mulan had been busy in the kitchen while they enjoyed their baths. Now the table was laden with a feast, most of which consisted of seafood.
Having grown accustomed to mountain delicacies from Anna's world, they had been craving seafood and had prepared plenty of it.
It had been days since they had last eaten these delights, and the scent was so tantalizing that Zhao Lun couldn't wait any longer, making his way to the dining table.
At the table, someone had already taken a seat, eagerly gazing at the delectable spread without touching anything. Accompanying her were several pets, all staring hungrily at the food, their eyes wide and their mouths watering, which was quite a sight to behold.
"Brother!"
Seeing Zhao Lun emerge, Maria's eyes lit up, and she dashed over, pulling him to a seat beside her, bubbling with excitement.
Not long after, the others joined, taking their seats as well. No one spoke; they all gazed at the seafood with the same hungry expressions, nearly drooling.
"Mulan, hurry up! That's enough cooking; everyone is waiting for you!"
Finally, they coaxed Mulan out, and they all began their meal.
"You guys enjoy yourselves; I'm going to take a break. If anyone wants to rest, I have a comfy spot here," Zhao Lun joked before heading off to relax. After a brief nap of about an hour, he woke up feeling refreshed.
Outside, the sun was shining brightly, streaming through the windows and illuminating his room. Several plants that regulated the temperature adorned the space, maintaining a comfortable atmosphere.
The bedroom was quiet. Zhao Lun grabbed a crystal cup from the nearby cabinet and poured himself a glass of water. After taking a sip, he stepped out of the room.
Outside, a few ladies were absent, leaving only a few pets lounging in the shade of the trees. Upon seeing Zhao Lun emerge, they all perked up and ran over to him. After finishing his water, he set the cup aside and began to pet the heads of the eager pets, playfully tugging at their faces.
The pets surrounded him like mischievous children, constantly nudging him with their heads.
Zhao Lun observed them closely, noting that although they had grown a bit larger, they weren't as cute as they were when they were younger. However, their affectionate antics still made him smile, and he decided to take them for a stroll around the estate.
Aside from the busy maids, he didn't see Nicole or the others. As he watched the maids laboring to maintain the lawn, he furrowed his brows. One of the maids was unfamiliar to him; she appeared to be new. Though she worked diligently, her movements suggested she had undergone combat training, indicated by the calluses on her hands and her practiced motions.
The grass in the estate grew thick and lush, requiring constant maintenance. To maintain the tranquility of the estate, they rarely used noisy lawnmowers, which were loud and disruptive. As a result, the manual tools made the task labor-intensive.
Maintaining the lawn was a significant task in their estate. Most maids couldn't last long before becoming exhausted, and only those with considerable strength could endure the work over time.
Despite Zhao Lun offering high wages, no one could keep up with the workload indefinitely; they had to rotate shifts regularly, which created opportunities for outsiders to exploit.
He was confident that the estate's vital secrets would remain safe, but having an unfamiliar set of eyes watching made him feel uneasy.
"It seems I need to upgrade the tools we use around here."
Looking at the primitive lawnmower in the maid's hands, Zhao Lun felt it was imperative to upgrade their equipment. Resolute in his decision, he approached the maid, not avoiding the presence of this spy-like figure.
"New here?"
"Yes, sir," she replied, putting down the manual mower and standing up respectfully.
She was a beautiful woman, a quintessential blonde Brit with a striking figure, but her serious attire gave her a rather rigid appearance.
Even when greeting him, her demeanor was strictly formal; her seemingly respectful actions were merely adherence to etiquette, following the strict protocols expected of her.
Zhao Lun brushed off any concern. These maids were trained by the top domestic service companies in the country, and their etiquette followed traditional guidelines. Each maid had to strictly adhere to requirements to be employed, making them somewhat rigid overall.
"Emily Julie Schwartz? Is that your name?"
Looking at the name tag on her chest, Zhao Lun curiously inquired.
The name tag was an identification card that everyone in the estate had to wear. Without it, one would be recorded and reported to the estate's security personnel and apprehended.
"Yes, sir," Emily nodded.
Zhao Lun smiled, unconcerned. He knew the name was likely a pseudonym, not her real name, but he chose not to confront her on it. Since his life had become somewhat mundane, having a little spy in the house could provide some amusement.
"How long have you been here? Are you satisfied with this job?"
"Two weeks, sir. This job pays well, but the lawn mowing can be a bit tiring," she replied.
Two weeks? She must have started during the holidays. Her ability to endure this long was commendable.
"Hmm, you're doing well. Come, let me introduce you to some friends."
"Aivy, Gray Shadow, Prince, Snow White, say hello to Miss Emily."
"Woof! Woof!"
The enthusiastic dogs rushed forward, showering their new friend with slobbery affection.
Emily was instantly surrounded, her face covered in saliva.
Zhao Lun couldn't help but burst into laughter at Emily's bewildered expression, surprised by the pets' playful antics.
"Ah? Cough, sorry, Emily! They just really like you. I hope you're not upset."
"Just stop it!"
Seeing her exasperated look, Zhao Lun quickly pulled the overly affectionate pets away before an explosion of frustration could occur.
Feeling a sense of inexplicable joy, he hastily left the scene.
Suddenly, the sound of flapping wings filled the air, and a flock of owls swooped down, dropping various items at his feet before quickly darting away.