Shen Lan had been quietly observing the drama, sifting through the dialogue between Xiao Cheng and his father. She had already pieced together the general history of their animosity. Just as she was pondering this, she felt a distinctly hostile gaze fall upon her. She looked up, her eyes meeting the sullen glare of Xiao Ren. The man was old enough to be her elder, yet his eyes were brazen and frivolous. They roamed over her, inch by inch, and the undisguised malice in his stare sent a wave of revulsion through her. “Well, Xiao Cheng,” he drawled, “I always wondered why you’ve steered clear of women all these years. So *this* is your type, is it? If you’d told me you were into ugly women, I could’ve set you up with a few.” At his words, it suddenly dawned on Shen Lan why Xiao Cheng, at such a young age, was the one in charge of the Xiao family. With a father this unreliable, the family’s legacy, built over generations, would have been squandered in his hands. “Mr. Xiao, I suggest you show some respect,” Shen Lan said, her voice sharp. “I am Mr. Xiao’s guest, someone he personally invited. Is this how the Xiao family treats its guests? If so, it’s certainly been an eye-opener.” Xiao Ren raised an eyebrow. “Not much to look at, but she’s got a fiery temper. I wonder if she’s just as fiery in bed.” Shen Lan ignored him, turning her gaze directly to Xiao Cheng. “Mr. Xiao, aren’t you going to say something? Or are you just going to let him keep barking?” Xiao Cheng had already risen to his feet, but seeing she could handle herself, he settled back onto the sofa, his posture languid. “Liu Lin, are you keeping count?” Liu Lin, standing beside him, nodded. “Yes, sir. He’s made three offensive remarks to Ms. Shen so far.” Shen Lan tilted her head, not quite understanding the game they were playing. Xiao Ren looked baffled too, but he knew how vicious his son could be, and a sense of dread washed over him. “What… what are you planning to do?” Xiao Cheng’s lips twisted into a smile, but his eyes were cold. “For every remark you make, I’ll freeze one of your cards. Go on, say what you want. I’ll have Liu Lin keep a tally for you.” A dead silence fell over the hall. Xiao Ren looked as if he was questioning all his life choices. Shen Lan bit her lip, struggling to suppress a laugh. Yes, Xiao Cheng certainly knew how to handle his father. He had him completely under his thumb. When reality finally hit, Xiao Ren’s embarrassment turned to fury. “This is outrageous! Who’s the father here, me or you?” “Biologically, you’re the father…” Xiao Cheng began, a proud, untamed smile spreading across his face. It was arrogance in its purest form. “But in all other matters, *I* am. And you will listen to *me*.” Xiao Ren’s face turned ashen with rage, but he couldn’t refute it. Before the old patriarch died, he had skipped a generation and handed the company directly to Xiao Cheng. In just a few short years, Xiao Cheng had become the undisputed head of the Xiao family. Even he, the father, had to live on his son’s dime. He could pull the father card to get a rise out of Xiao Cheng, but he couldn't afford to burn that bridge completely. Xiao Ren stormed off, fuming, no doubt to seek solace in the arms of some willing woman, though no one present cared in the slightest. “Mr. Xiao, where will I be staying?” Shen Lan felt a wave of exhaustion. So much had happened in one evening; her head was spinning, and all she wanted was to sleep. Xiao Cheng looked at her, his voice low and deliberate. “Your room is on the third floor. Liu Lin, take Ms. Shen to her room.” Liu Lin’s eyes flashed with surprise, but he simply nodded. “This way, Ms. Shen.” Shen Lan followed him up to the third floor and noted that the vast space contained only two rooms, their doors right next to each other. Liu Lin opened one of the doors and smiled at her. “Ms. Shen, please see if the room is to your satisfaction. If you need anything, just let me know, and I’ll have a maid bring it up.” Shen Lan glanced inside and froze. The room was enormous and opulently decorated, with intricate light fixtures, plush carpets, and several famous paintings adorning the walls. It was magnificent. It also had a private bathroom, fully stocked with toiletries—far, far better than her room at the Lu residence. “Do… do all the maids in the Xiao family live this well?” Shen Lan couldn’t help but ask. Liu Lin chuckled. “Ms. Shen, the third floor is exclusively for Mr. Xiao. No one is permitted up here, except for the staff during cleaning hours.” Shen Lan stared at him, then her gaze shot to the adjacent door, her voice stiffening. “That one… don’t tell me that’s Xiao Cheng’s bedroom.” Liu Lin nodded. Shen Lan’s expression grew even more awkward. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to stay here.” “You are a guest; it’s perfectly appropriate. Besides, Mr. Xiao has permitted it, so please don’t worry,” Liu Lin said, his smile as sly as a fox’s. “And there isn’t time to arrange another room now, anyway.” With that, Shen Lan felt she couldn’t refuse. In any case, she was only here to cook. All she had to do was her job; the rest was none of her business. After seeing Liu Lin out, Shen Lan unpacked her things, grabbed a change of clothes, and went to wash up before bed. The bed was enormous and plush, and she was asleep almost the moment her head hit the pillow. She was up at the crack of dawn the next day. She changed into her usual long black dress and meticulously applied a layer of dark foundation to any exposed skin. She checked her reflection several times, and only when she was sure her disguise was flawless did she open the door. In the unfamiliar Xiao mansion, especially with a man like Xiao Cheng who seemed to see through everything, she had to be on her highest guard.