Mu Yiran looked at the boy in front of her. His lips were cherry red with pearls, and the corners of his mouth were naturally upturned. Not to mention that he was smiling now like a little fairy in a New Year's painting, both cute and charming.

Although...but.

If Mu Yiran hadn't known that Shi Youxi was holding some unknown, malicious thing in the other hand behind his back, she would have definitely believed his innocent, angelic face.

After shoving the roses into Mu Yiran's hands, Shi Youxi ignored her and took Mu Yiran's other hand, asking, "Sister, where's my coffee?"

"Oh, he's outside." Mu Yiran came to her senses, stood up, and led him outside.

She glanced at the boy beside her.

Perhaps because he often drinks coffee, the boy has a faint, bitter scent reminiscent of licorice.

She hadn't noticed it when she was squatting, but now that she was standing up, she realized that Shi Youxi was rather thin for his age.

The document states that Shi Youxi has just turned 10 and is about to enter puberty, so his dietary requirements are very strict.

But isn't this strictness a bit too strict?

Mu Yiran compared the heights of the two people and estimated that Shi Youxi was about one and a half heads shorter than the original body, which, rounded up, would be at most 140cm.

Looking at his slightly empty sleeve, the finger he was holding was thin and the fingertip was a bit rough. If others saw this, they would think that the Shi family was going bankrupt and couldn't afford rice.

Shi Youxi was also observing Mu Yiran.

He felt the hand that was holding his; it was so soft and smooth.

It feels more comfortable to touch than any of the dolls he has made before.

I really want to make a doll out of the girl's skin...

Just a few steps away was the room outside. Mu Yiran watched as Shi Youxi peeled off the plastic face covering a doll and pulled a remote-controlled device out of its empty back of head.

He casually tapped a button, and instantly, both rooms, one inside and one outside, were illuminated like heaven.

Mu Yiran tried her best to appear worldly-wise, while inwardly she was ranting and raving.

That little pervert.

The little pervert happily waved the remote control at her, saying, "Sister, you'll know where to put the remote control from now on."

He was as happy as if he had told Mu Yiran some earth-shattering secret.

Mu Yiran nodded perfunctorily and walked to the table. The whole process took less than ten minutes. The coffee was still hot, but she spilled quite a bit of it.

Mu Yiran hesitated for a moment, her working spirit reaching its peak. She picked up the cup holder and said to Shi Youxi, "I'm sorry, young master, some of it spilled. It's not very hot anymore. I'll go and make you another cup."

Shi Youxi smiled at her and asked, "How long will it take?"

Mu Yiran felt a pang in her heart. Was her desire to slack off really that obvious?

"Hmm...ten minutes?"

"Then I'll wait here for my sister." Shi Youxi sat down on a single chair next to her, facing the electronic door.

As Mu Yiran walked out, she was still regretting it, wishing she had talked for a little longer.

She was being watched intently from behind, but she never looked back, and went back the way she came.

Shi Youxi sat on the chair, swinging his legs, watching the girl's figure disappear into the corridor. He raised his hand to his nose and sniffed.

It smells so good.

…

Mu Yiran ran all the way to the kitchen's water bar. As soon as she rushed in, she saw the butler standing by the island. When he saw Mu Yiran come in, he smiled faintly and said, "Miss Mu, is there something scary that you're running so fast?"

"Oh, no, I'm in a hurry to make the young master another cup of coffee."

The housekeeper didn't say anything more, but poured her a glass of water and handed it to her, saying, "Thank you for your hard work."

Mu Yiran thanked the woman, took a sip, and then started fiddling with the coffee machine. The coffee beans were arranged by type, and she followed the steps the woman who had left had given her, grinding the coffee beans as instructed, and brewing and filtering them.

As a severe sweet tooth, Mu Yiran instinctively reached for sugar and milk.

I searched through all those neatly arranged bottles and jars, but there wasn't a single one.

She paused, then reviewed the notes in the document again, and it seemed that it did not mention adding any milk or sugar.

So, at what age did Shi Youxi start drinking this kind of coffee?

Could he really be from South Korea? Was he born with a coffee gene?

Mu Yiran didn't think much of it and took an extra tray before heading upstairs.

The servants in the living room each performed their duties, and only secretly withdrew their gaze after the woman disappeared on the second floor.

——

Shi Youxi sat upright in the chair, staring intently at the door, keeping track of the time in her mind.

It's been almost ten minutes. If the girl doesn't return on time, he'll have a reason to punish her.

He rubbed his fingers impatiently, clutching a leather bracelet in his other hand, eagerly hoping that time would pass quickly.

When Mu Yiran opened the door, she immediately saw the boy sitting in the chair with a slightly disappointed and gloomy expression.

Mu Yiran: ?

I'm speechless at the little pervert's unpredictable mood swings.

He placed the plate on the table and carefully picked up the cup holder. "Young Master, here you go."

Shi Youxi reached out to take it, but the next second the cup of coffee was taken back, and the girl lowered her head and blew on the rim of the cup.

"Hey, drink slowly."

Mu Yiran looked up and saw the boy staring at her blankly. "Although it's the first time I've made it, it shouldn't taste too bad."

After saying that, she grabbed his hand and shoved the cup into his hand.

Shi Youxi slowly took a sip of coffee. The coffee wasn't hot at all, and although it was still bitter and unpleasant to drink, it seemed a little different from before.

Looking at the boy's well-behaved appearance, Mu Yiran's heart softened again; good looks really are a killer feature.

So be it if it's a little perverted.

Mu Yiran looked at the boy with the loving gaze of an old mother. After finishing his coffee, Shi Youxi nuzzled his face against hers.

Her large, round phoenix eyes stared at her intently. "Sister, wipe your mouth."

"Oh, oh." Mu Yiran rummaged in the white apron of her maid dress, but there was no handkerchief or tissues around. On a whim, she reached out and wiped Shi Youxi's mouth.

Her hand covered most of the boy's face, leaving only his phoenix eyes visible. His gaze flickered slightly, and then a knock came at the door.

"Young Master, the teacher has arrived." The maid's voice rang out, and Mu Yiran replied, "Oh, okay."

Just as she was about to pull her hand back, a warm, wet sensation crept up her thumb. She looked down and saw that Shi Youxi was biting her thumb.

Mu Yiran: ......

Why did this guy suddenly fall ill again?

"What are you doing? Let go." Mu Yiran tried to pull her finger out, but still couldn't free it. She glared at him and said fiercely.

Shi Youxi didn't know if she was frightened or not. She let go of her mouth, lowered her eyelids, and licked the corner of her mouth with the tip of her tongue.

Her fingers smelled of bitter coffee beans, but tasted sweet.

I want to lick it again...

He opened his mouth and leaned in, only to have his cheeks mercilessly pinched by Mu Yiran.

"Don't even think about it. Come on, your teacher is waiting for you." After saying that, she grabbed Shi Youxi and walked out, hearing the boy behind her chuckle softly.

When they arrived at the study door, Shi Youxi greeted the teacher politely and respectfully. Then, with a smile, she looked at Mu Yiran, who was trying to slip away, and said, "Sister, you have to stay outside and wait for me. You're not allowed to leave even for a moment."

Mu Yiran nodded repeatedly, watching him turn back every three steps before finally entering the study.

Why do I feel this way when I send my child to school and then the child clings to me and won't let me leave?

He's still just a child.

Shi Youxi possesses all the advantages of a male protagonist in a novel: high intelligence, high talent, and although he never attended elementary school, he has already reached the level of a junior high school student after testing.

So after this summer vacation, he will go to study at an international independent college in the capital of Libya.

After a long afternoon of tedious schoolwork, Mu Yiran sneaked into her room and briefly rummaged through the original owner's luggage. Besides everyday clothes, there were some documents, including a Nokia phone.

Ah, my lost childhood suddenly attacked me, this wonderful feel!

Mu Yiran carefully put her phone into her skirt pocket, then ran to Shi Youxi's private dressing room to get a few handkerchiefs for later use.

He then carried a pot of tea from the kitchen, and when he returned to the study, a young man was standing at the door.

Upon seeing her, the young man took the initiative to speak, "Hello, I'm Shi Si, nice to meet you."

Mu Yiran nodded in greeting, glanced at the closed door, and asked, "Young Master, it seems you're not finished yet. You can tell me if you have something to say."

The boy didn't say it directly, but simply nodded and replied, "I have something to do. I'll come pick up the young master when he has dinner." After saying that, he turned and left.

Huh? Pick up? Are you going out?

No sooner had Shi Si left than the study door opened, and Mu Yiran's free hand was suddenly grabbed by the boy's slender hand. "Sister, where did you go?"

Mu Yiran showed no remorse for being caught, and instead turned the tables on him, "Oh ho, young master wasn't paying attention in class just now."

"I'm going to tell you, sir, madam, that you'll have your allowance docked."

"My parents don't care about me. I got all my homework right today, and..."

Shi Youxi's lips curled up, a sly look appearing on her face. "Also, how did you know I don't have any pocket money, only cards?"

Mu Yiran; "..."

This old man, no, I mean, Xiao Liu!

Looking at that youthful and handsome face, she wanted to pinch him, and with that thought, Mu Yiran did just that.

Shi Youxi was caught off guard when his face was suddenly rubbed, and his body instantly stiffened. No one had ever rubbed his face like that before; his father had never done it, and his mother...

The man in the study came out and glanced at the two of them with surprise. Mu Yiran immediately withdrew her hand.

"Teacher, you've worked hard. I've prepared some tea. Please have some before you leave," Mu Yiran said, raising the teapot and dutifully playing the role of a maid.

Before the man could speak, Shi Youxi interrupted him, "Didn't the teacher just say he had something urgent to attend to? You should go back now, thank you for your hard work."

The man looked at Shi Youxi's polite and courteous face, his eyes behind his glasses as deep as ink, and then smiled lightly, "Yes, I won't bother you any longer. See you next time."

The man said hello and left first.

Mu Yiran suddenly felt that something was wrong, but before she could figure it out, Xiao Liu climbed up to her again.

Shi Youxi grabbed her hand and asked, "Sister hasn't told you where you just went?"

Why are you so persistent?

"I'll get you a handkerchief and prepare some tea for you," she said helplessly.

"Oh, so that pot of tea wasn't prepared for the teacher?" Shi Youxi looked at her with a smile, pulling her hand tighter and tighter.

"This was prepared just for you; the others were just something I brought along." Mu Yiran compromised, then remembered Shi Si, "Oh, there was a guy named Shi Si who said he would pick you up for dinner."

Shi Youxi then calmed down, and as if remembering something, pulled her towards her room, saying, "Then let's go change clothes, sister."

"Hey, slow down." Mu Yiran looked at the boy's inexplicably excited expression and was very curious about what he was going to do next.

The study and Shi Youxi's bedroom are at opposite ends of the eastern district. As Mu Yiran passed the spiral staircase in the atrium, she inadvertently saw the window next to the staircase.

In the blink of an eye, she saw the male teacher, who should have left, standing in the courtyard, silently staring at the villa.