The Art of the Green Tea Act

Butler Zhang, observing Jian Ye’s shifting expressions, spoke with understanding. “Young Master doesn’t need to force himself. If you truly don’t wish to return, I can speak with Elder Master.”

After all, the main residence had merely instructed Butler Zhang to keep an eye on Jian Ye and report his activities at the villa regularly.

Butler Zhang was powerless to interfere with his master’s actions or desires. Even if Jian Ye genuinely refused to return, Butler Zhang could do nothing, nor would the main residence blame him.

It would simply mean the Young Master’s reputation and standing within the Jian family would deteriorate further.

Snapping back to reality, Jian Ye clenched his hand into a fist, then relaxed it. “I said I’d return tomorrow. Butler Zhang, you just need to ensure the notification is delivered.”

‘Wasn’t it just one social death?’

‘Besides, it wasn’t even my doing. If anyone should be embarrassed, it’s the original host.’

Jian Ye decided he would simply act as usual tomorrow. Once he’d thought it through, he felt much less conflicted.

He comforted himself, ‘A cannon fodder character is like this. If things went too smoothly, it would be strange.’

‘Trouble is bound to arise on the path of a cannon fodder; I just need to resolve each issue as it comes.’

“Butler Zhang, I need you to help me buy some things…” Jian Ye handed Butler Zhang a card—the very one he had conned from Yu Wei earlier.

He was quite adept at using someone else’s generosity to his own advantage.

Butler Zhang listened to his Young Master’s instructions, nodding repeatedly. Though he didn’t know what the Young Master intended, he had a strong premonition that tomorrow’s return to the main residence would certainly cause a stir.

Just as Butler Zhang was about to leave, Jian Ye called out to him. He pulled another card from his pocket—this one belonging to the original host—and handed it over.

After a moment’s thought, he concluded that the conned card might not be enough. For his first visit to the main residence, he needed to prepare something grand.

The Jian family’s main residence stood majestically on Liling Mountain.

A courtyard nestled amidst rolling pear trees, it exuded a serene, ancient charm, offering profound comfort and ease.

On the following day, Jian Ye sat in the car ascending the mountain, observing the scenery outside the window with a knowing gaze.

‘Isn’t this a common trope in novels? Wealthy aristocratic families always seem to build their nests in the mountains.’

To be fair, the air on Liling Mountain was indeed excellent. Living here might genuinely lead to a longer life.

‘No wonder that old-fashioned man refused to leave the main residence for a high-end apartment in the city center.’

‘When I get old, I’ll find a secluded mountain forest and hide away too.’

After fifteen minutes of climbing, the car finally reached its destination.

The servants at the entrance displayed varied expressions upon seeing Jian Ye, but they still bowed respectfully and opened the gate.

Jian Ye paid no mind to their subtle reactions, assuming they were all lingering after-effects from the original host’s previous self-destructive antics.

He walked straight inside as if nothing had happened, seemingly oblivious to the past incident, his expression calm and unbothered.

He had barely taken two steps when an arrogant shout rang out: “Hey! You shorty up front! Come over and help me carry my luggage and bags!”

Jian Ye acted as if he hadn’t heard, continuing forward, refusing to acknowledge himself as a ‘shorty’.

“Damn it! Are you deaf? Are all new servants this ignorant of the rules?” The voice behind him grew closer, eventually blocking Jian Ye’s path directly.

The young man moved to the front, ready to reprimand him further, but he suddenly froze when he saw the face of the teenager looking up at him.

“Jian… Ye?” The young man unceremoniously ruffled the teenager’s hair, then burst out laughing. “Haven’t seen you in a few days. Your head of grass has turned into a black forest. It won’t fade, will it?”

Jian Ye took a step back, feigning surprise after recognizing the newcomer. “Cousin? When did you arrive?”

Indeed, the young man who had appeared was Jian Song, the eldest grandson of the Jian family’s main branch. He sported a slicked-back pompadour, oversized sunglasses that covered half his face, and several long chains around his neck. Despite the cold weather, his pants were more ripped than a rag picker’s.

‘So unstylish it’s stylish,’ Jian Ye thought, disagreeing with the taste. Yet, this cousin was excessively self-assured, his favorite pastime being showing off, always needing to maximize his presence.

“I’ve been calling you this whole time, and you’re pretending not to know me!” Jian Song fumed.

“When did Cousin call me?” Jian Ye blinked his innocent, wide eyes, feigning utter confusion.

“I told you to help me with my luggage! Didn’t you hear me calling for ages?” Although Jian Song had initially mistaken Jian Ye for a Jian family servant, there was no apology on his face for the mix-up; instead, he grew even more self-righteous.

It was clear just how disrespected the original host had been at the Jian family’s main residence. Despite being Elder Master Jian’s direct grandson, others treated him like a mere subordinate.

People like Jian Song, who looked down on everyone, would never consider their own words or actions problematic. If there was a problem, it was always someone else’s.

Jian Ye paused, then immediately adopted a wronged expression. “I’m sorry, Cousin, I truly didn’t know you were calling me.”

“You didn’t call my name; you just yelled ‘hey’ and ‘shorty.’ I thought you were calling Auntie’s Little Jar.”

Little Jar was the name of a corgi owned by Jian Fu, Elder Master Jian’s youngest daughter. The dog was a hearty eater, round like a jar, hence the name. Its legs were also short, and sometimes family members would jokingly call it ‘shorty’.

Jian Ye had already made up his mind: no matter how much Jian Song ranted, he would continue to feign ignorance.

“You—” Jian Song momentarily forgot what to say next, pausing. He couldn’t be bothered to argue with this good-for-nothing any further.

However, he needed to reclaim his lost dignity. So, he changed the subject, a sneer twisting his lips. “Who was it that said whoever stepped foot into the Jian family’s main residence again was a dog?”

Jian Ye’s almond-shaped eyes widened, his lips pressed tightly together, and the corners of his eyes and brows drooped.

He sniffled, his nose reddening, and looked sorrowfully at the young man. “That’s right, I said those words in a moment of impulse. So, Cousin, just now… just now, were you calling me like a dog? I always thought that in this family, Cousin was different from everyone else, that you wouldn’t insult someone and order them around just because your younger brother made a mistake. To see me as Little Jar, that is what truly breaks my heart.”

Jian Song: ???

‘What kind of corporate-level understanding is this??? [TL Note: A humorous internet slang implying a bizarre or overly complex interpretation of a simple statement.]’

[Ding—Green tea element detected! Green Tea Value +15.]

By now, many of the Jian family’s housekeepers and servants were already observing the scene. After Jian Ye’s dramatic exit from the main residence last time, everyone’s gaze was naturally drawn to the Jian family’s youngest Young Master.

The conflict and dialogue between the eldest Young Master and the youngest Young Master had, of course, clearly reached their ears.

Even those who had previously looked down on Jian Ye now couldn’t help but feel that the eldest Young Master insulting the youngest Young Master by likening him to a dog was a bit excessive.

[System 748: Host, were you deliberately setting a trap for him to fall into with that earlier groundwork?]

[Jian Ye: Of course! Regarding the original host’s thoughtless words from last time, even if this guy didn’t bring it up, someone else would have mocked me later. Might as well deal with it here.]

[System 748: I’ve learned, boohoo~]

[Jian Ye: …]

He deliberately steered the conversation toward the word ‘dog,’ setting a trap for Jian Song to utter it. Coupled with Jian Song’s naturally ‘obnoxious’ expression, it was seamless, vividly portraying a scene of him humiliating and bullying his younger cousin.

The servants watching from a distance would only perceive it as Jian Song unilaterally attacking Jian Ye. And Jian Ye, like a delicate white flower swaying in the wind, was forced to humble himself and endure the verbal abuse.

“Ah, actually, the Young Master is quite pitiful.”

“Indeed, with his parents gone, he has no one to rely on in the main residence.”

“That incident where the Young Master cut his wrist in the living room last time was probably because he couldn’t bear the various forms of bullying and felt hopeless.”

“Enough, don’t speak carelessly. How can we comment on the masters’ affairs? It’s enough to secretly be a little kinder to the Young Master in private from now on.”

Jian Ye had no idea that, in just a few minutes, the psychological activities of the onlookers were so rich.

Jian Song, of course, did not hear the servants’ whispers. He was accustomed to being arrogant. Although he hadn’t intended to insult Jian Ye by calling him a dog, being provoked by Jian Ye in that moment clouded his judgment, and he stubbornly doubled down.

“So what if I said a few things to you? Who told you to be so reckless before, making Grandpa and the others angry! Now you regret it? Hah!”

Jian Ye lowered his head even further, appearing increasingly fragile and pathetic.

“I just got back from traveling, and I have too many things. Help me carry my suitcase! Hurry up!”

Jian Song could have asked one of the nearby servants for help, but Jian Ye had crossed his path today, so he might as well be free labor. Anyway, his cousin was a weakling easily manipulated, so what if he bullied him?

Jian Song had already decided that if Jian Ye refused, he would continue to bring up Jian Ye’s past embarrassing incidents to lecture him and force him to comply. To his surprise, Jian Ye silently picked up his suitcase.

Seeing this, Jian Song felt satisfied, yet he couldn’t help but think his cousin was utterly useless, devoid of any dignity, and quite pathetic.

[System 748: Host, your Green Tea Value is increasing in a positive function pattern. This is my first time encountering a situation where someone naturally possesses a ‘green tea’ buff. I’m taking notes.]

[Jian Ye: I absolutely adore this show-off cousin of mine. He’s the perfect human benchmark to highlight my own qualities.]

[System 748: Oh?]

[Jian Ye: From previous instances of gaining Green Tea Value, it seems that performing in crowded places doubles the chances of acquisition. The Jian family has many servants, so it’s easier to get Green Tea Value from them.]

[System 748: Host’s spirit of research and summary is highly commendable. I hope headquarters gives me an Outstanding System award when I attend the next meeting.]

[Jian Ye: My excellence, Jian Xiaoye, has nothing to do with your system’s excellence, does it? Don’t use my influence to beg for rewards.]

[System 748: If headquarters gives me an award, there will be more free benefits in the System Mall.]

[Jian Ye: What? Why didn’t you say so sooner? In that case, I need to be even more outstanding. From now on, I will no longer hide my talents. Just wait and see my tea arts.]

The teenager struggled to drag the suitcase along the cobblestone path.

As he walked, the extremely ‘fashionable’ man in front of him would occasionally ramble, “Be gentle! I have hundreds of thousands worth of cameras and laptops inside! And the suitcase wheels, don’t you dare break them.”

“Clumsy! Can’t you lift it? Didn’t you eat breakfast this morning?”

Jian Ye automatically filtered out the incessant chatter. His gaze, hidden as he looked down, became incredibly cold.

When they reached the middle section of the cobblestone path, Jian Ye feigned a stumble, causing the suitcase he was dragging to become unstable. Using the momentum of his ‘fall,’ he swung the suitcase into the center of a nearby ornamental pond.

“Holy crap! I told you to be careful, how did you handle that?! You little brat, you did that on purpose!”

The small pond wasn’t large, but it was a meter deep. Jian Ye had deliberately unzipped the suitcase slightly when he swung it.

Now, the suitcase lay wide open in the water, and Jian Song’s so-called hundreds of thousands worth of camera and laptop sank directly to the bottom.

Jian Song was fuming, smoke practically coming out of his ears. He reached out and yanked Jian Ye, who was sitting on the ground.

“All my stuff is ruined! You damn well better pay me back!”

Jian Ye clutched his ankle, his eyes reddening. “Cousin, I’m so sorry, I really didn’t mean to. I accidentally stepped on a sharp stone just now, twisted my ankle, and lost my balance, which made your suitcase fall into the water.”

Jian Song thought, ‘Oh, please! A twisted ankle can make a suitcase fly into the middle of a pond?’

‘Just a moment ago, he was too weak to lift the suitcase, but after falling, he can throw a discus? It was clearly intentional!’