Though the incident occurred, Lin Wanrong's embarrassment lasted only a microsecond before he returned to normal.
The new shoes Dong Qiaoqiao made fit perfectly. He paced back and forth a few steps, feeling utterly comfortable. Qiaoqiao truly had skillful hands.
Beside him was a set of brand-new clothes, clearly made for him as well. Considering how busy Qiaoqiao had been lately, she must have stayed up late to craft these shoes and clothes. Touched, Lin Wanrong felt a slight pang of guilt for his earlier inappropriate behavior.
Wearing the new clothes, he walked around, marveling at how perfectly they fit—like they'd been tailored to his frame. Shamelessly, he thought, Either Qiaoqiao's craftsmanship is incredible, or I'm just a natural clothes hanger.
With a soft clatter, Dong Qiaoqiao emerged, suppressing her shyness, her face still visibly flushed.
"Qiaoqiao—" Lin Wanrong looked at her and smiled awkwardly.
Without a word, Dong Qiaoqiao approached, gently adjusted his clothes, and inspected them carefully from every angle before nodding in satisfaction.
Gazing at her shy face, her crystal-clear cheeks, and inhaling the faint fragrance from her, Lin Wanrong felt his heart stir again, longing to pull her close and kiss her passionately.
Sucking in his stomach, holding his breath, and clenching his buttocks, he silently recited a mantra to suppress his rising desire.
"Big brother, you're going to the Xiao family tomorrow. Take care of yourself. I'll make you two more sets of clothes—come pick them up when you have time," Dong Qiaoqiao said softly.
Struggling to control his arousal, Lin Wanrong felt a gentle tremor in his heart. A warm feeling spread through him, and his persistent erection suddenly subsided.
Qiaoqiao is so gentle and kind; it's wrong to defile her like this, he thought, his conscience briefly surfacing. He blamed himself slightly, annoyed at his body's reaction. It's all your fault, causing trouble. I'm innocent.
That night, Lin Wanrong slept soundly, dreaming of cavorting with countless beauties. Waking the next morning, his morning wood stood proud.
Morning erections are quite impressive, he thought smugly.
Feeling a dampness in his underwear, he touched it and realized he'd had a wet dream. It hadn't happened since he was eighteen and had a girlfriend, yet here it was again in this world. Amused, he acknowledged yesterday's stimulation had been significant.
Washing underwear at six in the morning isn't a good sign, he sighed inwardly.
The next morning, he arrived early at the Xiao family's residence and saw a crowd of eager people buzzing around two red lists.
Squeezing forward, he saw it was the list of candidates who'd passed the initial servant selection. The red list was packed with names.
Thanks to his sharp eyesight, Lin Wanrong finally spotted his name in an obscure corner—Lin San.
The name felt awkward, and he grew annoyed, recalling Old Man Wei's trickery.
But compared to names like Zhang Gou Sheng, Xia Shi Ren, and Liu Yue Jing, "Lin San" was relatively fortunate. Cold sweat trickled down his back as he realized Old Man Wei wasn't so bad after all.
"I can't believe I didn't even get a chance at the initial test and was eliminated just like that. Heaven forsakes me!" wailed a servant-like man nearby.
"Brother, why so distraught?" another asked.
The crying man explained, "Turns out registration was the initial selection. I didn't know and glanced at the Xiao residence maids a few too many times, so I got cut."
"Brother, you've got to pick the right moment to flirt. Once you're in, opportunities abound. Alas, I feel for you," the other sighed.
"Wait, judging by your attire, aren't you already a servant? Why join the selection?" another asked curiously.
The crying man snorted. "What's strange about that? These days, people climb higher while water flows lower. Can't I try? I'll tell you, I didn't just join the Xiao family's servant selection—I also entered the prefecture's 'Good Men of the Prefecture' and the Jinling Women's Society's 'Rough Girls.' I've passed the auditions and am advancing to the top hundred."
"Respect, respect, brother—you're truly formidable."
"Not at all. I hear there's a 'Youth Singing God Competition' in the capital, and I'm planning to sign up with my original ecological singing style. What do you think, brother—"
Lin Wanrong laughed inwardly. Anything tied to talent shows is a hit these days.
But he was puzzled. From their talk, the Xiao family's servant selection had an initial round, yet he'd somehow passed without noticing.
Perhaps it was Old Man Wei's doing. As a senior servant—clearly a gold-collar figure—his recommendation likely earned Lin Wanrong a direct pass to the initial test.
Glancing at the other red list, he saw it was for scholars who'd passed the initial selection. Though there were two to three hundred names, two-thirds of applicants had been eliminated.
The Xiao family clearly valued these scholars, appending "young master" to each name in neat, orderly script—unlike the bold, unrestrained servant list.
Lin Wanrong's initial test was scheduled for the afternoon, so he wasn't rushed. After waiting a while, he saw Dong Ren De hurrying toward him.
They'd agreed to meet here this morning to visit the owner of Mei Wei Xuan. After yesterday's embarrassment with Dong Qiaoqiao, Lin Wanrong was too ashamed to go to their house, so they'd set this spot.
"Uncle Dong, did you bring the banknotes?" Lin Wanrong asked.
Dong Ren De glanced around warily and whispered, "I brought them, young master—five thousand taels in full."
Amused by Dong Ren De's nervous demeanor, Lin Wanrong patted his shoulder. "Uncle Dong, when we meet the owner, follow my lead."
Dong Ren De nodded. Lin Wanrong's status in the Dong family was now revered, his word absolute.
Dong Ren De led him to Mei Wei Xuan, passing through Jinling's bustling streets—vendors shouting, crowds flowing—reminding Lin Wanrong of Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street.
At Xuanwu Lake's entrance, in Jinling's most prosperous district, stood a five-story pavilion with flowing eaves and upturned corners, exuding an extraordinary aura.
Lin Wanrong assessed it, pleased with the location and size. The only issue left was the price.
Dong Ren De took him to the third floor, where the owner—a sixty- or seventy-year-old man who'd met Dong Ren De before—awaited.
Dong Ren De explained their purpose, then gestured to Lin Wanrong. "Boss Wang, this is Young Master Lin from the capital. His father is about to take a post in Jiangsu, and Young Master Lin is looking to acquire properties in Jinling. Hearing you're transferring your restaurant, he came to see it."
"Oh, a distinguished guest from the capital—my apologies for not recognizing you. May I ask about Young Master Lin's family—" Boss Wang, hearing he was from the capital, didn't dare neglect him. Years of running a restaurant and dealing with all sorts had honed his composure.
Lin Wanrong took a few light steps, swung his right hand, and with a snap, opened a folding fan. It bore no landscapes or rivers—just four simple words: "Rarely Confused."