Winning the Male Lead - Chapter 8

(Un)fortunately, Le Tian had a good luck. When he went to the hospital, he was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. Made Le Tian overjoyed, saying ‘Wow, I’m so fragile like a glass‘, he only ate an extra bowl of rice and ended up getting sick.

*TL/N: poor little stomach…

System: “Oh, it seems that this young master’s body cannot handle the appetite of an elephant.”

In the first place, Le Tian was planning to pretend to be sick. Now that he’s actually sick, he’s behaving more like a demon. He lay on the luxurious bed and soft pillow in the VVIP ward, kept complaining about stomach pain and cold hands, and saying, “I’m feeling uncomfortable all over.”

Shen Lixing watched coldly and suddenly hit the nail on the head, saying, “Do you really don’t want to cancel your engagement?”

Le Tian stopped whining and buried his face, which showed a look of grievance, in the pillow.

Shen Lixing immediately understood and said with a serious face, “You don’t want to let go that little star, so you’re deliberately tormenting yourself, aren’t you?”

Le Tian hurriedly opened his mouth and defended, “I… I… I didn’t mean to…”, while Shen Lixing looked at him sharply. Le Tian feels the pressure so his voice became smaller and weaker, “I just a little upset, so I…” ‘ate an extra bowl of rice.’

Looking at Le Tian’s current condition in this short period of time, Shen Lixing couldn’t help but softened his heart.

“I’m sorry, Uncle…” Sure enough, Le Tian hurriedly apologized and using his hand with a drip (IV Infusion) to reach out Shen Lixing’s arm, “I’ll definitely be more careful in the future.”

“Why are your hands so cold?” Shen Lixing covered Le Tian’s hand with his own. His hand was dry and warm, making Le Tian comfortable enough to squint his eyes.

Shen Lixing looked at him silently, feeling that Le Tian is like a child and he finally had an explanation for his inexplicable indulgence.

‘Really, adults couldn’t help but spoil children’, Shen Lixing justified himself.

“After this, take good care of yourself at home for these few days. When you’re feeling better, I’ll talk to you properly.” Shen Lixing gently held Le Tian’s hand, carefully avoiding the needle so as to warm him without making him uncomfortable.

Le Tian was unaware of the deep affection Shen Lixing felt for him, but he was pleased that Shen Lixing had compromised. He obediently nodded, “I’ll listen to Uncle.”

Shen Lixing liked how compliant Le Tian was, and his tense expression softened. He regretted that he had spoken harshly to Le Tian before.

‘He’s just a child who can’t withstand the storm. There’s no need to drench him completely.’ Shen Lixing reflected.

Shen Lixing didn’t stay in the hospital for too long as there was an unexpected matter at the company, so he hurried back to the office.

While Shen Lixing left, Xu Tao came in slowly afterward.

This hospital is owned by Xu Tao’s family. Xu Tao came here today to represent his father on the board of directors. While he was resting on the upper floor, he saw the Shen family’s car from a distance. He was a little afraid of Shen Lixing, so he waited for him to leave before sneaking over to see Le Tian.

“What’s happened? Did you have another fight with Uncle Shen again?” Xu Tao asked as he sat by the hospital bed.

Le Tian grumbles, “Nonsense, would my uncle be willing to fight me?”

In fact, after sobering up from being drunk that day, Xu Tao had a feeling that something was amiss. When he asked the restaurant manager, he found out that Shen Lixing had revoked Le Tian’s privilege.

Even if they dislike each other, especially in families like Shen family with complicated interests, between relatives, there are deep-rooted connections. It’s difficult to reach to the point of separation.

Xu Tao realized the tension between Shen Le Tian and Shen Lixing was more than a simple grudge. As when he tried to deliver clothes, he found himself swiftly and unceremoniously chased out.

Xu Tao had thought that the relationship between Shen Le Tian and Shen Lixing was on the verge of collapse, but today it seemed as if they were still as close as before.

Xu Tao smiled and said, “Uncle Shen is cold-faced but warm-hearted. You are his only nephew, so no matter how you annoy him, as long as you show some humility, he won’t truly be angry with you.”

Le Tian agreed, not because of the reasons Xu Tao mentioned, but because Lixing was actually quite heartless. He wasn’t as concerned about blood ties as Xu Tao thought. His kindness towards Le Tian was more based on his mood, and Le Tian genuinely wanted to earn his favor.

Le Tian still feels uncomfortable in his stomach and asks Xu Tao, “How is the hospital food? Is it tasty?”

The system is speechless, “Can you still thinking about food?”

Le Tian says, “You cannot make bricks without straws. If I don’t eat, I’ll be hungry. You’re a system, you won’t understand what it’s like to be hungry.”

Xu Tao responds, “The hospital food is not that great, what do you want to eat? I’ll have someone to go and buy it for you.”

Le Tian pouts and says in a secretive tone, “Don’t ask people outside.”

The people outside that he is referring to, are the servants and bodyguards left behind by Shen Lixing.

Xu Tao immediately understood that Shen Lixing didn’t let Le Tian to eat, and he quickly changed the subject, saying, “Forget it, now is too late. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

Le Tian was visibly unhappy, with a subtle flush of anger.

“Hey, why hasn’t your fiancée come to see you?” Xu Tao nervously changed the topic.

Le Tian’s subtle flush of anger faded, he clicked his tongue twice, and said, “Hey, don’t let her get away. I’m not free these days, so take care of her for me.”

Xu Tao was shocked, “Me?”

“Don’t get any wrong ideas,” Le Tian warned by glaring at him.
He thought to himself, You’re not as handsome as me, so you don’t have a chance with the female lead.

Xu Tao laughed quietly at first, but then couldn’t help but burst out laughing, and said to Le Tian, “Your mentality is just like a child. I understand the principle that friends’ wives should not be robbed.”

Le Tian nodded, and added, “If there’s someone better looking than me getting close to her, then let it be.”

If there’s a gap in terms of money between that person and him, he can make it up by giving up his identity as Young Master Shen.

Xu Tao’s smile froze on his face, not understanding the reasoning behind Le Tian’s words for a moment. Only later did he suddenly realize and said, “Oh, so you want to test her.”

He secretly disapproved of Le Tian’s thoughts on love, thinking that his view on love was somewhat childish, but he didn’t say anything and just smiled with narrowed eyes, saying, “Okay, no problem.”

The two of them chatted aimlessly for a while, and then suddenly the door of the hospital room was knocked on. A bright-eyed little nurse gestured through the door to Xu Tao, “Mr. Xu, Mr. Shen is back.”

Xu Tao hurriedly got up and said to Le Tian, who was in the middle of a conversation, “Your uncle is back, I have to go.”

Le Tian let Xu Tao go and sighed to himself, “Did you just hear that? That nurse called him Mr. Xu, which sounds much better than Young Master one.”

The system understands it perfectly and assures, “Don’t worry, I have arranged everything. In the next world, you will have high status and authority. Everyone will have to kneel before you.”

Delighted, Le Tian probes, “Let me be an emperor?”

The system replies, “If you become an emperor, who would have the heart of steel to give you a green hat?”

After that replies, Le Tian realizes he’s being difficult and says, “Maybe being a prince is not bad after all.”

The system doesn’t respond, but only reminds, “Shen Lixing is coming.”

Le Tian start to act as if feeling distressed, in pain, whimper softly, and frowning.

Le Tian has rested for there days for recuperate his acute gastroenteritis. Eating white rice porridge and boiled vegetables every day. The moment he almost better, Le Tian suspected that he had turned into a fresh and juicy bok choy.

*TL/N: Bok choy is Chinese vegetable. For more, you can go to https://en.www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bok_choy.

—

Shen Lixing and Le Tian sat down face to face for an “impartial” conversation in the study.

Le Tian sat up straight, hands on his knees, under the rim of his silver-rimmed glasses, his big rounded eyes shimmering cautiously as he looked at Shen Lixing.

Shen Lixing remained composed, leaving Le Tian nervously hanging for a while before composedly asking, “Have you made up your mind?”

Le Tian shook his head a bit and said softly, “Uncle, I don’t want to make a choice.”

“If you don’t want to make a choice, then you have to work hard. I have already made up my mind about breaking up the engagement,” Shen Lixing paused, eyeing Le Tian expression. Sure enough, as soon as Le Tian heard the word breaking up, his face tensed up. Without reason, Shen Lixing felt a slight displeasure and his tone grew heavier, “Well, let’s postpone it temporarily and see how you perform.”

Le Tian breathed a sigh of relief and nodded eagerly, “Uncle, rest assured, I will definitely strive to improve.”

The next day, Le Tian and Shen Lixing go to the company together to work.

In the car, Le Tian sat next to Shen Lixing with a smile on his face, causing Shen Lixing to giving him a glimpse, “You’re so happy to go to work?” He had thought Le Tian didn’t like going to the company.

Le Tian nodded with a squint, “I’m happy to help Uncle Shen.”

Shen Lixing’s expression was slightly softened.

The system speculated that Le Tian was probably happy because he was about to be called “Lord Shen”, silently feeling sorry for Shen Lixing.

*TL/N: Mr. in this context is derived from the Chinese word 总 (zong), which has the same meaning as President, Master, General, etc. Le Tian simply wanted to be praised and called like Lingxi.

Sure enough, when Shen Lixing appeared at the company with Le Tian, everyone first called him “Mr. Shen”, followed by “Little Mr. Shen.”

*TL/N: Little; small; young all is from 小 (xiao).

When Le Tian didn’t hear “Mr. Shen”, but “Little Mr. Shen”, his mood immediately dropped. With a straight face, he walked through the crowd without looking around.

Once their figures disappeared, everyone started discussing this “Little Mr. Shen” Le Tian.

“Little Mr. Shen looks even younger than in the magazines.”

“He doesn’t look anything like Mr. Shen,” the female employee chuckled, “he’s remarkably adorable.”

“Let’s stop talking and quickly dispersed.”

—

Said to be working, Le Tian feels like a baby chick that follows its mother.

Shen Lixing set up another desk in his office, and kept Le Tian there to read documents. Le Tian remained calm on the surface, but he was cursing in his heart. There were dense words on the paper in front of him, making his head spin. He secretly negotiated with the system, “Hey, can you show me a movie?”

System: “…”

Le Tian urged, “Hurry up.”

System: “I just asked just in case, maybe you still remember what your status is?”

Le Tian calmly said, “The strategic partner of the number one system in the universe.”

Damn, knowing what kind of person he was, but the system was still flattered by him, feeling pleased all over. It relented, “Just watch for ten minutes.”

Le Tian didn’t argue, “Sure, sure, sure.”

Le Tian watched the movie while discussing the plot with the system. The system was unknowingly brought in by him and said it would only play for ten minutes, but ended up finishing the movie.

Shen Lixing was very busy, and took a moment to look at Le Tian. He found Le Tian staring at the document in front of him without turning his eyes, looking like he was out of this world.

Shen Lixing frowned and lightly tapped the table.

Le Tian: “Wow, how did she die?! Isn’t she the female lead?!”

The system eagerly said, “She will come alive later and become a zombie.”

Le Tian: “Wow, so exciting.”

The files in his hand were suddenly taken away, causing Le Tian to look up and stare blankly at Shen Lixing’s face that showing unpleasant expression.

Shen Lixing suddenly felt powerless. At this moment, he had to admit that even though he liked Le Tian as his nephew, Le Tian was indeed a useless waste.

Why couldn’t he let go of such a child? Shen Lixing’s heart pounded, anger slowly accumulating, towards Le Tian, and even towards himself.

Le Tian shivered and asked the system, “Why didn’t you remind me?”

The system replied, “The movie was too good, and I got lost in it…”