The slick-haired man in the suit was Liu Zhi, a capable executive of Azure Cloud Group. He held a respectable position with some influence in the company and occasionally had the privilege of meeting the young master.

But those encounters almost always happened at the office or upscale venues. After all, the young master was famously averse to anything dirty or disorderly!

So Liu Zhi was utterly shocked to find him here of all places.

“What’s going on here?”

Qin Cheng’s brows furrowed slightly. Ignoring Liu Zhi’s question, he turned it back on him, voice low and deep.

Liu Zhi froze for a moment, then hurried forward and said respectfully, “It’s like this, Young Master Qin. The higher-ups plan to demolish this area for school districts and urban redevelopment. But the original residents refuse. We’ve been arguing for a while.”

“I’m here today to deliver the official notice.”

Liu Zhi gestured as he spoke. The project had been ongoing for some time, and he’d been tasked with persuading the residents. Today was just another notification visit. But some holdouts remained stubborn—no amount of explanation or compensation swayed them. So leadership and he had decided: forced demolition in five days.

Qin Cheng’s brows furrowed again as he stroked his chin. Just as he was about to speak, Biao behind him leaned in and whispered softly into his ear.

Suddenly, Qin Cheng’s expression stiffened. He glanced back instinctively, then fixed Liu Zhi with an icy stare. “Disperse the crowd. I’m leaving.”

“O-oh, understood, Young Master Qin…”

Though baffled by Qin Cheng’s abrupt shift, Liu Zhi respectfully stepped aside and signaled his subordinates to clear the area. Most were equipped with stun guns and other defensive gear. Within moments, the crowd was forcibly dispersed. Biao pulled up at the street corner, ushered Qin Cheng into the car, and sped away.

Watching them vanish, Liu Zhi shook his head with a sigh and turned back to the residents.

“Listen—I don’t care what you think. This area *will* be demolished and redeveloped. Compensation *will* be provided. But if you stay this unreasonable, we *will* take stronger measures!!!”

His harsh words thickened the already tense air. His men raised their stun batons threateningly. The residents seethed in silent fury, eyes blazing. Outraged shouts echoed through the narrow street.

Beep beep—

Liu Zhi instinctively checked his phone. A call from Young Master Qin’s bodyguard.

“Bro, one piece of advice: touch anyone you want—but don’t you *dare* lay a finger on anyone surnamed Fu. Or no one will be able to save you.”

.........

.........

Night.

Qin Cheng returned home late. The apartment was dark. He touched the wall switch; brilliant light flooded the room. Slightly weary, he walked to the bedroom, opened the door, closed it, flipped the light on. He sank onto the sofa, shrugged off his coat, and tossed it onto the sofa bed.

No one greeted him. His brows furrowed slightly.

He entered the bedroom—still pitch black. He flicked the light on.

The large bed was bundled into a tiny lump. A pair of pale, bare feet peeked out, along with stray strands of black hair.

[What kind of little monster is this…]

On the nearby table sat a bucket of instant noodles, long cold and soggy.

Qin Cheng sat beside the bed. Faint, childish snores drifted up. She was sleeping soundly…

“Sleeping in my bed? Bold of you.”

Bluntly, he pulled back the blanket. Curled inside was the little maid, wrapped snugly in his white shirt.

“Mmm…? I was sleepy… so I slept…”

She rubbed her blurry eyes, peering at him drowsily.

“Mmm… Didn’t you say you wouldn’t come back?”

Recognizing him, she slumped back, patted her cherry lips with a tiny hand, and blinked at him in confusion.

“Hungry.”

“O-oh… okay… I’ll cook you some noodles~”