Chapter 6
"Jinming" Housekeeping Company was the best in N City. According to rumors, every employee received half a year of training. While they couldn't compare to graduates from British butler schools, they were more than capable of handling regular household chores—even range hoods caked with grease would shine like new after their work.
Honglin Residential Community was also absolutely one of the best neighborhoods in the area. The security here could rival a bank—if someone tried to force their way in, they'd need more than a submachine gun. Even garbage trucks had to pass strict inspection before entering.
So, living in Honglin and employing a part-time worker from "Jinming," the cleanliness of the house was absolutely guaranteed. Which meant those two red marks on my neck were definitely NOT from flea bites... right...?
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the two red spots on my neck, analyzing for ten minutes before reaching the conclusion above. But if it wasn't the work of fleas, then what caused it? Could it be an allergic reaction?
"What are you dawdling for?" Shangguan's impatient voice called out.
"Coming, coming." I wiped the foam, which had already begun to dry, from the corner of my mouth and stepped out of the bathroom. "Shangguan, did you buy yesterday's meat at the supermarket?"
"Where else would I buy it, the slaughterhouse?" Shangguan shot me a look, wearing an expression that clearly said "you're about to say something stupid again."
I rubbed my nose, feeling the question was unnecessary. Shangguan only purchased things through three channels: one, online orders; two, department stores; three, supermarkets. As for street vendors or small shops? Absolutely not. In his words: "There's no point saving a few bucks just to buy inferior products."
Heaven knows many daily necessities at supermarkets come straight from wholesale markets—they're no different from those at small shops. But for food, supermarkets are indeed more reassuring. But that was strange. Supermarkets shouldn't make quality mistakes like that when it came to food, right? Could supermarkets have started slacking off too?
"What's wrong with you? Come eat."
"Oh." I sat down at the table, took a sip of milk, and couldn't help but ask, "Shangguan, do you have any red spots on your body?"
"What?"
I pulled open my collar and pointed to my neck: "See, they weren't there yesterday. I suspect there might be something wrong with yesterday's meat."
Shangguan's expression flickered oddly for a moment, though I'm not sure if I imagined it.
"Damn it!" he muttered under his breath.
"Hm?" I looked at him in confusion.
"I said idiot!" he snapped gruffly. "If it were the meat, you wouldn't have red spots—you'd have diarrhea! And would I feed you bad meat? Even if you're a fool, eating something like that wouldn't leave you fine!"
Was that any way to talk? I was absolutely, definitely, and certainly sure that Shangguan's reason for letting me live with him was to derive spiritual satisfaction from crushing me!
"Hurry up and eat. You want to be late?"
I had no choice but to push the matter aside and eat as fast as possible. Getting scolded for being late wasn't a big deal, but losing my perfect attendance bonus would be a serious problem. My bonus was already the lowest in the entire department. Besides the base bonus everyone got, my only extra allowance was the perfect attendance bonus. Though the amount wasn't much, every little bit counts.
Even with my fastest efforts, breakfast still took ten minutes—some habits just can't be broken. Shangguan had finished long ago. As I swallowed my last bite of toast, he had already dressed and come downstairs. Besides my jacket, he was holding a sky-blue tie.
"Put this on." He draped the tie around my neck.
"Hm?" I did usually wear suits, but except for formal occasions like New Year's parties, I never wore ties.
"Put it on." He quickly tied the knot for me. "Listen carefully—don't take it off, or you'll be the laughingstock."
Was today some big occasion? Why would not wearing a tie make me a laughingstock? If I remembered correctly, it was just an ordinary Monday—no, that should be right. Though my memory is terrible, I could at least remember taking two days off at home recently.
"A grown man getting red spots—you don't find that embarrassing?" he said with great solemnity and righteousness.
Skin allergies are normal, right? What's so embarrassing about that? Before I could speak again, he dragged me outside, pushing me into the car. He started the engine immediately, flooring it before I'd even fastened my seatbelt. Anyone watching might think he was filming an action movie.