Winning the male lead

The system sighed, “Perhaps this young master’s body simply can’t handle the appetite of an elephant.”

Originally, Le Tian planned to fake being sick, but now that he was actually sick, he doubled down on his act. Lying in a high-class VVIP hospital bed, he received an IV while complaining about stomach pain one moment and feeling cold the next—acting as if everything was wrong with him.

Shen Lixing watched coldly before suddenly hitting the nail on the head, “Do you really not want to call off the engagement?”

Le Tian stopped his whimpering, his pale face buried in the pillow revealing a look of grievance.

Shen Lixing immediately understood and said with a dark expression, “You can’t bear to part with that little celebrity, so you’re deliberately torturing yourself?”

Le Tian hurriedly opened his mouth to deny, “No, I didn’t do it on purpose.” But under Shen Lixing’s sharp gaze, his voice grew weaker and weaker until he finally muttered, “I was just feeling sad, and I… accidentally… ate one more bowl of rice.”

Shen Lixing didn’t believe that he would dare to use his body to threaten him twice in such a short time.

“Sorry, Uncle,” Le Tian quickly apologized, reaching out his IV-attached hand with difficulty to rest on Shen Lixing’s arm. “I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Why is your hand so cold?” Shen Lixing frowned and wrapped his warm, dry hands around Le Tian’s. The comforting heat made Le Tian instinctively narrow his eyes in pleasure.

Shen Lixing silently watched him, once again convinced that he was still just a child. At last, he found an explanation for his indulgence towards him.

Adults couldn’t help but spoil children, he reasoned with himself.

“Rest at home for a few days and take care of your health. Once you recover, we’ll have a proper talk,” he said, gently holding Le Tian’s hand while carefully avoiding the IV needle. This way, he could warm his hand without making him uncomfortable.

Le Tian was unaware of Shen Lixing’s genuine affection, only thrilled that he had conceded. He obediently nodded, “I’ll listen to you, Uncle.”

Shen Lixing liked it when he was this obedient, and his previously stern expression softened. He even regretted the harsh words he had said to him earlier.

He was such a fragile child—why had he been so harsh? Why pour a storm over his head? He berated himself.

He didn’t stay long at the hospital. A sudden work matter called him back to the company.

The moment Shen Lixing left, Xu Tao entered.

This hospital belonged to Xu Tao’s family. He was here today for a board meeting on behalf of his father, and while taking a break upstairs, he spotted the Shen family’s car. He feared Shen Lixing, so he only dared to visit Le Tian after confirming he had left.

“What happened to you? Did you get into another fight with Uncle Shen?” He sat at the bedside and asked.

Le Tian, still listless, replied, “Nonsense. My uncle wouldn’t lay a finger on me.”

In fact, after sobering up from that night, Xu Tao had a hunch that something was off. After checking with the restaurant manager, he learned that Shen Lixing had revoked Le Tian’s privileges.

In wealthy families like theirs, relationships were often tangled in interests, making it rare for family members to sever ties completely, even if they loathed each other.

Xu Tao had assumed Le Tian and Shen Lixing’s relationship was on the verge of collapse. But seeing them now, they still seemed as close as ever.

He chuckled, “Uncle Shen may seem cold, but he has a warm heart. You’re his only nephew. No matter how much you upset him, as long as you show some remorse, he’ll never truly stay mad at you.”

Le Tian agreed, though not for the same reasons. He knew that blood ties meant little to Shen Lixing—he wasn’t as sentimental as he claimed. He treated him well simply because he found him entertaining and genuinely liked him.

Still feeling bloated, he asked, “How’s the hospital food? Any good?”

The system was speechless, “You’re still thinking about food?”

Le Tian confidently replied, “Humans are like iron, and food is like steel. A meal skipped is a meal wasted. You’re just a system—you don’t understand the pain of hunger.”

Xu Tao caught on immediately, “Hospital meals are never good. What do you want? I’ll have someone bring it over.”

Le Tian pursed his lips and whispered, “Don’t let the outsiders know.”

He was referring to the servants and bodyguards Shen Lixing had stationed here.

Xu Tao immediately understood—Shen Lixing was forbidding Le Tian from eating. So he changed the topic and said, “Forget it. It’s late. Let’s wait until tomorrow.”

Le Tian’s pale face flushed with anger.

“By the way, where’s your fiancée? Why hasn’t she come to see you?” Xu Tao scratched his nose and quickly changed the subject.

Le Tian’s expression darkened again. He smacked his lips and sighed, “Let’s not bring that up. I can’t leave the hospital for now, so take care of her for me.”

Xu Tao was stunned, “Me?”

Le Tian warned, “Don’t get any funny ideas.” He internally added, You’re not as good-looking as me—she won’t be interested.

Xu Tao burst into laughter, first chuckling quietly, then openly laughing. He teased, “Your mindset is so childish. We’re brothers. I’d never go after my friend’s girl.”

Le Tian nodded approvingly, then added, “If someone more handsome than me approaches her, just let it happen.”

Money could be dealt with by abandoning his identity as the Shen family’s young master.

Xu Tao’s smile stiffened. He was briefly confused before realizing, “You’re testing her.”

He secretly disapproved of Le Tian’s view on love—it was a bit immature. But he kept his thoughts to himself and grinned, “Alright, no problem.”

The two chatted for a while before a young nurse knocked on the door and gestured to Xu Tao, “Mr. Xu, he’s back.”

Xu Tao quickly got up and said to Le Tian, “Your uncle is back. I’d better go.”

Le Tian let him leave and then mused to the system, “Did you hear that? She called him Mr. Xu. That sounds much cooler than ‘Young Master’.”

The system immediately caught on and reassured him, “Don’t worry. In the next world, you’ll be powerful. Everyone will bow when they see you.”

Le Tian’s eyes sparkled. “Will I be emperor?”

The system replied, “If you’re emperor, who would dare cheat on you?”

Le Tian thought about it and realized it would be difficult. “Fine. Being a prince sounds good too.”

The system didn’t answer, only reminding him, “Shen Lixing is coming upstairs.”

Le Tian immediately resumed his act—whimpering in pain, furrowing his brows, and feigning suffering.

For three whole days, he truly “rested”—living off plain congee and boiled vegetables. By the time he was fully recovered, he felt like a fresh, green cabbage.

In the study, Shen Lixing and Le Tian sat face-to-face for a “fair” discussion.

Le Tian sat up straight, hands on his knees, obediently gazing at Shen Lixing from behind his silver-rimmed glasses.

Shen Lixing remained composed, letting him wait before finally speaking, “Have you thought it through?”

Le Tian shuddered and softly said, “Uncle, I don’t want to choose.”

“If you don’t want to choose, you have to work hard. As for the engagement, I’ve made my decision,” Shen Lixing paused, watching him closely. As expected, his face tensed at the mention of the engagement.

Shen Lixing suddenly felt inexplicably irritated. His tone darkened, “We’ll postpone it for now, depending on your performance.”

Le Tian let out a sigh of relief and nodded hastily. “Don’t worry, Uncle. I’ll work hard.”

And so, the next day, he joined Shen Lixing at work.

“Being able to help Little Uncle makes me very happy.”

Shen Lixing’s expression softened slightly.

The system speculated that Le Tian was probably excited about being called “Shen General Manager” soon and silently felt sorry for Shen Lixing.

Sure enough, when Shen Lixing brought Le Tian to the company, everyone first greeted with a “Mr. Shen” and then added, “Young Mr. Shen.”

Le Tian, who had been eagerly waiting to hear “General Manager Shen,” only heard “Young Mr. Shen.” His mood immediately plummeted, his baby face stiffened, and he walked through the crowd without looking sideways.

As soon as their figures disappeared, the employees started whispering about “Young Mr. Shen.”

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

“He doesn’t look like Mr. Shen at all,” a female employee giggled, “but he’s kind of cute.”

“Stop talking nonsense, get back to work.”

Although they called it going to work, Le Tian felt more like a little tag-along.

Shen Lixing set up an extra desk in his office and confined him to it, making him read documents. He maintained a composed exterior, but inside he was cursing non-stop. The densely packed black-and-white text on the papers made his head spin. He secretly negotiated with the system: “Can you play a movie for me?”

System: “…”

He urged, “Hurry up.”

The system sighed, “Just to be sure, do you remember who you are?”

Le Tian replied confidently, “The strategic partner of the Universe’s No.1 System.”

Damn it. The system knew exactly what kind of person he was, but it still felt flattered and comfortable from the praise. It relented, “Only ten minutes.”

Le Tian wasn’t picky, “Alright, alright.”

As he watched the movie, he started discussing the plot with the system. The system got gradually drawn in, and the ten-minute limit was soon forgotten.

Shen Lixing was busy, but during a brief moment of free time, he glanced up at Le Tian, only to find him staring blankly at the document in front of him. His eyes didn’t move, his whole demeanor screamed that his soul had flown elsewhere.

He frowned and knocked lightly on the desk.

Le Tian suddenly blurted out, “Damn! Why did that woman die?! Wasn’t she the female lead?!”

The system responded enthusiastically, “She’ll come back in a bit—as a zombie.”

Le Tian gasped, “Wow, so exciting.”

The document in his hands was suddenly snatched away. He followed the motion, tilting his head back and looking up at Shen Lixing, his lips slightly parted, staring blankly at his uncle’s darkened expression.

Shen Lixing suddenly felt powerless. At this moment, he had to admit that no matter how much he liked Le Tian, he was, in fact, a useless fool.

Why couldn’t he let go of a child like this? His heart pounded, frustration gradually building—toward Le Tian, but even more toward himself.

Le Tian trembled and whispered to the system, “Why didn’t you remind me?”

System: “…”

The movie was just too good—it got completely absorbed.