Winning the male lead

The Shen residence’s garden had two century-old golden osmanthus trees. Their lush foliage cast shadows over the light-colored balcony. Though they had yet to bloom in early autumn, they exuded a faint, enchanting fragrance. Le Tian leaned against the gray bricks, lowered his head, and glanced at the sudden increase in security guards in the garden, sighing deeply in his heart.

“Shen Lixing really treats me like a dog now.”

The system wholeheartedly agreed. When it first encountered Le Tian, he was the cherished young master of the Shen family. Shen Lixing was the perfect, indulgent uncle, always accommodating his every whim. The system once believed that his claims about Shen Lixing’s controlling nature were nothing but slander.

It never expected that, for once, someone like Le Tian could actually speak the truth.

Shen Lixing was indeed a ruthless man among ruthless men.

Ever since Le Tian returned home that day, he had been under strict surveillance—watched inside the house, required to request permission to go out. Nine out of ten times, the butler denied his requests outright. The rare occasion when approval was possible, Shen Lixing himself would personally shut it down.

“Young Master, the sir is calling.” A servant ran up to notify him.

Damn, another check-in.

Reluctantly, Le Tian trudged downstairs, picked up the phone, and suppressed his irritation, sweetly calling out, “Little Uncle~”

Shen Lixing responded with a low hum. His deep, magnetic voice sounded even more resonant over the phone. “How are you feeling today?”

“I’m fine. Nothing uncomfortable,” Le Tian answered honestly.

Shen Lixing nodded in satisfaction. “Good.”

Carefully, Le Tian probed, “Little Uncle, I want to go out for a bit.”

“For what?”

Shen Lixing’s tone immediately turned heavy.

Le Tian braced himself and hesitated. “I… I haven’t seen Miao Miao in days…”

Silence fell over the other end of the line.

Le Tian held the receiver, waiting for a response. All he could hear was Shen Lixing’s steady breathing.

Growing nervous, he tried again, “Little—”

“No,” Shen Lixing cut him off coldly, hanging up with a decisive click.

Le Tian stood there, holding the receiver, his face filled with sorrow. If he couldn’t even see the female lead, how was he supposed to complete his mission?

The system urged him, “Call Yu Miao over to the Shen residence.”

Le Tian sighed gloomily. “If she can get through the gates, I’ll call you ‘Mom.’”

The system: “…” It had no interest in becoming an elephant.

“Just wait a little longer,” the system consoled. “Once this blows over, Shen Lixing will let you go.”

But instead of freedom, what came was Shen Lixing’s merciless order that night:

“The engagement is canceled.”

Le Tian felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He swayed unsteadily in the study, reaching out with a trembling hand to grip the back of a chair just to stay upright. Lowering his head, he stammered, “Why?”

Shen Lixing didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, “Do you still want to be the young master of the Shen family?”

Of course! Le Tian wanted to scream in his heart, but he didn’t dare say it aloud. Instead, he kept his head down and remained silent.

Shen Lixing studied him for the first time without the filter of familial affection, appraising him with pure objectivity.

A pampered young master indeed. His soft black hair shimmered under the crystal chandelier, his delicate, pale hands resting on the chair—hands that had never known hardship.

“In the past, you were the Shen family’s young master because of the blood in your veins. I tolerated everything you wanted to do, even letting you marry some insignificant starlet. But now, what do you have?” he said indifferently. “If you want to remain a Shen, then act like one.”

Le Tian gritted his teeth. “Being part of the Shen family doesn’t mean I can’t pursue love.”

He was still too naive—naivety that Shen Lixing had deliberately nurtured through indulgence. But he no longer intended to spoil him without restraint. Without engaging in debate, he simply said, “If you’re unwilling, then leave the Shen family.”

The moment those words fell, Le Tian’s hands clenched the chair so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands stood out. His breathing grew heavy, hidden beneath the strands of black hair framing his face.

Shen Lixing was patient. Le Tian had left the Shen family once before—he should be well aware of what losing the title of young master entailed.

After a long silence, he finally lifted his head. His eyes were red, and a mist of tears clung to his round, delicate eyes. He murmured softly, “Little Uncle, I can’t live without Miao Miao.”

After all that waiting, this was what he had to say? Shen Lixing’s face darkened.

Le Tian: “If the female lead knew how hard I was fighting to protect our relationship, would she be so moved that she’d give me a discount on the interest when she pays me back?”

The system: “I didn’t realize you expected the female lead to repay you with interest.”

Le Tian: “I’m not the male lead. Of course, I need to settle accounts properly. I can’t afford to end up with neither love nor money.”

Shen Lixing’s eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion before he finally stood and walked over to him. His voice was deep as he said, “As you wish.”

Le Tian panicked, immediately grabbing onto his sleeve and pleading, “Little Uncle, I can’t live without you either.”

Shen Lixing froze mid-step. The grip on his sleeve was firm, reminding him of that day when Le Tian had lain in his arms, crying and accusing him of abandoning him.

A conflict brewed in his heart.

Emotionally, he couldn’t bear to part with Le Tian. Yet logically, he couldn’t find a justifiable reason to keep him.

What was he raising him for?

If Le Tian were willing to change, to strive for success, he could cultivate him into a trusted confidant, someone to stand by his side. But look at him now—

He turned to gaze at Le Tian. His delicate features and innocent expression made him look like a child who had yet to grow up—fragile and naive.

Coldly, Shen Lixing remarked, “Useless.”

Le Tian: !!!!! I’m a top-tier wanted criminal worth several planets, and you’re calling me useless?!

Shen Lixing’s heart softened for a moment, but his expression remained cold as he said, “I’ll give you three days to think it over.”

Three days—not too short. Enough time for his naive little nephew to figure out whether a minor celebrity or the Shen family was more important to him.

As soon as Shen Lixing left, Le Tian plopped down onto the chair, crossing his legs and stroking his chin. There wasn’t a trace of sadness on his face. Calmly, he said to the system, “Within three days, I’ll make Shen Lixing regret what he said today.”

System: “…What did you just say?”

He replied seriously, “How dare he look down on me. Hmph.”

It was the first time the system had seen him this determined. It asked, “How do you plan to make him regret it?”

Le Tian smirked darkly. “I’m going on a hunger strike!”

System: “…What a brilliant strategy.” Crying, throwing a tantrum, and threatening self-harm—just like a delicate noble lady.

But a hunger strike was easier said than done.

The next morning, Le Tian slept in until after ten, and by 11:30, he couldn’t hold out any longer and asked the kitchen to prepare a meal.

System: “What happened to your hunger strike?”

He righteously declared, “I skipped breakfast.”

System: …Why did it ever believe his nonsense?!

Though he wasn’t actually fasting, Le Tian still put on an act during meals—picking at his food with a troubled expression, eating morosely… yet still managing to finish two large bowls.

A concerned servant asked, “Young Master, you don’t look well.”

He nodded somberly. “I’m feeling down.”

The servant sighed. The atmosphere in the house had been tense lately. That morning, Shen Lixing had even slammed the door when he left. She gently advised, “Young Master, you’re about to be engaged. It’s time to rein in your temper.”

Le Tian nearly choked—who was the one throwing a tantrum here?!

Feeling wronged, he extended his bowl. “One more, please.”

That evening, when Shen Lixing returned home, he asked the servants about Le Tian’s behavior.

The servant responded anxiously, “Young Master was in low spirits. After lunch, he locked himself in his room and refused to come out.”

Shen Lixing frowned. “Tell him to come down for dinner.”

The servant shook her head. “I already called him before you got home, sir. He said he wasn’t hungry and didn’t want to eat.”

Shen Lixing’s brows knitted even tighter, his expression darkening. What now? Throwing a hunger strike tantrum?!

Abruptly, he stood up, his long legs striding up the stairs in a few quick steps.

The door was shut tightly. Though anger simmered in his chest, he maintained his composure and knocked three times—neither too light nor too heavy.

Le Tian’s lazy voice came from inside, “It’s not locked.”

Shen Lixing turned the handle and stepped in, only to see Le Tian lying on his stomach on the bed, wearing gray silk pajamas. His right hand was tucked under his stomach, both legs suspended in the air. A plush slipper dangled from his left foot, while his right foot was bare, toes twitching slightly as he hummed weakly.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Lixing immediately grew concerned and rushed over to pick him up. The younger man’s face was imprinted with a red mark from the pillow, standing out starkly against his pale skin, making him look pitiful. Being lifted up, he weakly pushed against Shen Lixing’s hands and muttered, “I’m fine…” But his voice was frail, completely unconvincing.

Without hesitation, Shen Lixing turned to the servant and ordered, “Prepare the car. We’re going to the hospital.”

The moment he heard the word “hospital,” Le Tian panicked and grabbed Shen Lixing’s hand, shouting, “I’m not going!”

“You’re still arguing with me at a time like this?!” Shen Lixing was livid. He could never tolerate him neglecting his health. With firm arms, he lifted him completely off the bed.

Le Tian struggled in his grasp. “I won’t go, I won’t go, I just won’t go!”

Usually, the moment Shen Lixing got angry, Le Tian would immediately back down. This time, his stubborn defiance made Shen Lixing suspect that the kid was truly determined to fight him on this. So, he softened his tone and coaxed, “Be good. We can still discuss the engagement.”

Le Tian instantly stopped struggling.

“…System, do you think he will skin me alive when he finds out I’m just suffering from overeating?” Le Tian asked worriedly.

At lunch, when he had stuffed himself with a third bowl of rice, the system had already warned him about overeating. But drowned in his sorrows, he had ignored the advice and finished it anyway—leaving him bloated and incapacitated in bed for the rest of the afternoon.

The system sneered, “Oh, he won’t skin you alive.” But he might just slice open your stomach and dump out those three bowls of rice.

Oblivious to the truth, Shen Lixing carried him downstairs, noting that he felt heavier in his arms than before.

Le Tian had grown up. He was no longer a child.

For the first time, this realization truly struck him.