To Love You Again

Xiong De did not find anything unusual because the Head Master of the Xiong family was usually like this. He continued to press on the Zhou's betrayal. 

"The Zhou family was really a group of one-eyed wolves. Such ingrates will not have a good ending! We let them eat and share the benefits with us, but they took off just like that." Then, as if remembering Zhou Min was here, he added quickly. "—Of course, Zhou Min was different. He is truly commendable for his loyalty. However, those butlers who abandoned their positions are lacking morality. They aren't grateful even a bit to our family's grace!"

Butler Zhou Min did not even throw him a look. 

Xiong De did not care and just went on. "Master Xiong, our surname Xiong must not tolerate such disrespect. They should know what it means to betray the Xiong family."

He must get his butler back. Alive or Dead.

Old Xiong calmly took a sip of his tea. His cold eyes stared at him once more.

"Hmm. Among the things you said, there's one thing that you got right."

Xiong De's eyes lit up. Was the old man changing his mind finally?

"…A one-eyed wolf will not have a good ending. Leeching off our family's prestige and name, and then eat the host because of greediness…"

Xiong De nodded intensely. That's right! They should not let the Zhou family off. With the old man's help, they could easily attack the Zhou family, weaken their defenses, and then he could get his butler back. If he could not get him, he could just kill him.

"... Then, nephew, what do you think is the ending of these kinds of people? What should be done to them?"

"These ingrates must not be forgiven! Even death for them is the easiest way. They will know how wrong they were once everything they have is lost."

Counterattack! They must let the ungrateful Zhou family suffer bit by bit until they come back to the Xiong family on their knees and beg outside their doors to help them.

"Ha." Old Xiong gave a low laugh. "Come again, you said to let them suffer bit by bit until they come begging? That seems to be a good idea."

The old man's expression of wanting to laugh made Xiong De felt something was amiss. But he shook it off and answered, thinking of his former butler.

"Yes, then crush their hope. It's best to teach them a lesson. Throw them to the dogs and let their entire family and their descendants know regret."

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Old Xiong laughed hard. Even Zhou Min at the side coughed.

Xiong De watched for a while, and then slowly felt a bit strange as he watched the old man laugh to the point of tearing up.

Xiong De: ???

"Oh, Xiong De. You gave me a truly excellent idea. Very well! Let's do as you said."

Then the old man's face became cold and murderous, faster than turning a book.

"That one-eyed wolf will have its ending precisely like that. Bit by bit, everything he has will be gone. All of the things he worked hard for would be snatched away. Until he is pushed to a corner and beg for mercy. But even if he is to beg, he will still have his ultimate ending. How's that?"

Xiong De swallowed. The old man's oppressive bearing gave him a bad feeling. Why did it feel like...it was not the Zhou family they were talking about?

Although nervous, he could only move his head to nod.

Old Xiong stared at him for a while, then looked at the unfamiliar butler of the man not far away from them. He was holding an exquisite incense pot.

The gift that Xiong De had always sent in the past two years.

The old man's eyes turned murderous in a fleeting moment, and then returned to its cold calmness.

"It turns out you came here with a gift as usual."

Mentioning the gift, Xiong De remembered his goal with this visit.

"Ah, yes. Of course, I have to bring gifts. Although we're family, it's still rare for me to finally get to pay you my respects." He gestured at his new butler to come forward and put down the gift on the table.

"Gifting me again with my favorite incense. Because of you, my butlers no longer need to bother buying this incense every month."

Xiong De heard the good news and confirmed through the old man's words that he was indeed using his gifts! Very good!

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he used them, then there was no problem.

"It's my pleasure. This is the only thing I could do to make you feel a little bit better." 

Old Xiong took one more sip. "Indeed, I feel much better."

"But I was wondering, this past year... Master Xiong, you only showed up in the annual banquet this year. I was worried because of the rumors. But seeing you now, I am glad to see you healthy, unlike the rumors."

'The thing is, since you are using them, how come you are still vigorously drinking your tea right now, not pale, weak, coughing, or bed ridden?'

Old Xiong finally put down his cup.

"Oh, it's because I am letting Zhi'er manage the business for me. I'm training her as my heiress."

Xiong De observed the old man. Was that really true? He looked at the old man's hand. There was no signs of trembling, unlike the symptoms.

Was the old man really faking it to appear strong, or was he really healthy? But the incense definitely should work...

"Oh, speaking of my granddaughter. She also keep on giving me gifts. Coincidentally, her gifts are the same as yours."

"!!!"

Xiong De stiffened, but he hid it quickly. "Is that so? Young Miss is quite filial. So it is an incense, too?"

Old Xiong nodded. He reached out towards the gift, leisurely took the lid off the pot, and stared at the leaf-shaped sandalwood incense with scrutiny.

"How peculiar. Even your gifts look exactly the same."

!!!!

Xiong De went pale.

A sudden ominous premonition washed over him. 

The reason why the old man did not show symptoms at all.

Perhaps because... It was not his gift that was used in the past years!