After playing chess for a few rounds, we were starting to get hungry.

We then stopped playing chess.

Well, to be precise, Yulia and the butler stop playing chess.

If I didn't ask Micheal to stop them, I think it's possible that it continues until the next morning.

"Let's eat! I'm starving!"

"Butler Wu, can you ask them to bring the food here? We would like to eat them here."

"Understood."

it was my suggestion for us to eat here.

The reason was that it would be uncomfortable to eat in a giant dining room where it could fit over ten people but only three people are eating.

Other than that, there will be maids and butlers watching us eat.

Knock*

The butler and maids arrived with trays of foods.

After they served the dishes, they left, giving us private time to eat.

Luxurious meal.

It's been a while.

Not going to complain about what I have at home though.

They're decent.

"Let's eat!"

We filled our stomach and while doing that we also have small chat regarding Micheal's life in this house.

It was Yulia's question, she only asked out of curiosity and has no other meaning in it.

She just wanted to know the daily life of Micheal. What he does in the morning, who wakes him up, etc.

Somehow, Micheal doesn't feel comfortable when we ask that but because I said I'm want to know about it too, Micheal's uncomfortable expression disappears.

...

...

Did we come here to 'visit' Micheal's house to celebrate the Chinese new year?

Micheal's house didn't have a single New Year's decoration. Neither did it have any traditional cookies or sweets that are usually served when people visit.

At this point, we were just normally hanging out together.

"After we'll visit Andy's house!"

"Yeah, my father will be happy if you guys visit."

Father is quite a superstitious person, mainly was because he's Asian and a parent.

As how Chinese superstition describes, having someone to visit means wealth and fortune so he would definitely be happy if someone does visits.

In fact, Micheal and Yulia would be the first one to visit our house.

"Just so you know there's no board games or anything, not even a single bit of food was prepared."

"No problem, we'll bring them over!"

Gulped*

I'm fine if Micheal brings food but I'm disagreeing with the board games.

I'm tired of chess.

No thank you, I'm not playing chess against any of you...

"Instead of playing any more games how about, we study?"

I quickly suggested as I didn't want to embarrass myself.

"The exam is nearly here anyway. There's no harm if we revise everything we learn so far."

I revised countless times already though...

"Eh~ No fun..."

As for the other one, Yulia, she's quite enthusiastic.

Nod, nod.

"Two agree, one not. Then it's decided! Studying it is!"

Leaving Micheal's mansion, this time we're heading to my house.

When Father and Mervin saw that I brought some friends over, they were extremely happy.

"Welcome, Welcome."

Father and Mervin was kind toward Yulia and Micheal. They treat them as guests.

Seeing the scene I'm a bit skeptical.

I understand that Father was kind but how in the hell Mervin was able to smile politely like that. (Mervin is in his working personality where he's extremely polite with his customer.)

Anyway, we sat in the living room, and prior to what I said, there are no cookies or sweets.

After waiting for Father to give Micheal and Yulia a red package, we didn't stay in the living room anymore.

Instead, we went to my bedroom to study as a group.

It's to not be disturbed by Mervin or Father and us not disturbing them.

Micheal was reluctant to study at first. He kept pestering us to play. He even secretly brought the chessboard over.

It was teeny tiny board that was able to fit inside his pocket.

But, in the end, his effort was useless as there was no one willing to play with him.

This is much better than playing chess because no one win or loses when studying and it's not something I'm bad at too.

...

...

...

Three hours passed and it's finally the time for them to go back.

Today we actually spend the entire day together. The three of us.

It was fun.

Throughout the fun activities, we also revised every subject and topic within that short time.

With this, Micheal should be able to get above seventy marks and that is an underestimation. I believe Micheal could even score over ninety if he actually tried.

As for Yulia, I'm sure that she's able to get above ninety marks.

Now that they returned. I was bored again.

Father and Mervin were bored too.

Actually, the entire time, both of them were watching us studying as though we were some sort of attraction. Now that we were not studying anymore, the entertainer was gone.

They became bored again.

Ah... I have to endure!

I can't play video games and I can't code either.

-----

Throughout the week since there's a week left for me to laze around in the house, being bored and has nothing to do.

I work out.

For the entire week, I intensely work out my body until I almost feel death.

It was for the sake of being as healthy as possible.

The reason Andy was obsessed with having a healthy body was that previously he died of a heart attack so Andy didn't want it to repeat again.

It's finally time to return to school!

Waiting for this very day for a long time, I even woke up earlier than Mervin.

Though, while I woke up earlier than Mervin, I'm still not the earliest one to wake up.

Without a doubt, Lee was the earliest as he got up at 5 AM every morning to get to work.

Seeing Mervin was sleeping pleasantly, I went out to buy breakfast, doing what he supposed to do in the morning.

I also bought what he usually bought for me for our breakfast, a deep-fried bread with caramelized coconut shaving.

The food was gulped down by me, as I walk.

Arriving at our house, I already my breakfast and only left the rest on the table for Mervin.

Putting the remaining food on the table, I took multitasked to another level. I was showering, taking a dump, and brush my teeth at the same time.

After I was done using the bathroom, as usual, I wear my uniform and before I go, I didn't forget to wake Mervin up.

"Brother. Wake up."

Honestly, the surprised expression of Mervin was hilarious. He didn't expect that he would be the one to get woken up by me.

"Huh?"

"I bought the food already, I'm going to school now. Bye!"

I ran out of the house, as swiftly as I could.

With my current stamina, without a problem, I could easily reach the school entrance within less than two minutes.

Even I was surprised at how fast I reached school.

What's more surprising, I'm not short of breath at all after running for that long-distance at full speed.

This shows that my work out did pay off.

Bam*

Inside my classroom, there were only three students, Kervin, Novian, and Micheal.

Seeing the current number of students that were in the classroom, this is what it feel like to arrive early.

Boring...

Kervin was studying of course, as expected from the honor student.

Novian, he's an average student but he's also studying because the exam was near.

Micheal, he's not studying. He was staring at the window outside, daydreaming in the morning.

Huh...

It's rare to see Micheal having a deep thought of something. He usually was an easy-going person and never think about things too much.

"Micheal. What are you thinking about?"

I called out to him, tapping his forehead to wake him up from his daydreaming.

Micheal who didn't expect I would arrive this early was so shocked that he almost fell off his chair.

"Andy?"

Micheal's cold expression disappeared instantly and it returned to the old cheerful Micheal.

"Why did you arrive this early?"

Micheal out of nowhere asked a weird question.

"What do you mean? I'm always this early."

"U-um, then nevermind what I said."

"Anyway, you looked very different... despite it only has been a week."

Because of the workout, I got taller and bulkier than before. I also lost the majority of my body fats due to the intense exercise.

Wait, Micheal is trying to change the topic.

"Nevermind, with me, what's wrong with y-"

"Oh, Yulia arrived!"

Micheal smoothly avoided my question and went to find Yulia.

"Good morning, Yulia!"

"Good morning."

Yulia walked past Micheal while he followed her like a puppy.

"How are you?"

"Good."

"You're reply is really short."

"I'm busy. I want to study."

"Eh~ we haven't seen each other in a week and you prefer looking at a book instead of your precious friend?"

"Yes."

Seeing them arguing normally, I decided to drop the matter. If Micheal didn't want to talk about it, then I wouldn't force him.

It's not like I can fix his problem if he reveals it too.

-----

A few days back.

[Micheal's POV]

"Young Master, you're back."

Butler Wu was my most trusted aide. He was like a father to me.

He has been with me since I was a kid.

He taught me many different things more than what Mother taught me or teachers at school taught me.

I was taught etiquette and manners.

How to walk properly, how to eat properly, how to act like a gentleman, etc.

I was taught formal education.

History. Geography. Economy. Math. Civics. Chemistry. Biology. Physics. Literature. Art.

To the point, I can easily pass national exam of high-schooler easily.

In many ways, I respect him but I'm also scared of him.

In fact, he's definitely a kind man, you can see it by how he treats me, mother, the butlers under him, and the maids.

But when he's angry, even Mother was afraid of him.

There was an incident where Mother said something she shouldn't have said to me.

Then Bulter Wu punished Mother severely for what she said.

From that moment, Mother never said 'that' sentence again.

What did she say again?

Anyway, today was definitely the best day but upon seeing Butler Wu...

I don't know what is this feeling was but I think I might do something I shouldn't have done.

I shouldn't have invited Andy and Yulia over.

I have the feeling of uneasiness which I can't describe in words.

"I'm back."

I replied with a smile, trying to hide my 'fear'.

"Young Master, May I ask you a question?"

"Hmm? Yes?"

"What do you think about Miss Yulia?"

Yulia? What about Yulia?

Why Yulia out of nowhere?

"What do you mean?"

"How about we arrange her to be your fiancee?"

Fiancee? If I'm not wrong that is arranged married, right?

When I was five years old Butler Wu taught me a lot of weird knowledge. It was some term that was used by wealthy people.

The term of Fiancee was one of the things.

"Is it Butler Wu's suggestion?"

"It's head of the family's decision."

Funny.

it's clearly your selfish decision.

That man decided this out of nowhere? There's no way for him to suddenly care about me.

The chance for him to see or get involved in my life is slimmer than finding a needle in a haystack.

"Tell Father, I don't want to be engaged yet."

"Young Master, his decision is absolute."

Hm, Butler Wu since when became this persistent?

Is Yulia really that good?

"I would like to talk to Father."

"Young Master, you shouldn't be selfish. Master's order is meant to help you."

"Call him and, I'll talk to Father myself."

At worst, Butler Wu will snap and I'll get beat up by him.

As for the chance whether it's really a decision made by him, there's literally no chance at all.

"I apologize, Young Master. Master might be busy right now and doesn't want to be disturbed."

Your excuses are not original...

"I want you to call him!"

I snapped out of anger and yelled at Butler Wu.

I can't hold it in anymore. This is to fasten the process too.

Slap*

"Hmph. You really did it, Micheal Chen. Who said you can raise your tone at me?"

"Today, I'm going to properly train you."

"Since the carrot approach is not working, I'll use the stick approach to teach you a lesson."