Chapter 34: Selling Off the Chao Family Property

"I have something I want to tell you..."

Chao Xu opened her mouth, barely getting the words out when the butler handed her a glass of strawberry milk, his smile gentle and warm. "Miss, I've noticed you seem to like this lately. Drink while you talk, it's quite alright."

Ha, did he really think she was the sort to abandon her ambitions for a glass of milk?

After a long silence, Chao Xu accepted the cup, sitting obediently in her chair as she sipped. The butler watched her, his gaze tender, as if he were looking at a child who had yet to grow.

But as he watched, the butler suddenly sighed, his weariness showing.

Chao Xu finished her milk just then, wiping the white from the corner of her mouth, and looked at him with confusion. "What's wrong?"

Called upon unexpectedly, the butler hesitated, uncertain whether he should reveal such matters to a young lady still innocent to the ways of the world.

In the end, he decided that regardless of whether she could understand, she needed to be informed, for now, she was the rightful heir to the Chao family.

"Miss, we must sell the Chao family."

As he spoke, a murky tear slipped from the corner of his eye, his voice trembling, the words seeming to demand all the resolve he could muster.

"The Chao family is a business empire painstakingly built by the master, the lady, and the young master together. If it were possible, I'd stake my life to keep the Chao name safe, but life offers no such choices.

The Chao family has already attracted the attention of the other great families. Though I don't know why they suddenly withdrew recently, no one can predict what may happen next.

I am just an ordinary man—there's nothing I can do to protect the Chao family. But I absolutely cannot let you, Miss, the last bloodline of the Chao family, be caught in their schemes! The only way to rescue you from those wolves and vipers is to abandon the Chao family..."

He rallied himself, feigning cheerfulness so as not to let his emotions affect Chao Xu. "Luckily, the other families haven't continued to press us these past days, perhaps their consciences stirred and they returned a bit. Now, if we sell the Chao family, we should get a good price."

With that money, they could buy a small island abroad, ensuring that the young lady would be safe and live out the rest of her days in peace, far from those villains.

As for the Chao family... it would not return.

The butler was crestfallen.

The Chao family was splendid, but now, without a master, it was little more than a piece of fat—those without power could not keep it, and might even lose themselves in the process.

He was not greedy, only fiercely loyal; otherwise, he would not be consulting so earnestly with Chao Xu, whom outsiders regarded as slow-witted.

He merely wished to abandon the Chao family that would invite wolves and tigers, in order to protect Chao Xu.

But Chao Xu was no longer the person she had once been.

She frowned, puzzled by the butler's sorrow.

Those who had lost to her in every game—could they possibly present a challenge to her?

What a joke.

Chao Xu had never feared anyone.

She placed the empty milk glass on the table, nestled deeper into the sofa, crossed her hands over her knees, and raised her eyes. "There's no need to give up. Give me enough time, and I'll restore the Chao family. Until then, all I need from you is a new computer and the paperwork to return to school."

After all, her old computer couldn't keep up with her speed; playing games with those people had become a real struggle.

What should have taken only seconds had dragged on for minutes that day.

The butler was astonished by her words, gazing at Chao Xu.

For some reason, he felt as though the young lady had changed.

She used to be soft-spoken and gentle, easily bullied.

But now, as she sat there, a powerful aura spilled forth uncontrollably—mysterious and proud, bold yet understated, with a hint of disdain for all the world.