The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 403: Was Climbing a Bed so Hard?

Chapter 403: Was Climbing a Bed so Hard?

Things really weren’t going Lee Hua’s way at all. His attempts to integrate into the estate and secure his position seemed to be constantly ruined by unforeseen obstacles.

As he reflected on his interactions with Master Xu Zeng, Lee Hua couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration for the man’s grace and his way with children.

Observing Master Xu Zeng closely, Lee Hua acknowledged that the master appeared to be a respectable figure, well regarded by those around him.

It was evident that Xu Zeng possessed a certain charm and kindness that drew others to him even while being quiet and keeping to himself for the most part.

Despite his efforts, Lee Hua couldn’t shake off the feeling of inadequacy when comparing himself to the other servants in the estate.

He wasn’t naïve enough to entertain thoughts of climbing into Xu Zeng’s bed as a concubine or a wife. Such aspirations seemed far-fetched and unrealistic given his own background and circumstances.

Instead, Lee Hua resigned himself to the more humble role of a bedwarmer, content with the idea of providing companionship and comfort to the master.

What puzzled Lee Hua the most was Xu Zeng’s apparent lack of romantic entanglements. At his age, it was customary for a man of his standing to have multiple wives or concubines, yet there were no signs of such arrangements in Xu Zeng’s life.

This observation only fueled Lee Hua’s determination to establish himself within the estate and secure his place alongside the master. A bedwarmer was more than enough.

Despite his initial observations of the withdrawn master, Lee Hua found himself gradually warming up to Xu Zeng.

The master’s gentle demeanor and genuine affection for his children—Xiao An and Xiao Momo—left a lasting impression on Lee Hua, dispelling any doubts he may have had about Xu Zeng’s character.

As he pondered his next move, Lee Hua couldn’t help but feel a sense of optimism. Maybe there was a place for him within the estate after all, a role that would allow him to contribute meaningfully to Xu Zeng’s own household while also securing his own future.

Everything was moving at a snail’s pace, but Lee Hua was okay with that, or at least he was. Until today, the slow pace wasn’t too much of a hurdle.

Lee Hua’s frustration reached its peak when he realized that the flowers he had carefully picked remained untouched in their original spot.

Despite his hopes that Master Xu Zeng would notice his thoughtful gesture, it seemed that his efforts had gone unnoticed and unappreciated.

To make matters worse, the presence of the Master of Bai Mansion, another ger, only added to Lee Hua’s annoyance.

The ger stood in his line of sight, blocking his view of the situation unfolding between Bai Mo and Master Xu Zeng. It was clear to Lee Hua what was transpiring—Bai Mo’s interest in Master Xu Zeng was undeniable.

As he sat with Xiao An and Xiao Momo, observing them cheerfully enjoy their meals with the other servants, Lee Hua couldn’t help but feel a sense of isolation.

Despite his efforts to integrate into the estate, he found himself increasingly sidelined and ignored, overshadowed by the attention directed towards Master Xu Zeng and Xu Hu Zhe. The competition was getting fierce among the women and gers who were unattached.

Even some with husbands were competing for attention!

The summer heat only served to heighten Lee Hua’s discomfort, weighing heavily on his shoulders as he navigated the complex dynamics of the estate.

He knew he should make more of an effort to engage with the other servants, but the divide created by Master Xu Zeng’s arrival made it difficult to find common ground.

"Hmmm," letting out a heavy sigh, Lee Hua felt a sense of defeat wash over him. His attempts to establish himself within the estate had been met with resistance at every turn, leaving him feeling frustrated and disheartened.

Even as some of the other servants seemed to show favor towards him, Lee Hua couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being overlooked in favor of those with closer ties to Master Xu Zeng.

"Dad, are you okay?" Xiao An’s voice broke through Lee Hua’s thoughts, prompting him to offer a forced smile in response.

The meal laid out before them was a show of the abundance of Nanshan Estate and Xu Feng’s kindness to his household. Each dish, hearty and rich with oil, exuded warmth and comfort.

Lee Hua couldn’t help but marvel at the spread, realizing that even the average wealthy household in town likely couldn’t match the generosity of their provisions.

The vegetable pancakes alone were a delight, packed with flavor and sustenance that could fuel a day’s worth of labor. It was delicious and would give one enough energy to work like a horse and a cow for the masters of the house.

They even had meat! Some days they had pork and other days they had wild venison, meat that even hunters would sell so they could purchase cheaper pork meat!

As Lee Hua glanced around the room, he observed the small groups of women and gers—no more than seven in total, including himself—engaged in a subtle competition for the attention of either Xu Hu Zhe or Xu Zeng.

The atmosphere was charged with silent rivalry as each individual vied for a chance to elevate their status within the estate.

Despite the tension in the air, the men in the room seemed unconcerned, focusing their attention solely on their meals. Not all of the women and gers were participating in the competition, however.

Lee Hua allowed himself a moment to gaze fondly at his daughter, Xiao An, whose genuine smile warmed his heart.

Xiao An’s transformation since their arrival at Nanshan Estate filled Lee Hua with pride. No longer thin and sickly, her cheeks now boasted a healthy flush, a show of vitality. His son, Xiao Momo, sat beside her, his eager appetite evident in the way he devoured his meal with gusto.

The oil from the goat stew was dripping from the corner of his face. The greasy faced Xiao Momo didn’t seem to recognize that a little ger needed to be proper at all times.

Unlike Xiao An who carefully ate, he ate like the food would grow legs and run away from him if he didn’t shove it in his face fast enough. Still, he was young enough to get away with this.

"Dad is okay," Lee Hua reassured them.