The Black-Hearted Butler Raised Himself a Brooding Husband

Younger, possessive, unhinged wolf-dog seme x intellectual, fatherly butler uke. Redemption / feel-good / HE / face-slapping / 1v1 / raising him / ten-year age gap

Li En is the Qi family's butler. He upholds absolute fairness while assisting the next generation of the Qi family.

One day, Mr. Qi brings home a special young master. He's filthy, his skin darkened by years in the sun, and he's wearing a faded undershirt and trousers that barely reach his ankles.

Mr. Qi tells Li En to look after him and turn Qi Siyao into a suitable marriage alliance within two years. Li En is a little worried: this young master is probably going to take up a lot of his time.

He holds out his hand and gives a gracious smile.

"Hello, young master. I'm your butler."

He is ignored. In Qi Siyao's resolute gaze, Li En catches a trace of unease.

Li En doesn't comfort him. This is how he has always been taught to raise people. He puts away his smile and arranges a schedule of lessons for the young master, with every second accounted for.

The young master studies hard. He can sleep only five hours a day, or else, if he fails his monthly assessment, he will spend the night in the dark attic.

Li En is always at his side, watching him doze off from exhaustion. After hesitating, Li En draws the young master's head into his arms and lets him rest for a moment.

This time, Li En becomes his accomplice. From then on, the scales of his fairness begin to tip ever so slightly.

The young master grows more and more capable. He is always showing off to Li En about his brief victories, but they earn him harsh punishments from Mr. Qi. Li En visits him during one of them.

For the first time, the young master looks afraid. He begs Li En to take him away, but Li En refuses. The panic in the young master's eyes gradually gives way to despair.

Once the young master becomes a suitable marriage alliance, Li En asks him the same question he once asked Li En.

"Will you come with me?" His scales of fairness collapse completely.

The young master smiles and closes in, trapping him in a cramped space. His eyes turn cold.

"You taught me not to back down, Li En. I've been a good student."

But when Li En opens his eyes again, he is in the dark attic. The young master smiles, his eyes alight with near-mad joy, and leans close to Li En's ear.

"If you want something, you have to get it. You taught me that, too."

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Premise: Face difficulties head-on and persevere.