2 The First Successful Lie

His mysterious tone uttered words so absurd that even a three-year-old would find them laughable, yet Kong Miao’s eyes brightened, and he nodded vigorously with excitement.

"I believe you!"

[Ding! Xie Miao's trust value +1000. Congratulations, Host, you have completed your first lying mission. Reward: one Super Butler, ten bodyguards, and a luxury motorcade with supporting facilities. Please continue working hard on your missions! Become the greatest liar in this world.]

The system task was indeed completed. Xie Yunze looked at the little fellow before him and couldn’t help but laugh and sigh. He ruffled Kong Miao’s bristly buzz cut again, exasperated.

"You silly boy, do you just believe whatever anyone tells you?"

In today’s indifferent society, earning someone’s trust is like climbing to the heavens—people keep their hearts guarded. Yet this silly boy showered him with trust value in wave after wave. Xie Yunze thought he might as well keep this kid by his side, to stop him getting swindled by others.

Kong Miao had no idea what Xie Yunze was thinking. He hadn’t even finished his boxed meal, now squatting there letting Xie Yunze ruffle his hair. In truth, he liked being patted on the head by Brother Xie. All his life, his family had focused on his elder and younger brother, leaving him stuck in the middle, never cared for or shown such warmth. And Brother Xie had stood up for him when others bullied him, which made Kong Miao trust him even more.

"As long as Brother Xie says it, I believe it," he declared with certainty, then, as if afraid Xie Yunze wouldn’t believe him, he added anxiously, "Besides, you don’t look anything like the guys who work on construction sites. I’m not stupid—no one from the countryside who does hard labor could look like you, Brother Xie. So you definitely haven’t suffered much before coming here to the site."

That was indeed true. Xie Yunze’s current appearance was one that had never endured hardship. Even when he came to the site to lug bricks, he was there one day and gone the next—he didn’t look like someone used to hard work.

"Yes, yes, I’m a vengeful young master come to the site to carry bricks, transfer me fifty bucks and when my revenge succeeds, I’ll take you to drive sports cars, live in mansions, and give you a limitless black card to spend as you please!"

Looking at the hopeful little boy, Xie Yunze grinned, joking once again.

[Ding! Kong Miao’s trust value +100!]

The system registered another gain. Xie Yunze watched as Kong Miao, holding his unfinished meal in one hand, pulled a bundled roll of cash from the pocket of his baggy shorts with the other. The money was wrapped in a transparent plastic bag—Kong Miao’s last bit of savings.

"Here, Brother Xie. I don’t really understand your revenge plan, but this is all the money I have. I believe you’ll make a comeback! You’ll succeed in your revenge!"

…Good grief, is there anything you won’t believe?

If I said I was the reincarnation of the First Emperor, would you believe that too?

Xie Yunze rubbed his forehead, pulled Kong Miao to his feet, and before he could say a word, Kong Miao shoved the plastic-wrapped money into his hand.

"Brother Xie, ever since I left the village, everyone’s tried to cheat me—making me buy cigarettes and water for them without paying me back. Only you have helped and looked after me, so I know you’re just… you know, a dragon stranded in the shallow sands. One day you’ll soar to the sky. I believe in you. I don’t want a house or a car or a card, I just want you to be well and not have to haul bricks anymore."

Kong Miao might seem simple, but he knew who treated him well. When he spoke seriously, his black eyes shone like a loyal puppy, gazing at Xie Yunze with earnest hope, truly wishing he’d leave the site behind. In Kong Miao’s eyes, Brother Xie just didn’t belong here.

…You even know the idiom about a dragon stranded in the shallows, but you don’t suspect I’m a con artist?

Xie Yunze looked at the roll of money in his hand with a complicated expression. He knew Kong Miao had been sent out by his family to work—moving bricks for less than six thousand a month. The little he managed to save was always taken by his parents, supposedly for his elder brother’s school living expenses. This roll of cash was all Kong Miao had left.

Thinking of this, Xie Yunze sighed inwardly, then poked Kong Miao’s cheek with the money.

"You silly kid, didn’t you hear me just now? I already have a butler and bodyguards—would I need your little bit of money?"

He said that, but he didn’t return the money. Instead, he slipped it directly into his own pocket and pulled out his phone.

"Want to see my butler and bodyguards? As long as I give the word, they’ll appear here at once."

Kong Miao’s eyes lit up instantly. Forgetting about his money, he nodded excitedly.

"I do!"

Brother Xie’s bodyguards… were they like the ones on TV? Tall, strong, and super powerful?

Seeing how utterly convinced the kid was, Xie Yunze found the Super Butler’s contact in his phone. The “Lies Come True System” was truly impressive—so long as you had enough trust value, any lie you told would become reality.

Kong Miao saw the words “Super Butler” on Brother Xie’s phone, then watched as he made the call.

The line was quickly picked up.

"Master, this is your Super Butler, Aston, at your service."

The voice was deep and refined, with an accent Kong Miao couldn’t quite place.

"I’m at the site warehouse. Come pick me up within ten minutes."

Xie Yunze believed the system could do anything in this world—if it could turn lies into reality, then the appearance of butlers and bodyguards wouldn’t raise any suspicions.

"Yes, Master."

As the call ended, Xie Yunze turned to see Kong Miao gazing up at him with worshipful eyes—full of trust and reliance, without a trace of greed.

"How about I take you to a crab feast by the river later? Didn’t you say you’ve never eaten crab?"

Kong Miao was from the north and hadn’t really tasted seafood. At the mention of a crab feast, his eyes sparkled even brighter.

"Really? Won’t that get in the way of your revenge plan, Brother Xie?"

…He actually remembered the revenge plan?

Xie Yunze shot him a look, feigning annoyance.

"It’s just a crab, it won’t affect my revenge."

That look made Kong Miao giggle, but he quickly resumed eating his boxed meal, explaining between mouthfuls, "I’ll finish this first—can’t waste food."

Honestly, Xie Yunze found himself defenseless against such a silly child. Watching Kong Miao devour his food, he could only remind him, "Slow down, no one’s going to take it. Don’t choke."

Hearing this, Kong Miao only ate faster, finishing in a few quick bites. Then he noticed the boxed meal he’d bought for Brother Xie still sitting on a red plastic stool nearby.

"Brother Xie, if we’re going to eat crab later and you’re not going to eat this, can I have it? Otherwise, it’d go to waste."

At eighteen, after a day’s labor, Kong Miao’s appetite was voracious—one box was never enough and he’d often go hungry at night. Seeing how he cherished food, Xie Yunze nodded, passing him the boxed meal.

"Go ahead, have the chicken leg too."

Kong Miao grinned at the mention of chicken, opening the box and tucking in, looking every bit a growing boy eating the house bare.

As Xie Yunze watched him eat, he thought the kid would be perfect as a food blogger—the way he ate was appetizing. Even though Xie Yunze had been too tired for dinner before, watching Kong Miao made him feel hungry too.

Inside the warehouse, one ate while the other watched. Meanwhile, not far outside the construction site, a convoy of black SUVs sped smoothly down the road—the very butler and bodyguards summoned by the system, hurrying over.

Outside the warehouse, many workers who had either eaten their boxed meals outdoors or, to save money, skipped dinner altogether, were just then wandering back. Among them were Li Dongfeng, Shi Hongju, and Zhang Liang.

Unlike others who would blow their pay at the gambling table or on small rented rooms around the site, these three were family men—the mainstays of their households. They’d save their wages until the end of the month to take home, rarely spending frivolously.

As the three headed back to their warehouse, the sound of car horns made them step aside. They watched as a black Hummer bounced across the rough, dusty road, raising a cloud of dirt as it passed.

More than one Hummer, in fact—a whole fleet heading toward the warehouse.

When the last car had gone by, Li Dongfeng dropped his hand from his nose. "Damn! I’d love to take on these rich folks—just one of those Mercedes Hummers costs a few million! They drive them like it’s nothing!"

Shi Hongju, covering his mouth, muttered, "Looks like a Mercedes G65. Costs nearly four million on the road—owners usually get them modified, and after that, they can be worth over ten million."

Even if they’d never bought one, men could always recognize car models. Zhang Liang frowned as he watched the tail lights disappear. "Those cars are heading to the warehouse—are they looking for someone?"

Though they worked on construction sites, they’d seen plenty of luxury cars. The bigger bosses often had heavily modified off-roaders for safety and versatility.

"Let’s follow and see," Li Dongfeng said with a wave, and the three jogged after the convoy, curiosity piqued. What could be happening on site to warrant such a fleet? Nothing happened this afternoon—everyone was just hauling bricks…

At the warehouse, the sound of approaching vehicles soon reached Xie Yunze and Kong Miao. Kong Miao, having just finished the last of Brother Xie’s meal, looked up and spotted a black Mercedes Hummer approaching like a wild beast.

"Cars… Cars are coming!"

Kong Miao, excited, grabbed Xie Yunze’s arm, eyes wide in awe. "Is that your butler and bodyguards, Brother Xie?"

He truly believed everything Xie Yunze said. Seeing multiple cars roll up, he tiptoed to peer inside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the occupants.

Xie Yunze remained calm, standing his ground. The cars soon drew up, stopping just five meters from him, outside the warehouse yard.

The doors of the black SUVs swung open, and out jumped a foreigner—pale-skinned, golden curls, dressed in a black butler’s suit, every detail immaculate, even white gloves in the sweltering heat.

The butler—Aston—immediately recognized his master and strode over. Behind him, the SUVs disgorged a row of tall, impeccably dressed foreign bodyguards, all following Aston.

"Master, I am your Super Butler, Aston."

The golden-haired, blue-eyed butler, looking as dashing as a male model, walked up and, to Kong Miao’s stunned amazement, knelt on one knee before Xie Yunze, hand pressed reverently to his chest, golden hair flashing in the setting sun.

…Is this seriously a real butler?

Xie Yunze wasn’t fazed—he knew this was the system’s doing and didn’t treat Aston as a real person.

"Get up."

Given the command, Aston rose gracefully from the dirty ground, every movement elegant, as if this dusty warehouse was a grand ballroom. Strangely, his knees remained spotless, which drew several curious glances from Kong Miao.

"Master!"

The line of bodyguards snapped to attention and shouted as one, the force of it startling Kong Miao and making Xie Yunze’s brow twitch.

Thank heavens no one else was nearby, or it would truly be embarrassing…

"Quiet," he said, gritting his teeth.

Instantly, the bodyguards fell silent, their sheer presence intimidating enough.

Li Dongfeng and his two companions, hurrying over, heard the uproar and rushed faster. When they arrived, they saw a sight they’d never have believed.

Outside the warehouse, a row of black-suited bodyguards stood, clearly not to be trifled with. That golden-haired foreigner, looking like he’d stepped off TV, knelt on one knee before Xie Yunze as if having made some grave mistake.

"Master, it was Aston’s lack of discipline that angered you. Please punish me."

…I’m not embarrassed, but those watching must be.

Xie Yunze’s face burned. He reminded himself: Aston isn’t a person, not a person, not a person. He resolved then and there never to let Aston and the rest appear again—telling lies was easy, covering them up was hard.

I just wanted an all-powerful butler and a team of bodyguards, but look at what the system gave me. Is this your idea of a proper butler?

"Get up. I just need to keep a low profile in public, Aston. I hope you understand."

Please, spare me this kind of embarrassment in the future.

Aston seemed to understand at last and promised, "Master, Aston will obey your command and act discreetly."

After giving this assurance, he rose as instructed—but little did he know, this scene was anything but discreet in the eyes of Kong Miao and the others.

Kong Miao, oblivious to Xie Yunze’s embarrassment, looked at him with deep admiration.

"Brother Xie, so your butler and bodyguards are all foreigners! I get it—your family must be some super-wealthy foreign clan, right? You came back incognito because of some family feud, and once you’ve rebuilt your strength, you’ll reclaim everything that's yours, right?"

…This kid can’t use idioms, but he’s read plenty of trashy web novels.

Xie Yunze was silent—suddenly not so keen on lying anymore. Kong Miao would believe literally anything.

As Xie Yunze fell silent, the system’s alert sounded again.

[Ding! Li Dongfeng’s trust value +200!]

[Ding! Shi Hongju’s trust value +200!]

[Ding! Zhang Liang’s trust value +200!]

Six hundred trust points in a flash. The three coworkers walked over, visibly excited, tiptoeing as they approached. Li Dongfeng was so thrilled he tripped over his own feet.

The bodyguards had already noticed them but, seeing they were harmless, did nothing.

Li Dongfeng, trembling with excitement, grabbed Xie Yunze’s hand in a firm shake.

"Xiao Xie, I knew you weren’t lying to us—your background is extraordinary!"

So?

Xie Yunze looked at the three, confused, as Li Dongfeng asked in a hushed, excited voice:

"So… are you the disowned young master who left home after a broken engagement?"

Xie Yunze was dumbfounded.

His eyes widened as he looked to Shi Hongju.

Meeting Xie Yunze’s gaze, Shi Hongju lowered his voice cautiously, "So… are you the wealthy son-in-law working on the site to prove yourself to your rich wife?"

???

Xie Yunze was stunned.

He chuckled in disbelief and turned to Zhang Liang.

Zhang Liang’s face was flushed with excitement. Emboldened by Xie Yunze’s look, he whispered eagerly, "So… you’re actually a super special forces soldier, and these foreigners have come to take you back to lead your legion?"

So, tell me—aren’t your stories more outrageous than my lies? Why doesn’t the system give you the rewards?

I don’t even know how I became a disowned young master, a broken-engagement outcast, a live-in wealthy son-in-law, and a super special forces operative all in one. Do any of these identities make sense to you?