Chen Er woke up to broad daylight.
Dazed, he sat up and realized he had fallen asleep in the changing room the night before. Since when was his sleep quality this good?
"Cough, cough!" As he stepped off the bed, a sharp, itchy pain flared in his chest. He hacked violently, the metallic tang of blood spreading in his throat.
Despite having slept through the night, he felt utterly exhausted, as if he'd pulled multiple all-nighters.
Pushing the door open, he found the hallway deserted. Just descending the stairs left him gasping for breath. Clutching his aching chest with trembling hands, he fumbled for his phone to call an ambulance.
"Young Master Chen Er." A uniformed servant appeared before him—the same one who had escorted him to change clothes last night.
Overnight, the servant's demeanor had turned frosty. "It's time for you to leave."
Sensing the shift in attitude, Chen Er assumed Old Master Chen was displeased with him for dozing off in the changing room. He forced an ingratiating smile. "Would it be possible to bid Uncle goodbye before I go?"
"Unnecessary." The servant glanced at Chen Er's pallid face, then averted his eyes, as if even looking at him was distasteful. "The master said you're to return home immediately upon waking."
Chen Er's smile faltered. Not daring to press further, he pocketed his phone and shuffled toward the exit.
The servant made no move to assist, watching indifferently as he staggered away, breath ragged.
After wandering the garden for what felt like ages without finding the way out, Chen Er collapsed against a decorative rock, too weak to continue.
In the distance, a bodyguard—dressed identically to the ones who had flanked Chao Musheng the previous night—led two middle-aged women down a covered walkway.
Chen Er shrank back, terrified of being spotted. Anyone associated with Chao Musheng now filled him with dread.
"Sir, are you alright?"
A burly man approached, clutching a pair of heavy pruning shears.
"I'm a guest who stayed overnight at the Chen estate. Just feeling a bit hypoglycemic." Chen Er rummaged through his wallet and pulled out a wad of cash. "Help me get out of here, and this is yours."
"How could I possibly accept?" The man chuckled, his expression disarmingly simple.
With one hand, he yanked Chen Er upright like a radish. "The main gate's a ten-minute walk. Follow me."
Half-dragged along, Chen Er wheezed as they moved. The early hour meant few people were around.
"Cough—! Slow down," Chen Er gasped, his chest burning.
"Sir, you look terrible," the man said, obligingly reducing his pace. "Seems like anemia. Maybe get checked at a hospital?"
"Like hell I'm anemic—" Chen Er's knees buckled mid-step.
"Careful, stairs ahead." Releasing Chen Er's arm, the man switched his phone to selfie mode and held it up. "See for yourself."
"My face—"
Chen Er recoiled at his reflection—ghostly pale, sunken eyes, as though years of vitality had been drained overnight.
How?
One accidental night at the Chen estate, and he looked decades older.
Panicked, he whirled to stare at the ornate architecture behind him. Suddenly, it seemed grotesquely sinister.
"Go. Now." Adrenaline overrode his exhaustion. Stumbling at first, he broke into a frantic sprint toward the gates.
He shoved all his cash at the burly man. "Drive me to a hospital. Hurry!"
"Staff aren't allowed to leave premises," the man declined politely. "How about an ambulance?"
"No!" Paranoid yet unsure if his suspicions were justified, Chen Er feared summoning EMTs to the estate might offend the Chens. He settled for booking a luxury ride-hailing service.
"Stay back!" Realizing his helper was also a Chen employee, Chen Er lurched away. "Don't come near—"
Darkness swallowed his vision. He crumpled to the ground.
The man—nicknamed Tiger—studied the unconscious figure for two seconds, then picked up the dropped phone and dialed emergency services.
This guy had a literal red circle floating above his head in Tiger's vision. Clearly trouble.
If a criminal didn't want an ambulance, that wasn't Tiger's problem.
He was just a humble servant helping a guest exit the premises.
The ambulance arrived swiftly, sirens wailing loud enough for half the estate to hear. By midday, everyone knew: last night's guest had collapsed at the gates and been hauled away on a stretcher.
Old Master Chen hadn't anticipated this. Useless fate aside, Chen Er's pathetic constitution was an embarrassment. Fainting at their doorstep? What would guests think?
Bad luck.
After last night's failed summoning ritual, he'd braced for misfortune—but not this soon.
"Mr. Xuan." Summoning the mystic, Old Master Chen noticed silver streaks now threaded the man's hair. "What happened?"
"Chen Er's fate was insufficient. The backlash from the failed ritual." Mr. Xuan spat blood, his demeanor unshaken despite his pallor. "No matter. I'll endure."
Old Master Chen's earlier resentment evaporated at the sight. He gestured to a chair, half-expecting the mystic to keel over like Chen Er.
"Mr. Xuan, the backlash has begun. Advise me." Examining his hands, the old man swore his skin looked crepeier than yesterday.
"Borrowing fortune is divine work. Without a worthy sacrifice, how can the gods respond?" Mr. Xuan coughed into his fist, every inch the unflappable sage despite his weakened state. "If no suitable offering is found within three days, not even my master could reverse the consequences."
"Every Chen relative's birth chart is here." Frantic, Old Master Chen produced a yellowed ledger crammed with astrological data. "Who else qualifies?"
Mr. Xuan ignored the book. "Your household's fortune already flourishes. Perhaps let this go?"
"Impossible." Old Master Chen touched his still-firm cheeks. "You're young yet. You don't understand the indignities of aging. Wealth and status mean nothing when your body fails."
"I don't seek immortality—just longevity." He slid a lacquered box across the table. "For your troubles."
Inside gleamed rows of miniature gold bars.
Banks scrutinize large transfers closely, and Old Master Chen wouldn’t invite trouble over such trivial matters.
“Sigh.” Mr. Xuan merely glanced at the box full of gold bars before withdrawing his gaze. “Fine, I’ll help you one more time.”
He flipped through the book of birth charts, page by page, until his eyes settled on the entries for Chen You and Chen Fang.
“Both of Old Master Chen’s grandsons possess exceptionally noble destinies,” Mr. Xuan said, closing the book and handing it back. “Perhaps you should reconsider?”
He stood, leaving the wooden box of gold bars untouched, and turned to leave.
“Mr. Xuan.” Old Master Chen stopped him, pressing the heavy box into his arms. “This matter truly troubles me. Allow me two days to think it over. Please, take this for now.”
Troubled?
Mr. Xuan looked down at the gold bars in his hands. If he were truly troubled, he wouldn’t have handed them over so readily.
Clearly tempted, yet still clinging to a shred of propriety.
“Then I’ll await your decision, Old Master Chen,” Mr. Xuan said, raising an eyebrow. “But remember—if you haven’t made up your mind by midnight on the final day, the opportunity will be lost forever.”
Old Master Chen sighed as he gazed at his grandsons’ names in the birth chart book.
Both were his flesh and blood. It was hard to let go.
“The kitten is in excellent health, with no major issues,” the two veterinarians said after a thorough examination of Mo Tuan, including deworming. “If you’re still concerned, you could take it to a pet hospital for further checks, but I personally don’t think it’s necessary. Over-examination can be harmful to pets.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Chao Musheng said, watching Mo Tuan, who only cooperated with the checkup when nestled in his arms. “This is my first time raising a cat, so I’m still learning. Do you have a care guide for new owners?”
“Of course.” The vet handed him a manual. As a pet doctor, she appreciated responsible owners. Glancing at the kitten curled in Chao Musheng’s arms, she smiled. “It really likes you.”
“Does it?” Chao Musheng grinned, stroking Mo Tuan’s tiny ears.
“In my decade-plus as a vet, I’ve rarely seen a kitten with such glossy black fur,” the doctor remarked. After closing her kit, Mo Tuan finally peeked out from Chao Musheng’s embrace.
“In ancient times, such a pitch-black cat was called ‘Dark Cloud Roaring Iron’—a rather majestic title,” the vet added, unbothered by the kitten’s wariness. Pets, like children, often feared doctors. She understood.
“Thanks. That name sounds fierce,” Chao Musheng said, lifting Mo Tuan high. “Right, Mo Tuan?”
“Meow!” Swishing its tail lazily, Mo Tuan seemed to agree.
Yes, yes, absolutely. It was indeed that impressive.
The bodyguards escorted the vets out, and Secretary Liu hurried in. Pausing at the sight of his boss cooking in the kitchen, he turned to Chao Musheng, who was playing with the cat on the floor.
“Brother Liu.” Chao Musheng stood, and the cat followed.
“Where’d the cat come from?” Secretary Liu bent down, trying to catch its attention. “Pspsps.”
Mo Tuan ignored him, radiating regal disdain.
Humans were so tedious.
“Found it last night,” Chao Musheng said, scooping up the clingy kitten to avoid stepping on it. “Now it’s my cat.”
Secretary Liu watched the aloof feline melt into a puddle in Chao Musheng’s arms, torn between envy and amusement. This cat had two faces.
He entered the kitchen. “Boss, what are you cooking? Let me handle it.”
“No need.” Su Chenzhu turned off the stove, plating the freshly cooked cat food. “What’s the matter?”
“Old Master Chen mentioned his 69th birthday is in two days. He hopes you and Chao Musheng will stay at Chen Manor a little longer.”
Secretary Liu eyed the bowl. Ah, cat food.
Oh, Boss.
Making meals for the cat your crush adopted? Where’s your dignity?
Su Chenzhu added two drops of fish oil to the dish. “His 69th birthday?”
“Old Master Chen is superstitious—men celebrate ages ending in nine, women in ten,” Secretary Liu explained, reaching for the bowl, only to be stopped.
“It’s too hot for the cat. Let it cool first.” Su Chenzhu washed his hands and walked out, asking Chao Musheng, “The Chens want you to stay a couple more days. Are you willing?”
Yesterday’s tour of Chen Manor had been cut short by Chen Fang’s appearance. “What about you, Su Chenzhu?” Chao Musheng asked reflexively.
“I’m fine either way.” Su Chenzhu crouched to pet Mo Tuan, who tolerated his touch without enthusiasm.
A human servant was worthy of the cat king’s minimal grace.
“At home, I’m alone. Here, I have your company,” Su Chenzhu said with a soft laugh. “You’ve got two and a half days of vacation left.”
“Then… two more days?” Chao Musheng sensed Su Chenzhu might want him to stay.
“Good.” Su Chenzhu tapped Mo Tuan’s head lightly. “The cat’s meal is ready. Let it eat here while we take a walk?”
“Sure.” Chao Musheng decided against bringing Mo Tuan, not wanting to risk offending the Chens.
“General Mo Tuan, behave while we’re out. We’ll bring back treats.”
He’d bought snacks from the vet earlier.
“Meow.” Mo Tuan leaped off Chao Musheng’s lap and settled onto its cushion, awaiting dinner.
Its humans were off to hunt for it. A wise cat wouldn’t interfere.
“Such a clever kitten,” Secretary Liu marveled. “Chao Musheng, you’ve struck gold. Go ahead with Boss—I’ll keep an eye on it.”
A sharp secretary knew when to create opportunities for his boss.
The morning air in Chen Manor was fresh, dew still clinging to the flowers.
Walking side by side, Chao Musheng remarked, “On normal vacations, I’d still be asleep at this hour.”
Su Chenzhu chuckled. “Sleeping in helps you grow taller. You take good care of yourself.”
The praise made Chao Musheng flush. He snapped a photo of the garden and posted it.
Likes flooded in instantly—but none from Su Chenzhu’s account.
“Something wrong?” Su Chenzhu paused.
“No.” Chao Musheng shook his head.
Su Chenzhu always liked his posts first. Was he sleeping in too?
“Mr. Su, Mr. Chao.”
Chen You approached in a light blue suit, smiling. “Good morning.”
Noticing how close they stood, his gaze lingered on Chao Musheng. “Exploring the gardens?”
Chao Musheng glanced at Su Chenzhu, who gave a slight nod.
"May I have the honor of showing you around?" Chen You explained, "The Chen Estate has many buildings and complex pathways. I’m afraid you might get lost."
"No need, we’ll just take a casual stroll around," Chao Musheng replied. Noticing Mr. Su’s silence, he quickly added, "The young master must be busy with his affairs. There’s no need to trouble yourself with entertaining us."
Chen You waited a moment, but when Su Chenzhu still didn’t speak, he took out his business card and handed it to Chao Musheng. "Here’s my contact information. If you happen to lose your way in the garden, please don’t hesitate to reach out."
"Thank you," Chao Musheng said, accepting the card. Just then, he spotted Chen Fang approaching with Lian Hai in tow.
"Brother Chao!" Lian Hai’s vibrant green hair was unmistakable even from a hundred meters away.
Su Chenzhu’s brows twitched slightly, his expression cooling.
This world was still far too noisy.
