"Are you telling me that after all the effort we put into arranging four people to go, only one remains?"
The leader looked at the three colleagues who had been sent back by Chen Yuan: "Explain. How did you get rejected?"
These three colleagues were skilled in setting up stalls, cooking, and cleaning—all with extensive undercover experience. Logically, they shouldn’t have been sent back.
"Team leader, it’s really not my fault. There’s this extremely picky butler at Chen Yuan, and he said I had a little belly."
"Team leader, it’s not my fault either. The butler said I wasn’t young enough."
The leader: "You’re only 30. How is that not young?"
The colleague: "The butler insisted on candidates under 28."
The leader turned to the last colleague, a 26-year-old with refined features and a well-proportioned figure: "Then what about you?"
"I was born in the Year of the Tiger. The butler said my zodiac sign was unlucky—might bring misfortune to the Chen family’s patriarch. So he kicked me out."
The leader fell silent for a long moment before speaking again: "So who’s left at Chen Yuan now?"
"It’s Little He."
The leader’s voice instantly rose: "That rookie with zero undercover experience, fresh out of school for less than two months?"
The rejected colleagues nodded sheepishly, and the office fell into an awkward silence. No one spoke for a while.
"Provide him with logistical support as much as possible," the leader said after a pause. "If it really doesn’t work out, have him find an excuse to resign, and we’ll send in a professional replacement."
"Understood." A colleague hesitated before adding, "But Little He just sent word—because of his good looks, the Chen Yuan butler assigned him to serve the distinguished guest staying there."
The leader’s heart sank. "That greenhorn doesn’t know the first thing about undercover work. Sending him to serve wealthy clients is basically announcing that he’s suspicious!"
Normally, newcomers wouldn’t be assigned to critical positions.
But Chen Yuan… didn’t follow rules. It was all about appearances.
"Mr. Su, Mr. Chao." The butler glanced at the main building’s entrance. Since Mr. Su’s dinner was set up in the courtyard, he couldn’t just barge inside. "Last night, wild cats caused a disturbance in Chen Yuan, and some guests were startled. Were you two unaffected?"
"Wild cats?" Chao Musheng picked at the unidentifiable mess on his plate until a hand reached over, swapping it for a neatly arranged dish of evenly sliced, aromatic food.
Chao Musheng flashed Su Chenzhu a grateful smile and finally started eating properly.
Little He, seeing the perfectly prepared meal in Chao Musheng’s bowl, guiltily lowered his head.
He wanted to make up for his shortcomings, but there was nothing he could do to help.
"On our way back last night, I think I saw Chen Yuan staff chasing a black cat," Chao Musheng remarked curiously. "Did they catch it?"
A black cat?
Little He pricked up his ears, sensing this might be important intel.
"You saw the black cat, Mr. Chao?" The butler noted Su Chenzhu’s gesture of switching plates and began doubting Mr. Xuan’s fortune-telling skills. Having worked at Chen Yuan for decades, he was adept at reading the moods of those in power—and Su Chenzhu’s attitude toward Chao Musheng didn’t seem like someone who’d discard him.
Unless Chao Musheng did something unthinkable to harm Kunlun’s interests.
"No," Chao Musheng shook his head. "The staff mentioned it, and that’s how I learned your household considers black cats inauspicious."
"It’s an ancestral custom passed down from the master’s hometown. Though he can’t bear to harm living creatures, he must honor tradition." The butler sighed sentimentally. "Every year, the master donates generously to animal protection charities."
"Master Chen is truly kind-hearted," Chao Musheng said with a smile. "Have you eaten, butler? Why not join us?"
"No need, thank you, Mr. Chao." The butler’s gaze swept the surroundings before he added politely, "Enjoy your meal."
"You can all return with the butler for now. Just leave him here to assist us—we appreciate your service." Chao Musheng pointed at Little He, who stood silently nearby.
The butler studied Little He’s face—his complexion was a shade darker, but his features were handsome, his posture upright, giving off a clean and refreshing vibe.
A knowing smile crept onto the butler’s face. "Of course, Mr. Chao."
Young people these days—of course they’d prefer someone good-looking. He understood.
Little He exhaled in relief. He’d been terrified of being sent elsewhere, where his incompetence would be even more exposed.
"Ancestral customs, my foot," Secretary Liu sneered once the butler was out of earshot. "Old Man Chen’s father married into his wife’s family, and the moment his first wife died, he rushed to change his children’s surnames and dragged all his country relatives to the capital to leech off the family fortune."
"A gold-digging son-in-law lecturing about tradition—what a joke." Secretary Liu glanced around. "Even this Chen Yuan estate was left by Old Man Chen’s maternal grandfather."
"And Master Chen was fine with his father treating his mother like that?" Chao Musheng couldn’t fathom such thinking.
"A dead mother can’t compare to a father holding wealth and power," Secretary Liu said, sipping his drink before continuing to gossip. "Outmaneuvering his siblings to seize the entire Chen inheritance and turning the family into a top-tier elite—you think he got there by being soft?"
"Only in recent years has he started playing philanthropist, acting like a smiling Buddha." Noticing Chao Musheng’s interest, Secretary Liu offered, "Want me to send you a dossier on Old Man Chen’s rise to power?"
"Pass." Chao Musheng declined. "Too much elite family drama might give me a biased worldview."
Su Chenzhu suddenly spoke up. "My family consists of just me."
"Ah, right." Secretary Liu chimed in. "The boss is different—he’s the only one in his family."
No messy relatives, just wealth, property, status, and striking looks—what more could you ask for in a partner?
Chao Musheng paused for two seconds before pouring Su Chenzhu a glass of sweet corn juice.
He didn’t know what to say, so… something sweet might help.
Crunch, crunch.
Nearby, Little He was juicing fruit with such force that the pulp had vanished, his ears straining to catch every word.
Chao Musheng: "..."
"Attention!"
Little He instinctively snapped his legs together, hands pressed to his sides.
Realizing this wasn’t military drill practice, the atmosphere turned painfully awkward.
"Ahem." Chao Musheng pretended not to notice Little He’s embarrassment and turned to Secretary Liu. "Brother Liu, the shrimp is excellent. Want some?"
"It is." Secretary Liu also averted his gaze, feigning ignorance.
Little He glanced at Su Chenzhu, who remained silent, occasionally serving Chao Musheng a bite, then at the gossiping duo. His heart itched like a cat had scratched it—had they figured out he was an undercover agent?
If they knew, why weren’t they exposing him?
"Meow."
He turned and glimpsed a shadowy blur by the main entrance.
A black cat?
After the meal, Little He called a colleague to help clear the dishes.
"Little He." Halfway down the path, the butler emerged from behind a rockery, smiling warmly at him. "I heard you just graduated?"
"Yes, sir." Little He tensed up—had he been found out?
"The person who recommended you for Chen Garden mentioned your family is struggling?" After leaving Su Chenzhu’s side earlier, the butler had inquired about Little He’s background.
A vocational school graduate, a father who drank too much, a frail and sickly mother, a rebellious younger brother, and him—caught between helplessness and responsibility.
"According to Chen Garden’s rules, someone with your qualifications shouldn’t be working here. The recommender pulled strings for you." The butler circled Little He once. "The master was furious when he found out and ordered both you and the recommender dismissed."
"Butler—"
"Don’t panic yet." Seeing the distress on Little He’s face, the butler smiled in satisfaction. "But the master is kind-hearted. After I explained your situation, he decided to give you a chance to stay."
He pulled out an envelope containing 20,000 in cash. "I know your family needs money urgently. This is a private subsidy from the master—don’t mention it to anyone."
"I can’t accept this!" Little He instinctively refused. He’d been raised with proper principles—not a single needle or thread from the people.
"Take it." The butler shoved the money into his hands. "Just do your job well, and repay the master’s kindness."
Little He understood now—he was being recruited for something.
"I noticed Mr. Chao seems to favor you. For the next few days, focus on serving Su Chenzhu and Mr. Chao." The butler spelled it out plainly, in case he missed the hint. "Remember everything the guests eat or say, and report it to me. It’ll help Chen Garden provide better service."
So, he was being turned into a spy.
"Don’t overthink it. This is all for the guests’ comfort." The butler patted the cash-filled envelope. "After I left earlier, did Mr. Chao say anything?"
Little He pretended to think. "Was Mr. Chao the one wearing glasses, or the younger one?"
"The one who’s hopeless with his hands, making a mess of his meat." The butler found Little He a bit slow, but since he was the only servant besides Xiaojuan and Little Hu allowed to linger near the guest quarters, he held back his impatience.
Xiaojuan and Little Hu had prior ties to Chao Musheng—unsuitable for espionage. Little He was the only option.
Little He: "..."
Who are you calling hopeless?
I won first place in tactical equipment drills!
"Mr. Chao didn’t say much. He mentioned how beautiful Chen Garden is, and something about a boat… I’ve never been on a big ship, so I didn’t follow."
"The Moonlight." The butler looked down on Little He’s lack of worldly experience, but since he was willing to share, it meant he’d accepted the role. "Did you see any cats in their quarters?"
Little He shook his head. "No."
"Good. Work hard these next few days. After the master’s birthday banquet, there’ll be a bonus." The butler patted his shoulder and left with a smile.
Why did his pocket feel heavy?
Oh, right—the 30,000 skimmed from the 50,000 bribe fund.
Clutching the 20,000 from the butler, Little He wandered to the room assigned to him in Chen Garden.
Someone was already inside—a towering figure with biceps harder than bricks.
He’d seen this man’s photo at the station: the heroic waiter from the Moonlight incident.
"You’re the new guy?" Brother Hu glanced at the newcomer’s head. Such a pure shade of green—just like the three cops investigating the Moonlight case days ago.
Pure justice alignment.
Seriously, NPC bro, you’re just a Chen Garden servant. Why so righteous? Planning to save humanity?
"Come, sit." Brother Hu handed him an unopened meal box. "The steward mentioned assigning me a roommate, but you never showed, so I grabbed your staff meal. Eat up."
"Thanks." Little He lifted the lid—packed with meat.
His lunch upon arriving at Chen Garden hadn’t been this lavish.
"Dig in." Brother Hu had a natural soft spot for justice-aligned NPCs. "From now on, stick with me for meals."
"Thanks, bro." Little He took a bite of kung pao chicken—tender meat, crispy peanuts. Compared to this, his lunch had been trash.
"Bro," Little He poured Brother Hu a cup of water, "I just got here today. The staff meal at noon was skimpy and bland. How’d you score such a good one?"
"Nothing special." Brother Hu took a sip. "I’ve got connections."
Little He’s eyes flickered—a lead!
"You’re amazing." Little He feigned admiration. "You know important people?"
Brother Hu studied his expression, then the pure justice halo over his head, and smirked. "I’ve got some history with Mr. Chao, Chen Garden’s VIP."
Mr. Chao… Chao Musheng?!
No wonder they’d paired him here—still targeting Chao Musheng and Su Chenzhu.
So this was the cutthroat world of the elite?
Late at night, the third police team, after a day of stakeout, finally received Little He’s update.
What?
Possibly exposed as an undercover by Chao Musheng, but not outed?
The butler recruited him to spy on Chao Musheng’s every move?
His roommate was the brave waiter from the Moonlight, living large at Chen Garden thanks to ties with Chao Musheng—and treating Little He well?
"Little He’s only been in Chen Garden for twelve hours, right? Not twelve days or months?" The colleague rejected by Chen Garden for being overage looked baffled. "How’d he pull all this off in half a day?"
Why didn’t he get this lucky during his undercover days?
The other two rejected colleagues: "..."
Luck was just… unpredictable.
"The key’s here." The team leader circled Chao Musheng’s name on the clue board. "Mr. Chao didn’t expose him."
"Boss, I think Mr. Chao already knows Little He’s a cop."
"Borrow two young officers with good zodiac signs and looks from other precincts. Infiltrate Chen Garden." The leader wrote "black cat" on the board. "I suspect the Chens are involved in illegal rituals."
In the dead of night, Brother Hu watched the glow from his new roommate’s phone under the covers—the halo above his head burning brighter.
Using an item to read the sent messages, he silently closed his eyes.
No wonder his aura was greener than all of Chen Garden’s staff—he was a cop.
With police undercovers sneaking in, was this even a proper supernatural dungeon anymore?
"Ah!"
Brother Hu was jolted awake by his roommate's startled cry. Clutching the blanket, he sat up and looked at the pale-faced young man. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," Little He replied, his face drenched in cold sweat.
"Nightmare?" Brother Hu noticed the barely concealed panic and distress on the other's face. "What did you dream about?"
"I dreamed... something strange crawled out and devoured many people in Chenyuan," Little He wiped the sweat from his brow. "Later, the entire Chenyuan was swallowed by thick fog."
