The waning moon drifted westward as Chen Yue stood outside the window, gazing into the empty room. She lingered beneath the eaves for a long time before gritting her teeth and pulling open the courtyard gate.
The figure standing outside made her freeze mid-motion.
"Where are you going?" Old Master Chen leaned on his cane, his face wearing a kindly smile. "Children shouldn't stay up late, especially young girls."
Under the moonlight, Old Master Chen's complexion was unnervingly pale. Despite his smile, Chen Yue felt a prickle of fear.
She took a step back. "Grandfather, Second Brother has gone missing, and he’s still unwell. I’m worried about him."
Old Master Chen studied her, as if searching for something in her expression.
After a long pause, he spoke gently, "Your Second Brother is under my care. There’s no need for you to worry."
"Oh, so he’s in your courtyard." Chen Yue forced a smile. "Then I can rest easy."
"Mm." Old Master Chen nodded in satisfaction. "Go back inside now."
"Of course, Grandfather." Chen Yue turned without hesitation, though her grip on the door handle tightened slightly.
She made sure every movement appeared natural, leaving no room for her grandfather to detect anything amiss.
The sudden ring of a phone made her stiffen. She turned to see Old Master Chen answering the call.
"What?" His voice sharpened. "Chao Musheng is trying to climb the building in the middle of the night—with bodyguards?"
"Grandfather?" Chen Yue spun around. "What’s happening?"
She noticed Old Master Chen trembling slightly with anger and quickly steadied his arm. "Are you alright?"
"That assistant of Su Chenzhu’s—Chao Musheng—claims he wants to climb the tower to admire the night view." Old Master Chen’s beard quivered with fury. "The insolent brat dares to disrespect our Chen family!"
Who admires the view in the middle of the night?
Chao Musheng?
Chen Yue couldn’t reconcile such audacity with Chao Musheng’s usual demeanor. By all accounts, he wasn’t the type to act so unreasonably.
Yet when she helped her grandfather rush to the northern courtyard’s wooden tower, she indeed saw Chao Musheng standing there, flanked by five or six burly bodyguards.
"Eldest Young Master Chen had time this afternoon to accompany our company’s Liu Mingjin on a scenic climb," Chao Musheng sneered, arms crossed. "But now I’m not even allowed to go upstairs? What, do you look down on me? Or do you think I’m less important to my boss than Liu Mingjin?"
Chen You had never felt so humiliated in his life.
It was true—he had accompanied Kunlun Group’s Secretary Liu on a leisurely climb earlier, and he might have casually praised Liu while belittling Chao Musheng. But those were private words between him and Liu. How had Chao Musheng found out?
Was it really necessary to drag him, an outsider, into their workplace rivalry?
Remembering that the conflict between Chao Musheng and Liu Mingjin had been orchestrated by Mr. Xuan—on Old Master Chen’s orders—only made his headache worse.
Everything was going exactly as his grandfather had planned. So why was he the one suffering?
"Mr. Chao, you misunderstand. This tower is old and unstable, with no lighting inside. I’m only concerned for your safety." Chen You forced a placating smile. "How about I take you somewhere else? I’ll personally accompany you on a better climb."
"All these excuses just mean you don’t respect me." Chao Musheng gestured to one of his bodyguards. "Turn on the lights."
The bodyguard flicked on a high-intensity portable spotlight, nearly blinding Chen You. He shielded his eyes from the glare. "Mr. Chao!"
What kind of lunatic brings a spotlight to someone else’s garden?
Chao Musheng had seemed perfectly normal days ago. What had driven him to such madness tonight?
"Now that I’ve brought my own lighting, Eldest Young Master Chen needn’t worry about me stumbling in the dark." Chao Musheng tilted his chin up. "Open the door for me."
Chen You suppressed a sigh. "Of course, Mr. Chao. But I don’t have the key to this tower. Please allow me to summon the steward."
"The Chen family’s eldest young master needs a steward’s permission to open a door?" Chao Musheng clicked his tongue. "Who really runs this estate—you or the steward?"
Chen You’s smile stiffened before he smoothed it over. "The steward has served my grandfather for decades. Though he doesn’t share our surname, he’s family in my eyes."
At that, Chao Musheng raised an eyebrow.
When it came to winning people over, Chen You was far more skilled than Chen Fang.
He took a handheld fan from one of his bodyguards. "All this talking has made me sweat."
Chen You: "..."
Then just leave! Who insists on climbing a tower in the dead of night?
What was so fascinating about a rickety old building? It wasn’t like there was treasure inside.
"Mr. Chao." Old Master Chen, seeing his grandson at a disadvantage, finally intervened. "What auspicious occasion inspires you to climb heights at such an hour?"
"Old Master Chen." Chao Musheng’s grin widened. "I thought I was the only one who couldn’t sleep. It seems you’re just as restless."
"With such a commotion in my garden, sleep would be impossible." Old Master Chen eyed the bodyguards laden with equipment. He couldn’t fathom it.
Su Chenzhu was a man of sharp judgment. How could he let his assistant run wild like this, tarnishing Kunlun Group’s reputation?
Then again, everyone in the estate was eager to curry favor with Su Chenzhu. Even if Chao Musheng turned the Chen estate upside down tonight, the other guests would pretend not to notice.
Just as the Chen family never lacked sycophants outside, no matter what they did.
"Elderly folks do struggle with sleep compared to the young." Chao Musheng either missed or ignored the veiled jab, offering a sympathetic nod. "Back in my village, the seventy-year-old man at the entrance wakes at three every morning to water his vegetables. Your condition is perfectly normal."
The surrounding Chen family members: "..."
Everyone knew Old Master Chen despised being called old—or being compared unfavorably to the younger generation.
Chao Musheng’s words weren’t comfort; they were a knife to the heart. Even Chen You, the most favored grandson, didn’t dare speak, keeping his head bowed as if fascinated by his own shoes.
"You’re quite right, Mr. Chao." Old Master Chen’s smile was terrifyingly serene. "The young are bold and reckless, charging ahead without considering consequences. The elderly truly can’t compete."
"Age is just a number. Keep a youthful heart, and you’ll stay young forever." Chao Musheng frowned. "But why hasn’t the tower door been opened yet?"
"Mr. Chao, that tower houses the memorial tablets of my late mother and wife. There’s nothing of interest inside." Old Master Chen’s tone turned grave. "I must ask you to leave."
"Last time, you told me this was just an ordinary wooden tower. Now you say it holds ancestral tablets?" Chao Musheng narrowed his eyes. "Are you lying to me?"
"This tower is utterly unremarkable. Why insist on entering?" Old Master Chen sidestepped the question. "Guests are honored here, but I must ask you not to make things difficult for me."
"Ah, I see." Chao Musheng nodded as if enlightened. "Old Master Chen wants to drive me and Mr. Su out of the estate. No need to trouble yourself—I’ll go inform my boss right away."
Chen You paled. Had Chao Musheng lost his mind? Stirring up trouble was one thing, but dragging Su Chenzhu into it?
How could a mere assistant like him possibly represent Mr. Su?
"Wait!" Old Master Chen spoke up, his face ashen. "Mr. Chao, don’t misunderstand—I meant no such disrespect. Having Mr. Su as a guest in my humble home is an honor beyond measure."
These past two days, with Mr. Su visiting the Chen Estate, the Chen family’s stock prices had soared repeatedly. No matter how much he wished for turmoil within Kunlun, he wasn’t foolish enough to think the current Chen family could stand against them.
"Oh?" Chao Musheng drew out the syllable. "So you just look down on me, then?"
Old Master Chen’s kindly smile faltered. "Mr. Chao is also a distinguished guest of our estate."
"Old Master Chen truly lives up to his reputation as a veteran of the business world." Chao Musheng seemed appeased by the words, glancing at Chen You. "Far more discerning than your eldest grandson."
Old Master Chen shot Chen You a look.
So it was you who provoked him. No wonder Chao Musheng, usually so composed, suddenly lost his temper tonight.
Chen You was at a loss. Stirring conflict between Chao Musheng and Secretary Liu had been his grandfather’s plan—he’d merely fanned the flames as expected. Who could’ve guessed Chao Musheng would throw such a fit, leveraging Mr. Su’s indulgence to make a scene at the Chen Estate?
If he’d known Chao Musheng would go this far, he would’ve locked himself in his room all afternoon.
"They say midnight is when spirits roam." Chao Musheng tilted his head to gaze at the wooden pavilion. "For Great-Grandmother Zeng to have raised a son as gracious as you, Old Master Chen, she must’ve been a kind and wonderful soul."
A night breeze swept past, and the butler, who’d rushed over in haste, shivered involuntarily.
"Would this be the best time for her to hear my prayers if I offered incense?" Chao Musheng asked earnestly. "After staying here for two nights, it’s only right I pay my respects to the elder."
Chen You: "..."
Barging into someone’s ancestral shrine at midnight to ask for blessings—are you even human?
Regret. Pure regret.
In just two short days, though Chao Musheng stood right before him, Chen You already missed the reasonable, refined version of him.
"The butler’s here?" Chao Musheng smiled brightly. "Hurry and open the door for me."
The butler, his face weary, turned to Old Master Chen for guidance.
These people had him running around in the dead of night—did they have no respect for the elderly?
"Mr. Chao’s thoughtfulness is appreciated," Old Master Chen coughed lightly. "But the Chen family has no tradition of midnight offerings. If you truly wish to pay respects, perhaps tomorrow morning would be more suitable."
"If I have to wait till morning, then why did Liu Mingjin get tea handed to him the moment he asked?" Chao Musheng’s expression was the picture of unreasonable arrogance. "Fine. At dawn, I’m taking Mr. Su and leaving this place."
"No need to wait." A deep voice cut through the air from behind the group.
Everyone turned to see Su Chenzhu, dressed in formal attire, his expression cold—almost disdainful. "We’ve overstayed our welcome at the Chen Estate. It’s time we took our leave."
"Mr. Su." Chao Musheng hadn’t expected Su Chenzhu to appear. He didn’t mind bearing the brunt of a spoiled reputation—the police would uncover the truth eventually, and the business world wasn’t short on clever people. Once the Chen family’s involvement came to light, plenty would speak in his defense.
Mr. Su was a man of discretion, his status delicate. That he’d lent his support was already a tremendous favor—no need for him to step into the fray directly.
This was like dragging an untouchable noble down to queue for free eggs at a supermarket.
"President Su."
Chen You glanced between his grandfather and Chao Musheng, sensing the situation spiraling out of control.
Old Master Chen hurried toward Su Chenzhu, his face alight with eagerness—but someone moved faster, darting to Su Chenzhu’s side like a gust of wind.
"Mr. Su." After a brief pause, Chao Musheng rushed forward, adopting the manner of a scheming sycophant. "They’ve been bullying me. You know what they say—even when beating a dog, one must consider its master. Their disrespect for me is disrespect for you."
Having said his piece, he shot the Chen family a triumphant look, his expression brimming with arrogance, as if he’d finally found his backer.
Chen You was speechless. What a masterclass in twisting the truth and playing the victim.
Su Chenzhu watched Chao Musheng’s theatrics, his gaze softening like a spring-fed pool.
In front of him, Chao Musheng was always at his best—the genius who handled every professional challenge with ease, the picture of composure and grace in the eyes of colleagues.
Who knew his unreasonable, spoiled side could be just as captivating?
"Mr. Su?" Chao Musheng tugged at Su Chenzhu’s sleeve when the man simply smiled without responding. "Say something, won’t you?"
He had the act of a power-tripping, fox-like villain down pat.
Su Chenzhu reached up to smooth a stray lock of hair on Chao Musheng’s head before turning to Old Master Chen, his voice icy. "Chao is young. If you take issue with him, Old Master Chen, you should’ve come to me. Why deliberately make things difficult for him?"
Chen Yue’s pupils trembled violently as he stared at the two, as though witnessing two aliens morph into their final forms.
The world had truly gone mad.
