After breakfast, the blood test results came quickly. While waiting for the bodyguard to complete the discharge procedures, Chao Musheng knocked on the door of Room 2.
"Uncle Chao!" Zeng Ning opened the door, her face lighting up when she saw who it was. "Please, come in and sit down."
"Thank you, Ningning." Chao Musheng stepped inside. Boss Zeng was reclining on the hospital bed, reading a book, his complexion looking slightly better than the day before.
"Mr. Chao." Boss Zeng set the book aside. "Please, have a seat."
"Boss Zeng, don’t trouble yourself on my account. Just rest." Chao Musheng quickly waved him off. "I’m being discharged today and wanted to check on you and Ningning before leaving."
Hearing that Chao Musheng was leaving, Zeng Ning’s expression dimmed briefly. But then she brightened again—being discharged meant Uncle Chao had fully recovered. "Congratulations on your recovery, Uncle Chao!"
"Thank you." Chao Musheng smiled and handed her his personal business card. "Ningning, this is my contact information. If you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, don’t hesitate to reach out."
Zeng Ning accepted the card with careful reverence. "Thank you, Uncle Chao."
"You’re welcome." Chao Musheng bent down to meet her at eye level. "School starts in two weeks. Study hard—maybe we’ll end up as alumni someday."
"Which school did you graduate from?"
"I haven’t graduated yet. Like you, I’ll be returning to campus in September." He chuckled. "Jinghua University welcomes you."
"Jinghua…?" Zeng Ning’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. Even if she crammed day and night from now on, getting in would be nearly impossible.
"A smart girl like you? No problem at all." Chao Musheng pretended not to notice her lack of confidence. "You can do it!"
"Okay…" Zeng Ning nodded stiffly. What was the point of living without dreams, after all?
Boss Zeng turned his face away to hide a smile. If there was anyone who could motivate his book-averse daughter to study, it was Mr. Chao.
"Uncle Chao," Zeng Ning said suddenly, "I’ll do my best to become your alumni. But could you promise me one thing?"
Chao Musheng raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Her cheeks flushed as she mumbled, "If you and Uncle Su ever have a wedding… could you invite me?"
Chao Musheng opened his mouth, then closed it again. They weren’t even a couple—how could there be a wedding?
When he didn’t respond, Zeng Ning scratched her nose awkwardly. "Never mind, I was just talking nonsense. Please forget I said anything."
"If I ever hold a wedding, you’ll definitely be invited." He patted her head gently. "Take good care of your father. I should get going now."
As he turned, he saw Su Chenzhu waiting for him outside the door.
"Mr. Su?" Chao Musheng hurried over. "Are we leaving now?"
"Bye, Uncle Chao! Bye, Uncle Su!" Zeng Ning clung to the doorframe, waving enthusiastically.
"Goodbye." Su Chenzhu gave her a slight nod.
"See you next time." Chao Musheng waved back before falling into step beside Su Chenzhu. "Mr. Su, if you’re busy today, I can just take a taxi to your place to pick up Mo Tuan."
"You’re attending that fashion charity event in two days—are you planning to bring Mo Tuan along?" Su Chenzhu asked.
"Ah… probably not." Chao Musheng winced. He’d been too sick to prepare anything for Mo Tuan, and taking the cat home now would mean a few rough days for it.
"Would it be possible… to leave Mo Tuan with you for a few more days?" he ventured. "I’ll use my break to buy everything it needs, then pick it up after the event."
And then, once school started, he’d have to send Mo Tuan back to Su Chenzhu again.
He suddenly felt like a neglectful owner—Mo Tuan was the equivalent of a "left-behind cat," staying with wealthy relatives while he, the supposed master, only visited occasionally.
"Mo Tuan has missed you," Su Chenzhu said, pressing the elevator button. "I’ll take you to see it first, then drive you home."
"No objections allowed."
Chao Musheng obediently agreed.
But when Su Chenzhu’s car entered the lavish villa district, it struck him that Mo Tuan might actually be better off staying here.
Lush gardens, sprawling lawns, fountains, a swimming pool—this was a cat’s paradise.
"Meow!" Mo Tuan, who had been napping in its cat bed, suddenly bolted awake and dashed toward the door. The maid assigned to care for it nearly had a heart attack—this aloof, indifferent feline must not escape!
She sprinted after it, only to see Su Chenzhu’s car pulling into the driveway. Panic set in—this was bad!
"Mrrow!"
The moment the car door opened, Mo Tuan leaped straight into Chao Musheng’s arms.
"Meow! Meow! Meow!"
Human! Where have you and your servant been? Why was I stuck with the servant’s servant all this time?!
"Mo Tuan." Chao Musheng cooed, cradling the cat and planting two loud kisses on its head. "You’ve gained weight! Seems like Mr. Su took excellent care of you, huh?"
"Meow!"
Lies! It hadn’t eaten much at all!
The maid watched in astonishment as the usually standoffish cat snuggled into the stranger’s embrace. She’d never seen it act so affectionate with anyone.
"Sir." The butler emerged from the main entrance. Spotting Su Chenzhu standing beside an unfamiliar young man, he paused briefly before bowing slightly. "Welcome, honored guest."
"Thank you." Chao Musheng smiled. Mo Tuan draped itself over his shoulder like a limp, fluffy pancake.
"Mo Tuan has been quite aloof since arriving here. I’ve never seen it take to anyone like this," the butler remarked, aiming to flatter. "It seems you and this cat share a special bond."
"He is Mo Tuan’s owner. Of course it adores him." Su Chenzhu clarified, "Butler, this is Mr. Chao."
Mr. Chao?
The assistant Su Chenzhu had been favoring lately?
The butler quickly caught on. "Mr. Chao, please come in."
So all this—the custom-designed cat room, the professional pet nutritionist hired to plan Mo Tuan’s meals—wasn’t for Su Chenzhu’s own pet? He’d been cat-sitting for someone else?
The butler stole a glance at Chao Musheng and noticed how Su Chenzhu instinctively reached out to steady him as they ascended the steps.
The butler: "…"
Was this normal?
"Mr. Su, my cold is long gone. No need to fuss." Chao Musheng stepped into the grand hall of the villa and gasped. "This place is stunning."
"Meow." Mo Tuan craned its neck alongside him, swiping a paw at the glittering chandelier overhead.
"Would you like a tour?" Su Chenzhu offered. "I’ve only lived here for four or five years, so the staff handles most of the upkeep."
Chao Musheng hesitated. "Would that be alright?"
"Of course." The corner of Su Chenzhu’s mouth lifted. He glanced at Mo Tuan, who was now nuzzling Chao Musheng’s cheek. "Follow me."
The villa’s interior was elegantly furnished—the kind of place that would break the internet if photographed.
Watercolor paintings adorned the walls. Though Chao Musheng knew little about art, there was an intangible vitality to them that made him pause and admire.
The main building was equipped with a home theater, a gym, a study, a music room, a cat room, and even a gaming room and storage space—yet there were hardly any bedrooms.
"There are only two bedrooms in this entire house." Su Chenzhu pushed open the door next to the master bedroom, and Chao Musheng's heart skipped a beat.
This was his dream room!
Oh no, he was falling hard.
"No one else lives in this building besides me," Su Chenzhu glanced at Mo Tuan.
"Mo Tuan doesn’t count as a person." Chao Musheng peeked into the room several times, memorizing the decor. "Where do the other staff in the villa live?"
"In the building behind this one," Su Chenzhu replied. "There’s an orchard to the left and a rose garden to the right. It’s too hot now, but I’ll take you around in the evening."
"Mr. Su, I need to go home tonight." Chao Musheng stroked Mo Tuan’s fur. "I haven’t been back in a long time, and my parents will worry."
"Alright." Su Chenzhu paused for a moment. "I’ll take you back after lunch. Your flight for the trip the day after tomorrow has already been booked, so rest well at home tomorrow."
He took off his jacket. "Last time at Chen Garden, I said I’d cook for you. Today’s the day. Take Mo Tuan for a walk around, and I’ll call you when the food’s ready."
Chao Musheng hadn’t expected Su Chenzhu to remember such a small promise. He laughed sheepishly. "Mr. Su, you don’t have to go through the trouble."
"Consider it a celebration of your recovery." Su Chenzhu stepped into the master bedroom, setting down his jacket and removing his wristwatch. "Go enjoy yourself. Lunch will be ready by noon."
Compared to the adjacent room, the master bedroom’s decor was stark—monochrome tones of black, white, and gray, giving it a cold, lonely feel.
There were hardly any decorations, as if it were a showroom for a furniture ad.
It was as though the owner had poured all his care into the neighboring room while neglecting his own.
In that moment, Chao Musheng suddenly realized—Su Chenzhu didn’t seem to care much about himself. Or perhaps he’d never learned how to.
"What’s wrong?" Su Chenzhu noticed Chao Musheng staring, the tips of his ears turning faintly pink. "Do you want to see my bedroom?"
He took a step back. "Come in."
Chao Musheng entered, pulling open the heavy gray curtains. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, flooding the room.
"So beautiful!" He stepped onto the balcony, greeted by a sea of blooming flowers.
Yes, truly beautiful.
Su Chenzhu stared at the young man bathed in sunlight, momentarily lost in thought.
Chao Musheng turned back. "Mr. Su, can I cut some flowers?"
"You can do whatever you like." Su Chenzhu snapped out of his daze, joining him on the balcony. "Which ones do you prefer?"
"I love all of them." Chao Musheng’s gaze lingered over the blossoms. "Mr. Su, the mansions in those wealthy-family dramas can’t compare to this place."
Su Chenzhu chuckled softly. "I’ll have the butler bring you shears. Be careful not to hurt yourself."
"Got it."
Downstairs, the butler stood holding a tray with a sunhat, shears, and gloves. "Mr. Chao, it’s sunny out. Would you like a hat?"
"Thank you." Chao Musheng set Mo Tuan down and put on the hat and gloves. "Do you have any celadon vases?"
"Of course. Mr. Su has quite the collection. I’ll fetch one right away."
Mo Tuan trailed after Chao Musheng to the garden. "Stay out here, okay? There are thorns in the flowerbeds."
"Meow." The cat flopped under a tree, lazily flicking its tail.
It wasn’t some bored kitten, after all.
"Our Mo Tuan is so clever." Chao Musheng removed a glove to pet its head before venturing into the garden.
"Mr. Su, do you need something?" The chefs in the kitchen startled when Su Chenzhu walked in, quickly gathering around him.
"Nothing urgent." Su Chenzhu adjusted his apron. "I’ll be using the kitchen today. You can take a break for now."
The chefs exchanged glances. The boss was cooking?
Was today some special occasion?
As they left, they spotted the butler cradling a vase. "What are you looking at?"
"The view." The butler stood on the steps, gaze fixed on the garden.
Following his line of sight, the chefs saw a young man in a sunhat walking toward them, arms full of flowers, a black cat trotting behind him.
Sunlight, blossoms, a cat, and a beautiful boy.
For a moment, they wondered if the villa had hired a new gardener—one who looked more like a young master on vacation.
The butler whispered, "That’s Mr. Chao, Mr. Su’s honored guest."
Honored guest?
Since when did Mr. Su entertain outsiders?
"Hello." Chao Musheng set the flowers on a table, nodding politely at the chefs.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Chao."
The butler hurriedly placed the vase in front of him, and the chefs tactfully retreated.
Once the flowers were arranged to his satisfaction, Chao Musheng stepped back, admiring his work.
The butler, who’d studied floral design, discreetly averted his eyes. Well, "lush and vibrant" was a style too.
By noon, Chao Musheng sat at the dining table, eyes lingering on the spread before drifting to Su Chenzhu.
"Is there something you don’t like?" Su Chenzhu asked. "I can have it removed."
Chao Musheng shook his head. "I love everything here."
He picked up a stuffed eggplant and took a bite.
The taste was nostalgic.
Back in high school, he’d adored the stuffed eggplant from a small restaurant near campus. After the owner closed shop and moved away, no other version ever measured up, and he’d stopped ordering it entirely.
Yet here it was—the same flavor, in Su Chenzhu’s home.
By the end of the meal, Chao Musheng could barely move. "Mr. Su, I haven’t eaten this much in ages. You’re an amazing cook."
"Next time you visit, I’ll make more." Su Chenzhu handed him two digestive tablets. "But don’t overeat—it’s not good for you."
"It’s your first time cooking for me. Of course I had to indulge." Chao Musheng chewed the tablets and set Mo Tuan down. "I should get ready to leave."
"Alright." Su Chenzhu stood. "I’ll drive you."
The garage housed several cars, but Su Chenzhu chose the nearest one, sliding into the driver’s seat.
Mr. Su was driving himself?
Chao Musheng retracted his hand from the rear door and climbed into the passenger seat instead. "I think this is the first time I’ve seen you behind the wheel."
"I’m an excellent driver," Su Chenzhu said, glancing at him.
Chao Musheng fastened his seatbelt and nodded with a smile. "It feels like nothing in this world could ever trouble you."
"I have my moments too," Su Chenzhu started the car, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Musheng..."
"Hmm?" Chao Musheng turned to look at him.
"Never mind." Su Chenzhu smiled faintly. "Let's get going."
After dropping off Chao Musheng, Su Chenzhu returned home and pushed open his bedroom door with an impassive expression. On the table sat a celadon vase filled with vibrant, lively flower buds.
He turned to the butler in the hallway. "Who put this vase here?"
"Mr. Su, these were cut and arranged by Mr. Chao himself before placing them in your room," the butler replied. "If you don’t like them, I can remove them immediately."
Su Chenzhu stepped into the room, gently brushing a petal with his fingertip. "No need. The flowers are beautiful... and lively."
Bright, passionate, and lovely.
Just like him.
"Meow." Mo Tuan peeked its furry head through the doorway, tilting it curiously.
Servant, did your human forget to take you along when he left?
"He has work to do. Wait five or six days, and he’ll come back to see you," Su Chenzhu glanced down at the cat. "With you here, he’ll return."
Xiaojuan entered the instance and opened her eyes to a room with slightly yellowed walls. Aside from her, three NPCs hovered nearby, their heads marked with green identifiers.
"This year’s fashion charity event is one of the most high-profile in recent years. Not only are fans invested, but even casual netizens are curious why it’s such a big deal," said a man in his early thirties, his greasy hair plastered to his scalp as if unwashed for days.
"Our studio only has two full-time positions this year. Whoever captures photos that cause a stir online gets the spot," the man pulled out three temporary assistant badges. "These are work passes I got through an insider. Your cover is that you’re die-hard fans willing to work as free assistants for your favorite celebrities."
"Don’t blow your cover," he handed out the badges. "Plenty of paparazzi are trying to sneak in. The stricter security is, the more valuable our exclusive shots become."
Xiaojuan finally understood her role—she was a disguised paparazzo exploiting free labor.
"If any of you get caught, apologize and take the blame. Never rat out the others," the man warned sternly. "Anyone who betrays the team gets kicked out. Understood?"
"Understood."
The man dropped them off near the venue in a van and drove away. Xiaojuan touched the badge hanging around her neck and walked past the scrutinizing guards.
The instance was called "Starlight," but all she saw were prop boxes, foam, and plastic strewn everywhere.
"You, the one with curly hair! Stop spacing out and help clean up!" a crew member barked. "Celebrities will be here soon for dress photos. Go assist the gardening team with the flowers."
Temporary assistants were like spare parts—shuffled wherever needed. Xiaojuan worked tirelessly until dusk, finally receiving a boxed meal with two vegetables and one meat dish.
Nearby, a group of celebrities posed for photos at the spot they’d just prepped. The staff beside her gossiped about them like experts.
"Only B-list celebrities are here today. The A-listers won’t arrive until tomorrow morning."
"That guy’s barely 173 cm, but his profile says 180. Last time I worked on his set, I saw him stuffing insoles into his shoes."
"Isn’t the event starting tomorrow at 10 AM?" Xiaojuan feigned admiration. "Bro, it’s a three-day event. Why are they coming so early? Won’t it mess with their schedules?"
"You new to this?" The staffer smirked knowingly. "Some of these ‘celebrities’ haven’t booked gigs in months. They’d rather show up early, grab some attention, and ride the event’s hype than rot at home."
"Thanks, bro. You’re so knowledgeable," Xiaojuan probed. "Will Kunlun Entertainment’s artists walk the red carpet?"
"Probably. Kunlun doesn’t prioritize its film division, but it’s still backed by the conglomerate. They’ll secure a few slots."
Xiaojuan’s heart sank. This was another of Chao Musheng’s worlds.
Had the System Lord still not given up on draining this world’s energy?
At least this instance revolved around showbiz—no way Chao Musheng would be involved here.
By 9:40 AM, nearly all invited guests had arrived. Chao Yin smiled through group photos, deflecting every agent’s prying questions.
As if she’d know which executive Kunlun HQ was sending.
"Editor-in-Chief, Kunlun’s representative is here," an employee called.
Chao Yin rushed to the estate gates to greet them.
A fleet of black cars rolled in. Bodyguards and assistants emerged from the trailing vehicles. As Chao Yin moved to open the lead car’s door, a guard intercepted her with a bow. "Let me, Editor Chao. We couldn’t trouble you."
She blinked. The representative’s team was oddly deferential.
The door opened, revealing a strikingly handsome young man. His first act? Clasping Chao Yin’s hands with a blinding grin.
Onlookers gaped. Since when did Kunlun’s reps lower themselves to initiate handshakes? Just how well-connected was Chao Yin?
"Mom, surprised to see me?" Chao Musheng whispered by her ear. "Bet you didn’t expect this."
Chao Yin: "..."
Folks, who’d believe it?
Her son, a summer intern barely two months in, was now Kunlun’s official representative?!
So her wild guess was right—Kunlun’s sudden involvement really did tie back to him.
Under envious stares, she eyed the entourage behind him and murmured behind her hand, "Kid... did you save your CEO’s life or something?"
“I didn’t save the boss’s life, but I did save the game and R&D departments of the company.” Chao Musheng smiled, releasing Chao Yin’s hand as they walked side by side. “I’ll be with you for the entire three-day event. Mom, now I can finally applaud your brilliance openly.”
Chao Yin’s assistant stood among the crowd, listening to the hushed whispers speculating about the relationship between the Kunlun representative and the editor-in-chief. She slightly lifted her chin.
What’s their relationship?
Hah.
The Kunlun representative is the editor-in-chief’s son.
