The room was filled with an artistic atmosphere.
The opposite wall of the corridor was adorned with a vivid and eerie mottled blood-red, creating a strong visual impact.
Upon closer inspection, it was not random splotches but layers of roses.
The reason Bai Lixin initially found it blurry and mottled, and didn’t recognize it as roses at first glance was that the roses on the wall constantly overlapped, layer upon layer, presenting an overwhelming sea of red.
The Inner red was darker, becoming more vibrant and eerie towards the outer edge.
This wall resembled a frantically struggling hedgehog, and the striking red resembled it’s sharp steel needles.
The room was filled with plaster artworks, some depicting only the head, others portraying busts, half-length figures, and even full-length sculptures.
These faces were diverse, ranging from those of young girls and boys, to adults in their prime.
With a cursory glance, Bai Lixin estimated there were over a hundred of these stone statue artworks.
They were arranged in every corner of the room. The artworks were perfect, yet looked hollow. All were looking in the same direction, which was behind Bai Lixin, towards the back wall.
Bai Lixin slowly turned around, and upon seeing the back wall, his pupils contracted slightly.
It was a gigantic portrait covering the entire wall.
The protagonist in the portrait was a naked young boy, his body stretched, eyes slightly closed, with a delicate and slender physique exuding a flower-like beauty.
The boy appeared to be around ten years old, with his arms stretched above his head and vine thorns with sharp spikes entwined around him. On the vines, gorgeous and stunning roses bloomed.
The sharp thorns pierced the boy’s tender and fair skin, and spotted blood slowly oozed from the wounds.
The glaring red and the lustrous white entwined, forming a visually impactful and eerie image.
Despite numerous injuries, the boy’s face showed no sign of pain.
His eyes were slightly closed, and the enigmatic ambiguity in his slender eyes was indescribable. His mouth was slightly open, expressing a sense of ultimate pleasure.
In the right lower corner of the painting, inconspicuously written in black, are four characters. Bai Lixin approached to read them—Rose Boy.
The boy was like a beautiful and harmless canary, freely extending his body to please those outside the painting.
The person who created this picture painted it with enjoyment and venting.
Bai Lixin stared at the boy’s face, feeling that he had seen this beautiful face somewhere before.
He pondered for several seconds, suddenly remembered something, and walked to the corridor exit.
He looked at the face of the stone statue at the door, and then looked at the face of the boy in the painting again. After looking back and forth several times, Bai Lixin was sure that the facial features of the boy in the picture were the same as the face on the stone statue.
However, one was three-dimensional, and the other was flat.
One lacked a soul, and the other was richly imbued with emotion.
Although expressed differently, Bai Lixin could almost certainly say that a lot more effort was put into this painting.
S419M: [Lord Host, could the person in the painting be the real Second Young Master of the Fei family?]
Bai Lixin: [Probably.]
S419M: [This room belongs to Fei Yino, so the painting should be done by Fei Yino. To create such a painting…Fei Yino’s thoughts about the original owner are not straightforward. Despite appearing cold to the original owner on the surface, he privately painted such a piece—what is this? A twisted obsession?]
Bai Lixin: […]
S419: [If the person in the painting is the original owner, what are these plaster statues around?]
Bai Lixin surveyed the surroundings, walked to the nearest plaster statue, and gently traced the contours and marks of the facial features with his fingertips.
As he traced, Bai Lixin carefully examined the plaster statue. When his fingers reached the back of the head, Bai Lixin’s hand suddenly paused, and a faint gleam flashed in his eyes.
S419: [What’s wrong, Lord Host?]
Bai Lixin circled around to the back of the plaster, staring at the central point on the back of the head where a thin black thread emerged from the plaster.
The thread was resilient and slender. Bai Lixin touched the filament thoughtfully and said slowly in his mind, [There’s a hair here.]
S419M: [Fei Yino’s hair?]
Bai Lixin remained silent. He took the dagger from his backpack and thrust the sharp blade into the plaster.
The dagger only advanced a few centimeters before stopping. Carefully shaking the dagger handle from side to side, Bai Lixin caused the hard powder to fall, gradually revealing what was wrapped inside the plaster.
A tangle of black hair, knotted and solidified due to the mixture with plaster.
S419: [Holy Shit, Holy Shit! Head! A head! Shit!]
Bai Lixin’s gaze became gradually heavy. He didn’t stop his actions and continued to peel off the plaster.
Soon, with his movements, almost all the plaster fell to the ground, exposing what was concealed inside—a human head.
The facial features of this head were identical to the face on the plaster from before. Fei Yino had used the head as a mold and conducted a second creation, transforming the initially horrifying head into an exquisite piece of art.
Bai Lixin stared fixedly at the pale face of the head, shifting his gaze to the hundreds of plaster statues in the room.
S419M was utterly shocked, and could only scream: [Oh my God, no way, Lord Host, are all these statues in the room hiding corpses? I’m not feeling well at all, save me, save me.]
Thinking of being surrounded by corpses throughout the room, s419M just wanted to escape.
Bai Lixin randomly chose another plaster statue among them, this time a girl.
Still peeling away the plaster shell cautiously, unsurprisingly, inside was another pale face.
He randomly opened four like this, and all four held a “surprise.”
Bai Lixin’s eyes were ice-cold: [Indeed, it’s a “dare challenge,” it’s quite impactful.]
S419M was on the verge of fainting, but unfortunately, there was no fainting setting within the system. It said tremblingly: [Lord Host… who are these people? Damn it, I want to escape. I thought Fei Yino was just a yandere brother with greedy thoughts for his younger brother. I didn’t expect him to be a downright pervert! How did he manage to bring so many corpses here and turn them into plaster specimens? He’s terrifying, practically a murderous monster. Also, how did he kill so many people without anyone noticing? Did no one realize that people were missing?]
[Because these people aren’t originally from this city.] Bai Lixin calmly stated in his mind, [Fei Yino touched my face earlier, probably to confirm if I was the original owner.]
S419M was stunned for several seconds before exclaiming in shock: [If not, he kills you? So all these plaster statues in the room are from previous players? Didn’t that black furry monster say it had corrected the information line? Why does Fei Yino know?]
[And what’s going on here? If it’s a game, theoretically, when new players play the game, it should be reset. If it’s reset, the previous players shouldn’t be here. Why were they preserved one by one?]
[In that case, does Fei Yino always have memories from before the reset? Over a hundred plaster statues mean this game has been reset over a hundred times, and every person can’t escape Fei Yino’s control?]
[Is he a devilish bug? Is there something wrong with him?]
[Fuck,] s419M couldn’t help but curse, [After hearing your analysis this morning and knowing that Father Fei is not a good person, I thought Fei Yino might have a reversal and be a good person.]
[When I first saw this painting full of love just now, do you know what I thought of first, Lord Host?]
Bai Lixin: [You were thinking that Fei Yino deeply loves the original owner but cannot express it due to family ethics. He knew about the wicked actions of Father Fei toward the original owner but initially struggled due to weak power, unable to protect the original owner. It wasn’t until half a year ago that he finally found an opportunity to take control of the family and intentionally set the original owner free, letting him escape the misery. As for himself, he stayed behind to continue punishing Father Fei and Li Manyu.]
S419M: [Ah], [That’s right, that’s what I was thinking. I even thought this brother is not bad, he looks like a villain but is actually a warm-hearted person.]
[But now it seems that this family is simply a home of lunatics, all are villains, are afflicted with some ailment.]
[Li Manyu must know what Father Fei was doing with the original owner. He’s her biological son, and as a mother, she should protect her son. However, she turned a blind eye, whether it’s for the sake of wealth and prosperity or a genuine dislike for her own son.]
[The father, who appears refined and kind on the surface, is actually a hypocrite with a beastly heart. He treats the original owner as merchandise, trading it for benefits.]
[The brother is even more twisted, filled with an obsession for blood and slaughter. His desire for control surpasses that of Father Fei, if not being more insane.]
[I really don’t know how the original owner survived four years in this house. If it were me, I couldn’t endure even four months.]
[Luckily, the original owner ran away, and he ran away well. It’s best if he never comes back.]
The room was just this big, so it should be Fei Yino’s secret base. There was not much in the room, and after Bai Lixin circled around without finding hidden doors or secret rooms, he left the room.
Seeing Bai Lixin about to leave, s419M hurriedly said: [Lord Host, are you leaving like this? You’ve opened all the plaster. Won’t Fei Yino notice the problem when he comes in?]
Bai Lixin: [That’s exactly what I want him to see.]
S419M: [Huh?]
Bai Lixin: [I want to see the demon go mad.]
Bai Lixin frowned and scanned the room one last time before turning around and leaving.
The narrow passage exuded a damp earthy smell from both sides. Bai Lixin relocked the iron door, and retraced his steps.
When he returned to the living room, only Father Fei was sitting on the sofa reading a book, and Li Manyu’s whereabouts were unknown.
Perhaps hearing the footsteps, Father Fei shifted his gaze from the book, smiling gently at Bai Lixin. “Xiao Xin, why did you come in from outside? Where did you go just now?”
While changing into slippers at the entrance, Bai Lixin casually replied, “I took a stroll in the garden. Are you alone at home? Where’s my mother?”
Father Fei: “She went out for a beauty treatment. You know, your mom loves beauty.”
With a beckoning motion toward Bai Lixin, the man said, “Xiao Xin, come here. Let’s chat.”
“Okay.” Bai Lixin went along, sitting on the single sofa next to Father Fei. His gaze swept over the book in Father Fei’s hand.
It was still a financial magazine, and the worn-out condition of the cover didn’t look new. It was a magazine that had been around for some years.
Father Fei’s opening was similar to Li Manyu’s. He began with a question: “Do you really not remember anything?”
Bai Lixin nodded, “No, I don’t remember anything.”
Father Fei: “Then do you remember why you left home back then?”
Bai Lixin shook his head earnestly, “I don’t know. If you know, you can tell me.”
Father Fei: “I was seriously ill in bed at the time, and unconsciousness. I was lucky to survive. When I woke up, you were no longer at home.”
Bai Lixin: “Were you very seriously ill at that time?”
Judging from Father Fei’s current complexion and physical condition, he didn’t seem to have any major illness.
Father Fei sighed, “I took a stroll around the gates of hell.”
He seemed unwilling to delve into this topic, saying just that sentence before lowering his head to flip through the magazine.
Bai Lixin reached out, “Can I take a look at the magazine in your hand?”
“Oh, of course, but this is an old magazine from before. We don’t have many books at home, so I just took this one out to flip through.” Father Fei handed the magazine to Bai Lixin.
Bai Lixin took the magazine and immediately saw the man on the cover.
His expression froze for a second, and he casually asked, “Is this man on the cover also in our city?”
The cover featured a side profile shot of a sharp looking man.
The man was sitting on the leather sofa, his thick black hair meticulously combed back.
The angle was a ninety-degree side profile, his eyes were deep and profound, the brow, nose, corner of the lips, and jaw formed a perfect, sharply defined contour.
The man had a professional demeanor, and was staring straight ahead. He exuded an intimidating aura even while just sitting there. It was as if he were a fierce beast ready to launch an attack at any moment. Anyone could become his prey, instinctively instilling fear.
S419: [Oh, isn’t this Lord God? His hand even reaches here? Tsk, tsk, tsk, Lord Host, Lord God is truly going all out for you.]
Bai Lixin: […]
‘Please remove the three words ‘going all out.’”
In the prime spot of the cover, there was a striking headline.
“Shocking Rising Star in the Industry, the Next Business Tycoon.”
Father Fei: “This magazine is from over two years ago. The man on the cover is called Dijia. He’s not a native of our city; he came here four years ago after returning from abroad. In just over a year, he rose from an unknown businessman to the upper echelons of society in the business circle.”
“When I saw the title of this magazine, I thought it was exaggerated, but later I discovered that this person is indeed a business genius. In the two-plus years since then, his influence has spread across almost every lucrative industry. He is now a figure at the top of the pyramid in our city and even the national business circle.”
“Who would have thought he’s only twenty-eight years old.”
Father Fei’s eyes showed envy, “Some people are truly fed by the heavens. He’s practically the chosen one.”
Bai Lixin lightly traced the face of the man on the magazine cover with his fingertips. “How can I meet him?”
Father Fei’s eyes flickered twice. “Are you interested in him?”
Bai Lixin raised his gaze, his eyes deep and mysterious. “I’m just asking casually, there is no need to overanalyze.”
Father Fei smiled awkwardly, “If it were two years ago, there might be a chance to meet him. Now, it’s quite difficult. But if you really want to get to know him, there’s a high-level banquet in the city tonight at the luxurious Moon Bay Hotel in the city center.”
“He’ll be there, and if you want to go, you need an invitation. I happen to have one. If you want to attend, I’ll take you tonight. Although I’m no longer in charge, my network of connections is still intact.”
Bai Lixin: “What time in the evening?”
Father Fei: “The banquet starts at six thirty, so we need to leave by six. Get ready in advance.”
Bai Lixin scrutinized Father Fei.
Through these few days of observation, he noticed a pattern.
Father Fei and Li Manyu, except for the initial fear they showed when they first saw him at the police station, hadn’t displayed that emotion again after returning to the Fei family.
It was as if this emotion were just a bug in the system program.
When the little monster appeared, it first accused him of almost destroying the game. What did it say at that time?
It mentioned something about an information exchange, so was Li Manyu and Father Fei’s strange behavior during their first meeting due to an incoherent plot.
Facing Father Fei’s inquisitive eyes, Bai Lixin nodded, “Okay, I’ll go over in the evening.”
Father Fei’s earnest eyes instantly brightened.
S419M complained: [Lord Host, is he planning to find himself another benefactor? Trying to repeat the same trick, sacrificing you again for business benefits. I can hear his calculations even outside the galaxy! He should take a look in the mirror and see who he is!]
Bai Lixin then casually chatted with Father Fei for a while.
During this time, Father Fei showed great warmth towards Bai Lixin. From an outsider’s perspective, he looked like a very amiable and gentle father figure.
As lunchtime approached, Li Manyu leisurely returned from outside.
With a casual glance at the two in the hall, she walked straight to the back of the sofa where Father Fei was seated, gently embraced his neck from behind, then leaned forward and kissed him, “Husband, I’m back.”
Father Fei’s body stiffened slightly, and with an awkward glance towards Bai Lixin, he cooperated with Li Manyu’s actions, gently asking, “Have you eaten?”
Li Manyu shook her head, “Of course not. With my husband at home, how could I eat alone outside? Xiao Xin, what were you chatting about with your father just now? It seemed so joyful.”
Bai Lixin glanced at Li Manyu, who was asserting her dominance, and then looked at Father Fei before slowly standing up. “We were just chatting casually. I’ll go change upstairs and be right down.”
Before leaving, he took the magazine in his hand. “Let me borrow this book for a while. I’ll return it to you in a couple of days.”
…
Bai Lixin walked to the second floor and could vaguely hear the conversation between the two downstairs.
Father Fei: “What were you doing in front of the child just now? You made me very embarrassed, you know?”
Li Manyu’s voice was unhappy too, “Is there anything I haven’t done that embarrasses you? Child? Huh, have you ever treated him as a child? What father would do such things to his child? The worst person is you. Don’t stand on the moral high ground and accuse others, because you’re not worthy.”
Father Fei sighed, “Manyu, I admit I made mistakes. But aren’t all these things I did for the sake of our family?”
“And despite all the things you did to hurt me, I never said a word. Isn’t it because I love you?”
Li Manyu sneered, “Who you love is clear in your heart. What I did doesn’t even compare to a tenth of what you did. And so what if I did? If I can’t find the happiness I want from you, can’t I find it elsewhere?”
Father Fei’s voice suddenly rose, “Enough, don’t go too far. I can make you Mrs. Fei, and I can bring you down from this position. A skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Don’t repeatedly provoke me.”
Bai Lixin peered over the railing and saw Father Fei standing up from the sofa, confronting Li Manyu.
Li Manyu’s face turned red, and she glared at Father Fei angrily.. However, she didn’t say another word and turned to walk towards the stairs.
Seeing this, Bai Lixin immediately averted his gaze, pretending to go upstairs.
Li Manyu walked quickly, her shoes making crisp sounds on the wooden boards.
Soon, Li Manyu brushed past Bai Lixin, and just as she surpassed him by a couple of steps, she suddenly stopped, turned around abruptly, and looked at Bai Lixin with a pair of slightly reddened eyes, filled with a hint of resentment. “Vixen!”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Should I tell her I was once a real fox demon in a copy?’
S419M: [Ah, sorry, I made some dubious associations again.]
Bai Lixin sighed, [I can probably guess what you’re going to say.]
S419M: [Forget it, I’ll just say one thing. Damn, this is really messed up!]
[I always thought Li Manyu was infinitely charming. How beautiful must the original owner be to captivate everyone who saw him?]
[Li Manyu looks so resentful now. Coupled with her earlier “vixen” comment.]
[In the beginning when she was the third party, did she think she had hooked a wealthy husband, only to realize later that she accidentally became a co-wife?]
[No, she’s worse off than a co-wife. Because her legally recognized husband has developed feelings for her son.]
[Lord Host, tell me, is this karma? The karma of being the third party.]
[Father Fei is truly trash. He liked her son and later treated the boy he liked as merchandise to be traded.]
Bai Lixin: [The most unfortunate should be the original owner. He was inexplicably caught up in this hunting game, inexplicably resented by his mother, and inexplicably burdened with so much.]
The room was filled with an artistic atmosphere.
The opposite wall of the corridor was adorned with a vivid and eerie mottled blood-red, creating a strong visual impact.
Upon closer inspection, it was not random splotches but layers of roses.
The reason Bai Lixin initially found it blurry and mottled, and didn’t recognize it as roses at first glance was that the roses on the wall constantly overlapped, layer upon layer, presenting an overwhelming sea of red.
The Inner red was darker, becoming more vibrant and eerie towards the outer edge.
This wall resembled a frantically struggling hedgehog, and the striking red resembled it’s sharp steel needles.
The room was filled with plaster artworks, some depicting only the head, others portraying busts, half-length figures, and even full-length sculptures.
These faces were diverse, ranging from those of young girls and boys, to adults in their prime.
With a cursory glance, Bai Lixin estimated there were over a hundred of these stone statue artworks.
They were arranged in every corner of the room. The artworks were perfect, yet looked hollow. All were looking in the same direction, which was behind Bai Lixin, towards the back wall.
Bai Lixin slowly turned around, and upon seeing the back wall, his pupils contracted slightly.
It was a gigantic portrait covering the entire wall.
The protagonist in the portrait was a naked young boy, his body stretched, eyes slightly closed, with a delicate and slender physique exuding a flower-like beauty.
The boy appeared to be around ten years old, with his arms stretched above his head and vine thorns with sharp spikes entwined around him. On the vines, gorgeous and stunning roses bloomed.
The sharp thorns pierced the boy’s tender and fair skin, and spotted blood slowly oozed from the wounds.
The glaring red and the lustrous white entwined, forming a visually impactful and eerie image.
Despite numerous injuries, the boy’s face showed no sign of pain.
His eyes were slightly closed, and the enigmatic ambiguity in his slender eyes was indescribable. His mouth was slightly open, expressing a sense of ultimate pleasure.
In the right lower corner of the painting, inconspicuously written in black, are four characters. Bai Lixin approached to read them—Rose Boy.
The boy was like a beautiful and harmless canary, freely extending his body to please those outside the painting.
The person who created this picture painted it with enjoyment and venting.
Bai Lixin stared at the boy’s face, feeling that he had seen this beautiful face somewhere before.
He pondered for several seconds, suddenly remembered something, and walked to the corridor exit.
He looked at the face of the stone statue at the door, and then looked at the face of the boy in the painting again. After looking back and forth several times, Bai Lixin was sure that the facial features of the boy in the picture were the same as the face on the stone statue.
However, one was three-dimensional, and the other was flat.
One lacked a soul, and the other was richly imbued with emotion.
Although expressed differently, Bai Lixin could almost certainly say that a lot more effort was put into this painting.
S419M: [Lord Host, could the person in the painting be the real Second Young Master of the Fei family?]
Bai Lixin: [Probably.]
S419M: [This room belongs to Fei Yino, so the painting should be done by Fei Yino. To create such a painting…Fei Yino’s thoughts about the original owner are not straightforward. Despite appearing cold to the original owner on the surface, he privately painted such a piece—what is this? A twisted obsession?]
Bai Lixin: […]
S419: [If the person in the painting is the original owner, what are these plaster statues around?]
Bai Lixin surveyed the surroundings, walked to the nearest plaster statue, and gently traced the contours and marks of the facial features with his fingertips.
As he traced, Bai Lixin carefully examined the plaster statue. When his fingers reached the back of the head, Bai Lixin’s hand suddenly paused, and a faint gleam flashed in his eyes.
S419: [What’s wrong, Lord Host?]
Bai Lixin circled around to the back of the plaster, staring at the central point on the back of the head where a thin black thread emerged from the plaster.
The thread was resilient and slender. Bai Lixin touched the filament thoughtfully and said slowly in his mind, [There’s a hair here.]
S419M: [Fei Yino’s hair?]
Bai Lixin remained silent. He took the dagger from his backpack and thrust the sharp blade into the plaster.
The dagger only advanced a few centimeters before stopping. Carefully shaking the dagger handle from side to side, Bai Lixin caused the hard powder to fall, gradually revealing what was wrapped inside the plaster.
A tangle of black hair, knotted and solidified due to the mixture with plaster.
S419: [Holy Shit, Holy Shit! Head! A head! Shit!]
Bai Lixin’s gaze became gradually heavy. He didn’t stop his actions and continued to peel off the plaster.
Soon, with his movements, almost all the plaster fell to the ground, exposing what was concealed inside—a human head.
The facial features of this head were identical to the face on the plaster from before. Fei Yino had used the head as a mold and conducted a second creation, transforming the initially horrifying head into an exquisite piece of art.
Bai Lixin stared fixedly at the pale face of the head, shifting his gaze to the hundreds of plaster statues in the room.
S419M was utterly shocked, and could only scream: [Oh my God, no way, Lord Host, are all these statues in the room hiding corpses? I’m not feeling well at all, save me, save me.]
Thinking of being surrounded by corpses throughout the room, s419M just wanted to escape.
Bai Lixin randomly chose another plaster statue among them, this time a girl.
Still peeling away the plaster shell cautiously, unsurprisingly, inside was another pale face.
He randomly opened four like this, and all four held a “surprise.”
Bai Lixin’s eyes were ice-cold: [Indeed, it’s a “dare challenge,” it’s quite impactful.]
S419M was on the verge of fainting, but unfortunately, there was no fainting setting within the system. It said tremblingly: [Lord Host… who are these people? Damn it, I want to escape. I thought Fei Yino was just a yandere brother with greedy thoughts for his younger brother. I didn’t expect him to be a downright pervert! How did he manage to bring so many corpses here and turn them into plaster specimens? He’s terrifying, practically a murderous monster. Also, how did he kill so many people without anyone noticing? Did no one realize that people were missing?]
[Because these people aren’t originally from this city.] Bai Lixin calmly stated in his mind, [Fei Yino touched my face earlier, probably to confirm if I was the original owner.]
S419M was stunned for several seconds before exclaiming in shock: [If not, he kills you? So all these plaster statues in the room are from previous players? Didn’t that black furry monster say it had corrected the information line? Why does Fei Yino know?]
[And what’s going on here? If it’s a game, theoretically, when new players play the game, it should be reset. If it’s reset, the previous players shouldn’t be here. Why were they preserved one by one?]
[In that case, does Fei Yino always have memories from before the reset? Over a hundred plaster statues mean this game has been reset over a hundred times, and every person can’t escape Fei Yino’s control?]
[Is he a devilish bug? Is there something wrong with him?]
[Fuck,] s419M couldn’t help but curse, [After hearing your analysis this morning and knowing that Father Fei is not a good person, I thought Fei Yino might have a reversal and be a good person.]
[When I first saw this painting full of love just now, do you know what I thought of first, Lord Host?]
Bai Lixin: [You were thinking that Fei Yino deeply loves the original owner but cannot express it due to family ethics. He knew about the wicked actions of Father Fei toward the original owner but initially struggled due to weak power, unable to protect the original owner. It wasn’t until half a year ago that he finally found an opportunity to take control of the family and intentionally set the original owner free, letting him escape the misery. As for himself, he stayed behind to continue punishing Father Fei and Li Manyu.]
S419M: [Ah], [That’s right, that’s what I was thinking. I even thought this brother is not bad, he looks like a villain but is actually a warm-hearted person.]
[But now it seems that this family is simply a home of lunatics, all are villains, are afflicted with some ailment.]
[Li Manyu must know what Father Fei was doing with the original owner. He’s her biological son, and as a mother, she should protect her son. However, she turned a blind eye, whether it’s for the sake of wealth and prosperity or a genuine dislike for her own son.]
[The father, who appears refined and kind on the surface, is actually a hypocrite with a beastly heart. He treats the original owner as merchandise, trading it for benefits.]
[The brother is even more twisted, filled with an obsession for blood and slaughter. His desire for control surpasses that of Father Fei, if not being more insane.]
[I really don’t know how the original owner survived four years in this house. If it were me, I couldn’t endure even four months.]
[Luckily, the original owner ran away, and he ran away well. It’s best if he never comes back.]
The room was just this big, so it should be Fei Yino’s secret base. There was not much in the room, and after Bai Lixin circled around without finding hidden doors or secret rooms, he left the room.
Seeing Bai Lixin about to leave, s419M hurriedly said: [Lord Host, are you leaving like this? You’ve opened all the plaster. Won’t Fei Yino notice the problem when he comes in?]
Bai Lixin: [That’s exactly what I want him to see.]
S419M: [Huh?]
Bai Lixin: [I want to see the demon go mad.]
Bai Lixin frowned and scanned the room one last time before turning around and leaving.
The narrow passage exuded a damp earthy smell from both sides. Bai Lixin relocked the iron door, and retraced his steps.
When he returned to the living room, only Father Fei was sitting on the sofa reading a book, and Li Manyu’s whereabouts were unknown.
Perhaps hearing the footsteps, Father Fei shifted his gaze from the book, smiling gently at Bai Lixin. “Xiao Xin, why did you come in from outside? Where did you go just now?”
While changing into slippers at the entrance, Bai Lixin casually replied, “I took a stroll in the garden. Are you alone at home? Where’s my mother?”
Father Fei: “She went out for a beauty treatment. You know, your mom loves beauty.”
With a beckoning motion toward Bai Lixin, the man said, “Xiao Xin, come here. Let’s chat.”
“Okay.” Bai Lixin went along, sitting on the single sofa next to Father Fei. His gaze swept over the book in Father Fei’s hand.
It was still a financial magazine, and the worn-out condition of the cover didn’t look new. It was a magazine that had been around for some years.
Father Fei’s opening was similar to Li Manyu’s. He began with a question: “Do you really not remember anything?”
Bai Lixin nodded, “No, I don’t remember anything.”
Father Fei: “Then do you remember why you left home back then?”
Bai Lixin shook his head earnestly, “I don’t know. If you know, you can tell me.”
Father Fei: “I was seriously ill in bed at the time, and unconsciousness. I was lucky to survive. When I woke up, you were no longer at home.”
Bai Lixin: “Were you very seriously ill at that time?”
Judging from Father Fei’s current complexion and physical condition, he didn’t seem to have any major illness.
Father Fei sighed, “I took a stroll around the gates of hell.”
He seemed unwilling to delve into this topic, saying just that sentence before lowering his head to flip through the magazine.
Bai Lixin reached out, “Can I take a look at the magazine in your hand?”
“Oh, of course, but this is an old magazine from before. We don’t have many books at home, so I just took this one out to flip through.” Father Fei handed the magazine to Bai Lixin.
Bai Lixin took the magazine and immediately saw the man on the cover.
His expression froze for a second, and he casually asked, “Is this man on the cover also in our city?”
The cover featured a side profile shot of a sharp looking man.
The man was sitting on the leather sofa, his thick black hair meticulously combed back.
The angle was a ninety-degree side profile, his eyes were deep and profound, the brow, nose, corner of the lips, and jaw formed a perfect, sharply defined contour.
The man had a professional demeanor, and was staring straight ahead. He exuded an intimidating aura even while just sitting there. It was as if he were a fierce beast ready to launch an attack at any moment. Anyone could become his prey, instinctively instilling fear.
S419: [Oh, isn’t this Lord God? His hand even reaches here? Tsk, tsk, tsk, Lord Host, Lord God is truly going all out for you.]
Bai Lixin: […]
‘Please remove the three words ‘going all out.’”
In the prime spot of the cover, there was a striking headline.
“Shocking Rising Star in the Industry, the Next Business Tycoon.”
Father Fei: “This magazine is from over two years ago. The man on the cover is called Dijia. He’s not a native of our city; he came here four years ago after returning from abroad. In just over a year, he rose from an unknown businessman to the upper echelons of society in the business circle.”
“When I saw the title of this magazine, I thought it was exaggerated, but later I discovered that this person is indeed a business genius. In the two-plus years since then, his influence has spread across almost every lucrative industry. He is now a figure at the top of the pyramid in our city and even the national business circle.”
“Who would have thought he’s only twenty-eight years old.”
Father Fei’s eyes showed envy, “Some people are truly fed by the heavens. He’s practically the chosen one.”
Bai Lixin lightly traced the face of the man on the magazine cover with his fingertips. “How can I meet him?”
Father Fei’s eyes flickered twice. “Are you interested in him?”
Bai Lixin raised his gaze, his eyes deep and mysterious. “I’m just asking casually, there is no need to overanalyze.”
Father Fei smiled awkwardly, “If it were two years ago, there might be a chance to meet him. Now, it’s quite difficult. But if you really want to get to know him, there’s a high-level banquet in the city tonight at the luxurious Moon Bay Hotel in the city center.”
“He’ll be there, and if you want to go, you need an invitation. I happen to have one. If you want to attend, I’ll take you tonight. Although I’m no longer in charge, my network of connections is still intact.”
Bai Lixin: “What time in the evening?”
Father Fei: “The banquet starts at six thirty, so we need to leave by six. Get ready in advance.”
Bai Lixin scrutinized Father Fei.
Through these few days of observation, he noticed a pattern.
Father Fei and Li Manyu, except for the initial fear they showed when they first saw him at the police station, hadn’t displayed that emotion again after returning to the Fei family.
It was as if this emotion were just a bug in the system program.
When the little monster appeared, it first accused him of almost destroying the game. What did it say at that time?
It mentioned something about an information exchange, so was Li Manyu and Father Fei’s strange behavior during their first meeting due to an incoherent plot.
Facing Father Fei’s inquisitive eyes, Bai Lixin nodded, “Okay, I’ll go over in the evening.”
Father Fei’s earnest eyes instantly brightened.
S419M complained: [Lord Host, is he planning to find himself another benefactor? Trying to repeat the same trick, sacrificing you again for business benefits. I can hear his calculations even outside the galaxy! He should take a look in the mirror and see who he is!]
Bai Lixin then casually chatted with Father Fei for a while.
During this time, Father Fei showed great warmth towards Bai Lixin. From an outsider’s perspective, he looked like a very amiable and gentle father figure.
As lunchtime approached, Li Manyu leisurely returned from outside.
With a casual glance at the two in the hall, she walked straight to the back of the sofa where Father Fei was seated, gently embraced his neck from behind, then leaned forward and kissed him, “Husband, I’m back.”
Father Fei’s body stiffened slightly, and with an awkward glance towards Bai Lixin, he cooperated with Li Manyu’s actions, gently asking, “Have you eaten?”
Li Manyu shook her head, “Of course not. With my husband at home, how could I eat alone outside? Xiao Xin, what were you chatting about with your father just now? It seemed so joyful.”
Bai Lixin glanced at Li Manyu, who was asserting her dominance, and then looked at Father Fei before slowly standing up. “We were just chatting casually. I’ll go change upstairs and be right down.”
Before leaving, he took the magazine in his hand. “Let me borrow this book for a while. I’ll return it to you in a couple of days.”
…
Bai Lixin walked to the second floor and could vaguely hear the conversation between the two downstairs.
Father Fei: “What were you doing in front of the child just now? You made me very embarrassed, you know?”
Li Manyu’s voice was unhappy too, “Is there anything I haven’t done that embarrasses you? Child? Huh, have you ever treated him as a child? What father would do such things to his child? The worst person is you. Don’t stand on the moral high ground and accuse others, because you’re not worthy.”
Father Fei sighed, “Manyu, I admit I made mistakes. But aren’t all these things I did for the sake of our family?”
“And despite all the things you did to hurt me, I never said a word. Isn’t it because I love you?”
Li Manyu sneered, “Who you love is clear in your heart. What I did doesn’t even compare to a tenth of what you did. And so what if I did? If I can’t find the happiness I want from you, can’t I find it elsewhere?”
Father Fei’s voice suddenly rose, “Enough, don’t go too far. I can make you Mrs. Fei, and I can bring you down from this position. A skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Don’t repeatedly provoke me.”
Bai Lixin peered over the railing and saw Father Fei standing up from the sofa, confronting Li Manyu.
Li Manyu’s face turned red, and she glared at Father Fei angrily.. However, she didn’t say another word and turned to walk towards the stairs.
Seeing this, Bai Lixin immediately averted his gaze, pretending to go upstairs.
Li Manyu walked quickly, her shoes making crisp sounds on the wooden boards.
Soon, Li Manyu brushed past Bai Lixin, and just as she surpassed him by a couple of steps, she suddenly stopped, turned around abruptly, and looked at Bai Lixin with a pair of slightly reddened eyes, filled with a hint of resentment. “Vixen!”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Should I tell her I was once a real fox demon in a copy?’
S419M: [Ah, sorry, I made some dubious associations again.]
Bai Lixin sighed, [I can probably guess what you’re going to say.]
S419M: [Forget it, I’ll just say one thing. Damn, this is really messed up!]
[I always thought Li Manyu was infinitely charming. How beautiful must the original owner be to captivate everyone who saw him?]
[Li Manyu looks so resentful now. Coupled with her earlier “vixen” comment.]
[In the beginning when she was the third party, did she think she had hooked a wealthy husband, only to realize later that she accidentally became a co-wife?]
[No, she’s worse off than a co-wife. Because her legally recognized husband has developed feelings for her son.]
[Lord Host, tell me, is this karma? The karma of being the third party.]
[Father Fei is truly trash. He liked her son and later treated the boy he liked as merchandise to be traded.]
Bai Lixin: [The most unfortunate should be the original owner. He was inexplicably caught up in this hunting game, inexplicably resented by his mother, and inexplicably burdened with so much.]
