In a small place like this, average incomes were low. A meal running four or five hundred bucks was already extravagant. Fancier spots just couldn’t survive—there weren’t enough big spenders. Anyone with real money had long since moved to the big cities. Why stick around here?
“Oh, alright…” Zhao Chengying handed Xiao Ba back to Chen Ji with a hint of disappointment. Chen Ji casually placed the System Cat in the passenger seat and was about to climb into the car when he noticed the man in the off-road vehicle staring right at him.
Chen Ji frowned slightly. Instead of getting in, he turned and headed back toward the Vehicle Management Office.
Once he was out of sight, the man finally spoke. “Still staring? He’s long gone. Aren’t you getting in the car?”
Zhao Chengying pressed his lips together and slid into the vehicle. The man was about the same age as him, twenty-three or twenty-four, and he teased, “That guy—the one you came all this way to this godforsaken place to find? You’re really going all out.”
Everyone in their circle knew that after graduation, the young master Zhao had gone off the deep end, insisting on becoming a programmer. Even when offered a cushy position taking over one of his family’s internet subsidiaries, he refused and stuck with that tiny company for over a year, content with its meager salary. Whenever anyone invited him out, he was always “too busy with overtime.”
But more than a year later, after his boss quit, he followed suit and started searching the world for him. That was when everyone realized the truth: Zhao wasn’t obsessed with coding—he was obsessed with the man.
And that boss was easy on the eyes. Leaving aside his handsome face—beauties were a dime a dozen in their circle—what stood out was his aura. It was crisp and pure, seemingly gentle yet elusive, giving off an untouchable vibe. Chen Ji had seemed like one of their own at first glance.
Zhao Chengying glanced sideways at him and said coldly, “Yun Shaoyang, shut your mouth.”
The other man shrugged indifferently. “Tch. Lucky for him—I was just thinking that if he’d driven off, I could’ve bumped him. He probably couldn’t afford the damages, so you’d cover it and he’d owe you a favor…”
“Don’t pull any stupid stunts,” Zhao Chengying warned. “You’re my brother. Don’t make me turn on you.”
Yun Shaoyang threw his hands up in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. So where to now? Really hitting up Haidilao?”
Zhao Chengying shot back, “What else? Instant noodles from the supermarket?”
Yun Shaoyang drawled in his usual slacker tone, “Alright, Haidilao it is… Later in S City, you owe me at least two solid meals.”
Before the words had even settled, both their phones chimed. They glanced down. Yun Shaoyang skimmed the message and snorted. “Nearby, my ass. Two hours driving plus two hours hiking up the mountain? This guy’s a pain to chase—living out in the sticks like that.”
Zhao Chengying pondered for a moment. “Head back after we eat.”
“You’re not serious? You really plan to stick around chasing him?” Yun Shaoyang said incredulously. “Think it through—your family won’t let you waste another year or two here.”
They were both heirs to family empires. Zhao had graduated early and been given a couple years to chase his dreams—that was reasonable. But now it was time to step into the family business and learn the ropes. They couldn’t wait until he was in his thirties or forties, clueless about everything, before handing him the keys to the kingdom.
“Besides, the guy’s holed up in the boonies. He only comes down the mountain once a week, sometimes every ten days or half a month. How do you even chase that? Go full wilderness survival in the hills?” Yun Shaoyang rubbed his chin with a sly grin. “Actually, not a bad idea. Pretend you’re hiking, get ‘injured’ somewhere remote, and wait for your boss to rescue you. Then you can shamelessly recover at his place, all pitiful and helpless…”
Zhao Chengying said nothing. Yun Shaoyang huffed softly. Though they’d grown up together like brothers, he wasn’t optimistic about Zhao’s chances.
That boss probably didn’t swing that way, and he seemed like the stubborn type—millions in cash on hand, no family to speak of. Unless he agreed, snagging him wouldn’t be easy.
If Zhao had any pride, this could end up a total bust.
Meanwhile, the System Cat was yapping away: [I’m telling you, Zhao Chengying’s definitely into you!]
Chen Ji watched as his car headed toward the Farmers’ Market. He’d recommended a few spots to Zhao Chengying, but he had no intention of actually eating with him, so he veered off to a nearby eatery instead. After lunch, he could stock up on veggies and meat at the market, have Second Master Huang help with the delivery package—perfect day all around.
The big kitty at home was waiting to be fed, after all.
[Whatever,] Chen Ji replied indifferently. Someone liking him was their business, not his. He’d never crossed any lines in their interactions or accepted any gifts, so he had no obligation to respond.
In a wicked mood, he added to the System Cat, [If you’re so curious, why not eavesdrop on what they’re saying?]
The System Cat hesitated. [Nope, that’d violate the System Code!]
It paused, then whispered, [How about you tail their car? If we’re close enough for me to hear, it doesn’t count as breaking the rules.]
[Nuts,] Chen Ji laughed and cursed. [What good would hearing do? I’m not going anyway. If you want to, go yourself.]
Frustrated at missing the gossip, the System Cat fired up its music app and started scrolling through thumbnails of hot guys and girls in skimpy outfits. AI-generated edge content was all the rage lately, and it loved that stuff. As it put it, it wasn’t the simulated humans teasing the edges—it was the AI at the core doing the teasing.
After listening, Chen Ji felt he not only didn’t understand the world of the rich but also had no clue about the world of AIs.
Lunch wrapped up smoothly. Chen Ji headed to buy groceries but found the market vendors all napping. He decided to nap in the car instead, parking in a sunny spot. He draped a stack of newspapers over his face, cracked the window for a sliver of cool spring breeze, and basked in the warm sun. Pure bliss.
When he woke, he snagged veggies and meat at closing prices and headed home.
That evening, An SF Express drone dropped Chen Ji’s seafood order right at the Mountain Lord Temple’s front gate. Grandpa White Tiger jumped in surprise. After looking around and seeing no one, he approached the package.
The label read: “Seafood—refrigerate immediately! Keep out of direct sunlight!” Grandpa White Tiger paused, then grabbed the massive box in his mouth and dragged it to the kitchen. Unfortunately, his tiger form wasn’t ideal for cramming it into the fridge. After a moment’s hesitation, he shifted to human form, removed a shelf from the freezer, and successfully stowed it away.
He was about to revert when a voice said: 【Your wounds have healed. Why haven’t you left?】
His gaze turned icy. Glancing back, he saw a golden-brown yellow weasel perched on the windowsill, licking its paw. 【Staying any longer isn’t good for Chen Ji.】
Second Master Huang said pointedly.
The young man was Chang Xu. He replied coolly, 【None of your business.】
Second Master Huang sneered. 【How is it not? You keep relying on your connection to Grandpa Mountain Lord… We can’t touch you. But Chen Ji’s just an ordinary guy. How could he withstand it?】
【Last time, you nearly took his life… You took on that injury yourself, didn’t you?】 Second Master Huang drawled, his voice carrying an eerie childish lilt. 【I like him plenty. As long as he never leaves Little Azure Mountain, I can keep him safe and sound forever. But with you here? Not so sure…】
Chang Xu’s expression was like frost. 【Get lost.】
Second Master Huang stiffened, shot Chang Xu a venomous glare, and leaped onto the roof.
Beep-beep-beep—the fridge chimed from being left open too long. Chang Xu closed the door.
Perhaps it was time to go.
Staying in the temple only provoked Him into madness.
White Tiger slipped out of the temple and vanished into the underbrush. Moments later, Chen Ji arrived at the gate astride the Little Ghost Fire, with Little Translator in tow. He carried a big bag of food and supplies, entering happily. Seeing this, White Tiger turned and left.
Chen Ji pulled out a massive ostrich feather cat teaser stick from the plastic bag—one he’d bought for White Tiger. The seller swore it didn’t shed and could withstand rough play. He swung it around the courtyard but saw no sign of White Tiger. Figuring he was still dozing in his side room, Chen Ji planned a surprise. He pushed open the door—only to find it empty.
Chen Ji frowned and called out tentatively, “Xiangxiang? Xiangxiang, you there?”
“Guai Guai, come on out. I brought you a gift!”
No response.
He stepped into the yard and spotted the red-furred fox poking its head out. With a look at Little Translator, the little guy went over to ask. Soon he returned: 【Brother Chen, Brother Chen! Red Fur says Grandpa White Tiger went out!】
Something must have come up—or maybe he was off playing.
Chen Ji wasn’t surprised. He thanked the red-furred fox and Little Translator, then stowed the teaser stick. He’d give it to him when he got back.
He’d planned to bathe him yesterday, but White Tiger had done it himself. Now he’d run off again today—well, another bath when he returned.
Chen Ji noticed the seafood delivery in the fridge and wondered who’d put it there. Maybe the SF Express guy? The System Cat had ordered plenty. He set aside most for White Tiger and kept enough for a good meal with the System Cat, Second Master Huang, Little Translator, and the rest.
At ten o’clock that night, fresh from his bath, Chen Ji checked the side room. Still no White Tiger.
At eleven, another check—no sign.
At midnight, he called Little Translator over. The little one had stayed in the temple that night after overeating. Chen Ji patted his head. “Grandpa White Tiger still isn’t back, and I’m getting worried. Could you look for him?”
Little Translator’s eyes were heavy with sleep, but he nodded blearily and headed out. At two in the morning, he returned: 【Brother Chen, Brother Chen! Grandpa White Tiger says he’s not coming back! Told you not to wait for him anymore!】
Chen Ji froze, then said mildly, “Thanks.”
Exhausted from the day’s bustle, he climbed into bed, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
The next morning, Chen Ji tucked the ostrich feather teaser stick into a cabinet in the side room. Ah, he’d probably overdone the teasing and scared off Guai Guai.
No matter. He could wait for their next unexpected encounter.
