When Su Ning arrived, he was ambitious and determined to surpass Su Ran to become the great-grandfather’s most favored great-grandson. But when he left, his face was full of frustration. He even began to doubt whether being valued by the great-grandfather was a good thing.
After Su Weisheng playfully scared his little fox, he leisurely prepared to rest. On his way back to the east wing, he glanced through the window and caught the silhouette of Su Ran, head down, diligently writing. Bai Songyin, standing beside him, was speaking in Su Ran’s favor: “Great-grandfather, Brother Ran has accepted offers to compose theme songs for two renowned directors. He says he wants to develop his career and work hard to earn money!”
“Is that so? Last time he also said he wanted to record an album properly, but I didn’t see much come of it,” Su Weisheng remarked indifferently.
Bai Songyin hesitated and replied, “…Last time was just an excuse, but this time I feel Brother Ran is truly serious!”
“Let’s hope so. He’s too impulsive and needs to learn patience,” Su Weisheng calmly said. He wasn’t quick to celebrate, considering the young one’s lazy and capricious nature, which often lacked a sense of responsibility.
However, the next morning, when Su Weisheng woke up and opened the door, just about to step out, he looked up and was stunned to see his great-grandson cleaning the living room by himself. He quickly checked his phone. It was 7:15 in the morning—normally the time when Su Ran and Jiang Yimian would be heading to bed after an all-night gaming session. “…Did you stay up all night?” he asked.
“I did sleep, just woke up,” Su Ran answered naturally, as if his behavior was entirely normal.
Today, Su Ran wore a simple T-shirt and jeans. Apart from his jade earring, he wore no additional accessories. The dew-laden strands of hair on his forehead softened his typically sharp features, giving him an almost dog-like innocence. Pointing towards the dining room, the great-grandson proudly said, “Great-grandfather, look, I bought breakfast for you. It’s my turn for duties today. After tidying your room, I’ll come and eat.”
With that, he naturally walked past Su Weisheng and began tidying the messy desk in the bedroom.
Su Weisheng scrutinized him suspiciously with a couple of extra glances, confirming that the young rascal hadn’t been possessed by someone else before withdrawing his gaze. With some hesitation, he headed to the dining room in the main house, where Bai Songyin finally set up the tableware upon his arrival.
“Great-grandfather, I estimated you’d wake up around this time, and it turns out I was spot on!” Xiao Bai boasted proudly as he began unpacking the takeout boxes one by one. Steaming trays of shao mai, crystal-clear shrimp dumplings, and fragrant seafood congee were laid out in a neat row. Alongside the main dishes, a visually appealing dessert—ginger milk curd—was added for a special touch, clearly showcasing the buyer’s attentiveness.
Su Weisheng leisurely sat down and tasted a bit. Indeed, it was the work of a master chef.
As he was eating, the Lu family father and son arrived. Old Lu also carried takeout, but for convenience, he had only ordered soy milk and fried dough sticks from a nearby street vendor. Upon entering, he was immediately stunned by the grand feast at the great-grandfather’s table.
Old Lu exclaimed, “Where did this lavish breakfast come from?”
Bai Songyin smugly replied, “Naturally, my Brother Ran, who went out an hour earlier to honor our great-grandfather!”
Old Lu cast a subtle glance at Lu Huanjin.
Su Ran happened to follow in right after. Washing his hands, he glanced at the takeout in Old Lu’s hands and raised an eyebrow slightly. Turning to Lu Huanjin, he flashed a sarcastic smile and said, “Come on, Mr. Lu—every random investment of yours is worth millions, yet you let your father suffer hardships on the show with you?”
Caught in this back-and-forth banter between his father and his nemesis, Lu Huanjin squinted and retorted, “Not as thoughtful as Ran Bao. But I remember you don’t know how to drive. Isn’t it hard to get a ride around here?”
“I naturally have my ways; there’s no need for your sarcastic doubts,” Su Ran said with a look of utter disdain, showing not the slightest hint of guilt. Then, turning to Old Lu, he extended an invitation, “Uncle Lu, I really can’t stand how stingy Mr. Lu is. I bought plenty today, why don’t we share?”
The comment was undoubtedly aimed at humiliating Lu Huanjin.
However, before Old Lu could politely refuse, Lu Huanjin had already casually seated himself at the table. “Since Ran Bao is inviting us, Dad, there’s no need to stand on ceremony. After all, we’re family, right?” He grabbed a shrimp dumpling with his chopsticks and ate it, his face full of delight. “As expected of breakfast personally bought by Ran Bao—delicious!”
Su Ran was so infuriated by his shamelessness that he glared at him, but to everyone’s surprise, he didn’t erupt in anger. Perhaps trying to prove he was now a mature and responsible great-grandson, he merely let out a cold huff, ignored him, and instead sat down beside Su Weisheng. Picking up a piece of shao mai, he placed it on Su Weisheng’s plate and said, “Good morning, great-grandfather.”
Su Weisheng turned to look at him, intrigued. Judging by the self-assured manner of his great-grandson, it seemed the breakfast was indeed bought by him this time. After finishing the shao mai, Su Weisheng finally asked leisurely, “What’s caused this sudden change in behavior?”
Hearing his great-grandfather finally address him, Su Ran couldn’t help but smirk in pride before quickly suppressing it. Raising his chin slightly, he proudly said, “Tell that wild great-grandson of yours to stop wasting his schemes. I’ll take care of my great-grandfather myself—your food, clothing, and shelter will all be the best, without his interference!”
Ah, clearly, Su Ning must have deeply provoked him. Amused, Su Weisheng asked, “How long do you think you can keep this up?”
Su Ran declared fiercely, “I’ll keep it up until the day you take your last breath!”
Sounds quite impressive.
And indeed, it truly is.
Su Ran was likely deeply provoked, or perhaps he finally realized the crisis—that he wasn’t the sole “favored great-grandson”. If he didn’t start showing effort, he might genuinely be replaced. This time, it seemed he was resolutely determined to change himself and strive for improvement.
By midday, Su Ning once again brought Su Nan to visit, only to be denied entry at the gate by the guards whom the top star had bribed. Just as Su Ning leisurely prepared to handle this minor obstacle, he spotted Su Ran walking in with large bags of takeout.
Su Ning had ordered Jiangsu cuisine from Songyuan Residence, while Su Ran bought Cantonese dishes from Linji.
Su Ning smiled faintly, “Not bad, my dear cousin has learned how to copy homework.”
Su Ran retorted mercilessly, “Fair competition, nothing more. What, are you that insecure?”
The two cousins locked eyes and sneered simultaneously.
In the end, dishes from both establishments filled the dining table in a neat row. Since Su Weisheng couldn’t finish it all, he invited all the guests to join in for lunch. The guests were delighted, while the production team was utterly exasperated. Who could have foreseen that the carefully designed challenge of forcing guests to cook would be thwarted by these two dueling great-grandsons?
After lunch’s comedic farce ended, Su Ning and Su Ran parted ways but mulled over the same issue: How could one great-grandfather eat dishes from two great-grandsons? They had to eliminate that “wild great-grandson” across from them!
While in his bedroom, Su Ran wrote lyrics and composed music, yet he still found time to urge Xiao Bai for ideas. “Is there any way to completely stop Su Ning from delivering meals here?”
Bai Songyin pondered seriously and replied, “He’s delivering meals because the production team didn’t provide a chef. If someone here knows how to cook, he’d have no excuse to bring food anymore!”
Su Ran let out a cold laugh, tossed his phone over, and gritted his teeth. “Go, sign me up for an online crash course in cooking. I must learn to cook and show great-grandfather who his best great-grandson really is!”
And so, Su Ran’s days became packed—attending cooking classes, writing lyrics, composing new songs, participating in live streams for the show at night, practicing acting in his dreams late at night, and occasionally taking shifts to clean. Every moment of his schedule was filled to the brim.
Meanwhile, Su Ning was also contemplating the same issue: how to outdo his childish yet annoyingly persistent cousin.
Su Qian reported to him, “According to the staff we’ve placed in the production team, Su Ran has already started taking cooking classes to learn how to cook. Brother Ning, shouldn’t we focus less on competing with him and more on the major family matters that require your attention?”
“No!” Su Ning rejected firmly. “Great-grandfather’s affairs are my top priority. Go… go… find me a professional bartender as a teacher. My great-grandfather is very interested in cocktails; he just doesn’t know how to make them. If I learn first, we’ll have a shared interest. And what’s the point of Su Ran learning to cook? At best, he’s just a chef!”
Su Qian sighed, “…Alright.”
As a loyal aide, he could only follow orders, helplessly watching as the two great-grandsons spiraled into a frenzy of competition for their great-grandfather’s favor, relentlessly outdoing and undermining each other.
Thanks to Su Ran’s good performance and the fact that the plummeting stocks had already found a future buyer, Su Weisheng’s gaze toward his great-grandson softened significantly. So, that afternoon, while practicing calligraphy in the study, Su Ran came over to watch the fun—and wasn’t chased out.
Su Ran was grinding ink, and Su Weisheng casually wrote a few characters with his brush. Seeing that his great-grandfather’s writing consisted of auspicious blessing phrases, the great-grandson curiously asked, “Great-grandfather, do these words work like the talismans you gave me?”
“These words don’t contain spiritual energy, so they naturally aren’t as effective as talismans,” Su Weisheng replied casually. “However, if your wishes are strong enough, it’s possible for these words to manifest effects similar to talismans.”
Su Ran thought for a moment, then bowed piously to the phrase “May all your wishes come true,” muttering earnestly under his breath.
Su Weisheng: “…”
Recalling the infamous canned herring incident, Su Weisheng immediately pulled out a small jade hammer and smacked Su Ran’s forehead with it before unceremoniously kicking him aside. “Solve your issues with Lu Huanjin yourself, and don’t drag me into it.”
Feeling wronged, Su Ran covered his head and explained, “I’m not dragging you into anything, great-grandfather. It’s just that I’m frustrated because I can’t come up with lyrics. I was wishing for an outburst of inspiration to write some great songs…”
Su Weisheng gently patted his head and said warmly, “Can’t write anything, huh? No problem, great-grandfather will help you.”
Su Ran: “?”
Su Weisheng summoned a little paper figure from the underworld app, handed it the small jade hammer, and instructed, “Bug, go keep him company and help him focus on composing.”
Su Ran stared in horror at the paper figure in a white suit and blurted out, “Great-grandmother!”
Bug: “…”
The paper figure slowly picked up the small jade hammer, its dark red eyes fixing on him with an eerie glow. “Supervising a kid doing homework, huh? I’ll make sure to carry out the task properly.”
Su Ran shrank back with a whimper: QAQ
With Bug now assigned to watch over Su Ran, Su Weisheng finally got some peace and quiet. When he summoned Bug, he had unintentionally opened the underworld livestream, so he casually glanced at the barrage of comments, which, unsurprisingly, were filled with the idle chatter of bored ghosts.
[Has the High Priest found the High Priest’s spouse yet? Nope, today’s High Priest is still single.]
[Don’t even bring it up. We’ve exhausted all the ghosts in the underworld, and there’s barely a trace of any news about Yuan Le. It seems our High Priest is destined to die alone.]
Su Weisheng calmly remarked, “I don’t need to find him. He’s right by my side.”
[So you’re admitting he’s your spouse, huh? Huh? Huh?]
[Can’t believe we got beaten by the two of you while alive, and now we’re forced to ship your CP even in death.]
[Darn it, why do all of you have memberships, while I’m the only one stuck sending lonely solo comments!!!]
Su Weisheng: “…”
He rubbed his forehead, feeling speechless toward the overly lively ghosts. Yet after contemplating his relationship with Yuan Le, he said, “If there hadn’t been that accident back then, I would indeed have given him a proper title.”
The ghosts: ???
[What?! We were only joking about shipping your CP to mess with you, and now you’re outright admitting it’s real?]
Su Weisheng mocked them, “What’s there to be uncomfortable about for me? In fact, it’s quite easy for me to gross you out in return.” He started playing the Great Compassion Mantra on auto-loop.
The ghosts fell into silent despair.
After clearing his thoughts, Su Weisheng began focusing on serious matters. Recently, his attempts to summon Si Ming had been futile. Coupled with Bug’s report that he hadn’t seen Si Ming since taking up his role, Su Weisheng began to suspect Si Ming might be in trouble.
He turned off the live stream, ripped open the underworld experience card, closed his eyes, and let his consciousness drift into a hazy state. When he opened them again, he was in a boundless, desolate land. He was still wearing his original clothes, but now covered by a hidden black robe with a hood, seemingly an automatic preparation by the experience card.
Su Weisheng looked up at the crescent moon in the sky, then took out a paper crane and gently blew on it. The guiding crane took flight, leading him eastward. He walked for an indeterminate amount of time until he finally saw an old, dilapidated city. Endless streams of ghosts bustled within its confines, and its surrounding general stores and inns still retained the characteristics of centuries past. Entertainment was sparse, limited to establishments like mahjong parlors and card game rooms.
Su Weisheng frowned. The underworld was even more outdated than he had imagined, and the ghosts here were far less lively than they appeared in the livestream barrage. It seemed this was their true nature.
Why had the underworld fallen into such a state?
With this question in mind, he continued walking. Passing through layers upon layers of ghosts, he eventually stopped at a game parlor. Dressed in a black hooded cloak that obscured his features, Su Weisheng knocked on the counter and said, “I’m here to find someone.”
The shopkeeper yawned impatiently and asked, “Who are you looking for?”
“Su Laijin.”
Like a broken record, the shopkeeper shouted loudly into the back, “Su Laijin, someone’s here to see you!”
“No time!” Old Su’s voice boomed even louder than the shopkeeper’s. “I’m finally about to win a game, okay? Whoever it is, tell them to take a number and wait in line!”
Following the sound of the voice calmly, Su Weisheng arrived at the door of a private room. Inside, he saw a group of ghosts enthusiastically immersed in their card game. He stood at the doorway and asked, “Does everyone have to wait in line, no matter who it is?”
“That’s right!” Su Laijin responded with conviction. “Even if my dad were livestreaming right now, I wouldn’t bother going to watch! I must win this game!”
The other ghosts playing cards with him burst into laughter at his bold declaration.
Su Cheng unintentionally glanced at the unfamiliar visitor at the doorway. His gaze landed on the tall figure under the hood, and he paused, feeling a vague sense of familiarity. Nudging Su Yinian beside him, he stammered, “D-d-dad… Dad, look…”
Su Yinian was busy playing cards and glanced at the doorway absentmindedly. Upon seeing the hooded figure, his eyes accidentally met the icy, sharp gaze of the visitor. He froze, too, and quickly nudged Su Laijin beside him. “Dad! Dad, look at the door!”
“What’s there to look at? Just tell him to take a number and wait!” Su Laijin replied impatiently, dismissing it without much thought. But his son and grandson kept prodding him persistently, and he reluctantly turned his head. When his eyes met the hooded visitor, he recognized the familiar figure and aura, and his whole body stiffened. “D-d-dad… Dad…”
Their fellow card players laughed at them. “What’s going on? Why is everyone in your family calling for their dad?”
Su Laijin stammered, “…That… that might really be my dad!”
Su Weisheng slowly pulled down his hood, revealing his face. In the dimly lit room, his appearance was like moonlight descending, strikingly beautiful. His cold, dark eyes stared at them as he asked, “Take a number?”
The ghosts all turned to look and then collectively let out a terrified wail. The table was overturned in an instant as they scrambled into a corner, pointing at Su Weisheng with trembling hands and stammering, “H-High Priest…”
A group of ghosts, dead for centuries, looked more horrified at seeing a living person here than a living person might react to seeing a ghost.
Su Weisheng glanced at the trembling group of ghosts and recognized a few of them as former subordinates who had trained under him during their lifetimes, as well as a few rebel soldiers he had personally executed by breaking their necks. No wonder they were so terrified. Still, after death, dust returns to dust, and ash to ash. It was rather amusing that these individuals could now sit and enjoy playing cards together.
As he thought about this, Su Weisheng took a step forward. To his surprise, the group of cowardly ghosts immediately huddled together and backed away, their faces filled with both wariness and fear, as though terrified of having their necks twisted by him again.
Su Weisheng didn’t even spare them a glance. He casually picked a chair, sat down, and asked, “Why is the underworld so disorganized? Why don’t the underworld enforcers come out to maintain order?”
Cautiously, Su Laijin took two small steps forward and explained, “Dad, there are so many living people in the mortal world that many ghosts haven’t reincarnated even after hundreds of years. Over time, the underworld officials and enforcers just gave up. There used to be Si Ming managing everything, but even Si Ming has gone missing now…”
Su Weisheng asked in confusion, “What about the new Underworld Lord?”
The ghosts shook their heads in unison. “We’ve never seen them, nor have we heard of any new decrees. The last big change in the underworld was the livestream.”
The more he listened, the stranger it seemed. Why had the underworld fallen into such a state of utter neglect?
Su Weisheng knocked on the table and stated his purpose, “Take me to Si Ming’s residence.”
Su Laijin finally sighed in relief. Dad, if you’d just said earlier that you were here to find Si Ming, we wouldn’t have had to be scared out of our wits! With that thought, he quickly led his father away, allowing the other ghosts to breathe a collective sigh of relief.
Soon after, news of the High Priest’s appearance spread rapidly across the underworld, causing yet another uproar.
“He can still come down here?”
“Whoa, if he can come down here, doesn’t that mean we can’t provoke him in the livestream anymore? After all, if we taunt him, it’s way too easy for him to follow us down here for a real-life fight…”
“But his livestream clearly looks like it’s run by the official underworld authorities. If he can descend here, does that mean the underworld is finally planning to settle us properly?”
Led by Su Laijin, Su Weisheng arrived at Si Ming’s residence. Standing before the towering gates, he furrowed his brows slightly. Si Ming had always been a disciplined and rigorous person, yet now even the gates were covered in dust—it seemed something serious might have truly happened to him.
Su Weisheng stepped forward and tried to push the door open, but it wouldn’t budge. He attempted to sense the remnants of past events within, and faintly, two voices echoed in his mind.
“The position of the Underworld Lord should rightfully belong to you. Why is the underworld choosing someone else?”
“Perhaps because I have flaws that make me unfit for the role. However, Heaven hasn’t clarified what those flaws are—only that the new Underworld Lord will provide me with the answer.”
“Even if the new Underworld Lord is selected externally, it shouldn’t be some young brat. No matter how much merit he’s earned in the mortal realm, how could he compare to you? Or is it simply because his cultivation technique is unique?”
The indignant voice gradually faded, and Su Weisheng heard a new conversation.
A clear, bright voice said, “Si Ming, please arrange for my reincarnation.”
“Are you certain? This kind of behavior is essentially exploiting a loophole. Even if I let you do it, it won’t be a good thing for you in the end.”
“I’ve made up my mind. To carry on my father’s legacy, I must exploit this loophole!”
The voice faded again, disappearing entirely.
Su Weisheng suddenly opened his eyes and took two steps back. The splitting pain in his head gradually subsided as he massaged his temples, repeatedly pondering the meaning behind these two fragments of conversation.
As he suspected, the new Underworld Lord was likely Yuan Le, though the specifics of his rise to power were questionable. Clearly, there were hidden circumstances at play. If Yuan Le was indeed the Underworld Lord, then the paper figure was most likely him, having erased his own memories to play the role. As for Si Ming, it seemed probable that Yuan Le had retaliated against his rival and locked him up.
The second fragment, however, was more straightforward. It was evidently a dialogue between Su Laiyin and Si Ming. Within it lay a crucial piece of information: the youngest son’s eagerness to reincarnate wasn’t due to embarrassment or a desire to avoid facing old acquaintances—it was part of his plan to continue the family’s legacy.
Concerned, Su Laijin called out to him, “Father…”
“I’m fine,” Su Weisheng replied with a wave of his hand. “Notify me immediately if there’s any news about Si Ming.”
“Understood.”
With that, Su Weisheng closed his eyes and left the underworld.
As his soul slowly returned to his body, the familiar sensation of weight brought Su Weisheng to gradually open his eyes. He was met with an enlarged, handsome face, fox-like eyes blinking mischievously, directly locking gazes with him.
The two were very close, their breaths audible in the quiet space.
Su Weisheng looked at him expressionlessly.
You Sui, sitting beside him with one hand propped on the table, showed no trace of embarrassment at being caught. Smiling, he said, “Your breathing stopped again just now, same as last time.”
Su Weisheng slowly spoke, his voice slightly hoarse, “What are you here for?”
You Sui replied confidently, “I’m here to call my guest to work. The show’s about to start.”
Su Weisheng: “You were just trying to kiss me.”
“What?” Before You Sui could respond, familiar barking came from the doorway.
Su Ran stormed in, pointing at You Sui and shouting furiously, “What are you trying to do? Kiss my great-grandfather? Are you crazy? You even want to harass your own guest! Let me tell you, my great-grandfather already has my great-grandmother, so you better give up…”
As he spoke, he tried to pull the two apart, determined to protect his great-grandfather’s honor.
You Sui subdued him with one hand.
Just as Su Ran was about to continue berating him for being shameless, You Sui dropped a bombshell: “What are you yelling about? I am your great-grandmother.”
At this moment, he could still smile cheekily at Su Weisheng and tease, “Didn’t you say I’m Le’er? Then, as your not-yet-official fiancée and Su Ran’s great-grandmother, I suppose it’s reasonable for me to discipline my great-grandson, right?”
He had even evolved to the point where he could openly admit to being “Le’er.”
Su Ran: “???”
Who? Who the heck are you claiming to be?
Su Weisheng, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched this shameless display of coquettishness and affectionate clinging. This fellow was gradually reverting to the persona of Yuan Le from his past life.
Poor Si Ming. I hope he’s alright!
So Yuan Le was indeed the new underworld lord, though I wonder what really happened?