UCS Chapter 88.1

Even for people in their circle, meeting Liao Zitu wasn’t easy.

 

Because Wen Shidai publicly claimed that Liao Zitu was physically weak and unsuitable for crowded places, she almost never attended the usual banquets and activities.

 

Though the police had already applied for search warrants, at this time, everything about Liao Zitu was speculation. To avoid alerting her, they still hoped to observe Liao Zitu herself through more tactful means.

 

This wasn’t difficult for Gao Shi.

 

“Holy shit! Boss Gao, you look so handsome dressed like this!”

 

Yin Ling looked at Gao Shi after changing clothes, clapping like a little seal.

 

Gao Shi uncomfortably adjusted his collar slightly, “Let’s go, Xiuxiu.”

 

Zhuang Xiuxiu, wearing clothes provided by Gao’s mother, hesitantly stood beside Gao Shi.

 

Others might have difficulty meeting the Wen family, but this difficulty didn’t amount to much for Gao Shi. After all, Gao Shi was also a young master of the Gao family. If Gao Shi came to the Wen family, Wen Shidai would certainly come out to receive him.

 

Correspondingly, with Gao Shi bringing a female companion, Liao Zitu as the family matriarch should also come out to receive them.

 

Not long ago, Wen Liang had tried to force Gao Gusheng, only to be sent to prison by Gao Shi in return. This incident had created a feud between the Gao and Wen families.

 

The Gao family certainly couldn’t forgive what Wen Liang had done, while the Wen family felt the Gao family was making too big a deal of it.

 

However, no matter how much both sides wanted to directly fall out, this visit would inevitably allow them to meet Wen Shidai and Liao Zitu in person.

 

Because the Gao family’s financial resources far exceeded the Wen family’s, even if they weren’t in the same field, if the Gao family wanted to move against the Wen family, the Wen family couldn’t handle it. To avoid angering the Gao family, Wen Shidai would certainly appear, and Liao Zitu, as the “perpetrator’s mother,” would necessarily show her attitude to appease the “victim’s father.”

 

…

 

The group drove to the Wen family mansion. Zhuang Xiuxiu followed behind Gao Shi, hesitating as she looked at his arm.

 

She felt vague gazes staring from behind.

 

Zhuang Xiuxiu sighed inwardly—Sigh, should she take the captain’s arm or not?

 

Finally, out of professional duty, Zhuang Xiuxiu still linked arms with Gao Shi.

 

Zhuang Xiuxiu felt the gaze from behind seemed to become more intense.

 

Just then, Gao Shi suddenly turned and said, “Daoist Ying, there’s something I need to ask of you.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“I’m feeling anxious. I keep thinking something might have happened to Lele. Could you help me go check on him?”

 

It should be nothing.

 

Lele had many different protective charms, plus Kongmiao’s protection—there shouldn’t be any problems. But for some reason, he still felt anxious.

 

He thought of Yin Ling who had encountered ghost walls, Kongmiao who wanted to come down the mountain but was repeatedly troubled by evil spirits and love gu. He felt that something in the dark was obstructing protection for Gao Gusheng.

 

Each time he thought preparations were foolproof, there would always be unexpected incidents.

 

It was like this at home that time, and also when he was kidnapped by Li Mochen.

 

Regarding Gao Gusheng’s situation, it seemed only he and Ying Bujie could escape the plot’s constraints.

 

“Alright,” Ying Bujie nodded, but the next second he stepped forward, gently lifted Gao Shi’s hand, nuzzled Gao Shi’s hand with his cheek, then disappeared.

 

The slightly cool, soft sensation lingered on his hand, but the person was already gone.

 

Gao Shi felt somewhat helpless.

 

Perhaps because Ying Bujie’s earthly soul was finally complete, he seemed particularly persistent about more intimate actions with him.

 

In Gao Shi’s view, it was like a child wanting to nestle beside their mother. According to Gao Shi’s speculation, this should be due to his incomplete heavenly soul.

 

With an incomplete heavenly soul, Ying Bujie’s intelligence remained at a young age. Children at this age craved parental touches and embraces. Plus, Ying Bujie wasn’t good with words, so his expression of “desire” was more through eating and physical contact.

 

So Ying Bujie would occasionally nuzzle close to him, gently touching the side of his fingers with fingertips.

 

Ying Bujie never had inappropriate behavior and was always careful, giving Gao Shi the feeling of a rescued stray kitten tentatively approaching its caretaker. It didn’t cause him any trouble, so Gao Shi always indulged these small gestures.

 

However, this action was more intimate than before—was it because after his earthly soul became complete, he felt reluctant about leaving his side for the first time? Like sending a child to kindergarten?

 

…Damn, it was kind of cute.

 

Unlike Gao Shi’s subtle mood, Zhuang Xiuxiu silently smoothed the goosebumps on her arms.

 

What was that? The look Daoist Ying gave her just now was a warning, right! Absolutely a warning!

 

Gentle and affectionate on the surface, declaring sovereignty in private—who knew you were this kind of Daoist Ying!

 

Zhuang Xiuxiu let out a fangirl scream in her heart.

 

“Preparations complete. Attention, Team One ready to depart.”

 

“Received! Team Two ready!”

 

The group entered alert status. Zhuang Xiuxiu linked arms with Gao Shi, and the two walked gracefully toward the Wen family mansion.

 

…

 

When they reached the entrance of the Wen family mansion, Wen Shidai was waiting at the front gate to receive them.

 

Actually, Gao Shi was currently just a young master of the Gao family. Even though the Gao family would eventually fall into Gao Shi’s hands, Wen Shidai was the Wen family head while Gao Shi was an heir who hadn’t yet inherited the Gao family. Whether by seniority or status, he was a level above Gao Shi. Theoretically, he didn’t need to greet them at the front gate like this, but there was no choice—his family was in the wrong.

 

Wen Shidai had cursed his bad luck countless times in his heart. He never expected his usually reliable son would cause such a huge mess. He could have smoothed over his son molesting any other family’s boy, but it had to be the Gao family’s young master.

 

Now look what happened—he got thrown into jail!

 

Seeing these two people before him, Wen Shidai’s heart was full of doubt.

 

One of his sons was already in prison—why were these two still coming over? Could they want to continue settling scores? After all, that little Gao brat wasn’t actually harmed, and his son was already in prison. There was no need to continue making trouble, right?

 

Though Wen Shidai’s mental activity was very rich, he still smiled warmly on the surface and politely welcomed Gao Shi and his companion inside.

 

“Ha! What a pleasure! I’ve long heard of Young Master Gao’s reputation! That piece of land under your management has probably increased in value dozens of times by now, hasn’t it?”

 

“The Wen family’s ability to develop to such heights in just a few years under Master Wen’s leadership is an achievement I can never hope to match.”

 

The two men extended their hands—one honeyed words hiding daggers, the other smiling without warmth. Zhuang Xiuxiu stood awkwardly to the side, her toes curling in embarrassment. These two’s acting was like watching two D-list male actors with expressionless faces in a web drama, using their only skills of staring and opening their mouths to perform opposite each other.

 

After the two “male actors” finished their scene, Gao Shi and Zhuang Xiuxiu were finally led into the Wen family home.

 

Sure enough, the legendary Liao Zitu also appeared.

 

Unlike the rumors, Liao Zitu was actually a very beautiful and elegant woman. At first glance, you couldn’t tell at all that she came from a remote small village.

 

But Liao Zitu’s complexion was indeed somewhat pale, looking like she wasn’t in good health. Could the rumors be true? Was she really frail and sickly, unable to attend crowded occasions?

 

If this rumor was true, then Liao Zitu’s appearance at Zhou Yun’s suicide scene became even more suspicious.

 

At this moment, the butler brought tea pots and cups. As the hostess, Liao Zitu personally served tea for the four people.

 

“This is this year’s new tea. Please.”

 

Liao Zitu’s voice carried a slight hoarseness, which instead added a unique charm to her, reminiscent of flowers bathed in rain.

 

She handed the tea cups to Gao Shi and Zhuang Xiuxiu. Out of politeness, Gao Shi and Zhuang Xiuxiu reached out to accept them.

 

However, the moment she handed it to Gao Shi, as their fingertips briefly touched, Liao Zitu’s hand trembled and she almost spilled the scalding tea on Gao Shi’s hand.

 

Liao Zitu coughed lightly twice and quickly apologized, “Sorry, I’m not in good health. My hand couldn’t hold the tea cup steady just now.”

 

Gao Shi’s face showed appropriate concern, “It’s alright. We already knew about your poor health. We brought some white fungus soup and guilinggao[mfn]Guilinggao is a dark, jelly-like substance traditionally made from the powdered shell (specifically the plastron or bottom shell) of the golden coin turtle (Cuora trifasciata) combined with various medicinal herbs, particularly Smilax glabra (土伏苓, tufuling or China root).[/mfn] this time. Although the Gao family can’t compare to the Wen family in pharmaceuticals, we still hope you’ll recover soon.”

 

Liao Zitu nodded gently with elegant posture, like a flower swaying in wind and rain, “Thank you.”

 

Though Liao Zitu’s expression remained calm, Gao Shi clearly noticed her fingertips curl slightly when she heard the words “guilinggao.”

 

Gao Shi narrowed his eyes slightly.

 

It was confirmed—Liao Zitu indeed had problems.

 

Gu were extremely yin and cold entities, while he had a pure yang constitution. Liao Zitu’s strong reaction to contact with him indicated she was likely connected to gu, or even had other gu insects on her body.

 

Furthermore, gu insects were poisonous creatures, and guilinggao had heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. Though gu insects couldn’t be explained by conventional theory, they had brought a box of extremely expensive guilinggao to try.

 

From Liao Zitu’s reaction, even if gu insects might not actually fear guilinggao, being poisonous creatures, they would instinctively feel revulsion.

 

After everyone put down their tea cups, the conversation finally entered the main topic. Wen Shidai asked with a smile, “May I ask what brings Young Master Gao here this time?”

 

Gao Shi also smiled at him, this smile much more genuine than before, “I came mainly for two matters.”

 

“First, it’s about your son.”

 

Wen Shidai sighed, “Ah… I’m also very sorry about what my scoundrel son did. It’s my fault for not disciplining him strictly enough. But since my son has already been sentenced to three years, shouldn’t that atone for his crimes this time?”

 

In their circle, according to unspoken agreements, matters were naturally handled within the circle—why involve police? It was utterly embarrassing!

 

Wen Shidai’s demeanor changed, becoming somewhat sharp.

 

His son was already imprisoned—if the Gao family still wasn’t satisfied, that was going too far.

 

However, Gao Shi still appeared somewhat nonchalant, as if Wen Shidai’s aggressive attitude had no effect on him, “No, it’s not about that matter. I’m just curious—I’ve never heard of the Wen family having two sons before. How is it that a second young master of the Wen family suddenly appeared?”

 

Wen Shidai seemed to lean back with relief, his posture appearing relaxed, but he couldn’t fool Gao Shi’s eyes. Gao Shi could tell from his slightly tense muscles that after mentioning Wen Yan, Wen Shidai wasn’t relieved at all—he was even more nervous, as if anxious about something.

 

What was he nervous about? Or rather, what was he hiding?

 

The expression on Wen Shidai’s face was like an ordinary father mentioning his sickly child, “Our second son—his health has been poor since childhood. Because his body was too weak, he was kept in medical facilities year-round.”

 

“Later we asked a Daoist to read my child’s fortune. The Daoist said his fate was too fragile, so we should claim he was dead to fool the King of Hell.”

 

Wen Shidai spread his hands, “Though I don’t believe this, my wife does. And with one’s own child, health is most important. It’s better to believe such things exist than not, so our second son stays in the mansion and rarely meets people. That’s why people in the circle haven’t seen him.”

 

He scratched his head with some distress, “Actually, this matter is really hard to explain… sigh… forget it, let me tell you the truth, but Young Master Gao, please don’t be angry—actually, our eldest son was the one who originally liked Young Master Gao.”

 

“Our eldest had a one-inch photo of Young Master Gao in his wallet, but somehow our second son saw it. Once he saw it, he was completely smitten—love at first sight! That scoundrel actually drugged his brother with sleeping pills and went to the gathering in his place!”

 

Wen Shidai pressed his temples with some frustration, “The two brothers always had a good relationship before. The eldest, considering that the second had always been locked up at home, wanted to tell him interesting things, so he told him about school matters in great detail.”

 

“Now look what happened! The second and eldest are identical twins who look alike. Plus, the eldest had told the second about school, so the second’s impersonation was spot-on! We even had dinner with him that day, and even we two didn’t recognize that this ‘eldest’ was actually the second pretending.”

 

“…After that incident, our eldest and second completely fell out. After the second went to prison, the eldest never visited him once.”

 

Wen Shidai’s face showed appropriate fatigue, “Sigh… this matter… this matter is also my fault for failing to educate my sons properly. But since the second has already been punished, Young Master Gao, could you please not pursue this matter further?”

 

Though Wen Shidai’s words seemed rigorous, they were full of holes—they might fool others but not Gao Shi. However, he didn’t expose them.

 

Yin Ling’s voice came through the earpiece, “Boss Gao, the formation outside is ready and can be activated anytime.”

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