Chapter 22: Gaining the Organization’s Attention

The bright sunlight baked his cheeks, its warmth becoming unbearable.  

Rubbing his sore eyes, Ren Ye groggily woke up. A sharp, acrid smell of smoke hit his nose, making him cough twice involuntarily.  

Looking up, he saw a familiar old face — and the ever-present eye gunk.  

Standing by the bed, Huang Wei craned his neck, grinning widely. “You’re definitely the reformed convict I had my eye on. You’ve got some real skills!”  

Ren Ye frowned, glancing around the room. The air was thick with smoke. Sniffing it, he recognized the brand. Liqun.  

“Brother Huang, aren’t you worried about getting lung cancer with all this smoking?”  

“I’m a strength-based warrior; my cardio’s top-notch,” Huang Wei replied casually while fishing his phone out of his pocket. “I could chain-smoke three cartons here and still be fine.”  

“Well, I’m not fine! Brother, secondhand smoke is immoral!” Ren Ye’s bloodshot eyes narrowed as he held out a hand. “Gimme one.”  

“Everything can wait a moment,” Huang Wei said, plopping down on the bed and handing his phone to Ren Ye. “Call your sister first. Hurry up, or I might get suspended today.”  

Suspended?  

Ren Ye was taken aback, his expression blank. “What suspension? Why should I call my sister?”  

“Because your sister not only wants to sue Qingfu Prison but is also planning to sue us.” Huang Wei’s eyes brimmed with helplessness. “I swear, your whole family is just impossible to deal with.”  

“Sue you? What happened?” Ren Ye was even more confused now.  

“She and your dad visited the prison right after you got taken out. Since you weren’t there, we had to come up with a convincing excuse. The prison told her that you were temporarily transferred to assist in a major case you’d been involved with before. They said your role was to provide leads and assist with arrests, and with good performance, you might even get a sentence reduction.  

“That should’ve been great news, right? Any other family would’ve been thrilled!” Huang Wei’s eyes practically popped out of his head as he stared at Ren Ye. “But your sister? She acted like we picked her up off the street! The moment she heard you were removed, she insisted on speaking with you directly. She argued that even prisoners have rights and that the prison had no authority to assign you to something so dangerous without your consent. If she couldn’t contact you, she’d start livestreaming… even threatening to sue the Prosecutor’s Office! Yesterday, she even bought virtual gifts during her livestream as a warm-up. I got chewed out by my superiors for this!”  

“…Heh.”  

Ren Ye gave a helpless chuckle. “That’s just her style.”  

“That’s your so-called well-educated family? You even wanted me to help her get a job? Forget it! I’d like to live a few more years!” Huang Wei pushed the phone closer to Ren Ye. “Hurry up, call her and calm her down. Then I’ll arrange for you to go home and visit your family later.”  

Ren Ye didn’t take the phone immediately. Instead, he smiled faintly and said, “If you don’t help her with grad school recommendations or a job, this might be hard to resolve.”  

Huh?  

Huang Wei stared, dumbfounded. “So both siblings are shameless troublemakers?”  

“Are you letting me call or not?” Ren Ye shot back. “If not, get out so I can go back to sleep.”  

“…Fine, you win.” Huang Wei gritted his teeth. “I’ll do my best to arrange it, alright?”  

“That’s more like it.”  

Ren Ye sat cross-legged on the bed and skillfully dialed a number.  

“Ring… Ring…”  

The call connected quickly, and a crisp female voice burst out at machine-gun speed:  

“Hello? Don’t bother calling me. Join my livestream tonight so everyone can understand why a model prisoner! A three-time excellence award winner! Would suddenly disappear without contact! And don’t think I’m joking. Even though I only have about a thousand followers—”  

“Enough. Stop rambling. It’s me,” Ren Ye interrupted, massaging his temples.  

After a brief silence, a loud voice roared from the other end:  

“Ren Ye! Where the hell have you been, huh?! Dad and I went to deposit money for you, and you’re nowhere to be found. Do you know how worried we were?!”  

“The old unit needed my help with a case, so I came out to assist,” Ren Ye replied flatly. “Don’t shout. I’m fine, alright? I even got a little chance to stretch my legs.”  

“If I believe you, I’m no better than Ren Daguo!” His sister furiously invoked their father’s full name, her temper boiling. “I called your former colleagues, and they all said at first that there’s no case involving you. It’s only later that they changed their story. That Huang Wei guy? Total liar. He claims to be a city-level official, but look at him—he’s so scruffy! What kind of leader dresses like that? He doesn’t even have an LV belt!”  

Listening to the yelling, Huang Wei glanced down at his old belt and felt a sudden pang of shame.  

“Enough. Stop yelling.” Ren Ye could only try to soothe her. “I’ll be home today. Let’s talk about this tonight.”  

“Hmph! I already warmed up my stream with two rocket gifts!”  

“Ask him to reimburse you,” Ren Ye said slyly, glancing at Huang Wei with a smirk.  

Click.  

His sister ended the call decisively without another word.  

Huang Wei looked pained. “How much are two rocket gifts worth?”  

“A thousand, I think.”  

“I’ll give her two thousand if she blocks me forever. Deal?”  

“Haha!”  

Ren Ye laughed. “Sure. But first, buy me breakfast. I’m starving.”  

…

Lianhu Road, at a breakfast shop.  

Two baskets of steamed buns, three side dishes, and two bottles of warm peanut milk—this was the essence of life.  

Outside, the sun shone brightly over the bustling streets. A group of retirees stood in line for their breakfast, chatting away.  

Though noisy, the scene exuded an undeniable sense of peace.  

Sigh, being Prince Huai is too exhausting. This… this is the true essence of life.

Last night, after returning, Huang Wei noticed that Ren Ye was sleeping soundly. He couldn’t bear to wake him, so he sent the tall girl home and spent the night in the room himself.  

Having stayed up all night, Old Huang was ravenous. As he bit into an oil-dripping bun, he asked through a mouthful of food, “Alright, no more teasing. Spill it—what exactly is your profession? Are you ordered or chaotic? What’s your profession’s trait? Let me tell you, the entire headquarters is waiting for my report…”  

Ren Ye sipped on his peanut milk and replied, “I don’t have a profession.”  

“No profession? Nonsense, impossible!”  

“Why would I lie to you?” Ren Ye calmly picked up another bun and responded lightly, “I’ve only completed the first act of the scenario. It’s not over yet.”  

“Huh?” Huang Wei was stunned. “You mean this Star Gate is scenario-driven? You still have to go back in?”  

“Yeah, in seven days, I’ll re-enter. I don’t know how many acts there are in total, though.”  

“…!” Huang Wei swallowed hard, utterly shocked.  

In his experience, most standard Star Gates were one-time clearances, with durations rarely exceeding a day or two. But for Ren Ye to have spent three days completing just one act and to have gone through two preparatory Star Gates beforehand was unprecedented.  

“Quick, tell me what it’s like inside!” Huang Wei’s face turned serious as he urged him eagerly.  

Burp!

Ren Ye let out a satisfied burp, then waved his hand. “Get me another peanut milk, and I’ll give you the full rundown.”  

…

Twenty minutes later, after Ren Ye finished recounting his three-day ordeal, Huang Wei’s expression had turned utterly vacant.  

He felt as if he was on the brink of a breakthrough.  

Up to now, although Ren Ye had only interacted with two “official members” — Huang Wei and the tall girl — practically the entire Shanghai Vigil Keepers, even high-ranking officials at headquarters, were closely monitoring this young man, who had been pulled straight out of prison.  

After all, a Star Gate actively summoning an ordinary person was unprecedented.  

And the information Ren Ye just provided far exceeded their expectations.  

Listening to the details, Huang Wei had only one impression: this Star Gate’s world-building was vast and intricate. Future acts might even interconnect with other Star Gates.  

Most conventional Star Gates, whether set in a train station or a haunted retirement home, were relatively small in scale, with incomplete, fragmented world-building. Players completed their quests and left—it was as simple as that.  

However, this Star Gate mentioned a capital, the tomb of a princess from a previous dynasty, the war-torn southern borderlands, and even featured an intricate bureaucratic system in the Qingliang Prefecture.  

Most significantly, the majority of the natives in this Star Gate were enlightened individuals rather than fragmented souls acting like NPCs.  

The scale of this background was massive. Huang Wei speculated that this was likely a degraded Star Gate, fragmented after the collapse of a much larger “God Gate.”  

Such Star Gates produced incredibly rare divine inheritances. Moreover, it might just be the type of inheritance the higher-ups had been coveting for years.  

That particular profession had only five practitioners nationwide.  

And now, the potential inheritor of this coveted power—Ren Ye—was discovered and brought in by none other than Huang Wei.  

If his speculation was correct, this would be a monumental achievement. The kind of merit people could only dream of.  

Promotion and pay raise? Definitely. There was even a chance he’d get transferred to headquarters…  

For years, Huang Wei’s life had been plagued with marital, familial, and career misfortunes. Yet at this moment, he felt as if he had finally stumbled upon his golden opportunity. The clouds had parted, and his long-awaited chance had arrived, washing away years of gloom.  

“Brother Huang, what are you thinking about? Why do you look like some creep on the subway?” Ren Ye asked curiously.  

Huang Wei snapped out of his daze, his eyes brimming with excitement as he asked, “You said earlier that you killed a player and obtained her entrance token, right?”  

“That’s right.” Ren Ye shook his empty glass bottle and earnestly invited him, “According to the Star Gate’s prompt, I should be able to bring someone along next time. Want to come with me?”  

“No, no, no.” Huang Wei waved his hands frantically. “Too dangerous for me.”  

The hell? Is this even human speech?  

Ren Ye squinted at him. “Buddy, that’s not what you said when you approached me.”  

“Alright, I’ll come clean. I’m a weakling… not much of a fighter. If I went in, I’d just be a liability,” Huang Wei admitted candidly, spreading his hands. “Plus, based on what you’ve described, this Qingliang Prefecture Star Gate seems restricted to non-inheritors. I already have a profession, so even with your token, I probably wouldn’t be able to enter.”  

Hearing this, Ren Ye grew curious. “So you’re saying all the other players inside are like me—newbies?”  

“Not necessarily.” Huang Wei explained seriously, “Players without profession inheritances aren’t necessarily novices. They may have entered other Star Gates before but simply didn’t gain an inheritance. Think of it like this… they’re still stuck in the tutorial village but have leveled up a bit.”  

“Ah, now I get it.” Ren Ye nodded in understanding.  

“The fact that you can bring someone in is critical. You have to choose carefully.” Huang Wei lowered his head in thought for a while. “I’ll apply to headquarters and try to get the strongest person in the tutorial village to assist you.”  

“Let’s hope you’re reliable. Otherwise, my sister will milk you dry,” Ren Ye said with a sly grin.  

“Got it, got it. I believe you,” Huang Wei replied, wiping the grease off the corners of his mouth with a napkin before shouting, “Hey, check, please!”  

…

A short while later, by the roadside.

As Ren Ye and Huang Wei waited for their ride, Ren suddenly said, “Oh, by the way, there’s something I need to tell you. The player I killed in Qingliang Prefecture was the one controlling Liu Ling’er. Her identity tag was Songstress. Before she died, she threatened me, claiming to be a member of an organization called Bell Society and said she’d retaliate against my family offline.”

Huang Wei’s pupils contracted at the mention of Bell Society, but he sneered. “Offline retaliation? Let them come, full force. I’d like to see how they plan to pull that off!”

Ren Ye’s face turned serious as he looked at Huang Wei. “I chose to enter the Star Gate myself, so life and death are up to fate. If something happens to me, I won’t blame anyone. But when it comes to my family—they are my bottom line.”

Huang Wei turned, placing a firm hand on Ren Ye’s shoulder, and replied with equal seriousness, “That’s our organization’s bottom line, too.”

There was no need for further words.

Soon after, Ren Ye got into a vehicle from Huang Wei’s unit and headed home.

…

Around 10:00 AM

Shanghai, Changning Road.

A gentle breeze swayed the willow trees, and the nearby Wusong River meandered gracefully. Its emerald-green ripples shimmered with a fresh, moist aroma.

An old off-road vehicle drove in from the south and stopped in front of a store named Duoduo Pet Paradise.

Huang Wei turned off the engine, stepped out of the car, and hurried towards the pet store while talking on the phone. “Yeah, take a team over there and rotate shifts… Don’t complain to me. Right now, you might very well be dealing with a future HQ Special Delegate… I’m not bragging, just stating the facts. That’s it.”

After hanging up, Huang Wei straightened his clothes at the entrance before stepping inside.

Huang Wei’s workplace was known as Vigil Keepers, a long-established “special unit” comprised entirely of Star Gate players.

The name Vigil Keepers derives from a traditional Chinese custom of staying up on New Year’s Eve to welcome the new year. It symbolizes bidding farewell to the old, preserving cultural heritage, and praying for blessings for future generations.

Huang Wei was the deputy head of the Qingfu District branch in Shanghai. The person he was about to meet was his immediate superior—Yan Duoduo.

As soon as Huang Wei entered the pet store, a strong, overwhelming smell greeted his nose. He quickly approached the front desk and asked a young woman, “Where’s the boss?”

“Upstairs, in the ‘Tropical Rainforest’ section,” the girl replied lazily, munching on snacks while watching a drama, her attitude utterly indifferent.

“Got it.”

Huang Wei navigated past the cat and dog area, through the reptile section, and finally reached the second floor’s Tropical Rainforest themed zone.

At the center of the zone sat a young man in his twenties, wearing a white lab coat and possessing strikingly handsome features. He was crouched over a tiny lizard no longer than a finger, meticulously peeling its molted skin with a pair of tweezers.

The young man’s focus was absolute as he worked. The lizard’s small body trembled violently in his hands, emitting faint hissing sounds—it was unclear whether it felt relief or pain.

Huang Wei shuddered at the sight. He’d always felt that people who kept pets like eels or lizards were either late-night streamers or had professional reasons. For most people, such hobbies were difficult to accept.

But this superior of his was clearly not like most people. Many of the pets in this shop were his precious treasures.

Without looking up from the lizard, Yan Duoduo suddenly asked, “Ren Ye’s back?”

“Yep, he’s back,” Huang Wei replied, a fawning smile plastered across his face as he nodded.

“Wait a bit. Let me finish peeling Choubao’s skin first. Then we’ll talk,” Yan Duoduo said in a gentle voice, sounding like a caring boyfriend. [Choubao means Stinky Boy.]

About ten minutes later, Yan Duoduo finished peeling the lizard’s skin and even gave it a bath before leading Huang Wei to a lounge area.

The two sat down with coffee, sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows and highlighting Yan Duoduo’s fair skin. His long eyelashes and somewhat delicate features gave him an androgynous charm, far from the typical image of a leader.

Although Yan Duoduo had only been transferred to Shanghai about three months ago, Huang Wei treated him with the utmost respect, sitting up straight and refraining from smoking. He logically and clearly recounted Ren Ye’s experiences in the Star Gate.

After listening carefully, Yan Duoduo’s eyes brightened. “Ren Ye’s performance and experiences exceed our expectations significantly.”

“Absolutely,” Huang Wei quickly agreed. “The inheritance value of this Star Gate is immeasurable.”

Yan Duoduo nodded in acknowledgment. “What do you need me to do?”

“Two things. First, I need to select a player with both exceptional potential and combat capability but without a legacy, to accompany Ren Ye into the Star Gate next week.”

“That’s no problem. You can choose from our personnel here or HQ’s—it’s up to you,” Yan replied without hesitation.

“I don’t have clearance to access the personnel files.”

“I’ll grant you access.”

“Thank you, Boss. Second, Ren Ye has some requests… ones I’m not entirely sure how to handle,” Huang Wei said, scratching his head sheepishly.

Taking a sip of coffee, Yan asked with a smile, “What are his requests?”

“He’s hoping we can assign his family a housing unit, include his father’s medical coverage under our unit, help his sister get into a graduate program, and after graduation, secure her a clerical job with us.” Huang Wei listed all of Ren Ye’s conditions.

After a brief moment of thought, Yan replied calmly, “We can agree to these for now. Anything else?”

“He also hopes you’ll give me a promotion,” Huang Wei added abruptly and bluntly.

“Huh?” Yan was stunned. “He asked for that?”

“Exactly.” Huang Wei deliberately put on a naive expression. “He thinks my position is too low, that I have to consult my superiors for many things, and that I can’t make decisions myself. Well, you know, a former convict is bound to be a bit selfish, right? But I mentioned to him the idea of having a higher-level unit communicate with him. Who would’ve thought he wasn’t willing and insisted on talking with me because he’s familiar with me? Sigh, I really don’t know how to deal with him…!”

In the workplace, never assume your boss is foolish or that they won’t think of something you’ve thought of. Sometimes, being straightforward and direct works best.

Of course, this communication style requires a certain understanding of your boss’s personality. Fortunately, Old Huang had spent several months with Yan Duoduo during a training session at headquarters.

Having spent half his life navigating the bureaucracy, Old Huang knew very well that opportunities in life are rare. When one arises, you must seize it.

Yan Duoduo smiled as she sized up Old Huang. “How long have you been acting as the head of the Youth Assistance District?”

“Four years. Ever since Old Xu retired, I’ve been the acting head.”

“Starting today, you’re officially appointed. I’ll handle the paperwork. As for tasks related to Ren Ye, whether fundamental or auxiliary, as long as you don’t cross the line and stay within the rules, you have full authority to handle them without needing to report to me.” Despite her seemingly gentle demeanor, Yan Duoduo’s tone was decisive.

“Yes, yes, I’ll make sure to handle him properly.” Old Huang almost burst out laughing. “There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Ren Ye wants another two million. You know how it is—former convicts are just greedy and shameless. He thinks he’s indispensable now. Can you believe it?” Huang Wei shamelessly pinned the blame on Ren Ye and began to ramble.

Yan Duoduo paused for a moment, then leisurely pulled out his phone. “Hold on.”

“What’s the matter, Boss?”

“Call Ren Ye. I want to confirm this two-million request with him.” He politely handed his phone to Huang Wei.

Huang Wei was dumbfounded.

“Go ahead, make the call.”

“…!” Huang Wei blinked, then slapped his thigh. “Forget it, no need to trouble you, Boss. I’ll talk to him myself later. We can’t just agree to all his demands. If we give him a hundred today and two hundred tomorrow, won’t that spoil him?”

Yan Duoduo glanced at him sideways. “You came here to scam me? What do you need the two million for?”

The two locked eyes. Embarrassed, Huang Wei rubbed his hands together. “Before Ren Ye joined, we lost four people to retrieve the entry token imperial brush. Although upper management allocated compensation funds, I feel our unit should make a gesture as well. But, as you know, the current state of our accounts…”

Yan Duoduo pondered for two seconds. “Next time, be direct. Don’t try to outsmart me; it makes me look stupid.”

“…You’re agreeing?”

“This is a one-time exception. Anything else?”

“No, no. On behalf of all colleagues in the Youth Assistance District, I salute you!” Huang Wei stood up and bowed. “I won’t disturb you peeling ‘Stinky’ anymore. You’re busy; I’ll take my leave.”

“Choose someone to accompany Ren Ye’s initiation as soon as possible. I need to submit the application upstairs.”

“Understood!”

After their exchange, Huang Wei left the pet park in high spirits.

Yan Duoduo slowly set down his coffee cup and immediately called the finance department. “Allocate two million to the Youth Assistance District. Tomorrow, apply for three million from headquarters.”

The finance staff wasn’t surprised and replied skillfully, “Boss, should we have the Youth Assistance District issue an invoice for three million?”

“No. The remaining one million will go toward year-end bonuses. Also, inform Xiao Liu to visit the judiciary and retrieve all of Ren Ye’s files over the next couple of days, including police, graduation, and conviction records. My only requirement is that he disappears completely. Lastly, book me a ticket to headquarters.” As he spoke, Yan Duoduo stood up.

…

Shanghai, Shijia Pu.

This was an old district. Most of the surrounding buildings were low-rise red brick apartments, with walls weathered by rain.

On the not-so-wide main road, small eateries offering local delicacies had gathered many elderly residents from the area. Their attire was refined as they formed groups to chat, cool off, play chess, or drink tea.

By current housing prices, the apartments here were not cheap—some might even call them a luxury. However, the quality of life wasn’t high, as many homes were small, with three generations often living together.

Due to its historical significance, demolition was unlikely, nor could the properties be sold. Selling would mean being unable to afford a new place, making this district a unique existence in Shanghai.

A jeep slowly stopped at the entrance of an alley. Ren Ye, groggy with sleep, stepped out, thanked the driver, and headed home.

He was born and raised here and was familiar with many residents, though he wasn’t in the mood to greet anyone. Ever since returning from the Star Gate, Ren Ye had felt especially tired and sleepy—likely the aftereffects of using the “Princess’ Ultimate Move.”

A few minutes later.

On the third floor of a small red-brick building, Ren Ye unlocked the door with a passcode. As he entered, the clacking sound of a keyboard greeted him.

In a bedroom to the left, a middle-aged man in his fifties, wearing oversized headphones that covered half his face, sat at a computer. His top was a yellowed tank top, and he wore loose shorts. His hair was a mess as he concentrated on typing.

The one-meter-long desk was cluttered with three cigarette packs, a cup of tea, and a massive ashtray.

With a cigarette in his mouth, he mumbled softly while typing, as though talking to himself.

This was Ren Ye’s father, Ren Daguo—a struggling but relatively stable-income web novelist.

“I’m back.”  

After changing into slippers, Ren Ye called out loudly.  

It took a full four or five seconds before Ren Daguo removed the cigarette from his mouth, squinting as he replied, “There’s some leftover food in the fridge. Eat it if you want. If you don’t, order something. Don’t talk to me—I’m revising a draft…!”  

“…Oh.”  

Ren Ye responded casually, already used to this routine, and headed toward the kitchen with practiced ease.  

Though he hadn’t been home for over three years, the place was exactly as he remembered it. The furniture was old, but every corner was crammed with everyday items. The doors to his and his sister’s rooms were open, allowing the breeze to pass through.  

What is home?  

It’s a place where just one glance at your surroundings can calm your heart, where familiar smells greet you the moment you step in.  

It’s something the outside world can never offer…  

For some reason, Ren Ye felt a little hungry, even though he had just eaten. He went to the kitchen, took out the leftover food wrapped in cling film, heated it in the microwave, and then sat down at the dining table in the living room to eat.  

Ren Daguo had divorced a long time ago. After his wife left, he had to raise two kids on his own. Skills he’d never known before became second nature, especially cooking, at which he excelled.  

Ren Ye stole a glance at his dad but deliberately said nothing, curious to see how long it would take for his father to notice him.  

Thus, the living room was filled with the sound of Ren Ye’s eating, while in the bedroom, his father’s keyboard clattered furiously. The speed at which his father’s fingers moved could rival any top-tier professional in a prestigious club.  

For more than twenty minutes, the two maintained this silence. During this time, his father didn’t even glance at the living room.  

“Ding-ling-ling!”  

The shrill ring of a phone broke Ren Daguo’s focus. He frowned, picked up the phone, and pushed his keyboard aside as he headed toward the bathroom.  

“Ugh, I’m revising! But if it needs an outline change, I get it… Sure, adding a bit of spice to the plot works—they like that stuff. Uh-huh, go on…”  

As he walked out of the bedroom, he crossed the living room without even glancing at the dining table. By the time he reached the bathroom, his pants were already halfway down.  

Ren Ye gnawed on a rib, his eyes following his father’s every move. For a moment, he worried about his father’s mental and visual acuity.  

“Whoosh!”  

Five minutes later, the sound of the toilet flushing came from the bathroom. For writers, it wasn’t unusual for a bathroom break to last half an hour.  

“Creak!”  

The door opened. His father, still pulling up his pants, emerged with a laser-focused look and began cursing, “Useless, spoiled brats! If they don’t mess around with women, what are they supposed to do—stay home and twiddle their thumbs? They know nothing but still insist on giving suggestions…!”  

“Heh.”  

Ren Ye smirked but said nothing.  

His father walked to the dining table, stopping less than two meters away, and finally looked up as he reached for the kettle.  

A person!  

A living, breathing person!  

A man suddenly appeared in his line of sight without warning!  

Ren Daguo’s pupils constricted sharply, and he stumbled back two steps. “Holy crap! When did you get here?”  

Ren Ye licked the grain of rice off his lips. “Long time no see, big-shot writer.”  

“Huh?”  

Ren Daguo stared blankly at his son, slowly removing his glasses to wipe them before putting them back on. “Holy crap! It really is you.”  

“…!” Ren Ye was speechless. “I called out when I came in earlier. You even responded.”  

“Oh, right.” Ren Daguo finally broke into a smile of delight, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “Haha, yeah, I remember hearing someone. I thought it was your sister. I was so immersed that I forgot.”  

“She should be back soon, too,” Ren Ye said, finishing the last of the rice in his bowl.  

Ren Daguo studied him for a moment, his expression suddenly turning anxious as the smile vanished. “Wait… you didn’t escape from prison, did you?!”  

“Can we not be so dramatic?” Ren Ye gave him a sideways glance. “Didn’t you two visit me in prison and sue my former employer? That’s why they granted me temporary leave to come home.”  

Only then did Ren Daguo fully grasp the situation. Frowning, he nodded. “Yeah, we visited a few days ago. They said you were temporarily released to help with a cold case investigation. If you do well, you might get a reduced sentence.”  

“Yeah, that’s what’s happening,” Ren Ye confirmed.  

“And they just let you come home? No one’s monitoring you?” Ren Daguo adjusted his glasses, puzzled. “Aren’t they worried you’ll try to run?”  

“Why would I? I’ve only got two years left. If I perform well, I’ll get a reduced sentence. What’s the point of running?” Ren Ye replied, setting his bowl down. “Besides, there’s someone downstairs keeping an eye on me.”  

“Oh.” Ren Daguo nodded slowly. “Son, is this dangerous? If it’s risky, don’t do it. Just finish your sentence and let it go. When you’re out, I’ll help you find a job.”  

“Don’t worry; it’s fine,” Ren Ye said with a wave of his hand. “My main task is to lure out two suspects.”  

“Alright, that’s manageable then.”  

“Enough about me. How have you been? Working on a new book?” Ren Ye poured two glasses of water with practiced ease.  

Ren Daguo crossed his legs, his face blank and wistful. “I wrote one, but I haven’t published it yet. Right now, I’m revising another draft. Hey, since you’re back, why not help me with some feedback?”  

In the past, Ren Daguo often consulted his children for ideas to cater to younger audiences. It had become a family tradition.  

“Heh, do you even need my feedback? Just watch a couple of… certain films, and you’ll get all the inspiration you need,” Ren Ye chuckled.  

“Vulgar! How can you speak to your father like that?” Ren Daguo scolded, but his expression quickly grew serious as he continued, “I’m revising a historical time-travel story. The plot involves a royal residence filled with secret spies from the court…”  

Ren Ye, exhausted, leaned back in his chair, feigning interest.  

“Look, here’s the issue,” Ren Daguo began. “An important character embedded by the court dies, creating a major plot hole. I need to fix it, but the problem is—”  

“Hold on a second.”  

Suddenly, Ren Ye opened his previously half-closed eyes.