Chapter 64

Nightmare

"Let me understand this correctly — we carefully arranged four people to go in, and we're down to one?"

The unit leader looked at the three colleagues who had been returned from Chen Garden. "Explain. How did you get sent back?"

All three had useful skills — market stalls, cooking, housekeeping — and reasonably solid undercover experience. By any normal logic, they shouldn't have been turned away.

"It's not my fault, sir. There's an extremely particular head steward there. He said I had a paunch."

"It's not my fault either — the steward said I wasn't young enough."

The leader looked at him. "You're thirty."

"He only wants staff under twenty-eight."

The leader turned to the last one — twenty-six years old, well-featured, proportionate build. "And you?"

"I'm born in the year of the Tiger. The steward said my zodiac sign was harmful to Master Chen and showed me the door."

A long silence.

"So who do we actually have in there?"

"Xiao He."

The leader's voice shot up half an octave. "The Xiao He who has zero undercover experience and graduated less than two months ago?"

The three rejected colleagues nodded, their expressions identically crestfallen. The entire office went quiet. Nobody spoke for quite some time.

"Do what you can to support him from outside." The leader thought for two seconds. "If it becomes untenable, have him make an excuse to resign and we'll arrange professionals."

"Yes, sir." A pause. "Though — Xiao He just sent word. Apparently the steward picked him out because of his looks and assigned him to serve the VIP guests."

The leader felt something congeal in his chest. "A complete greenhorn goes in to serve wealthy people — isn't that just openly announcing he's there for a reason?"

Under normal circumstances, new staff were never assigned to important positions.

But Chen Garden didn't operate on normal circumstances. It operated on appearances.

*

"Mr. Xu, Mr. Chao." The steward glanced at the door to the main building — the evening meal for Mr. Xu's party had been laid outside in the courtyard, so he couldn't very well peer inside. "Last night Chen Garden had some trouble with a stray cat — one of the guests was quite unsettled. I hope everything has been comfortable on your end."

"A stray cat?" Chao Musheng was using his chopsticks to remove from his plate a collection of indeterminate objects in varying states of preparation, when a hand reached over and removed the plate entirely, replacing it with one bearing neatly cut, fragrant, evenly cooked food.

Chao Musheng gave Xu Chenzhu a grateful smile and finally picked up his chopsticks in earnest.

Xiao He, looking at the beautifully arranged contents of Chao Musheng's bowl, quietly lowered his head.

He wanted to do something to compensate, but there didn't seem to be anything left to insert himself into.

"When we were coming back last night, I think I saw the Chen estate staff chasing a black cat." Chao Musheng sounded curious. "Did they catch it?"

Chasing a black cat?

Xiao He perked up his ears. This might be important.

"Mr. Chao saw the cat?" The steward had noticed Xu Chenzhu swapping the plates, and found himself privately questioning Master Xuan's predictive abilities. He'd worked Chen Garden for decades and prided himself on reading the powerful — and by any reading he could make, Mr. Xu's manner toward Chao Musheng did not look like a man who planned to discard him.

Unless Chao Musheng did something to damage Kunlun's interests himself.

"Not exactly." Chao Musheng shook his head. "I didn't see anything — I only found out about the black cat rule when one of your staff asked me."

"It's a custom from the master's ancestral village, passed down through the generations. The master himself is reluctant to harm any living creature, but one must respect one's forebears." The steward's face moved into an expression of deep feeling. "Every year the master donates to an animal welfare foundation, without fail."

"Master Chen has a kind heart." Chao Musheng smiled pleasantly. "Have you eaten, Steward? Please, sit and join us."

"Thank you, Mr. Chao, but no." The steward's eyes made one quiet tour of the courtyard. He kept his smile. "I hope you both enjoy your meal."

"Take everyone back and rest — just leave him here to help." Chao Musheng gestured at Xiao He, who had been standing silently at his side.

The steward looked at Xiao He's face. The complexion was a deeper tone, but the features were good — clean build, upright bearing, looked fresh and presentable.

He let understanding spread across his face. "Of course, Mr. Chao."

Young people. They liked good-looking faces. He understood perfectly.

Xiao He allowed himself a small, careful exhale. He'd genuinely been afraid of being sent somewhere else, where there would be even more room to fail.

*

"Ancestral custom." Once the steward had gone, Secretary Liu's tone turned dry. "Master Chen's father was a live-in son-in-law. The moment his wife died, he wasted no time pressuring the children to take his surname, and then started hauling all his relatives from his home village up to the capital to settle them in nice positions."

"A man who ate his way through an inherited household and then married in has precisely no ancestral customs to invoke." Secretary Liu glanced around. "This land that Chen Garden sits on was actually left to the family by Master Chen's maternal grandfather."

"His father treated his mother that way, and Master Chen just — went along with it?" Chao Musheng genuinely could not find a way into that kind of thinking.

"A dead mother is considerably less useful than a living father who controls the family's money and power." Secretary Liu drank from his glass and continued his commentary on the Chen family. "To claw all inheritance rights from several siblings and build the family into a top-tier dynasty — what kind of person does that take?"

"These last few years it's been charity work and the smiling benefactor image." Secretary Liu noticed Chao Musheng was listening attentively. "If you're interested, I can send you the full account of how Chen Garden came to exist."

"That's all right." Chao Musheng shook his head. "Too many dynastic secrets in a row gives me a tendency toward broad generalizations."

Xu Chenzhu said, with some quietness: "My entire family is just me."

"Right, yes." Secretary Liu added: "The boss is different — it's just him."

Property, money, no sprawling complicated relatives. Status, standing, excellent looks. The ideal person to — to—

Chao Musheng was quiet for two seconds. He poured Xu Chenzhu a glass of sweet corn juice.

He didn't know what the right thing to say was. Something sweet, at least. Something sweet improved the mood.

Crunch. Crunch.

Xiao He, working the hand juicer nearby, had pulverized the fruit beyond any recognition, and was straining his ears toward the conversation.

Chao Musheng: "..."

"At attention."

Xiao He's feet snapped together on instinct, hands at his seams.

The moment he registered he was not in a training exercise, the silence became complete.

"Ahem." Chao Musheng pretended he hadn't noticed anything, turned to Secretary Liu. "Brother Liu — the fresh prawns are quite good. Would you like some?"

"They are good." Secretary Liu also redirected his gaze, with the cooperative manner of someone who had decided nothing unusual had occurred.

Xiao He looked at Xu Chenzhu, who rarely spoke but periodically placed a piece of food in Chao Musheng's bowl, then at Secretary Liu and Chao Musheng discussing the evening's gossip, and felt something miserable working away at him like a cat scratching upholstery. Had they noticed his cover? If they had — why hadn't they said anything?

"Meow."

He turned. Something small and black seemed to flicker past the main building doorway.

A black cat?

*

After the meal, Xiao He called a colleague and together they cleared the dishes away.

"Xiao He." He was halfway along the path when the steward appeared from behind a rockery formation, his expression friendly and warm. "I hear you just graduated?"

"Yes, Steward." Xiao He's chest tightened. Had he been found out?

"The person who referred you — they mentioned your family situation is quite difficult?" He had gone straight to the referring contact to gather information the moment he'd left Mr. Xu's party.

Vocational school graduate. Alcoholic father. Mother, ill and passive. Younger brother, difficult. Himself — resigned and responsible.

"Technically, a person with your educational background wouldn't qualify for a position at Chen Garden. Your contact opened a back door for you." The steward circled him slowly. "The master is aware of this, and is unhappy with the contact who brought you in. He asked me to dismiss both of you."

"Steward—"

"Don't panic." The steward watched the alarm appear in Xiao He's face and permitted himself a look of satisfaction. "The master has a generous heart. When I described your circumstances, he decided to give you a chance to stay."

He produced an envelope. Two ten-thousand-yuan notes inside. "The master asked me to give you this privately — don't mention it to the others. He knows your family has needs."

"I couldn't possibly—" Xiao He's refusal was immediate and reflexive. He had received a proper political education. Not one needle, not one thread from the people.

"Take it." The steward pressed it into his hands. "All you need to do is work hard and repay the master's kindness."

Xiao He understood. Something was about to be asked of him.

"I've noticed Mr. Chao seems to have taken a liking to you. For the next few days, focus on working in Mr. Xu and Mr. Chao's quarters." The steward decided a little more directness was warranted. "Whatever the guests eat, whatever they say — make note of it and tell me. So we can provide better service."

An informant.

"Don't read anything into it — it's entirely for the guests' comfort." The steward patted the envelope. "After you left just now — did Mr. Chao say anything?"

Xiao He appeared to think. "Is the one with the glasses Mr. Chao, or is Mr. Chao the younger-looking one?"

"The one with no discipline in the kitchen who made a mess of the meat." The steward privately concluded that Xiao He was not particularly bright. But given that he was the only servant, besides Curly Hair and Tiger, who had been permitted to remain in the guest building for any length of time, he held his tongue.

Curly Hair and Tiger both had existing relationships with Chao Musheng — unsuitable for use as informants. Xiao He was the only option.

Xiao He: "..."

Who has no discipline? I placed first in the bureau-wide equipment competition.

"Mr. Chao didn't say anything significant — he talked with his colleague about how beautiful Chen Garden was, and something about a ship. The Wangyue, I think. I haven't been on a large ship, so I didn't follow all of it."

"It's called the Wangyue." The steward looked faintly condescending at Xiao He's lack of worldly exposure — but the willingness to report suggested he'd accepted the arrangement. "While you were in the building, did you see a cat?"

Xiao He shook his head. "No."

"Good. Work hard these next few days. After the master's birthday banquet, there'll be a bonus for you." The steward gave his shoulder a pat and walked away, smiling.

Why was his pocket slightly lighter?

Ah, yes. The thirty thousand he'd retained from the fifty thousand bribe budget.

Xiao He tucked the twenty thousand into his pocket and went to find the room Chen Garden had assigned him, in a mild state of daze.

Someone was already inside. Large build. Biceps that appeared to be load-bearing.

He recognized the face from the station's file photos. The public-spirited Wangyue server who had aided in the rescue.

"New roommate?" Tiger looked at the halo above his new colleague's head. Pure, clean green — exactly the same shade as the three investigating officers who'd come through a few days ago.

Pure justice alignment.

Wait — this is an NPC, right? A Chen Garden servant? This level of righteousness — is he here to save humanity?

"Sit down, sit down." Tiger handed him a sealed meal box. "The house supervisor mentioned I was getting a roommate, but you hadn't come back, so I collected your staff meal for you. Eat while it's not cold."

"Thank you." Xiao He opened the lid. The box was full of meat.

When he'd arrived that morning, the staff meal had been nothing like this.

"Go on, eat." Tiger had an instinctive warmth toward anyone in the justice alignment. "For staff meals, from now on, follow me when I go."

"Thanks, brother." Xiao He took a bite of kung pao chicken. The texture was perfect — tender meat, crisp peanuts. Compared to what he'd had at lunch, this was a different category of food entirely.

"Brother." Xiao He stood to pour Tiger a glass of water. "I just arrived today, and the midday meal was thin on meat and not very good. Why is the one you collected so much better?"

"No particular reason." Tiger drank. "I've got someone looking out for me."

Xiao He's eyes sharpened slightly. A lead.

"Impressive, brother." He let the admiration show. "You know important people?"

Tiger looked at his expression, then glanced at the clean green halo above his head. He smiled. "I'm on decent terms with the honored guest — Mr. Chao."

Mr. Chao. Chao Musheng?

So that's why he'd been assigned here. It really did all connect back to Chao Musheng and Xu Chenzhu.

This was what they meant by the knife-edge of old money families.

*

Late that night, after a full day stationed at the office, the third unit officers finally received a transmission from Xiao He.

They stared at it.

He suspects Chao Musheng may have identified him, but Chao Musheng hasn't said anything?

The head steward asked him to act as an informant and report on Chao Musheng's every word and movement?

His roommate is the courageous Wangyue server — who, via his personal connection to Chao Musheng, eats well, has light duties, and has been looking out for Xiao He?

"Xiao He has only been in Chen Garden twelve hours, right?" The colleague who'd been rejected for being over-age looked thoroughly baffled. "Not twelve days. Not twelve months. Twelve hours — how did he manage all of this?"

Why had he never had luck like this during his undercover work?

The other two returned colleagues: "..."

Luck was hard to explain.

"Here's the key detail." The unit leader circled Chao Musheng's name on the evidence board. "Mr. Chao didn't expose him."

"Sir — I think Mr. Chao has probably already worked out who Xiao He is."

"Borrow two officers from another unit. Right zodiac signs. Presentable." He wrote two characters on the board: black cat. "I suspect the Chen family is conducting an illegal ritual."

*

Deep in the night, Tiger looked across at the glow of his new roommate's phone under the blankets. He used his ability to read what Xiao He had sent, and quietly closed his eyes.

No wonder the halo was greener than anyone else in Chen Garden. He's a police officer.

An undercover officer has infiltrated this instance. Can this still be called a proper supernatural instance?

*

"Ah!"

Tiger woke to his roommate's cry. He sat up with his blanket, taking in the pale face across from him. "What is it?"

"Nothing." Xiao He was soaked in cold sweat.

"A nightmare?" Tiger looked at the fear and urgency Xiao He was barely managing to suppress. "What did you dream?"

"Something strange crawling out — eating a lot of people in Chen Garden." Xiao He wiped his face. "And then the whole estate went under heavy fog."