Chapter 50

On the third day of the New Year, Ke Xingzhou was woken up early.

Outside the door, Ke Zhengye, wearing a back support belt, was urging him with an expression of disdain and irritation, "Hurry up and get up! Clean yourself up, have breakfast, and come with me to the local noble family exchange event!"

Ke Xingzhou looked at Ke Zhengye expressionlessly, wondering if he had been getting too angry recently, which had made him lose his mind.

Not to mention that everyone already knew he wasn’t a real member of the Ke family, but even before he went to the countryside at the age of five, Ke Zhengye would avoid bringing him to such events whenever possible.

What kind of wind was blowing today?

Ke Zhengye stared at him for a long time with a dark expression, then seemed to think of something, his face suddenly darkened, and his tone became angrier, "Look at you, what do you look like! Not a bit of masculinity! No wonder you ended up with people like that... hmph! Anyway, this exchange meeting today is very important, you'd better not cause any trouble, do you hear me!"

After saying that, he ordered Ke Xingzhou to hurry and get ready for breakfast and walked away, clutching his waist, looking pained.

Ke Xingzhou didn’t want to go at all.

Anyway, he never listened to Ke Zhengye’s words. Ke Xingzhou thought that it wasn’t the first time he had blown him off, so Ke Zhengye should have gotten used to it. Just as he was about to turn over and go back to sleep, the door knocked again.

Ke Chenyi stood outside, looking at him with a helpless expression. "Xingzhou, Dad is finally willing to take you out. His health hasn’t been good these past years. Be a bit obedient, don’t make him angry."

Ke Xingzhou: "…"

Compared to the bad temper of Ke Zhengye, he actually preferred to ignore his older brother.

After all, though Ke Zhengye was unreasonable and loved to scold people, he had a very low tolerance for being contradicted and couldn’t handle any rebellious behavior. Ke Xingzhou could easily make him speechless with a few words, solving things effortlessly.

Ke Chenyi, on the other hand, always had the softest expression and said the most irritating things.

Arguing with him was even more tiring than arguing with Ke Zhengye.

"I’m not going," Ke Xingzhou flatly refused, then noticed the bloodshot eyes in Ke Chenyi’s gaze and paused, "Are you tired lately?"

Ke Chenyi was stunned, not expecting his younger brother to care about him. He felt somewhat flattered.

He nodded, his expression softening, "Yeah, a bit. Probably because there’s been too much going on at work recently, it should be fine after a while."

Speaking of which, the company’s busy schedule was related to the exposure of Ke Xingzhou’s identity. Previously, his father, for reasons unknown, insisted on revealing the truth about Ke Xingzhou and Ke Yuanbai’s fake identities, resulting in a disaster. They were attacked by fans from both sides.

Just the return merchandise fiasco related to Ke Yuanbai was enough to make them head over heels in trouble.

The Ke family’s company wasn’t big, and his father had never been willing to completely let go, which meant Ke Chenyi not only had to handle his own tasks but also had to go over the decisions his father made, which increased the workload far beyond just doubling it.

This year, he almost didn’t make it back in time for the family reunion dinner and couldn’t rest after the New Year either, working straight for several days.He sighed as he spoke, unable to resist rubbing his forehead, looking very exhausted.

The situation at the company was bad enough, but at least his father wasn't completely clueless with every decision. However, when he returned home, the people in the house were even more troublesome. The more he thought about it, the more helpless he felt. Several times, he even considered running away from home, but he couldn't bear to abandon his responsibility.

If only someone could share the burden with him.

After a pause, Ke Chenyi suddenly remembered something, "Xingzhou, you haven’t had time to find a job after graduation, right? How about...?"

How could he forget? His younger brother had always been clever, and before the age of five, he was praised as a genius. If it weren't for his constant rambling about nonsense and the fact that he wasn’t really a Ke family member, the position of successor would definitely be his.

But even if he couldn’t be the successor, he could still come work at the company!

Speaking of which, Ke Xingzhou’s university studies in some Taoist academy seemed to have only been an undergraduate degree.

The more Ke Chenyi thought about it, the more he felt this idea was feasible. He looked at Ke Xingzhou with a hopeful gaze, though he was a bit uneasy. Since leaving home, his younger brother's temperament had become quite odd. He refused money and had started to resemble one of those spoiled second-generation rich kids.

He was worried that Ke Xingzhou would be too lazy to go work at the company.

To his surprise, Ke Xingzhou easily agreed.

"Sure." Ke Xingzhou nodded and waved him over. "Come here for a moment."

Ke Chenyi was momentarily stunned by the joy of hearing his brother’s response, thinking he was about to break free from the drudgery of work life. He didn’t even notice that Ke Xingzhou’s expression was too relaxed, showing no sign of readiness to work.

Following Ke Xingzhou’s instruction, he stepped forward, only to see Ke Xingzhou lazily sit up, take a yellow talisman from his jacket pocket, and toss it at him. "Take this. One thousand per piece, family discount."

Ke Chenyi: "…"

Looking at the small folded yellow talisman in his hand, his dreams shattered. His brows immediately furrowed.

"Xingzhou, if you need money, you can just tell me. The money I earn is meant to be spent on the family. But you really shouldn’t mess with this kind of thing. Don’t you remember what happened when you were five?"

When he was five...

Ke Xingzhou raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Did Ke Zhengye tell you about this?"

"Did Dad really need to tell me about it?" Ke Chenyi looked at him disapprovingly. "You were so sick at that time and insisted on going to the countryside. Was I blind not to notice that someone was missing from the family?"

Ke Xingzhou: "…"

He immediately realized they were speaking about completely different things. What Ke Chenyi was referring to was obviously not what he had in mind.

It made sense, though. If Ke Chenyi knew what actually happened when he was five, he certainly wouldn't have said such things now.

Ke Xingzhou lost interest in the conversation and, seeing that Ke Chenyi was about to speak again, he turned over, wrapped himself in the blanket, and only extended one hand out, waving it lazily. "I’m going to sleep!"

"…" Ke Chenyi sighed in resignation and gave up on trying to persuade him to attend the exchange meeting.

Before leaving, he still nagged, "It’s been snowing these past few days. Make sure to bring extra clothes before you go to the program tonight."

"…" Ke Xingzhou didn’t respond.

Ke Chenyi waited a while, sighed, and quietly left the room, gently closing the door behind him.

Looking down at the small talisman in his hand, Ke Chenyi didn’t believe in it, but since Ke Xingzhou left home, this was the first time he had given him a gift.So he thought for a moment and then put it in his pocket.

Let it be a decoration then.

This family exchange meeting was actually a banquet organized by a few lower-tier families. The scale was ordinary, and the main purpose was for everyone to take the opportunity to get to know each other, exchange information, and channels.

Of course, some also used it for matchmaking to arrange marriages for their children.

When Ke Zhengye learned that Ke Xingzhou refused to come, he was furious all the way there, but once he arrived, he quickly adjusted his mood and immediately went to meet with the other family heads.

Ke Chenyi also had his own social circle, which consisted of the second-generation heirs of prominent families.

However, even among the second generation, there were different classes. Ke Chenyi, being one who had taken charge of the company but not fully taken over, found himself particularly awkward in this group. Whether among the rich heirs or the potential successors, he wasn’t particularly well-received.

Ke Chenyi, tired from work and family matters, had no energy left to pretend and socialize with them. After a short while, he excused himself to get some air and went off alone to a corner.

The lounge was filled with the family heads talking serious business, so Ke Chenyi found an empty balcony, leaned against the railing, and dozed off.

He didn’t know how long it had been when suddenly someone tapped him on the shoulder. Ke Chenyi jerked awake, instantly alert.

The banquet hall was still lively, seemingly entering its peak, and the noise was so loud it gave him a headache. Ke Chenyi rubbed his temples to ease the pain, and when he looked up to see the person, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

"Why are you here?"

The girl in front of him had a beautiful face, and her blue dress made her skin appear even fairer, looking even more charming.

She was the fiancée Ke Zhengye had arranged for him.

The girl smiled gently, "Of course, I came here specifically to find you. How did you fall asleep here? You’ll catch a cold. Let me take you inside to find a room to rest."

Ke Chenyi felt warmth in his heart and unconsciously softened his tone. His gaze toward the girl also became gentler. "Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for? We’re about to get married..." The girl blushed but quickly smiled and, with ease, took his hand and walked inside, crossing the banquet hall.

Ke Chenyi stared at the girl’s back, a bit dazed, his heartbeat picking up speed.

His marriage wasn’t a result of free love. The two of them didn’t have deep feelings for each other. It was just that both families had similar power and needed each other’s support.

Ke Chenyi wasn’t happy about his marriage being arranged, but he didn’t think that finding a girl he liked would make her happy either. Fortunately, neither he nor his fiancée disliked each other, so the marriage was successfully arranged with the support of both families. Their wedding was planned for National Day this year.

He had thought his later life would continue as uneventfully as his earlier years, dull and obedient, but just now, when his fiancée had taken his hand, his heart had uncontrollably started to race.

Ke Chenyi wasn’t sure if he had caught a cold. He felt dizzy and out of breath, completely forgetting how he had crossed the banquet hall.

When he regained his senses, he found himself in a bedroom.

The lighting in the bedroom was dim, adjusted to the most suitable state for sleeping. The smart housekeeper in the room was playing soft music, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance.

It seemed to be the perfume his fiancée often used.

Ke Chenyi clenched his fists and thought about the feeling he had when his fiancée held his hand earlier, and his ears immediately turned red.He specifically chose a more secluded balcony where no one would come. For the other person to find him, they must have searched many places, yet not once did they complain, not even calling him.

It was as if they treated the whole thing like a childhood game of hide-and-seek, filled with patience and tolerance.

After finding him, his fiancée didn’t even ask why he had been hiding, but easily saw through his disguise and thoughtfully prepared a room for him to rest.

Although their families were in a business marriage, now that he thought about it, it seemed... not so bad?

Ke Chenyi thought absentmindedly as he slowly lay down on the bed, feeling surrounded by his fiancée’s sweet, fruity scent. For a moment, he felt at peace and sweet, his eyelids growing heavier as he was about to drift off to sleep.

Before he fully fell asleep, it seemed his fiancée came back, her cool little hand resting on his forehead, as if checking if he had a fever.

A moment later, Ke Chenyi heard her say, “Take off your clothes before sleeping, it’ll be uncomfortable like this…”

Ke Chenyi, who was almost asleep, froze for a moment, realizing he hadn’t taken off his clothes to sleep.

This was something that would never have happened before. He had a cleanliness obsession since he was young, and even as he grew older, he was still particular about changing clothes and showering before bed.

Today, perhaps he was just too tired, and had even laid down without removing his coat...

“Sorry,” he said awkwardly. “I don’t usually do this, I was just too tired today...”

Before Ke Chenyi could finish his explanation, his fiancée abruptly interrupted him, “Don’t say anything!”

He was taken aback and felt a little uneasy. Had his fiancée gotten angry because he wasn’t hygienic enough?

Just as he thought that, his fiancée’s tone softened again as she explained, “You’ll be able to sleep better if you take off your clothes. You must be really tired, right? Let me help you…”

Ke Chenyi felt a little embarrassed, but he was indeed so tired he could barely keep his eyes open. He had no choice but to struggle to sit up and take off his coat. During the process, he vaguely felt a pair of soft, delicate hands helping him, and his face turned red. He didn’t dare open his eyes to see what his fiancée’s expression was.

He silently prayed that his fiancée wouldn’t mind how messy he looked at this moment, and with all his strength, quickly pulled his hands out of the sleeves.

Just as he was about to fold the clothes and hand them to his fiancée, his phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

Hearing the familiar ringtone, he froze for a moment.

Wasn’t that the special ringtone he set for his fiancée’s calls? She was right in front of him, so who was calling him?

A few days ago, a child had grabbed his phone during the New Year greetings, and Ke Chenyi hadn’t thought much of it. He just assumed the child had changed his ringtone out of curiosity. With blurry eyes, he reached for the phone and answered it.

The voice on the other end was his fiancée’s: “Ke Chenyi, are you still at the banquet?”

At the same time, the fiancée in front of him suddenly yanked his coat hard and shouted sharply, “Throw your clothes away!”

Ke Chenyi was stunned.

The two voices were the same, but the tones were completely different. He subconsciously tightened his grip on his clothes, managing to catch the pocket, but in an instant, it felt as though a thunderclap had shattered his groggy mind.

Only then did he seem to finally be able to think. He suddenly noticed the strange details along the way—

His fiancée had the habit of calling him by his full name, but she hadn’t called him that once from the moment she found him until now. As they crossed the banquet hall earlier, with so many people around, no one had greeted him...

And this room.

He remembered that this banquet wasn’t hosted by his fiancée’s family, so how could she have brought him directly into a guest room and opened the smart housekeeper so casually?The voice of his fiancée came through the phone, sounding confused: “Ke Xingzhou? Are you okay? I’ve searched around outside and can’t find you… Can you talk now?”

Ke Xingzhou listened to the voice from the phone, then looked at the "fiancée" in front of him, whose face instantly twisted into a hideous expression. In that moment, he felt all the blood in his body freeze, and his whole body started to tremble slightly.

No, this isn't right, what's going on?

His fiancée was calling him and looking for him, so who exactly is the "fiancée" standing in front of him?!

He had never encountered a situation like this before, too scared to speak. His fingers instinctively gripped the corner of his clothes tightly, subconsciously refusing to let go.

However, the person in front seemed very interested in his clothes. With a sudden, forceful tug, he heard a ripping sound, and the pocket of his custom suit was torn open, dropping its contents.

Ke Xingzhou instinctively looked down and saw that it was the charm paper package Ke Xingzhou had given him.

He still hadn’t considered the possibility of something supernatural. His only thought was that this was the first gift Ke Xingzhou had given him after returning home!

What if it got lost? What if Ke Xingzhou thought he didn’t care about him?

He immediately reached to pick it up, but the “fiancée” suddenly let out a shrill scream: “Get away!!”

This time, the voice was completely unrecognizable as his fiancée’s.

Ke Xingzhou froze, still wondering if the person could change their voice. Why had the voice changed so suddenly? But when he looked up, he nearly wet himself in fear—

There was no longer any sign of a room or a fiancée in front of him. He was clearly lying on the freezing cold snow, the melted snow from his body soaking through his clothes. The blanket he had been covered with had turned into a thick layer of snow.

The charm paper package had fallen onto the snow beside him, almost getting buried by the snowflakes he stirred up with his movements.

His fiancée’s voice was still urgently calling out through the phone: “Ke Xingzhou!! What happened over there? Say something!”

Ke Xingzhou opened his mouth, but couldn’t say anything. He could only widen his eyes in shock as a blurry figure charged straight toward him, with a pale face and a gaping mouth speeding toward him, as if it were going to bite him to death!

This scene was no longer something science could explain. Ke Xingzhou suddenly jolted awake and, in the extreme fear, finally found his voice:

“Aahhhhhh!!”