Turning the corner of the corridor, the smoking area was just ahead. However, Sheng Jingyu suddenly stopped, causing Yan Yichen, who was following closely behind, to nearly step on his shoes. He asked in confusion, “Why aren’t we going in…”

“Shh.” Sheng Jingyu raised his index finger to his lips.

Just beyond the wall, two men in suits were discussing business. As they chatted, they inevitably talked about the main character of the evening, launching into a tirade against Sheng Jingyu’s reputation. They accused him of being idle and irresponsible, said he deserved to break his arm from reckless racing, and claimed that the Sheng family would decline under his leadership.

As they got more excited, they echoed each other, using the opportunity to belittle those in high positions to elevate their own status. The entire smoking area was filled with mockery and ridicule.

They arrived at just the right moment, hearing everything they weren’t supposed to. Yan Yichen was speechless and was about to speak up when Sheng Jingyu pulled him back, signaling that the people inside were about to come out.

The door of the smoking area opened, and the two men who had just finished gossiping were startled to see Sheng Jingyu. Running into the person they were badmouthing gave them a cold sweat.

But they reacted quickly, immediately putting on warm smiles, like rats that had just been oiled, and started to flatter Sheng Jingyu for his virtues and talents, almost offering to light his cigarette for him.

“With Young Master Sheng, the Sheng family has nothing to worry about. But you must take care of yourself, after all, health is the foundation of revolution…”

Sheng Jingyu maintained a cold expression, his tone indifferent: “Uncle Zhao, you seem to be in good spirits. Is there some magic in this door?”

The man called Uncle Zhao was taken aback, waving his hand with a forced smile: “Oh, there’s no such thing, I’m just an old face, maybe…”

Before he could finish, Sheng Jingyu, with undisguised disdain in his eyes, mercilessly added, “Otherwise, how could you be one way inside and another outside?”

The two men’s faces turned white instantly, stumbling over their words in a flustered attempt to explain.

Ignoring them, Sheng Jingyu turned and went inside. Yan Yichen, holding back laughter, followed, glancing back at the two as they scurried away, finding it all absurdly amusing.

At this moment, Sheng Jingyu suddenly looked at him and said, “Weren’t you curious about what kind of person he is?”

Yan Yichen knew he was referring to the new assistant, so he raised an eyebrow, signaling Sheng Jingyu to continue.

Sheng Jingyu glanced in the direction where the two had disappeared and said blandly, “He’s not much different from those people.”

These people, around Sheng Jingyu, came one after another like bamboo shoots after a rain. No matter what they thought of him behind his back or what intentions they harbored, they always put on a facade of warmth and flattery when in front of him.

Su He was no exception, clearly scheming to bring him down, yet pretending to be gentle and harmless.

Flattery, sycophancy, truth and falsehood were hard to distinguish.

·

Su He had been in the villa room alone all day. He had packed his luggage, but he hadn’t brought much, so the room wasn’t much different from when he first arrived.

Only the desk was cluttered, with a small eye-protecting lamp, a few pens, and some notebooks. In the corner, the small fish tank held the two goldfish he brought from the Su family.

If he were to live here long-term, the desk would likely be used more than the bed.

Su He decided to return to his old trade, hoping to earn some extra money, maybe even travel the world before he died.

After spending the afternoon writing, he looked up to find the sky outside had darkened.

He organized the 5,000-word draft on paper, took photos with his phone, and converted them into text for a document. If it weren’t for the original owner’s weak eyes, he wouldn’t have to go through such trouble.

While checking the manuscript, he found it quite a coincidence that the protagonist he wrote about was also a skilled racer.

Thinking of this, Su He inexplicably thought of Sheng Jingyu.

This person had left silently in the afternoon, treating him as if he didn’t exist. But that was fine; as long as Sheng Jingyu didn’t give him a chance, he had no means to betray him. Su He lay back contentedly.

After finishing the check, he casually posted the manuscript online. Just as he exited the website, he received a notification that the items he had sent had been signed for.

Yesterday, the organizers of the event the original owner attended called to ask for an address to send the prize. Su He had no choice but to give them the address of Xiaoxie Garden.

After all, it belonged to the original owner. He already felt guilty about taking over, so he couldn’t just throw it away.

Su He went to the living room to ask S037. Its search program ran for a while before answering, “Su He, don’t worry. Your things were probably stored as reserve items and placed in the warehouse with other deliveries.”

“Can I go look for them?” Su He asked.

“Of course, I can take you there.”

S037 led the way to the villa’s backyard underground warehouse. The space was enormous, almost entirely filled with delivery boxes, resembling a logistics center.

Originally, S037 intended to stay and help Su He search, but the servants and chef arrived, needing its help to confirm the evening’s menu.

After S037 left, the vast space was left with only him, his footsteps echoing clearly in the large area.

Following the storage records S037 had given him, Su He searched row by row, the sensor lights illuminating with his movement. Finding a small item in the entire warehouse was truly no easy task.

As he walked, Su He suddenly stopped, pausing all movements to listen.

He vaguely heard a rustling tapping sound, irregular and unsettling, adding an eerie atmosphere to the already silent warehouse.

Didn’t S037 say there was no one in the warehouse? Could it be…

Su He shrank his neck. He didn’t want to focus on the strange noise, but the more he avoided it, the clearer it became. Countless suspenseful and thrilling scenes he’d seen filled his mind. He wouldn’t be able to sleep without figuring out what it was.

So, Su He held up the folder in his hand and slowly moved toward the source of the sound.

Turning a row of shelves, he saw a separate compartment. The sound’s creator looked up, coldly glancing at the unexpected intruder.

Under such a gaze, Su He surprisingly felt relieved, slowly lowering the folder.

Thankfully, it was a person. Although seeing him might not be much better than seeing something strange.

Su He took two steps forward, speaking with concern, “Mr. Sheng, do you need help?”

The dim warehouse light cast shadows on Sheng Jingyu’s face, leaving a clear line of light and shadow on his well-defined features.

He was casually sitting on a cardboard box, holding a mechanical object, seemingly trying to fix it. But due to his injured right hand, he couldn’t exert strength, silently struggling with the thing.

Sheng Jingyu merely glanced at him, not responding, and continued with his task.

“Alright,” Su He replied softly to himself, not lingering, and turned to continue his search.

One person suddenly became two.

Listening to the intermittent tapping, Su He inexplicably felt a sense of peace.

He quickly found what he was looking for, using a pair of scissors from the warehouse to open the delivery box. Inside was a crystal trophy and a certificate of award.

Crouching on the ground, Su He held the trophy up to the light. The light passed through the crystal, casting star shapes on the floor. As he rotated the trophy, the stars moved, like a flowing galaxy scattered across the ground.

He chuckled, holding the items as he walked back, the tapping sound persistent as ever. Su He had walked quite a distance.

Thinking for a moment, he returned.

Standing next to Sheng Jingyu, Su He didn’t ask if he needed help, only said, “Can you move over a bit? I want to sit down too.”

Without looking up, Sheng Jingyu replied, “In such a big place, you have to sit here?”

“Then squatting is fine too.” Su He placed his items aside and squatted down next to Sheng Jingyu, hands on his knees, curiously peering over.

In Sheng Jingyu’s hands was something resembling a car engine, though judging by its size, it was likely a model car engine, only about the size of half a forearm.

He was so engrossed in watching that he didn’t notice Sheng Jingyu also observing him at that moment. Sheng Jingyu’s eyes narrowed, glancing at this overly familiar person, his gaze cold but only seeing the top of Su He’s head.

His gaze had no effect on its target.

Su He merely watched obediently, without further action. Sheng Jingyu, tired of giving him attention, continued with his task.

The recent accident had left his lower right arm fractured and muscles bruised. The shattered windshield had pierced his palm, injuring tendons and bones, leaving Sheng Jingyu unable to exert strength with his arm and affecting his finger precision.

Despite trying to avoid errors from finger movements, nine out of ten attempts resulted in misalignment.

A thin layer of sweat formed on Sheng Jingyu’s forehead, an unnamed anger rising within him.

Because Su He was intently watching him… or rather, the thing in his hands, seemingly very interested.

After a while, Sheng Jingyu expressionlessly looked up, “Are you very idle?”

Su He nodded honestly, “Yes, I have nothing to do.”

Sheng Jingyu was amused and annoyed.

His mouth curled slightly, the curve almost imperceptible, but clearly carrying a chill: “Sheng Zonglan’s money is indeed too easy for you to take. Go to the collection room and clean all the models. No dinner until you’re done.”

His tone was unmistakably difficult, anyone could hear it was intentionally making things hard.

Sheng Jingyu just wanted to get rid of him, not wanting to see those eyes for even a second longer.

“Okay.”

Without a word of complaint, Su He immediately complied, getting up and heading to the collection room.

As Sheng Jingyu glanced over at this moment.

He was well aware of how many items were in his collection room, and knew the task he had just assigned was nearly impossible, as the servants responsible for cleaning had once secretly cursed him for being wasteful, unfortunately overheard by him.

He just wanted to see how long Su He could keep up the act before finally losing patience and tearing off the facade.

Su He’s eyes swept over the vast space, stunned by the four walls filled with models.

He couldn’t help but exclaim in awe, his tone tinged with envy, “So many racing models, they’re beautiful. I’ve heard that many competitions also award models, customized based on the car driven by the racer. Are there any models of the cars Mr. Sheng has driven?”

He looked around curiously. Before writing, he could only touch these objects that could resonate with sound waves and passion through a screen. Su He always hoped to one day watch a race live.

However, “Bang!” A loud noise interrupted his thoughts.

He didn’t get a reply from the model’s owner, only hearing a not-so-gentle door slam.