14. Li Ziyi

Knowing he was in “seclusion,” Yin Sangyu played the part fully, avoiding contact even with trusted subordinates since the incident.

Thus, for unavoidable tasks, he had to rely on his parents’ connections.

But, like all children, asking parents came with a major drawback: he had to explain everything thoroughly.

If Prince Yin and Madam Zhu learned he was closely monitoring a beta’s movements, they’d instantly concoct a drama in their minds and decisively break up the “romance.”

After all, their son, with the means to marry an omega, should stay on the proper path, not entangle ambiguously with a beta.

So, Yin Sangyu was forced to resort to illicit means.

Knowing Xiao Muyi was the Li family’s adopted son, he anonymously accessed the underground trading network, placing a long-term order for Li family information.

The information needed to be as detailed as possible, covering all members, reported every three days.

This way, Yin Sangyu could monitor Xiao Muyi just right—neither too closely to expose him to others’ scrutiny nor too loosely to miss his general movements.

Recently, the university was on summer break, resuming in over two months, coinciding with the plot’s start.

Due to the break, Xiao Muyi didn’t stay in his small rental, returning to the Li household, rarely going out and keeping a low profile.

But don’t assume Xiao Muyi staying home meant he was behaving.

The underground trading network’s weekly reports to Yin Sangyu barely mentioned Xiao Muyi, as he was a transparent figure in the household, hardly noteworthy.

But examining the Li family’s overall state revealed clues. Their fortunes seemed poor.

Servants’ dismissal, death, and injury rates were unusually high, with frequent illnesses. Even the Li family’s sole heir, Li Ziyi, had been frail since childhood, only recently improving after seeking treatment abroad.

This streak of bad luck had persisted for years. The sprawling mansion saw minor accidents every few days—someone cutting their hand on a machine, falling from the roof due to overwork, or getting hit by a car while out.

Though frequent, these were deemed accidents, blamed on carelessness, not raising suspicion.

But Yin Sangyu, head aching by day and learning that night of a Li family chef hospitalized for food poisoning from incompatible ingredients, deduced it was Xiao Muyi’s doing.

Keeping such a ruthless person at home, Li Huaien was bold, Yin Sangyu scoffed inwardly.

He’d monitored the Li family for half a month, assuming today’s report would be similar. Propping his head, he flipped through it without hope, when “Xiao Muyi” suddenly leapt out.

A month and a half had passed since Wang Jiaxi’s death. His body was repeatedly examined, but the case saw no progress.

His parents, unable to bear the torment, decided to bury him, with the funeral in two days. The Li family was invited, and Xiao Muyi’s name was on the list.

Though unclear what mindset drove the culprit to attend the funeral—perhaps a criminal’s narcissism to inspect his work—it was a rare chance for “Zhu Ling” to reunite with Xiao Muyi.

Wang Jiaxi’s uncle was the enforcement bureau chief, a modest but well-connected role. Yin Sangyu could claim a friend sneaked him in.

As for why, curiosity about the sudden death of someone who harassed her was plausible.

Setting the file aside, Yin Sangyu asked, “How many points do I have?”

[Current points remaining: 13,132]

Just over ten thousand, with an omega disguise potion costing a full ten thousand.

Frowning, Yin Sangyu realized frequent contact with Xiao Muyi would require constant potions, which he couldn’t sustain.

“Ten thousand points for just one day—isn’t that a bit expensive?”

System: [Sorry, Host, all mall item prices are fixed.]

[If you want to earn points, check the task list.]

With a serious expression, Yin Sangyu opened the task list, scanning it briefly before scrolling down, finding it hard to describe.

System tasks included:

[[Heartbeat Sound]: 5,000 points, requires villain’s redemption value to jump 100 points at once.]

[[Villain’s Confession]: 5,000 points, requires villain to say “I love you.”]

[[Villain’s Hidden Secret]: 20,000 points, no hints, explore independently.]

[[Ghost Monsters in the Shadows]: 5,000 points, triggered when tracked.]

…

Many tasks offered decent points, but aside from straightforward ones like the villain’s first meeting, most were uncertain, requiring Xiao Muyi’s cooperation, not just Yin Sangyu’s effort.

Currently, they were quite difficult.

Exhausted, Yin Sangyu rubbed his brow, closed the task list, and suddenly thought maintaining “online dating” without meeting wasn’t a bad idea.

…This time, his goal was to get Xiao Muyi to unblock him.

…

The Li family’s new chef, a middle-aged male beta with deep Western features, blond hair, and blue eyes, was named Deairo. Handsome and charming, he knew it.

Upon arriving, he flirted indiscriminately with most Li family servants, exuding charisma to attract attention, reveling in their infatuated gazes.

During a secret rendezvous with a maid, Deairo hid in a secluded back house rarely visited by the Li family. Assured of privacy, he lost control in passion, letting out loud cries.

Until a sound of something falling interrupted, passion halting abruptly. Deairo turned sharply, spotting a dim, frail youth on the second floor of the dilapidated house, watching for who knows how long, unnoticed by the maid.

Newly arrived, Deairo didn’t recognize the youth, assuming he was a servant’s relative slacking off.

With a generous “share the fun” mindset, and to ensure silence, he resumed his actions, inviting the youth, “Don’t just watch. Want to join?”

The youth didn’t answer immediately. Just as Deairo thought he hadn’t heard, a clear, faint voice said, “This is my residence.”

Deairo froze. The maid beneath him, coming to, saw the youth, shrieking, “Young Master Xiao!”

Deairo realized this was the rumored Li family adopted son—not a servant, but the house’s master.

So what?

Living in such a place could still be called a master?

Ignoring the maid’s panic, Deairo continued, staring provocatively at Xiao Muyi, anticipating a reaction.

But Xiao Muyi, a “young master” with no temper, seeing Deairo wouldn’t leave, said nothing, turned, entered a small second-floor room, and closed the door.

Deairo grinned with interest. Experienced in reading people, though he couldn’t see Xiao Muyi’s face, the slender waist and long, straight legs, barely hidden by baggy clothes, suggested a tasty figure.

He’d be fun to play with later…

Licking his lips, Deairo kissed the maid, growing bolder.

In his room, Xiao Muyi, hearing the escalating noises below, deliberately loud as if for him, frowned slightly, casting a disgusted glance downward, his dark eyes swirling with something terrifying.

After that night, Deairo, under the guise of concern, frequently brought carefully prepared food to Xiao Muyi’s back house, claiming a chef’s duty was to ensure everyone ate well.

Deairo was certain someone like Xiao Muyi, never treated kindly, would fall for a bit of care.

As expected, though silent and reluctant to speak, Xiao Muyi couldn’t refuse his kindness, his shy, timid demeanor oddly appealing.

When Deairo felt the time was ripe to propose intimacy, he unluckily landed in the hospital for food poisoning.

Yes, a chef, humiliated by a basic mistake of not cleaning ingredients properly.

Late at night, Young Master Li Ziyi, returning home, found him collapsed in the back garden, foaming and convulsing, and called an ambulance.

Timely treatment narrowly saved Deairo’s life, but his health was ruined, making a return to the Li family impossible.

Unbeknownst to Deairo, his poisoning was no accident. As he lay dying in the garden bushes, the “frail, obedient” Young Master Xiao watched from nearby shadows.

Had Li Ziyi not returned unexpectedly, even if Deairo’s robust constitution survived the poisoning, Xiao Muyi would’ve finished him off.

After calling the ambulance, Li Ziyi administered basic aid and stayed, leaving Xiao Muyi no chance to act.

Watching medics take Deairo away, Xiao Muyi pursed his lips in displeasure, preparing to leave when he accidentally kicked a stone.

The clatter drew Li Ziyi’s attention.

“Who’s there? Xiao Muyi, is that you?”

Xiao Muyi paused, his cold expression shifting to timidity. He turned slowly, head low, whispering, “Brother…”

Li Ziyi, away for a while, had returned for Wang’s funeral. Seeing Xiao Muyi unchanged, he sneered contemptuously, then snapped impatiently, “Get over here.”

Xiao Muyi, as if terrified and unable to defy Li Ziyi, hesitated before walking over with timid steps.

Li Ziyi despised Xiao Muyi’s cowardly demeanor. He grabbed his hair, yanking him close, face dark, “How many times have I told you? As the Li family’s adopted son, don’t skulk like a rat, shaming us. Were you hiding and spying again?”

Xiao Muyi’s bangs were pulled back, revealing a refined, delicate face. He whimpered in pain but didn’t resist, lightly touching Li Ziyi’s wrist as if to push away but stopping, dark eyes glistening with pleading, “Sorry, brother.”

“Hmph.”

Li Ziyi snorted coldly, eyeing Xiao Muyi’s face. His unnaturally pale skin seemed to glow in the dark, his gaze flickering.

Admittedly, though unfit for high society, Xiao Muyi had a rare face.

An idea struck. Li Ziyi lowered his voice, “In two days, I’m attending a funeral. Come with me, got it?”

Hearing “funeral,” Xiao Muyi’s eyes darkened briefly, then normalized. He nodded slightly, “I-I understand.”