Beep!

Qi Dengxian swiped the key card to open the gates of the villa at Cloud Top Mountain. This residence, perched at the very peak of the mountain, was hailed as the “Cloud Top Heavenly Palace.”

“This kid really knows how to enjoy life. For the sake of his gifting me this villa, I’ll beat him a few times less when I get back.” A satisfied smile appeared on Qi Dengxian’s face.

The “King of Eternal Night,” Chu Wudao, was the most respected figure in Huaguo’s underground world. He had once served in the military, and after retiring, he built a massive organisation to protect the nation silently.

However, due to an accident, Chu Wudao went mad. While he slaughtered all his enemies, he also raised his butcher’s knife against his former comrades. In the end, one of Huaguo’s top War Gods had to intervene to capture the frenzied Chu Wudao and send him to Ghost Capital Prison.

Chu Wudao was a legend, a myth revered by countless people, yet his fate also evoked pity.

Now, Qi Dengxian had become the new owner of this mysterious and unfathomable villa worth two billion.

“Dengxian, Qiumeng is being too unreasonable! She actually left you alone at the Civil Affairs Bureau and came back by herself!”

“Don’t worry, I’ve already scolded her. We’re about to have dinner, so come back quickly. Tell me your location, and I’ll send the driver to pick you up.”

Before he even had time to fully tour the villa, Qi Dengxian received a call from Qiao Guotao. It warmed his heart slightly.

Faintly, he could also hear a cold snort from Qiao Qiumeng in the background.

Qi Dengxian declined Qiao Guotao’s offer to send a driver. He went to the villa’s garage, selected the most low-key Phaeton, and drove towards the Qiao family home.

The Phaeton was indeed low-key. Those who didn’t know much about cars would look at it and assume it was just a Passat worth a hundred thousand or so.

Just as he arrived at Cloud Top Estate, Yu Xiaolong, who had just parked her car at her villa entrance, saw a Phaeton driving down from the peak of Cloud Top Mountain and speeding past.

“Hmm? Is that him?” Yu Xiaolong was startled, incredibly surprised.

“Who is it, Miss?” Long Yanan asked from beside her.

Yu Xiaolong hesitated. “I think I just saw Qi Dengxian driving down from the villa at the peak of Cloud Top Mountain…”

Long Yanan giggled, shaking her head. “Miss, the injury you took capturing the King of Terror must be quite serious. You’re actually seeing things now!”

“Qi Dengxian is just a tiny prison guard. How could he afford to live in the Cloud Top Heavenly Palace?”

“Even when you used your connections to try and buy that villa, you couldn’t get it. I think you’re just overworked recently, and because you feel guilty about breaking the engagement, your eyes are playing tricks on you.”

Hearing this, Yu Xiaolong laughed and nodded, feeling that it made sense. How could a mere Rank 2 Prison Guard like Qi Dengxian live in a place like the Cloud Top Heavenly Palace?

She had tried to use her status as a Lieutenant General to acquire that villa, and even she had failed!

Qi Dengxian sat down at the Qiao family’s dining table and saw a bowl of Drunken Shrimp placed in the center. The aroma of the liquor was clear and fragrant, and the liquid soaking the shrimp had a yellowish, rice-like hue.

Qi Dengxian was stunned. They didn’t use the two bottles of fifty-year-old Maotai I sent to make Drunken Shrimp, did they?!

“Look at this wine. It pours out all yellow. Just one look tells you it’s a fake, shoddy product! I reckon this bowl of Drunken Shrimp is inedible,” Pang Xiuyun said with great displeasure. “The son-in-law you chose is truly something. On his first visit, he tries to fool you with fake wine.”

Qiao Qiumeng also looked full of disdain. “Just throw it out, so we don’t get sick from eating it.”

Qiao Guotao looked a bit embarrassed. He said in a deep voice, “Dengxian is definitely not that kind of person. Maybe he was cheated by someone else. Keep the dish. If you won’t eat it, I will!”

Pang Xiuyun frowned. “Old Guan will be here any minute. Do you think it’s appropriate to serve him this dish?”

Before her voice had even faded, a burst of hearty laughter rang out, and a man about the same age as Qiao Guotao walked in.

“Dengxian, this is an old friend of mine. You can just call him Uncle Guan! If he’s in a good mood and gives you a couple of calligraphy scrolls or paintings, you’ll be rich,” Qiao Guotao said to Qi Dengxian with a smile.

Old Guan was a state-level master, a veteran artist famous throughout Huaguo. He was a figure of significant standing.

Qi Dengxian greeted him politely. As soon as Old Guan sat down, Pang Xiuyun prepared to remove the bowl of Drunken Shrimp.

Old Guan stopped her. “Eh, wait! Isn’t Drunken Shrimp your specialty, Xiuyun? Are you unwelcoming towards me?”

Pang Xiuyun hurriedly smiled. “Old Guan, what are you saying! The wine used for this Drunken Shrimp today isn’t right. It’s fake wine brought by the ‘good son-in-law’ Old Qiao just recruited. I’m afraid it might make you sick…”

Old Guan sniffed the air, and his expression changed drastically. He hurriedly pressed the bowl in Pang Xiuyun’s hands back onto the table.

“Wait, you said this is fake wine?” Old Guan was shocked. Ignoring etiquette, he picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a shrimp, and put it in his mouth.

Pang Xiuyun exclaimed, “Old Guan, spit it out quickly… What if you get sick? If you like it, I’ll make you a fresh batch!”

Old Guan, however, had a look of pure intoxication on his face. He slowly said, “Rich and fragrant upon entering the mouth, silky smooth down the throat, with a long, lingering aftertaste… This is rare, excellent wine. I’m afraid only fifty-year-old Maotai could have this flavor!”

The moment these words came out, the three members of the Qiao family were stunned on the spot.

“A reckless waste of heaven’s gifts! A reckless waste! Old Qiao, does your family own a mine or something? Weren’t you just burning with anxiety over the twenty million debt the Black Dragon Chamber of Commerce owes you? How can you turn around and waste fifty-year-old Maotai like this?” Old Guan stamped his foot in anger, his beard trembling.

Pang Xiuyun was astonished. “Fifty-year-old Maotai? Old Guan, are you mistaken?”

“Are you kidding? How could I be mistaken? The last time I drank this kind of wine was three years ago at an official art exchange in the capital. That taste is something I’ll never forget in my life!”

“I didn’t expect you to ruin top-tier, fifty-year-old Maotai like this… Ouch, my heart aches just seeing it!”

“If you aren’t going to drink it, you could have given it to me!”

Old Guan blew into his beard and glared. Using fifty-year-old Maotai to make Drunken Shrimp was truly a waste of precious resources. Even if a family had a mine, they shouldn’t play around like this!

Pang Xiuyun and Qiao Qiumeng, mother and daughter, immediately wore awkward smiles, unsure of what to say.

How could a tiny prison guard like him get his hands on such precious things? He must have secretly brought it out from the Qi family when he was kicked out back then… Hmph! Qiao Qiumeng thought with disdain, though she also felt it was a bit of a waste.

Qiao Guotao laughed loudly. “I told you two not to judge a gentleman’s heart with a petty mind. How could Dengxian possibly send fake wine to fool me!”

Old Guan shook his head helplessly. “What a pity, what a pity…”

After three rounds of drinks, Qiao Guotao offered Qi Dengxian a job at the Qiao Corporation.

Qi Dengxian smiled and politely declined.

Qiao Qiumeng watched this, unable to stop sneering internally. He’s already stooped so low as to become a live-in son-in-law, yet he’s still putting on airs to hold onto that worthless pride? Truly laughable!

That evening, Qiao Qiumeng video-called her best friend, Li Yunwan, for a long time, venting about the day’s events.

Li Yunwan was also annoyed. “He really is a toad wanting to eat swan meat. A tiny prison guard thinks he’s worthy of climbing up to you?! Young Master Zhang has been pursuing you this whole time!”

“Don’t worry, Mengmeng. Tomorrow, I’ll figure out a way to make him lose face big time. Once he’s too ashamed to show himself, he probably won’t have the nerve to pester you anymore.”

NOTES

A reckless waste of heaven’s gifts: An idiom meaning to misuse or waste valuable things/resources.