Chapter 1

Chapter 1

1

It wasn’t Lawyer Zhang’s first visit to the Pei Group, but it was the first time he’d felt such a surge of apprehension.

A month ago, the Pei Group was still populated by familiar faces. Now, barely two weeks later, the place had been utterly transformed. Everyone coming and going was young and sharp, exuding a uniformly cold and severe professionalism that sent a shiver down Lawyer Zhang’s spine.

All this change was due to one person.

The newly appointed president of the Pei Group—Pei Chang.

"Lawyer Zhang, please."

Lawyer Zhang adjusted his glasses, offered a brief glance at the smiling secretary, and stepped into the elevator, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

—

A month prior, the ailing Elder Pei had formally entrusted all critical affairs of the Pei Group to his eldest grandson, Pei Chang.

In less than half a month, this scion had, with ruthless efficiency, purged the group of its internal parasites, orchestrating a veritable bloodbath.

No one had anticipated such a drastic move from the seemingly unassuming young man.

For an established corporation, this was an undeniably perilous and provocative decision.

Shareholders immediately exerted pressure on Pei Chang, condemning his authoritarian actions.

Yet, Pei Chang silenced them by revealing his ownership of thirty percent of the company’s equity.

Everyone knew that while the Pei Group was a family enterprise, Elder Pei was not one to easily cede power. Apart from scattered public shares, the vast majority of equity remained in Elder Pei’s hands.

Even as the designated successor, Pei Chang held only five percent of the shares.

Even if he had privately acquired some scattered shares, he could at most possess just over ten percent.

Where, then, did his remaining shares originate?

They discovered the answer the very next day.

This ruthless heir had financially ruined his own father, Mr. Pei, and sent him to prison. Mr. Pei’s mistresses and countless illegitimate children were also meticulously removed from the picture.

All this upheaval had transpired in a mere two weeks.

Such brutal efficiency served as a chilling warning, resonating deeply within every member of the Pei Group.

They knew that from the moment Elder Pei fell ill, the Pei Group was poised for a seismic shift.

The elevator doors opened, and the secretary led Lawyer Zhang to the end of the corridor, tapping gently on a door.

"President Pei, Lawyer Zhang has arrived."

"Enter."

A voice, colder than anticipated and tinged with a weary hoarseness, emanated from within.

The secretary did not advance further but instead turned to Lawyer Zhang, offering a polite smile and a gestured invitation.

Lawyer Zhang glanced at the prominent "Executive President" plaque on the door, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

Though currently the executive president, it would likely not be long before President Pei became Chairman Pei.

The expansive office was remarkably vast, dominated by a wide black desk directly opposite the entrance, exuding an immediate sense of overwhelming authority.

The floor tiles gleamed with a reflective polish, yet they also conveyed an uninviting, sterile coldness.

The entire office was so quiet that only Lawyer Zhang’s footsteps could be heard.

"President Pei." Lawyer Zhang halted approximately a meter from the desk, looking up at the young man in the suit before him.

It wasn’t his first encounter, yet each time, he was struck by the man’s sharply defined, aristocratic features. But almost immediately, the man’s lean face and piercing, deep-set eyes would compel Lawyer Zhang to lower his gaze, not daring to linger.

Lawyer Zhang was a shrewd man. His allegiance lay not with Elder Pei or Mr. Pei, but with the Pei Group as a whole.

And now, at the apex of the Pei Group, stood this President Pei.

"This is the inheritance from your mother, Ms. Chen. Please review it, President Pei."

A hand with distinctly articulated knuckles lifted, and Lawyer Zhang swiftly stepped forward, presenting the documents with both hands, a gesture of profound respect.

The faint rustle of turning pages only amplified the office’s silence and vastness, creating an almost suffocating atmosphere.

Amidst all the dramatic shifts, the death of President Pei’s biological mother, Ms. Chen, seemed utterly insignificant.

Even her funeral a few days prior had been perfunctory and sparsely attended.

"Liquidate it all."

A cold, detached voice echoed emotionlessly as the documents were dismissively dropped onto the desk.

Lawyer Zhang paused, then quickly regained his composure, bowing his head as he replied, "Understood."

The air settled back into silence.

Lawyer Zhang stole a glance at President Pei’s sharply chiseled jawline, sensing a chill emanating from his pale, almost alabaster skin.

Some people, it seemed, were simply born of ice.

"Then I will proceed with the arrangements immediately." Lawyer Zhang picked up the documents, preparing to leave.

But the figure seated motionless in the chair suddenly spoke, "Wait."

The man, legs crossed, gazed out at the towering skyscrapers beyond the window and stated quietly, "Keep that house."

"Yes."

Lawyer Zhang maintained a placid expression, though inwardly, he couldn’t help but speculate.

As a lawyer, he was naturally aware of the extent of Ms. Chen’s estate.

She had died intestate, with the sole instruction that the house on Shangjing Road be bequeathed to this President Pei.

At the time, Ms. Chen lay on her hospital bed, emaciated, her face ashen, exuding an aura of death.

Yet, President Pei had not once visited her throughout her illness.

In her final moments, it was Lawyer Zhang who stood by her bedside, accompanying Ms. Chen on her last journey.

And it was he who heard her final words, the instruction to deliver the house to this President Pei.

But as she uttered those words, the gaunt and unsettling Ms. Chen had revealed a strange smile, her clouded eyes gleaming with an unusual, eerie light.

Lawyer Zhang knew better than to pry into the Pei family’s private affairs; in his profession, discretion and keen observation were paramount.

He had not spoken out of turn in front of the newly appointed President Pei, merely noting in the documents that the Shangjing Road house was Ms. Chen’s specifically designated legacy.

When he heard the president’s ruthless intention to dispose of the entire estate, Lawyer Zhang felt no surprise.

Yet, in the end, the president had chosen to keep the house. Perhaps, out of some lingering compassion for the deceased Ms. Chen, even this cold-hearted man had felt a flicker of pity.

With an inexplicable sense of relief, Lawyer Zhang turned and departed.

If Pei Chang had known Lawyer Zhang’s thoughts, he would have scoffed.

Ms. Chen’s passing had not even caused a ripple in his heart, let alone evoked any pity.

He merely wished to understand why she had specifically chosen to leave him that particular house in her final moments.

Everyone knew that Mr. Pei was a dissolute and irredeemable wastrel.

But few were aware that Ms. Chen was no less calculating.

Ms. Chen had married Mr. Pei solely for the Pei family’s wealth, while Mr. Pei had married her to satisfy Elder Pei’s demand for an heir. Their relationship was one of mutual exploitation, equally flawed.

Pei Chang propped his chin on one hand, gazing expressionlessly at the bustling traffic below the skyscrapers, where dense streams of people and cars appeared as insignificant as ants.

He watched the scene outside the window in silence, his narrow eyes, in the fading sunlight, shimmering with a beautiful, clear amber hue. Yet, upon closer inspection, those eyes proved to be bottomless, incapable of retaining even the slightest trace of the world within their depths.

—

The night was deep, and Pei Chang sat in the back seat, resting with his eyes closed.

Just as the car approached a fork in the road, Pei Chang, without opening his eyes, suddenly said, "Go to 186 Shangjing Road."

The driver said nothing, lowering his gaze respectfully as he replied, "Yes."

Pei Chang opened his eyes, looking out at the night spreading like a mist and the rapidly flashing streetlights.

The scenery was no different from any other day, yet Pei Chang felt that this road was not as wide as the one leading to the Pei family’s old mansion—it was just as narrow, long, and dark.

Every penny Ms. Chen had ever spent came from the Pei family, with the sole exception of this house on Shangjing Road, which was her private property.

Pei Chang had never been here before; in fact, he hadn’t seen Ms. Chen for many years.

The most important thing in Ms. Chen’s life had always been her horrifying experiments.

After fulfilling her duty of giving birth to Pei Chang, she never returned to the Pei family. Reflecting now, Pei Chang could barely recall what Ms. Chen looked like.

Passing through tall, dense trees, the road ahead grew narrow and long under the glow of the streetlights, as if they were driving into a black hole.

"President Pei, we’ve arrived."

The car’s headlights stretched forward, piercing the impenetrable darkness ahead. Pei Chang raised his narrow eyes and looked straight ahead.

Autumn was nearing its end; untended flowers had withered, leaving only dry vines entwined around the tall iron gate.

This should have been a villa complex far from the city’s hustle, yet within a radius of several hundred meters, only this solitary villa stood, isolated from any other habitation.

Pei Chang opened the car door and said without looking back, "Pick me up tomorrow morning."

The usually composed driver showed a flicker of surprise, but in an instant, he swallowed his reaction and replied, "Yes."

Pei Chang withdrew his deep, icy gaze and walked alone into the villa, which stood starkly in the darkness.

—

A dull creak broke the night’s silence, accompanied by a musty, rust-like odor.

Pei Chang reached out and flicked on the nearby light. Instantly, the room was bathed in brightness, revealing layers of dust that had long accumulated on the floor.

He glanced around, then headed towards the staircase leading to the second floor.

It was a very ordinary villa; its decorations, furnishings, and size were less than a tenth of the Pei family’s old mansion.

Pei Chang stood alone in the narrow corridor, his eyes meticulously scanning every wall and every door within his sight.

He found no traces of life here; the surroundings were cold and silent, the very air heavy with a lifeless stillness.

Pei Chang gently rubbed the dust on his fingertips, lost in thought.

A moment later, he continued forward, only to discover a hidden attic tucked away in a corner.

Pausing briefly, he stepped upward, but a crisp creak echoed beneath his feet.

Pei Chang’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked down at the dusty wooden staircase, then withdrew his raised foot.

But the moment his heel touched the ground, a sudden clatter of chains resonated from above, sending a chill down his spine in the silent night.

Pei Chang’s back stiffened, and he froze abruptly on the spot.

Just then, another sound abruptly rang out.

"Ding, Male Mother System 7008 at your service."

"..."

After a moment of silence, Pei Chang expressionlessly lit a cigarette and took a slow drag.