Chapter 33: Father, spare him.

He Gu and Lou Dongcang ascended the steps together.

In the brief seconds as he glanced ahead, He Gu counted the steps, whispering, "Eighteen steps."

People were around. The two leaned in to whisper, exuding unmistakable intimacy to onlookers.

Soon enough, some guests recognized them and approached with greetings.

He Gu, being a fresh face, and so closely connected with Lou Dongcang—whose unique eyes no one in attendance could forget—became an instant center of attention.

Those eyes were his signature.

A young man approached, smiling, "Mr. Lou, aren't you going to introduce us to this gentleman beside you? So youthful. The two of you today are..."

"Could it be..."

His smile was genuine, but his tone slightly frivolous; at a glance, he was unmistakably from a wealthy family, the kind with a detached swimming pool in their beachfront villas.

Whenever He Guan was in a crowd, he wore a smile as if it cost him nothing.

He had many ways of dealing with people like that.

Just as he was about to speak, he heard Lou Dongcang turn to him, lower his eyes, and say, "Go find your father."

He Guan instantly realized it was the quickest way to exit the crowd, nodded in agreement, and courteously said, "Excuse me."

The man, being overlooked, wasn't offended. He greeted He Guan with a smile as he took a step back and then began dialing a number on his phone.

Rubbing his chin with amusement, he watched them walk past him and said, "Master Jue, where are you? Big news. I just saw that He Guan you mentioned. His 'wife' is quite significant..."

They made their way through the throng of people, heading straight for the staircase at the back of the hall, ascending.

He Guan: "Where's dad?"

Lou Dongcang: "The far west of the third floor. His private room."

As they chatted, they climbed the spiral exterior staircase. Guided by memory, Lou Dongcang halted at the third-floor landing, finding the door.

It was locked.

He Guan: "The third floor's door is locked."

Lou Dongcang: "It has a fingerprint lock. Should I open the main door?"

He Guan: "Yes."

Without any reservation, Lou Dongcang unveiled the painting beside them. Hidden behind it were two screens and a box.

As the painting was lifted, both screens lit up simultaneously.

Lou Dongcang found the right spot and pressed his finger, slightly lowering his head – the two screens were a fingerprint scanner and an iris detector.

He Guan opened the adjacent box, pulling out a transparent film, "What's this?"

There were many more inside, appearing like replacements.

After scanning his fingerprint, Lou Dongcang lightly pinched the surface of the scanner, peeling off the thin film with his print, "Peel it off, and the film adheres to the scanner. After imprinting, remove it, and your fingerprint is taken away. Every time one is torn, someone replaces it."

He Guan: "It's like anti-espionage measures."

Lou Dongcang: "Yes, it serves multiple purposes. If you've taken it, take it with you, don't put it back."

He Guan: "Alright."

Now looking again, the door had already opened.

The castle had more than just these floors. When Lou Dongcang opened the door, He Guan glanced upwards to see even more winding staircases ascending.

He wondered if, further up, every floor's door required such protocols. The invitation did mention that only the main hall and the second floor were open to guests.

Lou Dongcang: "Stay close."

He Guan playfully shook their intertwined hands: "Close enough."

Lou Dongcang had lived here for over two decades before being sent to Dongcang Garden, making him far more familiar with the place than He Guan.

Following Lou Dongcang's soft reminder, He Guan swiftly led him to the room on the far west of the third floor.

Thick, short-pile carpets lined the surroundings. Leather shoes treaded silently upon them. Unlike the bustling attendants in the main hall, the area was serene and somber.

As He Guan stopped at the door of this room, he detected a subtle, cool fragrance.

It wafted and then dissipated in the spacious corridor, like invisible waves, gently stirring with their movement and then quickly vanishing.

Lou Dongcang knocked.

Watching him, He Guan found Lou Dongcang's ring-retrieving demeanor amusing, as if confronting an enemy, and chuckled so much that he lagged behind when the door opened.

Lou Dongcang pulled him inside, taking a step and remarked, "You seem delighted."

He Guan: "It's my first time seeing you in such a manner, quite intriguing."

Lou Dongcang tilted his head and chuckled.

No one greeted them, no one opened the door for them.

How did the door open?

Turns out, it wasn't a person who opened the door.

Peeking in, He Guan saw a Siamese cat swaying its tail as it blended into the dimly lit room.

From the moment they entered, it felt as if they had stepped into a beautifully ornate castle, and the Siamese, wearing a collar stamped with a crown, deepened his impression of the place.

Fascinating...

Was this his father-in-law's cat?

After Lou Dongcang shut the door, he stood still, seemingly listening for any sounds.

The rooms here weren't directly accessible upon entering; the space was vast. He Guan, holding onto Lou Dongcang, ventured past the partition, following the Siamese deeper into the room.

The lights were off, pitch-black — He Guan felt around the doorway, finding no switch.

Directly to the right of the door was a beautiful stained-glass window, casting an unexpected beam of light into the room.

As He Guan groped his way in the darkness, he felt what seemed to be a complete bear pelt on the wall.

Only when two more doors within the room were opened did He Guan notice the elderly man reclining on a chaise lounge.

Tall windows adorned the buildings outside, with the waning crescent moon like a thin hook in the sky, making the room dim and serene.

Tentatively, He Guan called out, "Father-in-law?"

Lou Yingjie slowly lifted a finger, "You've all arrived."

He pressed a button on the recliner, transforming it seamlessly into an upright chair while the lights brightened, illuminating the room.

Lou Dongzang was the first to speak, "We've come for the ring."

Only then did Lou Yingjie seem slightly invigorated, pointing in a direction, "The ring is on the bookshelf. Go and search for it. It's quite messy there, but aside from the ring, there's nothing of importance. Feel free to rummage."

He Guan responded, "Alright."

He took the initiative to walk over to the bookshelf, deliberately keeping a distance from them, allowing the two some privacy for their conversation.

The two hadn't seen each other in a while and surely had much to discuss; he didn't want to intrude...

After all, even a tiger doesn't eat its cub. If anything were to happen, he was only a few steps away and could intervene easily.

Compared to their last meeting, Lou Yingjie appeared more drained now. At seventy, his senses remained sharp, yet his vitality seemed overdrawn.

He Guan quickly found the velvet box. Hearing no sounds from the two, he approached, announcing, "Found it, the ring."

Lou Dongzang took the box, "I'd like to put it on you."

He Guan asked, "Alright, shall you hold onto it then?"

Lou Dongzang replied, "Can you wait a moment? I need to..."

His deliberate pause, coupled with Lou Yingjie's typical reticence, made He Guan understand the underlying message.

He Guan reassured, "No worries, I'll wait outside the door. You two chat."

Lou Dongzang responded, "Mhm, I'll be out in a few minutes."

He Guan playfully added, "Got it~"

When only their breathing filled the room, Lou Yingjie asked, "How have you been lately? You seem well."

His tone was gentle, genuinely showing concern for his son.

Lou Dongzang replied, "I've been quite well."

Unfortunately, the son didn't seem inclined to engage in small talk with him.

Lou Dongzang once held his father in high regard, but after going blind, he felt there was no need.

Lou Yingjie doesn't need superficial care. Instead of mere pretense, it's better to put that aside and share a few genuine words.

Now he's exerting all his effort for an impossible cause. If he continues down this path, he might mentally collapse one day and never recover.

Furthermore, the reason Lou Dongzang visited today...

Wasn't for his own matters.

He voluntarily laid his cards on the table: "Dad, I can't see anything now. I'm just a burden. I don't hold grudges for my blindness. Since I can't see anymore, it means I didn't witness it."

This statement might seem incoherent at first, but with the premise that "Lou Dongzang once witnessed something," it makes sense.

He didn't witness the events prior.

His intention was to cover up for Lou Yingjie.

There was an incident in the past, an unspeakable act by Lou Yingjie, which Lou Dongzang had witnessed.

It was this incident that led to his blindness.

Lou Yingjie, weary, said, "Speak everything you want to now. I have to change and go downstairs shortly. And also, about wu..."

He spoke so softly that the name merely rolled around his mouth, never quite breaking past his lips, hinting at an unspoken sentiment.

Lou Dongzang: "Dad, like you, I now have someone I cherish."

Clutching the velvet box tightly, he stood under his father's gaze, smiling as if he could see, "I used to be uncontrollable, wasn't I? Everyone knew."

Lou Yingjie remained silent.

In his silence, he resembled a statue, his sagging, aged eyelids making his eyes look ominous.

His plans faltered when it came to his fourth son.

And because of this, he now had to rely on He Guan to pick up the pieces.

Lou Dongzang: "But now, I'm under control."

"Because He Guan is by my side."

"He's dependable, as you're aware. I know you intend to use him to fill my void. But Dad, you can't."

"He's the key connecting me to the world, someone I care deeply for. Don't lay a finger on him."

"I suppose the workers you sent to install the lights also told you what I mentioned to them."

Lou Yingjie's pupils dilated.

"What I said wasn't false. The household runs smoothly because of He Guan. Only with his recent help have I managed to maintain a semblance of normality."

"I know you're in dire need of money. With He Guan leaving, you'll have to rely on Lou Jun to generate value."

"Fine, but offer him something else. I'm aware you possess far more than you're showing. Don't let him trouble He Guan."

"Keep an eye on your precious grandson. Ensure he doesn't interfere with my affairs. Don't let He Guan tire himself out handling unnecessary troubles day and night."

"Without He Guan by my side, I become unpredictable. And when I'm unpredictable, there's no telling what I might reveal."

"My second brother and third sister will aid you for the inheritance."

"Dad, spare him."

Lou Dongzang's visit today wasn't solely for the ring.

Beyond the ring, he wanted to secure He Guan's future.

Being favored by Lou Yingjie is no blessing. Lou Dongzang could deduce that Lou Yingjie must have been particularly generous to He Guan recently, hoping to make him more compliant.

How could Lou Dongzang be unaware of the kind of man Lou Yingjie is?

The elder man only showers generosity on those he intends to trap, and until then, he won't show any signs of vulnerability.

He Guan can't be drawn into this.

Lou Dongzang would never allow him to get entangled in the Lou family's messy web of intrigues.

Furthermore, Lou Yingjie's actions are leading to a dead end.

He Guan, who came in with a clean slate, should leave with one. Whatever he does should have a satisfying conclusion, not be destroyed by Lou Yingjie.

"As long as he stays out of it, not only will my eyes remain useless, but so will my mouth."

Upon hearing this, Lou Yingjie let out a long sigh and responded, "Hengyun has always been problem-free, and Xingyu... wasn't involved in the previous financing."

Lou Dongzang nodded, "Then let's consider this matter settled. Now, another issue: Since we're married, let's move my household registration together with He Guan's."

Lou Yingjie's voice fluctuated greatly, "You really enjoy being at a disadvantage, don't you?"

Lou Dongzang retorted, "Given my current state, am I really at a disadvantage? Finding someone like He Guan, who's even willing to call you 'Dad', is something you should secretly be grateful for."

He gently countered, "By that logic, didn't Mom also 'marry down'?"

Lou Yingjie deliberately ignored the last remark, "He's never called me 'Dad', always 'Father-in-law'."

Lou Dongzang pointed at himself, "He calls you that in front of me."

Lou Yingjie shot him an annoyed glance, "Only you could achieve that!"

Their banter made them, for a moment, truly resemble a father and son duo.

Lou Dongzang didn't linger any longer and headed towards the door.

Lou Yingjie commented, "You seem to walk much better these days."

Lou Dongzang responded, "Yes, someone's been guiding me. I'm remembering how to walk properly, no longer feeling off-balance."

Lou Yingjie closed his eyes, "Go on then."

That 'someone' must certainly be He Guan.

Lou Dongzang bid, "Goodbye, Father."

The emphasis in his voice was on the word "Father."

That emphasis, tangible as it was, stirred the surrounding air but quickly settled as he shut the door.

The draft from the closing door brushed across Lou Yingjie's face. He fiddled with the jade lion's head in his hand.

After a while, he sighed deeply, turning his gaze back to the moon.

The crescent moon.