The Secret Hidden in This Mansion

The young master of the Fang family has lived a very uneasy life since he can remember.

He disliked his father, who was indifferent to family affection, hated his older brother, who always wanted to take everything from him, and was even more afraid of his mother, who was obsessed with maintaining her beauty. His birth was dispensable. Compared to the "pampered youngest son" who was more likely to appear in other families, he was more like a little pet with a weak sense of presence.

When Mom is in a good mood, she'll play with him like she's teasing a kitten or puppy—even if he says he doesn't want to play.

When his father made money in business, he would buy him expensive gifts that the son didn't need, as if money could replace affection and maintain their father-son relationship.

The older brother wanted to learn everything and knew a lot at a young age. Of course, he also knew how to bully an innocent child and keep his parents' attention on him for a long time.

Similarly, when they're in a bad mood, the young master becomes their punching bag; even the smallest mistake becomes an excuse for punishment—kneeling in the ancestral hall, being slapped, being denied food...

Once, he accidentally knocked over a box of his mother's cosmetics, and that was the worst beating he ever received.

He was whipped until his skin was torn and bleeding, crying and begging for mercy, but his mother ignored him and continued to beat him until he passed out.

The young master wondered, somewhat bewildered, if movie stars were really this terrifying. Why would people like a woman with such a ferocious face and be infatuated with her?

Perhaps because he was hurt so badly that time, his older brother finally acted like a proper older brother, taking care of him for half a month without taking anything from him, and even being quite gentle and attentive to him.

When his wound was almost healed, his brother said something strange, "You have to pay back what you've gained. I really envy you; you've paid it all back just like that."

The young master is not a necessity for the Fang Mansion. From his initial natural affection for his family to his understanding of how to wrap himself in a protective shell, this transformation only requires a few painful experiences.

At the age when his mind is most sensitive, the young master, who is beginning to protect himself, discovers a secret in his family.

Everyone in this mansion has a terrifying side.

Everyone.

This terror made him want to escape.

The young master was afraid every day, but fortunately, because of his older brother, the rest of the family did not pay much attention to him, and he was able to have the right to develop his own hobbies.

He learned to draw.

Because of the darkness he experienced, his paintings honestly reflected his inner world, and the images themselves were quite terrifying. He dared not let his family see them, and he would destroy each painting as soon as he finished it.

His mother died when he was twelve years old.

The young master's life should have been much better, but in reality, the frequency of the injuries on his body did not decrease. Because of his wife's death, Fang Deming's personality became more violent, and many people in the town could often hear the young master crying as he was beaten.

Finally, he got his chance to escape. He was sixteen years old and no longer helpless against his father. He left a letter, took some money, and slipped away to the city, never to return.

Fang Deming was concerned about his reputation. His youngest son had clearly run away from home, but he told the people in town that he had sent his youngest son to school in the city.

It probably wasn't important after all. The Fang family never looked for their youngest son, and year after year, there was still no news of him.

After Yan Li finished recounting the information he had gathered, everyone except Yu Xing and the Doctor who didn't need to participate seemed to be deep in thought.

Medusa fixed her gaze on Yu Xing, her eyes falling on the painting tube at his waist, as if there was no need to guess anything anymore.

After Yan Li finished speaking steadily, he caught a glimpse of the faint smile on Yu Xing's face and said directly, "You're the Fang family, aren't you, Yu Xing? In this world..."

He paused, glancing subtly at the Doctor, before continuing, "Your role in this world is that of a painter with a bizarre style."

"Since entering the town, some people have recognized you. You should have already obtained some information about the Fang Mansion during the day."

He spoke with such certainty that, now that things had come to this, Yu Xing saw no need to hide it any longer and simply admitted, "That's right, it was me."

This is simply a matter of identity. Even if he is supposed to be from the Fang family, it doesn't overshadow his position as the deducer.

Not to mention, he had no memories of the young master's childhood, and apart from the letter his adopted brother sent him, his understanding of the Fang family was no different from that of anyone else.

"Isn't this a good thing?" Yu Xing shrugged nonchalantly. "You know, if I were the young master of the Fang family, there would be no need to consider the young master storyline. He—or rather, I—was definitely not involved in the plot before I took the bus to Nanshui Town."

Regardless of whether the young master developed dark thoughts due to being beaten every day, in this deduction, since he controls this identity, it is impossible for him to do anything against his will, let alone be related to the anomalies in Nanshui Town.

Those present understood this principle, and after a moment's thought, they dispelled their doubts about him.

However, given his status, Medusa remembered a natural advantage he possessed. Her eyes flashed, and she leaned closer to Yu Xing: "If you were Young Master Fang, wouldn't your visit to the Fang Mansion have a different effect?"

You should know that when she arrived, the Fang Mansion was deserted, with only ghosts wandering around.

"I don't know, I haven't been there yet," Yu Xing admitted.

More importantly, he gleaned a unique message from Yan Li's words.

Has the young master truly been out of contact for many years?

How did Fang Xiao send him this letter?

From the storyline the system told him, we know that he received this letter during the two years he was protected and treated as a public figure. Since he was being protected, there was no way Fang Xiao could have found out his location without leaving the town.

Although the sentences are disorganized, there is no awkwardness in their first correspondence in many years, which strongly suggests that the young master and Fang Xiao often correspond.

He also proactively gave Fang Xiao the mailing address. Fang Xiao was the only family member the young master had been willing to keep in touch with over the years. Yu Xing didn't believe that the two of them had no relationship.

Furthermore, Yan Li also mentioned that when the young master was injured, Fang Xiao took care of him and said some strange things.

The more you gain, the more you have to repay.

What will we gain?

Is this related to Fang Xiao always stealing his things?

Thinking about the implied meaning in the words...

Yu Xing had to reconsider the relationship between Fang Xiao and his character.

He thought he should find a chance to visit Fang Mansion tomorrow, as he was very curious about this place, which was very likely the location of the entrance ticket and the ghost boss.

"Hey, forget about whether he's some young master or not, I just want to ask," Silver Sparrow said impatiently, arms crossed, "the Doctor made such a commotion, why hasn't anyone come up from the first floor yet? Or isn't the guide going to come and check?"

"Haven't you noticed yet?" Hua Subai, as someone who followed in from the outside, was the most qualified to speak on the matter. "The second floor you're on now is the 'real' scene."

"As for the people on the first floor and the guide, they are still in a state of 'fakeness'."

The Doctor nodded, smiled, and said, "I only targeted the second floor; as for the people on the first floor..."

Just as the space between the first and second floors was about to be opened up, he used his abilities to seal it off again.

So, those unimportant people on the first floor are probably still curious about what happened on the second floor, but they can't get upstairs.

"I told you, it's alright," the Doctor said calmly. "You can pretend you finished your meal on the second floor, that nothing happened, and continue your tour—just don't tell anyone."

Don't tell anyone.

If word gets out...

The Doctor slowly adjusted his cuffs, silently thinking that most people's lives are more precious than their principles and stances.

Nobody wants to take that risk, right?