Gift

Songhai City.

At 7:30 in the morning, in a dim room, Zhang Yuanqing woke up with a start on his soft bed, clutching his head and curling up like a shrimp.

His head felt as if it were splitting open, as if steel needles had been embedded in his brain. The pain was so intense that his scalp twitched, leading to auditory and visual hallucinations; chaotic images flashed through his mind, and his ears were filled with noisy, meaningless static.

Zhang Yuanqing knew his old ailment had flared up again.

He crawled out of bed shakily, pulled open the nightstand drawer, and fumbled tremblingly for the medicine bottle. He unscrewed the cap impatiently, poured out five or six small blue pills, and swallowed them whole.

Then, he threw himself back onto the bed, gasping for air, enduring the excruciating pain.

A dozen seconds later, the soul-tearing headache subsided and then leveled off.

"Hoo," Zhang Yuanqing exhaled in relief, his head covered in cold sweat.

He had contracted a strange illness in high school. The symptoms involved his brain uncontrollably recalling every memory from his past, including forgotten trash information; it would uncontrollably collect and analyze external information, and his brain's control over his body would reach an incredible degree.

Fortunately, this state could not last long before it was interrupted because his body could not bear the burden.

It was precisely because of this ability that he had managed to get into Songhai University—a top-tier prestigious institution in the country—as if he were just playing around.

Zhang Yuanqing called this state "brain overload." He believed he might be evolving into a superman, but because his body couldn't support this evolution, it kept getting interrupted.

When he told a doctor about this theory, the doctor said he didn't understand but was deeply shocked, and suggested he go to the psychiatry department downstairs for a checkup.

In any case, the hospital couldn't find the cause. Later, his mother brought back a special medicine from abroad, and the condition was finally brought under control; as long as he took the medicine regularly, it wouldn't flare up.

"It must be because I didn't rest well last night. I'm too tired. It's all Jiang Yu'er's fault for insisting on coming to my room to play games in the middle of the night."

Although he said this, his heart sank quietly, because Zhang Yuanqing knew that the effectiveness of the medicine was starting to wane, and his condition was becoming increasingly severe.

"I'll have to increase the dosage in the future." Zhang Yuanqing put on his cotton slippers, walked to the window, and pulled the curtains open with a "swish."

Sunlight rushed in, scrambling to fill the room.

In April in Songhai City, the spring was bright and beautiful, and the morning breeze that greeted him was cool and comfortable.

"Thump, thump!"

At this moment, a knock on the door came, and Grandmother called from outside:

"Yuanzi, get up."

"No!" Zhang Yuanqing refused coldly and ruthlessly; he wanted to sleep in.

The spring was beautiful and it was the weekend; wouldn't it be a waste of life not to sleep in?

"You have three minutes. If you don't get up, I'll splash you awake."

Grandmother was even more cold and ruthless.

"Got it, got it." Zhang Yuanqing immediately caved.

He knew his hot-tempered Grandmother was capable of doing exactly that.

When Zhang Yuanqing was still in elementary school, his father had passed away in a car accident. His strong-willed mother did not remarry, instead bringing her son back to Songhai to settle down and leaving him in the care of Grandfather and Grandmother.

She herself dove headfirst into her career, becoming a successful businesswoman praised by all their relatives.

Later, his mother bought a place of her own, but Zhang Yuanqing didn't like that empty, spacious apartment and continued to live with Grandfather and Grandmother.

In any case, his mother left early and returned late every day, going on business trips every few days, her heart set on her career. Even if she didn't work overtime on weekends, she would just order takeout when it was time to eat.

The thing she said most to him, her son, was, "Is the money enough? If not, tell Mom." A successful businesswoman mother who could satisfy you infinitely in economic terms sounded quite nice.

But Zhang Yuanqing always smiled and told his mother: The pocket money given by Grandmother and Aunt-in-law is enough.

Well, and his Aunt.

The woman who insisted on coming to his room to play games last night was his Aunt.

Zhang Yuanqing yawned, twisted the bedroom doorknob, and walked into the living room.

Grandmother's apartment was 150 square meters including the common area. Zhang Yuanqing remembered that when they sold the old house to buy this new one, it cost over 40,000 per square meter.

Six or seven years had passed, and now the housing prices in this neighborhood had risen to 110,000 per square meter, nearly tripling.

It was fortunate that Grandfather had the foresight back then; if they had stayed in the old house, Zhang Yuanqing would only be able to sleep in the living room, as he was grown up now and couldn't sleep with his Aunt anymore.

At the long dining table by the living room, the culprit who caused his headache was slurping porridge, her pink slippers tapping under the table.

Her features were delicate and pretty, her round, oval face looked quite sweet, and there was a tear mole at the corner of her right eye.

Because she had just woken up, her fluffy, messy wavy hair was draped over her shoulders, giving her a touch of laziness and charm.

His Aunt was named Jiang Yu'er, four years his senior.

Seeing Zhang Yuanqing come out, his Aunt licked the porridge from the corner of her mouth and said in surprise:

"Yo, up so early? This isn't your style."

"Your sister's doing."

"Why are you cursing people?"

"I'm just stating the facts."

Zhang Yuanqing scrutinized his Aunt's beautiful, flower-like face; she was full of energy, bright and moving.

They say the night is kind to those who stay up late, gifting them dark circles, but this law seems not to apply to the woman before me.

Grandmother heard the commotion from the kitchen, poked her head out to look, and a moment later, emerged carrying a bowl of porridge.

Grandmother's dark hair was streaked with silver, and her gaze was sharp; one look told you she was the type of old lady with a bad temper.

Although loose skin and faint wrinkles had stolen her former glory, one could still vaguely discern that she had been quite a beauty in her youth.

Zhang Yuanqing took the porridge Grandmother handed him, gulped down a mouthful, and asked:

"Where is Grandfather?"

"He went out for a stroll," Grandmother said.

Grandfather was a retired veteran detective; even in his old age, his life remained strictly regimented. He went to bed at ten every night without fail and woke up at six in the morning.

The beautiful Aunt drank her porridge and said with a giggle:

"After breakfast, Auntie will take you to the mall to buy some clothes."

Do you really have such good intentions? Just as Zhang Yuanqing was about to agree, Grandmother shot him a look filled with murderous intent:

"If you dare to go, I'll break your dog legs."

"Mom, why are you like this?" Aunt said with a bitchy pout. "I just wanted to buy Yuanzi some spring clothes, and you're not happy about it? Even if he's a nephew, he's still family, right~"

Grandmother countered with absolute authority, "Do you want your dog legs broken too?"

Aunt pursed her lips and lowered her head to drink her porridge.

Hearing the mother-daughter standoff, Zhang Yuanqing knew at once that Grandmother must have arranged another blind date for Aunt, and his quirky Aunt was trying to drag him along to muddy the waters.

They had done this before; she would take her nephew to a blind date, and after sitting for a few minutes, her nephew—who possessed a natural gift for social interaction—would handle the date, leaving the two men chatting happily, ranging from national livelihood policies to global geopolitics, with nothing left for her to do.

She only needed to sip her drink and play on her phone, while the date would feel pleased with himself for having displayed enough worldly experience and insight in front of a beauty, leaving him with a sense of self-satisfaction.

Jiang Yu'er had been exquisite and adorable since childhood, the object of praise from all the neighbors; she was beautiful, sweet, and well-behaved, making her a favorite among the elders.

With such a beautiful daughter, Grandmother naturally had to guard her strictly, constantly lecturing her from middle school onward not to date early or go out with boys.

The youngest daughter did not disappoint; she hadn't had a boyfriend even by the time she graduated from college. But once she entered society, especially after her twenty-fifth birthday earlier that year, Grandmother began to grow restless.

I only told you not to date early, not to become a spinster, she thought. How many years of youth does a woman have?

Thus, she gathered her old friends, scouring the world for profiles of young talents to arrange blind dates for her daughter.

"Grandmother, it's clear she doesn't want to date yet; a twisted melon isn't sweet," Zhang Yuanqing said while gnawing on a steamed bun, seizing the opportunity to recommend himself: "Why don't you arrange a blind date for me instead? This melon of mine is very sweet."

Grandmother snapped, "You're still young, what's the rush? There are plenty of female classmates in college, can't you find one yourself? If you cause any more trouble, watch out, or I'll beat you."

Grandmother was a woman from the south, but her temper was anything but gentle; it was exceptionally fiery.

Even Zhang Yuanqing's mother, a powerful career woman, wouldn't dare talk back to Grandmother.

I am grown up, alright? I've been a 'hand-worker' for several years now, Zhang Yuanqing muttered to himself.

After breakfast, under Grandmother's forceful demand, Aunt returned to her room to change and put on makeup for her blind date.

Aunt applied light makeup, which made her look even more bright and moving.

A fluffy crew-neck knit sweater paired with a long coat, with light-colored slim-fit jeans hugging her long, shapely legs, tucked into black Martin boots.

It was a minimalist, forest-style outfit—not gaudy or flashy, yet exceptionally refined.

Aunt shot him a "you know what I mean" look, grabbed her bag, and sashayed out the door:

"Mom, I'm off to my blind date!"

Zhang Yuanqing returned to his room, unhurriedly changing into a black T-shirt, a windbreaker, and putting on his running shoes.

A few minutes later, he opened the bedroom door.

Grandmother was cleaning the living room; seeing him emerge, she stopped her work and watched him silently.

Zhang Yuanqing mimicked Aunt's tone:

"Mom, I'm off to my blind date too."

"Get back here." Grandmother raised her broom, threatening, "If you dare step out that door, I'll break your dog legs."

"Understood!" Zhang Yuanqing retreated to his bedroom with practiced compliance.

Sitting at his desk, he held his phone and sent a message to Aunt:

"The army failed before the campaign began, leaving the hero to soak his robes in tears."

"Speak like a human!"

Aunt must have been driving; her reply was concise.

"Grandmother blocked me at home, you'll have to go on your blind date alone."

Aunt sent a voice message.

Zhang Yuanqing tapped it, and Jiang Yu'er's furious voice rang out from the speaker:

"What use are you for!!"

Aunt retracted a voice message and sent another, this time changing her tone to a sweet, coquettish pout:

"Good nephew, come quickly, Aunt loves you the most, Mua~"

Heh, women!

Did she think a little coquetry was enough to make him cross Grandmother's bottom line? She at least needed to send a red envelope.

At this moment, a slightly harsh ringing sound echoed. Zhang Yuanqing walked to the living room and, under Grandmother's watchful gaze, pressed the intercom button and said:

"Who is it?"

"Delivery."

A voice came through the speaker.

Zhang Yuanqing pressed the door release button. Two or three minutes later, a delivery man in uniform rode the elevator up, holding a package in his arms:

"Is this Zhang Yuanqing?"

"It is."

I didn't buy anything online. With a look of confusion, he signed for the package and glanced at the shipping information. The sender was not listed, but the origin address was Hangzhou, Jiangnan Province.

He returned to his room, retrieved a box cutter from his desk drawer, and opened the package.

Inside was a black card wrapped in protective bubble wrap and a yellow envelope.

Zhang Yuanqing picked up the black card, which was the size of an ID. The material felt like metal, yet it was incredibly smooth to the touch. The card was exquisitely crafted, featuring faint silver cloud patterns along the edges and a black full moon in the center.

The black moon was printed with great detail, and the irregular patches on its surface were clearly visible.

What is this? Filled with doubt, he tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter.

"Yuanzi, I've come across something very interesting. I once thought it could change my life, but my abilities are limited, and I cannot control it. I feel that if it were you, it shouldn't be a problem.

"We've been brothers for a long time; this is a gift for you.

"Lei Yibing!"