First arrival at the Wei Family

The Wei Family's old estate was not downtown but near the outskirts. Only a dozen or so households occupied the entire hill, all wealthy or influential, and the Wei Family's house stood halfway up the slope.

The taxi had to stop at the foot of the hill. Wei Zelin's car passed straight through the security gate without slowing, leaving Shi Yuan standing there foolishly, staring at the guard.

"Actually, I'm family with the owner of that car that just went in..."

"Do you think I'm an idiot? Then why didn't he take you in?" The guard had seen him get out of the taxi. His face was clean, but his clothes were filthy and gave off a strange smell. The guard clearly did not believe him.

While hospitalized, Shi Yuan had worn the patient clothes provided by the hospital. He was not fussy, and more importantly, no one had brought him any changes of clothing. He had made do by alternating between two sets of patient clothes for over a month.

Wei Zelin had suddenly arrived today to discharge him. Shi Yuan had still been bewildered, but fearing Wei Zelin would leave without him, he could only throw on the sole outfit in his ward. He was still wearing the hospital clothes underneath, and he had no idea whether he needed to return them.

The more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt. Who knew he would still have to put up with this crap even after coming to a different world? What had he ever done to anyone? He had started out on hell difficulty.

"Little mute, what's this? Finally willing to leave the hospital?"

At that moment, Wei Zexuan's mocking voice sounded like music from heaven!

Shi Yuan's eyes lit up. "Zexuan!"

Wei Zexuan raised an eyebrow at his loud greeting. "Didn't my dad tell Wei Zelin to pick you up today? What, did he dump you here?"

Shi Yuan hesitated for two seconds before nodding. He had not wanted to cause trouble for Wei Zelin, but Wei Zexuan would find out even if he said nothing. This spoiled young master always made trouble for whoever he pleased anyway. Besides, Shi Yuan could hardly stand outside the gate all day.

"Wei Zelin wouldn't even let me into his car. I came by taxi." The miserable part was that he did not have a cent in his mobile wallet. He had given the driver the ring in his coat pocket instead. It probably was not cheap, because the driver had floored the accelerator and sped off as soon as he got it.

"That was really wrong of my big brother. How could he leave our brother-in-law here?" Wei Zexuan was pleased. Anything Shi Yuan did to upset Wei Zelin made him happy.

Wei Zexuan gave Shi Yuan a rare smile. "Get in. I'll take you inside."

Shi Yuan happily clambered toward the back seat.

He had been too far away to smell anything earlier, but the moment Shi Yuan opened the rear door, Wei Zexuan roared, "Stop! What's that weird smell on you?"

"Hey, don't get in. I'll have the driver go slowly. Follow behind us."

Bang! Wei Zexuan mercilessly shut the car door again.

With a dark expression, Shi Yuan ran behind Wei Zexuan's luxury car. This time, the guard did not stop him, but stood to one side openly laughing at him.

By the time he had climbed halfway up the hill, his legs were so heavy he could barely lift them. But he was afraid of losing the car, getting lost, and arousing Wei Zexuan's suspicions, so he could only run for dear life. Finally, before he dropped dead, Wei Zexuan's car turned through an ornate gate. Gasping for breath, he squeezed in through the luxury car's exhaust fumes before the gates of the Wei Family's old estate closed.

Wei Zexuan got out and stood elegantly at the entrance, while Shi Yuan trailed behind like a dying dog, barely clinging to life.

Bracing his hands on his knees to catch his breath, he surveyed the enormous mansion. The building before him was beautiful and lavish, with a distinctly historic air, resembling the Western-style houses introduced to the Hua Nation from Europe in earlier times. It was roughly three or four stories tall, with flowering vines covering its outer walls and a rooftop garden above. He guessed the Wei Family's ancestors had built it long ago and that it had remained in use ever since.

Besides this beautiful little European-style mansion, several modern buildings of varying heights stood nearby. Shi Yuan saw quite a few men and women in work uniforms coming and going. Those were probably the Wei Family servants' quarters.

The grounds were astonishingly vast. Beyond the residential buildings, there even seemed to be a golf course on the distant lawn, along with gardens and a swimming pool.

Shi Yuan thought he would believe it even if someone told him they kept horses here. The place was simply enormous; he could not see where it ended.

He came from an ordinary family, and now he felt like a country bumpkin touring a grand estate, with more sights than his eyes could take in.

Standing on the steps outside the vine-covered mansion, Wei Zexuan lifted his chin at him. "Haven't you come here with me twice already? Why are you still acting like you've never seen the world?"

Feeling guilty, Shi Yuan changed the subject. "Where am I staying?"

Wei Zexuan's face darkened. Grabbing his collar, he said menacingly, "Did cracking your head open scramble your brains too? You're even talking to me so casually now. What, do you think your dad doesn't have to repay the money we lent him?"

Then he caught another whiff of the sour smell on Shi Yuan and immediately let go, taking out a handkerchief to wipe his hands in disgust.

Shi Yuan's neck hurt from being choked. Straightening his collar, he said without a trace of shame, "You know perfectly well that the Wei Family lent that 1.5 billion to my dad, not to me."

Sorry, but sucking up to people was simply beyond him.

Wei Zexuan had not expected this. Shi Yuan had practically licked his shoes before, and now he dared talk back? But this was not yet the time to fall out with the Shi Family. Once the Wei Family had them under its thumb, he would have plenty of ways to deal with this disloyal dog!

Suppressing his anger, he said coldly, "Naturally, you'll stay wherever your husband stays."

That was as good as saying nothing. Shi Yuan rolled his eyes, infuriating Wei Zexuan, who had been secretly watching him. Deciding he would rather not look at him, Wei Zexuan turned and went inside.

Shi Yuan waited until he had entered before leisurely following, only to be stopped outside by the butler before he reached the door.

"Young Master Shi, this is the main house. Only members of the Wei Family may enter."

Bewildered, Shi Yuan said, "Don't you know I'm married to Wei Zelin? Where else am I supposed to stay?"

The butler smiled politely. "Please follow me."

After they left, Wei Zelin emerged from the vines beside the mansion. He casually removed his glasses and slowly polished them with a soft cloth, his eyes inscrutable.

The butler led Shi Yuan along a side path to the last of the buildings housing the servants.

Shi Yuan's heart sank. No way. The Wei Family makes Wei Zelin live in the servants' quarters?

As it turned out, the Wei Family really were that despicable.

The building had seven floors, and the butler led Shi Yuan up to the seventh. There was no elevator, so they had to climb the stairs, exhausting Shi Yuan all over again. Even the elderly butler was panting.

"Young Master Shi, the seventh floor is your home with Wei Zelin." With that, the butler took his leave, his task complete.

Madam Wei forbade anyone from addressing Wei Zelin as the eldest young master or even as a young master. Shi Yuan had known that from reading the original novel.

But Wei Zelin's circumstances were even more miserable than the book had described. The seventh floor looked spacious, but it actually contained only one bedroom and one bathroom. The rest was one large empty space, without even a sofa.

Shi Yuan stood in the empty so-called living room, surrounded by bare concrete walls. Several suitcases were piled at his feet. If he was right, they contained his belongings, packed up and sent over by his stepfather.

"Ah." Shi Yuan sighed. He would take things one step at a time.

As he rummaged through the suitcases for clothes, he considered his situation. The Wei Family were no good, and although Wei Zelin seemed pitiful, he was hardly easy to get along with either. Shi Yuan had to survive between them. On one hand, he could not offend Wei Zexuan, lest he torment him during his immediate stay with the Wei Family. On the other, he needed to repair his relationship with Wei Zelin as much as possible, so that when Wei Zelin brought down the Wei father and sons later, he would not send Shi Yuan to prison along with them.

Besides, the Shi Family were trouble too, and he did not want to get too close to them. If Shi's Father could sell his son to the Wei Family for money and power this time, he could just as easily abandon him next time.

If he wanted to live a decent life here, he could not rely on these natives. He had only himself. Thinking of how difficult the days ahead would be, he sighed again and again with worry.

The suitcases were a mess, mostly filled with his clothes. While searching, he spotted a sealed bag at the bottom of one. It held documents and the like. Opening it, he found the original owner's ID card, household registration booklet, marriage certificate, graduation certificate, and a thin sheet of A4 paper.

He picked up the sheet first. Sure enough, it was the contract between the original owner and Wei Zexuan. Shi Yuan knew nothing about law, but he had read the original novel and knew Wei Zexuan had tricked him with it. It had no legal validity whatsoever.

Only the original owner had foolishly believed someone held his financial lifeline. After his marriage, Wei Zexuan had ordered him to stir up endless trouble, putting Wei Zelin through hell.

Later, Wei Zexuan had fallen for Shen Duo. After failing to win him over, he had noticed You Gui, who was still an ordinary employee at the Wei Corporation then. She and Shen Duo had known each other in their youth, but a misunderstanding had separated them for years. When the Wei Corporation collaborated with Shen Duo's company, the two had unexpectedly reunited.

After realizing Shen Duo had feelings for You Gui, Wei Zexuan had used every trick he could against her. On his orders, the original owner had joined the Wei Corporation and framed You Gui. Wei Zelin had been the one to help her several times.

He would not concern himself with the Shi Family's affairs. They were a complete mess. Shi Yuan tore up the contract and threw it into the bathroom toilet. If Wei Zexuan threatened him with the Shi Family again to make him do bad things, he simply would not comply. As long as he held out until Shen Duo and Wei Zelin brought down the Wei Family, he would be free.

He opened the household registration booklet. His own name was on the first page. Shi Yuan gave a derisive chuckle. The Shi Family had removed him from their household registration. That suited him perfectly.

The graduation certificate had been issued abroad. Shi Yuan figured the original owner probably had not put much effort into studying. Wasn't paying to study overseas and polish their credentials standard practice for spoiled rich kids?

Shi Yuan toyed with the certificate. Finance? Not bad. As long as it looks respectable on paper. At least a degree will look decent, but finding a suitable job will be a little difficult.

First, he certainly would not work at Shi's Father's company. That minor celebrity would definitely be wary of him. The Wei Corporation was even more out of the question. He could not get away from Wei Zexuan fast enough.

Second, he had studied literature and history. He knew nothing about finance and had no interest in scheming against others. All he wanted was a simple, stable job to support himself.

During his month in the hospital, he had gained a basic understanding of this world's social system. Aside from minor differences in a few areas, its overall level of development was much the same as that of his previous world.

The most distinctive feature was legal same-sex marriage, which his former country had not allowed. Perhaps it was meant to let the novel's male leads pursue their romance legally. That was rather considerate. Once the plot was over, he wanted to find a boyfriend and date him openly too.

With something to look forward to at last, he recovered a little energy. He found an unopened pair of underwear and a cotton T-shirt, pulled out a pair of lightweight casual trousers, and went into the bathroom.

Using Wei Zelin's toiletries to shower was already a grave offense, so he did not dare touch anything else. He could only tearfully throw the sweat-soaked hospital clothes and wrinkled coat into the trash.

Shi Yuan's legs were weak and sore, but he did not dare enter Wei Zelin's room without permission. He could only stand awkwardly in the living room and wait.

Fortunately, after ten minutes or so, steady footsteps sounded outside the door. It opened, revealing Wei Zelin, whose breathing was as calm as his footsteps. Unlike Shi Yuan and the old butler, he was not gasping after the climb.

Wei Zelin was somewhat surprised to find him standing obediently in the living room, but his tone barely softened. He said coldly to Shi Yuan, "Young Master Shi probably thinks I'm beneath him too. You must have other properties elsewhere. There's no need to squeeze into this shabby little place with me." He reached out and touched the rough wall.

Shi Yuan smiled bitterly. "I don't."

That was the truth. The original owner's usual allowance had not even been enough to fund his extravagance in high society. How could he have had money left over to buy a house? The places he usually stayed outside the family home had all belonged to Shi's Father. With the company now in crisis, Shi's Father had long since transferred those properties to his stepmother's family.

Seeing that Wei Zelin was about to say something else, Shi Yuan spoke first. "I don't have any money either!"

(Wei Zexuan had planted Shi Yuan right under Wei Zelin's nose to disgust him, but Wei Zelin had remained as indifferent as ever. He was like an emotionless robot, knowing only how to carry out Father Wei's orders. Shi Yuan, however, could not stand it. He had grown up as a wealthy young master himself. When had he ever endured such humiliation? That very night, he had fled the Wei Family's estate and spent the night partying elsewhere before Wei Zexuan tracked him down and dragged him back...)

-"Thorn"