Ch 27: How To Be A Good Lackey

World 2 – Elite Family

【A plane crash six years ago severed all ties between them. The chasm between life and death stretched across their path, leaving the living with endless regret and pain. The campus bench no longer held the lover from the past, and in the ancient, silent mansion, even the sunlight gradually turned cold. Only in the depths of midnight dreams could they reunite for a fleeting moment.

Six years later, the one who had died appeared before them again, but with all memories lost. The tangled love and hatred of the past had already faded like drifting clouds. At the crossroads of fate, which direction must one take to find their true love? The pages of time write new lines of poetry, about you, about me, about love…】

It was June, the trees lush and verdant. From early morning, the servants of the Pei household were already busy preparing for that evening’s banquet. It had been nearly half a month since the head of the family, Pei Fangyan, was discharged from the hospital. After more than half a year of silence, the old Pei residence was finally lively once again.

Several years ago, Pei Fangyan had been in a car accident. Both his legs were severely injured, and because a heavy rainstorm that day had caused traffic to stall, treatment was delayed. Translated on Hololo novels. Even after consulting renowned doctors from both within the country and abroad, none were able to restore his ability to walk normally. For all these years, Pei Fangyan had relied on a wheelchair, and every so often he had to return to the hospital for maintenance and examinations.

Over the years, rumors persisted that the accident had occurred because he was trying to protect his “white moonlight.” That woman had been his nephew’s girlfriend, someone who had broken up and reconciled with the nephew many times. Eventually, disheartened, she chose to go abroad, only to be caught in a plane crash. She died in that disaster, leaving not even a fragment of her remains behind. In the end, the few close friends who mourned her each took a piece of the wreckage as a keepsake.

It was said that even past the age of thirty, Pei Fangyan had never married because he could not forget her.

As night fell, the old Pei residence blazed with light. The elderly steward, dressed in a black tailcoat, stood at the entrance of the hall directing the newly hired servants to welcome guests. Most of those attending tonight were members of the Pei family themselves.

The Pei family was vast. Setting aside the many distant relatives invited today, Old Master Pei alone had five sons and three daughters, six of whom he had raised to adulthood. Pei Fangyan ranked seventh and was the only child Old Master Pei had adopted from outside. After graduating from university, he left home and built his career from nothing, establishing a massive business empire at a young age.

At the time, Old Master Pei had been gravely ill, and the siblings had fought fiercely over the family inheritance. Yet none of them had paid much attention to Pei Fangyan. Their thinking was simple: no matter how capable he was, his blood was not that of the Pei family. The old master might be dying, but he was not senile enough to hand over generations of family wealth to an outsider.

But none of them had expected that, before his death, Old Master Pei would announce in front of everyone that Pei Fangyan would be the next head of the family. That very night, after declaring his will, the old man passed away with a smile, leaving them no chance to persuade him otherwise.

Pei Fangyan became the head of the family and took control of all its businesses. As children, they had looked down on this adopted son their father had brought home, believing he stood beneath them in status. Now, however, they had to carefully read his expression just to receive a share of the benefits he distributed.

The eldest, Pei Tiancheng, often sighed to others that fortunes truly reversed over time.

After the old master’s death, the rest of the family did not wish to remain and live under Pei Fangyan’s authority. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. One after another, they moved out, until only he remained as the sole master of the vast estate.

When they received invitations from the old residence a few days ago, the siblings all found it strange. Pei Fangyan had never liked lively gatherings, so why was he suddenly hosting a banquet? They discussed it privately but could not reach any conclusion. Could it be that his legs had improved? If so, that would be unfortunate news.

The fragrance of flowers mingled with the scent of wine, filling the grand hall. Lights gleamed on all sides as people came and went. Acquaintances nodded to one another, exchanged jokes, and chatted about their children’s studies and marriages. Their shadows overlapped and separated across the polished floor.

After the guests had finished their first round of dining, the old steward finally wheeled Pei Fangyan in from outside. Thirty-two years old this year, he wore a classic black suit paired with a white shirt, understated yet refined. His features were sharp and cold, his complexion slightly pale, perhaps from long deprivation of sunlight.

The moment he appeared, the lively hall fell silent. The crowd parted instinctively, making way for him.

The steward pushed him to the center of the hall and stopped. Translated on Hololo novels. Seated calmly in his wheelchair, Pei Fangyan showed none of the gloom of a long illness. His gaze swept over the crowd as he began with a polite remark, “Apologies for calling everyone here tonight.”

As soon as he finished speaking, someone immediately responded that they had nothing better to do at home, and gathering at the old residence was a good thing.

Pei Fangyan smiled faintly, then spoke directly, “As you all know, my health has not been good these past years. So I’ve been thinking—it would be better to establish my will sooner rather than later.”

At these words, everyone was startled. They looked at one another, unsure what he was truly getting at.

After all, Pei Fangyan was still unmarried and had no children. The people closest to him were this large Pei family. The heir named in his will would surely have to be chosen from among them.

Their thoughts immediately stirred, though in front of him they did not dare show their excitement too openly. The eldest brother, Pei Tiancheng, spoke up, “What are you saying, little brother? Your complexion has been improving lately. And with medical technology advancing every day, perhaps one day there will be a way to cure your legs.”

Others quickly echoed his words.

Looking at Pei Tiancheng, Pei Fangyan smiled. “There’s no need to persuade me. I know my own body. Even if one day I could stand again, things like playing sports would still be out of the question.”

Pei Tiancheng’s expression stiffened. He retreated awkwardly and said nothing more for the rest of the evening.

As if unaware, Pei Fangyan continued, “So I thought that while my condition hasn’t worsened too much yet, I should choose an heir early. I have no descendants, but fortunately the Pei family is large. I’d like to select a few to stay by my side and train them. You have no objections, I assume?”

How could they object? They would have gladly tied their children to his wheelchair if they could.

“No objections, none at all! Little brother, what about my son A-Yang?”

“Our Xiao Liang is excellent too—he’s a master’s student at a prestigious university!”

“My Lili is even a doctoral student!”

Watching his younger siblings eagerly recommend their children, Pei Tiancheng hesitated for a long time at the back. In the end, he still did not speak.

After the banquet ended, everyone except Pei Tiancheng left in high spirits. Although it would be some time before Pei Fangyan chose an heir, each of them believed their own child was the most outstanding and would surely win his favor. Translated on Hololo novels. They could not help but feel that fate had come full circle—after all the twists and turns, the Pei family would ultimately return to their own hands.

The fourth sibling walked briskly over and patted Pei Tiancheng on the shoulder. “Big brother, why didn’t you talk to Seventh Brother? You could’ve sent Xiao Ye to stay by his side.”

Pei Tiancheng forced a thin smile. “Xiao Ye… Xiao Ye isn’t interested in that.”

The fourth nodded knowingly. “Right, Xiao Ye wants to be an athlete, doesn’t he? That’s good—parents don’t have to worry. Unlike us. With that build of his, he looks like a future gold medalist.”

Pei Tiancheng: “….”

The “Xiao Ye” they were talking about was, at that very moment, in the most luxurious gym in the city. He struck several poses, admiring in the mirror the full, powerful muscles of his body with satisfaction.

After appreciating himself for a while, Shao Ye moved to a Smith machine to finish his final set of the day.

He had only just started when an acquaintance came over and asked, “Why are you still here?”

Without stopping his movements, Shao Ye turned his head and glanced at him, replying matter-of-factly, “Aren’t I here every day?”

The other person looked a bit anxious. “Your Pei family’s old residence is holding a family banquet tonight. Why didn’t you go?”

“There’s something like that? I didn’t know!” Shao Ye was genuinely stunned, his eyes widening as he asked.

“Did you offend your Seventh Uncle?”

Shao Ye stepped down from the Smith machine and shook his head. “No way. Not long ago I even gave my Seventh Uncle tickets.”

Unfortunately, his uncle had never replied, and the tickets had already expired for quite some time.

“Then is it because you didn’t change your surname, so they don’t acknowledge you?” Before Shao Ye could respond, the man dismissed his own guess. “No, that can’t be it. He Jiahui—your second aunt’s son—went too.”

When Shao Ye was born, his parents had already divorced. He was given custody to his mother and took her surname. When he was seven, his mother passed away from illness, and he was brought back to the Pei family. To honor her memory, he kept her surname ever since.

Shao Ye looked at the man suspiciously. “Wait, how do you know so much about my family?”

“It’s all over Moments. Haven’t you seen it?” the man replied.

No one knew who had leaked the news that Pei Fangyan was selecting an heir, but by now, almost the entire upper circle knew.

Except Shao Ye.

He had only returned at the beginning of the year after studying abroad. Most of his WeChat contacts were from overseas. After coming back, he had added quite a few people from the gym, but they all turned out to be gay. The only difference was whether they came out quickly or slowly. Every time one did, Shao Ye deleted them. After several months, the number of his contacts had somehow increased by exactly zero.

Just hearing that Pei Fangyan had hosted a family banquet without inviting him already made Shao Ye anxious. Learning that his uncle intended to select candidates to train by his side made him even more anxious.

He hurriedly drove back, but by the time he reached the old residence, the banquet had long since ended, and Pei Fangyan had already retired for the night.

Full of regret, Shao Ye could only turn his car around and head home. He found his father, Pei Tiancheng, and asked, “Dad, there was a banquet at the old residence tonight?”

Pei Tiancheng was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. Hearing the question, he simply gave a brief “Mm.”

“Something this big, and you didn’t tell me?” Shao Ye exclaimed.

Pei Tiancheng looked up at him. “Why would I tell you? Don’t you dislike attending these kinds of banquets? Go do your own thing.”

“I don’t like banquets, but didn’t we agree when I came back that I should make more of an impression in front of Seventh Uncle? Then our family might get a bigger share at the end of the year.”

Pei Tiancheng set down his newspaper, took a deep breath, and said earnestly, “Xiao Ye, your father was wrong before. Let’s forget about this. Just pretend I never said it. As for the Pei family’s assets, we’ll take whatever share we can get. It’s all fate.”

Now even more confused, Shao Ye asked, “Dad, why are you suddenly so dispirited? This isn’t like you. Did someone threaten you? I’ll go teach them a lesson!”

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, looking ready to go pick a fight. Pei Tiancheng quickly said, “I’m not asking you to win your Seventh Uncle’s favor anymore. I just ask that you don’t go annoy him.”

Shao Ye was indignant. If He Jiahui could go, why couldn’t he? Puffing out his chest, he said, “Dad, are you looking down on me?”

“Looking down on you? How much more respect do you want from me!” Pei Tiancheng shot him a glare and slammed the newspaper onto the coffee table with a smack.

With a dark expression, he scolded, “Your Seventh Uncle was in a car accident. Both his legs can’t walk. Everyone else either found hospitals, recommended doctors, even invited famous monks and Taoists to perform rituals for him. And what did you give him?”

“Uh… well…” Shao Ye gave an awkward laugh, trying to organize his words. “My Seventh Uncle’s legs have been like this for years. Everyone else focuses on treating his body, but I wanted to encourage him mentally. That match—”

Pei Tiancheng cut him off, glaring. “Don’t change the subject. Tell me, what exactly did you give him?”

Still trying to soften it, Shao Ye said, “Dad, sometimes we shouldn’t only look at external results. I think inner healing is also important. Seventh Uncle should go out more, see the world—”

Hearing his excuses only made Pei Tiancheng angrier. He picked up the newspaper again as if to hit him. “Do you believe I won’t smack you? Say it!”

Seeing there was no escaping, Shao Ye finally lowered his head, staring at his feet, and muttered, “Two… soccer tickets.”

Pei Tiancheng had already known about it. Hearing it again, he wasn’t as furious as before, but still snapped, “I should be grateful you didn’t send your Seventh Uncle a gym membership card.”

---

Author’s note:

[No. 6, it really had to be you.]

This task was actually pretty simple. As long as you get listed among Seventh Uncle’s heir candidates, that’s enough. I saw other streams already getting listed on the first day and thought the task was kind of boring. Didn’t expect you, No. 6, to give me this kind of surprise. As expected of the man who can win over the guild leader.

: No. 6, it really had to be you
: No. 6, it really had to be you
: No. 6, it really had to be you

: By the way, who wrote those two intro paragraphs at the beginning? That was unbearable. If not, let my niece who just started kindergarten write it

: Seriously, just those two paragraphs are enough for me to spend a lifetime trying to forget

: About you, about me, about love…

: Shut up!

: Honestly, No. 1 the top student and No. 4 the little lamb didn’t really want to go either, but Pei Tiancheng forced them. But No. 6, my friend, he’s a true legend. He wanted to go, and Pei Tiancheng was desperately holding onto his leg to stop him

: Pei Tiancheng: Even though I really, really, really want the Pei family fortune, I choose to stay alive

: Pei Tiancheng, can you perform that again in front of No. 6?
“You don’t go to the old residence, then don’t call me your father anymore.” .gif

: To No. 6: If you go to the old residence, we’ll have to reunite as father and son in the underworld

: Pei Tiancheng: I still want to live a few more years, spare me

: I really want to know what expression Seventh Uncle had when he saw those soccer tickets

: And they were even consecutive seats. What was No. 6 thinking? Going together with Seventh Uncle?

: He’s actually kind of sweet… I’m starting to ship them

: Shut up upstairs, you’re making me think of things I shouldn’t

: Hahahahahahahaha I’m dying laughing is this Qingming relief or what

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