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墨書 Inktalez
At five in the morning, the kitchen was fired up; by six, breakfast was served; and by seven, the morning shift was in full swing. By eight, the handover between the morning and evening shifts was nearly complete.
The operations of the hotel were quite routine. At Qingchen Hotel, Boss Mu's life was even more structured. He arrived at the hotel promptly at seven-thirty, took a tour around the premises, and handled daily affairs, particularly checking on the vegetables and ingredients for that day’s deliveries. It was rather peculiar that in this modern metropolis of Binhai, where businesses changed like a revolving door, hotels opened and closed at an equal rate each year. Yet, Boss Mu's hands-on approach, which seemed outdated, had allowed his establishment to stand firm on Yangtze Road for ten years and flourish even more.
Some attributed its success to its prime location near tourist attractions; others credited Boss Mu's capable partner; while many believed it was due to Boss Mu's culinary skills. Regardless, the food was undeniably delicious. On food review websites, this old establishment lacking modern flair received high ratings for its Huaiyang Cuisine and was a favored destination for many diners.
Perhaps the most renowned aspect of this hotel was its kitchen. From the Head Chef to the vegetable washers and dishwashers, every staff member had been personally selected by Boss Mu. During busy times, he would don an apron and demonstrate his skills himself. Under his leadership by example, the Chef Class gained a stellar reputation. It was said that even new hotels offering nearly double the salaries struggled to poach his talent.
Thus, human factors played a significant role. Many employees had been with Boss Mu for over a decade; some were old friends from his hometown. The oldest among them had both father and son working at the hotel—the father as a Helper and the son receiving financial support from Boss Mu while attending university. When that university graduate failed to make a mark in society, he too found refuge with Boss Mu and eventually became one of his most trusted aides.
His name was Yan Lu, Assistant.
As he started his shift, Assistant Yan hurried down from upstairs, inquiring about something from the servers in the hall before heading straight to the kitchen to find Boss Mu. Upon reaching the pass-through area, he noticed that Boss Mu was in high spirits, teaching a group of chefs how to use Huaiyang knife skills. The chefs gathered around as he swiftly sliced vegetables into fine shreds. With a flick of his wrist, he arranged them into a perfect fan shape on a plate—neat and separate—drawing continuous admiration from the kitchen staff.
Upon seeing Assistant Yan, Boss Mu set aside his tools and instructed the chefs to practice on their own. He washed his hands and strolled out leisurely, casually asking, “Xiaoyan, what’s up?”
“Mu Zong… um, your phone…” Yan Lu pointed at Mu Qingchen who pulled out his phone with an “oh” sound as he silenced it. He explained that Yan Lu’s aunt wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want to disturb him; he thought it best to keep it quiet since usually any matters would be directed towards him anyway.
Noticing several missed calls on his phone made Old Mu frown. Most were from his son. Just thinking about him put Old Mu in a bad mood; he glanced at the screen and felt his mood plummet further before putting on a facade as he walked away with his hands behind his back, grumbling angrily: “What’s going on? Did he try to contact you? I swear if you give him money again, I’ll fire you.”
“No, Uncle Mu… um…”
“What is it really? Is he back at the police station again? No one is allowed to interfere! He’s grown up now; if he gets into trouble, he should handle it himself! When will I stop having to support him?”
“It’s not that! Uncle Mu…”
“What is it then?”
Mu Qingchen stopped and turned back to ask as he noticed that Assistant Yan seemed hesitant to speak. After holding back for what felt like an eternity, Yan Lu finally blurted out: “Uncle Mu, he wants you to go to the law firm; he wants to negotiate with you. He said if you don’t go, you’ll have to face the consequences.”
Old Mu was stunned, stammering for a moment as if he might vomit his breakfast. Then, with his teeth clenched in anger, he muttered, "Listen to this. Is there anyone who threatens their father like that? I could raise a dog, and it wouldn’t dare show its teeth at me... I won’t go. Let him do whatever he wants. I really want to see what the consequences will be."
Yan Lu, however, was a bit anxious as he hurried after Boss Mu. "Uncle Mu, I heard his voice on the phone; it didn’t sound like usual... It’s been over six months now. Young Master Mu has been quite diligent, learning to cook and going for job interviews. Shouldn’t we... meet him?"
"No meeting. Learning to cook, cursing the chef, going for interviews, and hitting Boss Mu—let him be. If he dares to ride on my back and slap me, don’t pity him. He has plenty of tricks up his sleeve; he might even be thinking about how to mess with this little family business," Old Mu said dismissively, walking away with his hands behind his back, visibly furious.
Yan Lu noticed the obvious change in Boss Mu. With Madam expecting a child, all his thoughts were likely focused on that. As for the rebellious son left by the Ex-Wife, anyone could see that this father had done all he could.
Family matters were complicated. Yan Lu chased after Boss Mu and reported, "Uncle Mu, how about this? I’ll go take a trip and see how he’s doing? After all, he is... What if he finds out about Auntie’s pregnancy? I’m worried he might not take it well."
Not wanting to stir up Boss Mu's emotions further, Old Mu hesitated for a moment before waving his hand. "Go ahead."
Yan Lu hurried off, clearly concerned for the family. But even concern wouldn’t help much. Old Mu watched Xiaoyan’s retreating figure and sighed heavily.
A knot in his heart that couldn’t be untied—unsolvable.
...
After more than an hour, Yan Lu arrived at Libra Law Firm and found Lawyer Wang Xueqin, who had been entrusted by Boss Mu. Lawyer Wang was still confused about the situation but knew today was the day to collect money. Normally, she should have received the medical examination report by now; however, there was an issue with that report too. Lawyer Wang showed Assistant Yan the one from two months ago, pointing at the signature and the hospital stamp before telling Yan Lu it was fake.
Yan Lu couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. He whispered to Lawyer Wang not to tell Boss Mu about this matter; he would talk to Young Master Mu himself. After all, it was a father-son issue. If they got too deep into it, both would end up hurt—especially since he knew Young Master Mu had always had a strong sense of pride since childhood.
Lawyer Wang had her own difficulties as well. She complained about Young Master Mu's temperament: every time he came in, it felt like dealing with a debt collector; if he didn’t say something unpleasant first, he wouldn’t feel satisfied. This arrangement didn’t bind him; it bound her instead. She seriously doubted she could endure another month of his tantrums until they reached property division.
Just then, there was a loud bang as someone kicked open the door. Lawyer Wang had gotten used to it and pointed out that debt collectors had arrived.
Sure enough, heavy footsteps echoed as several lawyers entered the room, silencing everyone else in fear. They pretended not to notice while Lawyer Wang remarked that here she was the boss; she could vent her frustrations on whoever she wanted every month.
Yan Lu pursed his lips in silence; it seemed Young Master Mu's temper would be hard to change for life.
The door swung open, and Lawyer Wang had no kind words to offer. "Take a seat, don’t be so uptight. Lawyers have it tough too. They didn’t receive your father’s retainer, so if you have any grievances, direct them at me."
Yan Lu was somewhat taken aback. Xiao Mu had changed drastically; he wore an old jacket and sport shoes, looking disheveled, a stark contrast to his usual meticulously crafted image. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked as if he were ready to lash out at anyone.
"Mu... Young Master Mu, what happened to you?" Yan Lu asked nervously, standing up straight.
"Where's my dad?" Mulin Shen inquired.
"He’s a bit busy; I’m here as his full agent," Yan Lu replied.
"Can you be my dad? Call him and see if he answers," Mulin Shen asked harshly, startling Yan Lu.
Unexpectedly, his demeanor shifted again as he turned to Lawyer Wang. He stood up straight and bowed deeply. "Aunt Wang, I’m sorry for making you endure my temper for so long. My family matters are really none of your concern."
"It’s fine, what are you doing? Please sit down," Lawyer Wang urged, getting up to offer him a seat and pouring water. Xiao Mu plopped down heavily, dropping the plastic bag he was holding onto the table. His expression and demeanor were so intimidating that Lawyer Wang hesitated to ask for the medical examination form. Instead, she quickly opened a drawer and carefully placed an envelope containing five thousand yuan on the table. "This is for this month."
She exchanged glances with Yan Lu, eager to wrap things up quickly. Yan Lu still stood awkwardly while Xiao Mu grabbed the money, pulled it out, and chuckled dryly twice before looking at Yan Lu with rolling eyes. "Do you really think you can take my dad's place?"
"I... Young Master Mu, Mr. Mu is truly busy. If there’s anything, I can handle it," Yan Lu said weakly.
"Fine then. If he doesn’t want to see me, I won’t bother either. I’ll just consider you my dad since you can handle things..." Xiao Mu said as he opened the bag wider, dumping keys—house keys, car keys, phone, wallet—onto the table. "The property fees for the house are due; I can’t afford them. The car insurance is about to expire; I can’t pay that either. My credit card is maxed out; I can’t pay it back either. What do you suggest?"
Any sympathy Lawyer Wang had vanished in an instant at this display of arrogance from the young heir; it seemed he was truly desperate.
"Um... please don’t put me in a difficult position; I can’t manage your household—it would ruin my job... How about I lend you some money so you can pay for now?" Yan Lu offered honestly but was immediately intimidated by Xiao Mu’s ferocity today.
As expected, it wasn’t just that. Xiao Mu laughed heartily and slammed his hand on the table. "What about next month? And the month after that? Are you going to support me?"
Yan Lu found himself cornered and dared not agree.
Lawyer Wang could no longer stand by silently and gently advised, "Young Master Mu, please don’t be so angry; your father is only looking out for your best interests."
"Ha ha, for my own good... I'm fifteen, still a minor. He threw me alone into a foreign country—does he even know what kind of life I'm living? I've been beaten, bullied, robbed; I don't even have a place to report it... I wanted to learn to paint, but when he saw me drawing nudes, he called me a pervert and tried to send me back home... In America, just as I was about to apply for a green card, he cut off my financial support and forced me to come back... As soon as I returned, he started looking down on me again, colluding with the psychiatrist to send me to a mental hospital. I almost died out there! Did you ever care? Yan Lu, you're an accomplice; you were the first person I called... After all my struggles to come home, this is how you treat me. Ask yourself honestly: if your son were in my situation, could you live with yourself?"
Xiao Mu's voice trembled with anger as he raised his left hand to show his wound. "What era is this? Forcing me to be a master? He let me live lazily for ten years and now expects me to fend for myself? Is it really necessary to push me this hard?"
Lawyer Wang looked pained; this family matter was tangled beyond resolution. Yan Lu slowly sat down, but as soon as he did, Xiao Mu slammed his hand on the table with a loud bang, startling him back up. Xiao Mu shouted angrily, "Now that there's a little darling to take care of him, he can rest easy without worrying about his vast estate being left without an heir... Yan Lu, since you represent him, let's talk. Can you represent him?"
"Talk... about what?" Yan Lu stammered.
"Very simple. Since neither father nor son act like one another—I'm frustrated and he's uncomfortable—let's just settle this once and for all." Xiao Mu pounded on something as he spoke. "The house and car are all here. I came out wearing cheap market clothes today. I'm laying it down right now: either he remains my father and takes care of everything like before; or we draw the line clearly—he doesn't get involved in my life anymore. I’ll leave with nothing today; if I die out there, it has nothing to do with him... You decide."
Yan Lu was startled and grabbed his phone to run outside for consultation.
Lawyer Wang watched Xiao Mu's bloodshot eyes. She wanted to say something several times but swallowed her words. This father-son pair actually resembled each other quite a bit; both had stubborn personalities. It seemed today would end badly. She remained silent until Xiao Mu asked, "Aunt Wang, what will happen to the will he left with you? Can I see it?"
"That's not appropriate," Lawyer Wang replied.
"There's nothing inappropriate about it. After today, you can throw it away. Just ask him for more commission fees; no one will care," Xiao Mu said.
Lawyer Wang's eyes narrowed; she dared not engage further. This kid was on edge today; even a spark could ignite an explosion.
Moments later, Yan Lu returned, frozen in place as he looked at Mulin Shen. The expression on his face was already the best answer. Xiao Mu instead calmed down and slowly said, "Just tell me straight so I can give up."
"Mu Zong refuses. Either you comply with his conditions or find your own way out," Yan Lu murmured. On the other end of the phone, there was furious shouting; it wasn't as calm as it seemed. Old Mu simply said three words:
Let him roll.
Yan Lu seemed afraid of airing family grievances and gently closed the door behind him. He saw Young Master Mu's eyes narrowing in movement; in an instant, tears streamed down his face. Then he wiped them away forcefully, trying to hold back his emotions as his gaze turned hollow—a look that was somewhat frightening.
As an assistant, Yan Lu knew that the complicated knots in this family wouldn't be untangled easily. He gently sat down and pulled out a card from his pocket, placing it on the table. He tore off a piece of notepaper and wrote down the password before pushing it toward Mulin Shen. "Mu Shao, there's several thousand dollars here for you to use first; wait until your dad calms down before bringing this up."
"I'm not here for money today; even if I were, this amount isn't enough. I can't take your money either," Xiao Mu replied calmly. His calmness only made things feel more awkward as he methodically placed items in front of Yan Lu while saying, "The house goes back to him; the car goes back to him... And Lawyer Wang, please bring out the agreement."
A deep voice seemed to carry an invisible power. Lawyer Wang hurriedly stood up, glancing at Yan Lu, and quickly retrieved a sealed will locked in the filing cabinet. She hesitated before saying to Yan Lu, "Strictly speaking, I cannot give this to you; otherwise, it would go against my professional ethics."
"Give it to me. A father-son relationship cannot be defined by a piece of paper." Mulin Shen extended his hand.
After hesitating several times, Lawyer Wang finally handed it over to Xiao Mu. He took it without looking and tore it apart with a swift motion, placing the pieces in front of Yan Lu. He resolutely declared, "Tell him this: I don't want a single cent of his property, and I have no regrets. Whatever I do, whatever I become, he should not interfere anymore and should not regret it. And you, stop following me like a paparazzo."
Both of them were stunned; this was indeed the rhythm of severing their father-son relationship. Yan Lu was frightened and wanted to reach out to stop him but dared not intervene. Xiao Mu slowly stood up, suddenly filled with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. He glanced at the messy desk, turned around, and burst into laughter as if he had gone mad, laughing while wiping away tears as he exited the lawyer's office.
An assistant and a lawyer exchanged glances, both shocked. It took Yan Lu a long time to come to his senses and chase after him, but once outside, the streets were bustling with traffic—there was no sign of Young Master Mu...
………………………………………
………………………………………
A person's greatest opponent is himself because this opponent embodies all his flaws while rejecting all his strengths, making it impossible to conquer.
Most people lose to themselves—losing to their own weaknesses, losing to their inner fears, losing to their own greed, or like Xiao Mu, losing to their own arrogance.
Shen Lingchen drove steadily toward the outskirts, thoughts like these swirling in his mind. Xiao Mu sat lazily in the co-driver's seat, appearing deep in thought. In the back seat, Guo Wei and Guan Yiqing sat in silence, afraid to speak. They had no idea what had happened that would cause this legendary playboy to rush into the car with red eyes from crying; however, they knew that a master among informants was about to embark on a journey.
"Kid, are you ready? The salary of a professional informant isn't easy to earn," Shen Lingchen suddenly said, getting straight to the point.
"Do you really think I'm that foolish? How many informants live off their salaries? What you offer is barely pocket money," Xiao Mu replied darkly.
Shen Lingchen chuckled approvingly and said, "That's right. That place where you can fully unleash your inner darkness is most lacking in money yet also overflowing with it."
"You think I'm doing this for money? How mundane," Xiao Mu questioned.
"No. It's for excitement—the most intense thrill that can ignite passion deep within one's heart. Just like professional criminals; they aren't just after money but seek a sense of pleasure, control—a feeling of superiority in intelligence and strength. It's similar for police officers; often it's not integrity or righteousness that drives us but rather the intense experience of reality that stimulates us. Stripping away notions of justice or evil, we are essentially the same kind of people... Are you ready for this competition?" Shen Lingchen asked subtly.
But Xiao Mu had no difficulty understanding such words; he replied calmly, "Nothing will be harder than making the decision I made today."
"Are you regretting it?" Shen Lingchen asked, noticing the dullness in Xiao Mu's tone.
"Of course, just like how you often regret becoming a police officer and missing the chance to be an ordinary person," Xiao Mu replied.
"Yes, making a choice means choosing to regret that choice. But you're different; you could have made a better choice without forcing yourself so harshly. You know very well that it won't go as you wish," Shen Lingchen said, still surprised by Xiao Mu's decision. As an Inciter, he was beginning to feel a psychological burden.
"Even though your intentions are not good and you have ulterior motives, what you say is true. Even when I reach forty, I still won't get what I want. My father's character is very resolute; once he sets his mind on something, he won't easily change it," Xiao Mu said sadly. He understood, he knew, he was clear about it, but despite his efforts, he just couldn't achieve it. So, he had to seek his own change.
"Actually, aren't you the same... I'm sorry; I may have done something disgraceful," Shen Lingchen said.
"It's fine. You've seen the darkness in my heart. Yes, I enjoy dealing with scumbags; it's thrilling and fun. Stripped of my wealthy background, I might just be a scumbag myself—someone who can't even support himself," Xiao Mu admitted.
Shen Lingchen felt slightly uncomfortable; he was now worried that this thrill had gone too far. However, he returned to the main topic and reminded Xiao Mu, "There's something for you in the car's storage compartment. Memorize the number on the file bag. If there's danger, retreat immediately; someone will come to assist you... Widow Ma and Mourning Hair are the two targets. Choose one and infiltrate their lair to see what these two are up to."
The targets had already been determined? Guo Wei couldn't help but interject with a question: "Master, are these two targets correct? Don't waste your efforts."
Without turning back, Shen Lingchen replied, "Xiao Mu, explain."
"Having a grudge with You Bisheng indicates that these two people once held significant weight in the Underworld; since they have gone into hiding in Suzhou and Hangzhou, there must be a reason for it. Two proletarians suddenly becoming wealthy must also have a reason. Widow Ma and Mourning Hair have both been involved in artifact trafficking, fitting the description of suspects in this case. Artifact trafficking requires discernment and has specific channels for selling stolen goods that may align with those of the two cases or have connections. After all, there are only a handful of people who can engage in such business... As long as we get close to the target—even if it's just on the periphery—any information regarding the channels for selling stolen goods could lead us to find our target," Xiao Mu explained without even opening his eyes, leaning back against his chair while listing out reasons. Shen Lingchen smiled; this was precisely why he regarded Xiao Mu as an ally—his thought process was akin to that of an experienced detective who could directly see what lay behind the clues.
Guo Wei was left speechless, shocked at how an outsider had pointed out what he had failed to understand about his master's intentions.
Guan Yiqing was dumbfounded and even tilted his head to look at Xiao Mu in confusion. His mood should have been very excited; how could he remain so calm while thinking?
"Did both of you hear clearly? From now on, analyze things this way—don't overthink it. Most case situations become clear when unraveled; they are actually quite simple. But don't think it's too simple; when faced with the unknown, any case is a mystery that requires effort to uncover that simple answer," Shen Lingchen instructed.
The two disciples had no further words; they instinctively felt that this Red Line Informant was not someone who achieved success easily.
As the car sped onto the highway like an arrow released from a bow towards the high-speed rail station, when they got out of the car, Xiao Mu gathered his wallet, ID card, and cash without saying a word. He opened the car door and quickly walked toward the waiting hall, soon disappearing into the bustling crowd of travelers.
"Master, what exactly happened? How did you manage to persuade him?" Guan Yiqing finally managed to ask curiously.
Shen Lingchen reversed the car and hit the road again, a sly smile on his face as he said, "I didn't say I made him an informant... but I did convince him to sever ties with his father."
The two listeners were left speechless, utterly baffled by this logic.
"Family ties can sometimes be as complicated as a case situation—impossible to cut cleanly, tangled and messy... At his age, he doesn't understand familial bonds, but he does grasp the intricacies of a case situation. What a strange person; I find it quite odd. How many cases must one experience to reach his level? When I was his age, I was still a clueless rookie."
Shen Lingchen praised Xiao Mu as if talking to himself, completely oblivious to the fact that in the eyes of his two disciples, he was just as much of an oddity.
Could that oddball really infiltrate Widow Ma's or Mourning Hair's hideouts?
Guan Yiqing and Guo Wei exchanged glances, inexplicably starting to worry for each other. A wealthy young master and two underachievers—how could such a combination even come together?
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