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墨書 Inktalez
Through my conversation with Uncle Fu, I gradually gained a simple understanding of this place. The mansion is called the Zhao Residence, and its owner is Old Lady Zhao. In S City, she is a well-known figure, famously referred to as the Iron Lady, owning several large enterprises with a fortune rumored to be in the billions. It was no wonder that the mansion's decorations and arrangements were so lavish.
Eight years ago, Old Lady Zhao's first husband passed away, and she brought in her current husband, who is referred to by Uncle Fu as the master of the house. The young master is the son of Madam Zhao and her late husband. He initially thought he could inherit his mother’s estate alone, but now that there are outsiders vying for a share, he inevitably feels dissatisfied. This has led to a lukewarm attitude towards his stepfather. The stepfather has sensed this hostility but has refrained from confronting him out of respect for Old Lady Zhao. Thus, they have spent seven years in a cold war atmosphere. A month ago, Old Lady Zhao passed away due to illness, and in just a few days, the lawyer will come to announce the will, making their already tense atmosphere even more charged.
Ah, family dramas and the intrigues of high society—scenes I could only see on television are now unfolding right before my eyes. All I can do is sigh.
After taking a shower, I felt much more refreshed. While getting dressed, I noticed that Uncle Fu had already taken my wet clothes to dry.
“How are you feeling? Much better?” Uncle Fu appeared by my side without me noticing. “You haven’t eaten yet, come with me.”
I followed Uncle Fu to the dining room, which was also decorated extravagantly and was larger than any living room I had ever seen. In the center stood a long banquet table that I often saw on television; Yuan Yun was already seated there.
I scrutinized Yuan Yun; her clothes were also dry, indicating she had received similar treatment as I had.
Next to Yuan Yun stood a woman who appeared to be in her fifties and had a plump figure. Noticing where my gaze fell, Uncle Fu quickly introduced her: “This is my wife; she’s an excellent cook. She takes care of the meals and daily living at the Zhao Residence while I handle other matters.”
“What about the other staff? I haven’t seen anyone else around,” I asked instinctively, perhaps because the mansion was so large that the staff might be elsewhere.
“There are just the two of us old folks along with the master and young master; there are no other people here.”
I never expected such a large mansion to house only four people. Logically, with such a vast estate, there should at least be ten servants and bodyguards. Uncle Fu clearly noticed my confusion and explained, “The Old Madam disliked having too many people around during her lifetime, so aside from us who have served her for decades, there are no other servants here. As for security, this mansion is equipped with a very advanced electronic defense system, so there’s no need to worry about outsiders intruding.”
Ah, I see. Beneath its seemingly tranquil and ancient exterior lies a high-tech fortress—truly an ideal residence.
I walked over and sat beside Yuan Yun. In front of us were four plates of food, the contents of which were not immediately recognizable. We had left early in the morning and only managed to eat some bread and sausages by the river at noon; by now, we were both famished. After exchanging pleasantries with Uncle Fu and his wife, we began to eat voraciously.
In no time, the dishes on the table were cleared. I let out a satisfied burp and stood up, only then noticing that Uncle Fu and his wife had been smiling quietly beside us. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I scratched my head.
“The rain is still falling; it seems it might not stop tonight,” Uncle Fu said, sensing my awkwardness and changing the subject.
“Oh…” I replied, walking over to the window. Indeed, the rain was pouring down relentlessly with no signs of letting up. “It looks like we might have to impose on you for the night.”
Behind me, Yuan Yun was helping Aunt Fu clear the table. Upon hearing my words, Aunt Fu chimed in, “No worries! We have plenty of guest rooms here. The young master has also agreed that you can stay overnight. To be honest, it’s been ages since we’ve had guests; I’m about to go stir-crazy just being around this old man all day. I’d be delighted to have more company to chat with!”
“Hey…” Uncle Fu scratched his head sheepishly upon hearing his wife tease him.
Watching this elderly couple made me ponder whether Yuan Yun and I would still be as affectionate when we grew old.
Darkness had completely taken over the sky, and the grandfather clock against the wall indicated it was 8 PM. Outside, the torrential rain continued to rage without any sign of stopping.
Uncle Fu and I sat across from each other at the coffee table in the living room, where a chessboard was laid out before us. To be honest, I had only played chess occasionally in middle school; after that, I became engrossed in online games and hadn’t touched it in nearly a decade. After several rounds, I found myself utterly defeated.
At one point, I suggested stopping, but Uncle Fu was clearly enjoying himself and insisted on playing a few more games. Perhaps he rarely had anyone to spar with, so even facing off against a novice like me was better than nothing.
Yuan Yun and Aunt Fu were sitting not far away, chatting animatedly about something, glancing our way from time to time. However, every time our eyes met, they quickly turned away. I wondered if they might be talking about me.
When Uncle Fu threatened to "kill" me for the ninth time, I could no longer sit still. I stood up under the pretense of needing to use the restroom, but in reality, I wanted to escape this losing battle.
As I walked toward the bathroom, a sudden scream echoed from somewhere. I held my breath and listened; it seemed to come from the other end of the corridor.
"It sounds like it's coming from the young master's room on the second floor..." Uncle Fu said. The others in the living room also heard the sound and stood up together. Just then, another scream rang out, this time clearer—a man's cry of agony. Without hesitation, I sprinted toward the source of the sound.
At the end of the corridor was a staircase. I dashed up the stairs, leaving Uncle Fu and the others far behind. Upon reaching the second floor, I was puzzled by the darkness that enveloped the corridor; there was no light at all, only faint starlight filtering through the windows. I ran toward where I remembered hearing the screams, and at the end of the corridor was a single room.
Soon, I arrived at the door from which the cries had emanated. I hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to burst in or wait outside. Suddenly, the door swung open violently from within, and a shadow rushed out, colliding heavily with me. My head struck a cold object, followed by a sharp pain and dizziness. My vision blurred as I saw that shadow fling open a window in the corridor and leap out. Then everything went dark, and I lost consciousness.
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