Cat 181: The “Vigil” Mission

Chapter 181: The “Vigil” Mission

Fortunately, Yan Jiyun was now nothing more than an ordinary little cat. Hiding in a flowerpot, he didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing the excitement flashing in his eyes.

The death of Liu Jinghao was both unexpected and, in some ways, entirely foreseeable.

He had just said nothing ever happened here, and yet here it was—sudden and dramatic.

Yan Jiyun could hardly keep himself from sprinting straight to the scene, which, in fact, he did. The moment he heard the commotion, he dashed toward the source, his curiosity rivaling that of the most gossip-hungry aunts he’d encountered on the streets before.

Maybe it was his new, larger feline physique, but his pace now was fierce and quick, the wind whistling as he ran.

The Liu family servants were shouting that the third young master had fallen into the pond—had he drowned?

Liu Jingxi, Ouyang Jing, and Cen Xinzhi rushed to the site where Liu Jinghao had gone under.

Was he alive or dead?

The spot was a lotus pond in the rear garden. The water wasn’t deep, but the bottom was thick with silt. Someone had already jumped in to pull him out.

At the moment, someone was performing CPR on Liu Jinghao—a sight Yan Jiyun had never expected in this strangely anachronistic town.

Squatting behind a peculiar rock of unknown origin in the Liu household, Yan Jiyun watched as the rescuer—a woman dressed in a white top and a long red skirt—bent over the lifeless body.

Could she be the new bride?

With the way melodramatic stories tended to go, this scene felt oddly familiar.

Usually, the female protagonist saves someone just in time, is witnessed by the male lead, and the two fall instantly in love. Yet, due to circumstances and identities, endless obstacles arise, and only after much hardship do they finally come together.

Yan Jiyun wasn’t a fan of soap opera melodramas, but that didn’t stop him from understanding these clichéd plots.

His attention, however, was not on the bride but on Liu Jinghao, who lay flat on the ground. There was no rise or fall to his chest, and his features, washed by silt and pond water, were hard to make out. But Yan Jiyun was certain—no matter how many times she tried, the bride could not bring him back.

Because, in his estimation, Liu Jinghao was well and truly dead. Without his death, how could the plot proceed to its next step?

One by one, members of the Liu family arrived, drawn by the noise, but no one called the police or an ambulance.

Soon, wailing erupted by the lakeside.

“My son, what happened to you? Don’t scare your mother like this!”

“Son, wake up, please wake up.”

“My boy, my precious boy, what terrible fate is this?”

At that moment, the bride, drenched in sweat from her futile CPR, was suddenly shoved aside by a surge of frantic strength.

“You jinx! Did you harm my son? What are you trying to do to him?”

The bride staggered, her voice soft but firm: “I am trying to save his life. If you interfere, you’ll only make him miss his last chance.”

Yan Jiyun thought: Here it is, the classic farcical scene.

What a pity—Liu Jinghao appeared for less than half a day before meeting his end. Today he welcomed a bride with great ceremony; tomorrow, he’ll be buried with equal fanfare. His newlywed wife may soon flee into someone else’s arms—surely one of the most pitiful NPCs in history.

The woman causing the commotion was likely Liu Jinghao’s biological mother. When Liu father arrived and saw her obstructing the rescue, he was nearly apoplectic. He immediately ordered those nearby to pull her away so the bride could resume CPR.

Yet, in the brief span of her outburst, Liu Jinghao’s last hopes of revival slipped away completely.

Neither first-born nor legitimate heir, his death was remarkably unjust—reduced to cannon fodder before getting a foothold in the story. Still, Yan Jiyun felt there was more to this than met the eye. He remembered that at the wedding, all Liu Jinghao’s wine had been replaced with water; it couldn’t have been a drunken accident that sent him into the pond. Besides, his quarters were some distance away—what was he doing here?

If not for the presence of too many people, Yan Jiyun would have already started searching for signs of someone else’s activity in the vicinity.

Liu Jinghao was cold. The butler checked his carotid artery—no response. He shook his head at Liu father.

“Sir, the third young master is gone.”

Moments ago, Liu Jinghao’s mother was loudly condemning the bride. Now her eyes rolled back and she collapsed in a faint.

Liu father looked ghastly. His concubine had already passed out at the scene—he could not afford to lose his composure too.

With no need to continue resuscitation, the bride dropped wearily to the ground. She turned to Liu father and mother. “Shouldn’t we call an ambulance? He may not be dead.”

Her tone was uncommonly calm. When she faced the assembled crowd, the Liu family’s servants collectively gasped.

A young male servant whispered to his colleague, “This bride is almost too pretty. Didn’t they say the second Miss Cheng has been mentally ill since childhood?”

The other, eyes glued to the bride, replied, “Maybe that’s why they kept her hidden? Beauty doesn’t mean sanity. Some people, when they’re stable, are perfectly normal—when they lose it, they become terrifying.”

A fit of coughing from the back of the crowd drew Liu mother Xie Huishuang’s attention.

Yan Jiyun had heard it earlier—given all the noise, surely Liu Jingyi hadn’t been sleeping. Now he, too, emerged with the others, supported by Ajuan.

Handkerchief pressed to his lips, Liu Jingyi coughed: “What happened? What of Jinghao?”

Yan Jiyun thought there was something rather affected about Liu Jingyi’s question. The servants had been shouting at the tops of their lungs; it was impossible he hadn’t heard. He was plainly feigning ignorance.

Carefully, Yan Jiyun considered each member of the Liu household. Every one of them harbored secrets and hidden selves. What truly caused Liu Jinghao’s death?

The Liu family, outwardly strong but hollow within—even the neighborhood gossips knew they were strapped for cash. So why had Liu Jinghao died?

With the butler’s confirmation, and the old master having a concern for appearances, he would hardly let family disgrace spread. He ordered that Liu Jinghao be carried away from the lotus pond at once.

As they prepared to move the body, Yan Jiyun positioned himself for a clear look at Liu Jinghao, examining him from head to toe. There was nothing unusual on his person. He still wore a traditional gentlemen’s wedding suit, the same one from the banquet. Normally, once the celebration ended, no one would remain in formal attire. Was he called to the pond in a hurry? Or—perhaps—his death didn’t originally take place here at all. Maybe he’d changed out of his clothes, dirtied them, and was subsequently thrown into the lotus pond.

Anything was possible.

Once Liu Jinghao was carried away, Yan Jiyun noted the grave expressions on every face present—yet not a single tear was shed for him.

The bride, Cheng Yingxue, had been helped to her feet by Cen Xinzhi. She offered gentle words: “Sister-in-law, my condolences.”

It should have been a day filled with congratulatory blessings. Instead, the new bride heard only condolences—a terrible omen.

Yan Jiyun decided this sister-in-law was no ordinary woman; with one remark, she struck directly at the heart. More importantly, her words could not be reproached; in these circumstances, they couldn’t have been more apt.

The bride nodded. “I did all I could.”

Cen Xinzhi said, “We all saw.”

Liu father began to make arrangements: “Butler, commence preparations for the funeral.”

That night, the Liu Mansion shifted from the red of celebration to mourning, draping burlap in place of banners.

Such a reversal within a single day was a sight to behold.

Yan Jiyun was still worrying that Liu Jinghao’s departure hadn’t triggered a new task, when the system—like rain in a drought—finally sent a notification.

[Congratulations—Player has triggered Main Quest One: Vigil]

He read it twice; there were no further details.

A shiver crawled across his scalp. Who was to stand vigil? The player or the NPCs? Heaven forbid he had to join the vigil—that would be terrifying.

Once Liu father was convinced there would be no further reversals, Xie Huishuang glanced affectionately at the bride, then said approvingly to Ouyang Jing, “Jingjing, I’ll ask Jingxi to drive you home. With this happening, it’s not appropriate for you to be our guest any longer.”

A happy occasion turning tragic—anyone would feel unsettled.

Yan Jiyun had kept a close eye on Liu Jingxi as well. Just now, his gaze had lingered on the bride, as though searching for something.

Wait—was Liu Jingxi destined to be the leading man in the bride’s story?

He glanced at the bride again and found her gaze often fell upon Liu Jingxi as well.

Liu Jingxi seemed less than reluctant to be Ouyang Jing’s escort.

He asked Ajuan, who was helping his elder brother, “Where’s my little cousin staying? I had wine this afternoon and can’t drive—let him see Ouyang Jing home.”

Yan Jiyun: So that’s all he is in this eldest brother’s eyes—a driver?

They hadn’t even had dinner!

Although Yan Jiyun was focused on dinner, the Liu family right now had neither the appetite nor the mood to eat.

Clearly, Xie Huishuang intended to create an opportunity for her son. Liu Jingxi hadn’t objected to sending Ouyang Jing home, but why bring along a third wheel? Still, the excuse of not driving while intoxicated persuaded her. Between her son’s future and the prospective daughter-in-law, her son came first.

Ouyang Jing, delighted to be escorted by Liu Jingxi, suppressed her joy, struggling to keep a straight face.

Arranging the mourning hall would take some time. Yan Jiyun thought this was a good opportunity to get close to Ouyang Jing and learn more about her, even if it meant forgoing dinner to act as the chauffeur.

He returned to the South Courtyard ahead of time.

When Ajuan arrived to fetch him, he was by the window, admiring a blue-and-white porcelain vase, feigning the curiosity of a country bumpkin in a city mansion. He quickly set the vase down, and, paying attention to details, absentmindedly brushed the seam of his trousers, all the while observing Ajuan’s reaction. Though she kept her head slightly bowed per usual, he still caught the flash of subtle suspicion in her gaze.

So Ajuan wasn’t quite as simple as she seemed.

Yan Jiyun followed Ajuan, and once again in human form, met Liu Jingxi, who was leaning languidly against the car, lighting a cigarette as Ouyang Jing gazed at him with deep affection, her feelings barely hidden.

When Yan Jiyun approached, Liu Jingxi immediately flicked his cigarette to the ground and stubbed it out.

“Come on, cousin—get in.”

Yan Jiyun thought Liu Jingxi really had no love for Ouyang Jing; seeing him arrive was like spotting a savior.

The three got into the car.

Yan Jiyun drove. Liu Jingxi took the passenger seat, while Ouyang Jing had no choice but to sit alone in the back. The pampered young lady was obviously displeased, but in front of her beloved, dared not protest. Instead, she took her annoyance out on Yan Jiyun.

“Jingxi, is your cousin here just to be your driver?”

Yan Jiyun: … So the acting lessons from his last scenario were good for something—he’d managed to pass himself off as the Liu family’s driver.

Liu Jingxi clarified: “He’s not a driver, just my cousin.”

“Oh, cousin.” Ouyang Jing’s voice was tinged with resentment, almost as if she were jealous. “Looks like you’re quite fond of your cousin.”

Yan Jiyun had no desire to be Liu Jingxi’s stooge. “Ah, elder cousin is just showing me the world; I know nothing about anything here.” Quickly, he changed the subject. “Second sister-in-law, how do I get to your house? I’m just in from the country and don’t know my way around town.”

That “second sister-in-law” amused Ouyang Jing at once, and her affection for Yan Jiyun jumped a notch. Her face brightened into a broad smile as she pulled several hundred-yuan bills from her bag and stuffed them into his pocket.

“No need to stand on ceremony, little cousin—use this for some new clothes or whatever you need.”

Liu Jingxi shot Yan Jiyun a long, silent look, but said nothing.

Ouyang Jing cheerfully gave Yan Jiyun directions. She would have liked to stay at the Liu’s, but the prospect of alone time with Liu Jingxi won out; she chose to leave for now.

Yan Jiyun navigated the winding streets until he finally pulled up at the Ouyang residence. Night fell but did not slow his driving; the journey was not far, and he quickly delivered his passenger.

Although Liu Jingxi didn’t seem the most reliable, he made sure to walk Ouyang Jing into the house.

Yan Jiyun, ready to dig for more news, obligingly got out to help with the luggage.

Liu Jingxi watched him coolly, his appraisal unreadable. “Cousin, you’re not bad.”

Yan Jiyun returned a foolish grin. Liu Jingxi gave him an eye-roll in reply.

All three entered the Ouyang residence. Unlike the Liu’s, it boasted a distinctly Western architectural style—a beautiful villa with a garden outside and several hundred square meters of interior space.

In contrast to the crowded Liu household, this one was strikingly quiet. Only a single middle-aged woman came out to greet them.

At first glance, the middle-aged woman’s gaze nearly frightened Yan Jiyun away—her left eye was a void, pitch-black and unsettling.

Liu Jingxi set the luggage down at her feet. “There are matters at home; I’ll be leaving now. Ouyang Jing, think again about what I told you.”

Without waiting for either Ouyang Jing or the woman to speak, Liu Jingxi pulled Yan Jiyun away before he could probe for any more information.

Yan Jiyun left in low spirits—he had no wish to return to Liu Manor for a night-long vigil.