Cat 238: Trouble in the Cheng Family

Chapter 238 Trouble in the Cheng Family

Yan Jiyun successfully obtained the second treasure map and quickly aligned it with the first. Since the system prompted him, it proved this map was genuine.

The lines on this second map fit perfectly with the first, and when compared side by side, it became clear the treasure had little to do with the mountain—it was likely within Jiangnan Town itself. Still, there were discrepancies.

He quickly realized this map had been drawn forty years ago; a lot must have changed.

Yan Jiyun sprawled across Ninth Master’s desk, comparing the maps without a hint of the anxiousness one might expect when tackling a game instance. To him, it felt just like a normal workday.

“Is there a map of Jiangnan from forty years ago? The current maps are all new—the ground’s been laid afresh, and the streets have been widened. That’s why I was so lost at the central street intersection today; I had no clue how to look for the supposed treasure.”

The bigger problem, though, was that he still didn’t have all the map fragments.

They asked Cheng Liang about the remaining pieces, but even he only knew there were four—he couldn’t say exactly who still had them. However, he did share some events from the Cheng family forty years prior, which related to the origin of the treasure map.

Back then, the Cheng family and the three other families who’d secured pieces of the map mostly had business dealings with each other—they were giants in the town and interacted more than with others. According to Cheng Liang’s recollection, the patriarchs of the four families found the treasure map by chance together on an outing. At first, they weren’t sure if it was real, so they decided to divide it four ways, each man safeguarding one piece, and to come together to combine them when the time seemed right.

They’d found the map at the base of the mountain and soon began sending people to search for treasure there. But someone leaked the news, and soon their secret quest became public. Not wanting anyone else to find the riches, the four drew up a fake map and distributed it in secret to households across the town, prompting a frenzy—some townsfolk grew rich selling copies, others spent fortunes chasing dreams. For a time, treasure maps were everywhere—everyone thought they had struck gold. But it was all a scam—some believed, others didn’t. In the end, the people dug up every hill and mountain but found nothing.

Yan Jiyun asked Cheng Liang if, in the end, any of the four families had found the treasure.

Cheng Liang said he didn’t know. If any of them had, those families wouldn’t have faded into obscurity. Apparently, even though the families held the fragments, no one ever found any treasure, and to this day, there wasn’t even a clue.

Forty years had passed—so why had no one spoken of the map again?

Yan Jiyun now had two theories: First, perhaps they had discovered what the map truly hid. Second, perhaps the map was an invention—a fiction from the very start.

He sank into Ninth Master’s plush office chair, deep in thought, yet unable to make sense of it. He still needed two more pieces, and only then could he unlock the mysterious side quest.

But the treasure map was just the side quest—his main quest was still stuck at part two.

He needed to return to the Liu home that night; after all, he was still living there, as was the main character, Cheng Xueying. Only by staying close could he hope to advance the main story.

The sun set, leaving only the last traces of light.

Ninth Master sat on the sofa reading a newspaper, never once mentioning Yan Jiyun’s commandeering of his desk—driving Yang Er nearly mad with frustration.

When Yan Jiyun finally looked up from the maps, he saw Yang Er’s unconcealed look of concern.

He rested his chin in his palm, lazily: “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Yang Er whispered, “Are you supposed to be sitting there? That’s Ninth Master’s spot!”

Yan Jiyun stood up—he should show at least some respect for Ninth Master, given he really was Yan’s boss now.

“It’s six o’clock—I’m off work and heading home.”

Ninth Master said, “There’s no dinner left if you go now. Stay and eat, then let Yang Er drive you back.”

Yan Jiyun, who always scored a meal when with Ninth Master, agreed. “Sure.”

Yang Er felt urgent—wasn’t he returning home with Ninth Master?

Ninth Master knew that some things should not be rushed; the other party needed adjustment time. Meanwhile, all Yan Jiyun could think of was completing task two before turning in for the night.

That evening, the meal tasted especially good—meat, fish, and all. Yan Jiyun only nibbled at the rice, which Yang Er found strange; wasn’t he supposed to be a country boy? Even so, Yan Jiyun didn’t favor the rice—Yang Er, on the other hand, could’ve eaten four bowls in one go!

They dropped Yan Jiyun off at the same place Ninth Master had picked him up earlier. This time, it was through the main gate.

It was after seven, night fully fallen. The Liu home glowed with light, but white banners everywhere made the place feel especially eerie.

Yan Jiyun went straight for his target: Cheng Xueying.

Liu Jinghao was due to be buried the next day; the family should have been gathered, but the whole house was strangely empty and silent.

Yan Jiyun tiptoed inside. After the doorman let him in and shut the door, he disappeared—but to where?

Was this turning into a horror story instance?

Would Liu Jinghao actually leap out of his coffin?

He made his way to the main hall. The dim yellow light, mixed with the atmosphere, made Yan Jiyun prickle with goosebumps—but he forced himself not to falter.

When he arrived, the hall was deserted. Where were Liu Jingxi and Cheng Xueying? Where were Liu Jingyi and his wife, the old master, or the rest of the staff? What about Juan’er, who doted on the eldest young master?

How had this bustling mansion turned into a haunted house?

Yan Jiyun felt he hadn’t even started and already the script had left him behind. As he looked around, he crept warily toward the mourning hall.

The hall, which should have people keeping vigil, was also deserted.

Damn, what the hell was going on?

He should have dragged Ninth Master in here with him; this was getting truly unsettling.

He forced himself forward to peer at the coffin—Liu Jinghao was still there!

But the corpse’s deathly pale face was terrifying—maybe it was just the setting, but Yan Jiyun’s skin crawled.

There was only one sound left in the Liu house: silence, like another world.

【Wannabe Human】Live Chatroom:

“Hilarious—when Ninth Master is around, it’s all Republican drama and sweet boss-chases-bumpkin romance. The moment he leaves, our cat cub’s world goes full-on horror.”

“Is this a supernatural instance or not? Someone speculated by the setting that it was a closed-streaming scenario.”

“But even if it were a closed-circuit live show, there would be protagonists and actors—have you all figured out who the real leads are and who are the actors?”

“That’s easy—the residents of Jiangnan Town are all the leads. The actors are the players.”

“I actually think it’s more like a murder mystery—everyone has a role, and the truth is found through different perspectives.”

“So it isn’t a supernatural setting? I was looking forward to seeing the cat cub duke it out with a ghost.”

“Don’t you know the cat cub is terrified of ghosts? Hahaha, he’s probably hiding under something right now!”

Yan Jiyun wasn’t concerned whether this was a horror game or not; they were all NPCs in an instance—fear was useless.

But something did feel off about this place.

According to the custom—a blend of modern and tradition—surely the mourning hall should have had more symbolic decor.

For example, paper effigies.

He searched his memory. There were none for Liu Jinghao—no paper boys or girls, no servants, nothing. Every prominent family prepared these, but not here.

Were the household all dining?

Yan Jiyun had no desire to stay there alone. He turned and headed toward the dining hall.

Just then, someone called out to him.

Given his usual hearing, he should have heard any footsteps within a hundred meters.

“Cousin.”

“You’re finally back.”

The voice came directly ahead—Liu Jingxi?

Had he been standing there the whole time? But Yan Jiyun could’ve sworn no one was there a moment ago.

He let out a breath. “Cousin, why is the house so quiet? Where’s Aunt and everyone?”

Liu Jingxi replied, “Dinner just finished; everyone’s gone to their rooms. It’s an early start tomorrow.”

Yan Jiyun: “So cousin-sister isn’t here either? No one’s keeping vigil tonight?”

Liu Jingxi folded his arms. “Someone’s there—it’s just that maybe he slipped off to the restroom. As for you—I don’t blame you for working for Ninth Master, but why come back so late?”

Even as he spoke, Yan Jiyun heard footsteps approaching—one of the Liu male servants in grey rushed into the mourning hall, probably afraid of losing his pay.

After Liu Jingxi’s appearance, the house seemed to come back to life, and Yan Jiyun’s fear faded.

He answered Liu Jingxi’s question: “I ate out and caught a ride home—had to wait a bit.”

Liu Jingxi replied, “That checks out. The buses here stop at six. What time do you get off work? Tomorrow I’ll pick you up at the company.”

If it were a normal job, Yan Jiyun would have just moved near the office rather than impose on the Liu family.

Now, with Liu Jingxi offering to pick him up, that wouldn’t do—he wasn’t really working for Ninth Master.

“No need, no need. Is there a bicycle at home? I can ride to work tomorrow.” The Liu house wasn’t far from the city center—a bike was fast enough and fit well with the vibe of this instance.

Liu Jingxi threw an arm over his neck. “Tch, you’ve got ideas—you’ve only just moved in.”

Yan Jiyun played the fool. “It’s only smart to take advantage when you can.”

Liu Jingxi burst out laughing. “Fine, go rest. Your company has the day after tomorrow off—so tomorrow night, don’t come home. I’ll take you out!”

Yan Jiyun didn’t quite understand why Liu Jingxi was so warm toward him, but didn’t refuse. After all, if the NPC approached him, it was easier than chasing after their favor himself.

Though a flamboyant character, Liu Jingxi, too, couldn’t avoid family obligations. When he was summoned by his mother, Yan Jiyun overheard the words “fiancée” again—Madam Liu really was desperate to get him married off. Worlds may differ, but mothers are always the same, even in infinite instances!

After parting, Yan Jiyun returned to his room and shut the door. Just then, the window swung open and a black cat leapt in, heading straight for Cheng Xueying’s quarters.

Cheng Xueying’s yard was quiet, but surprisingly, it smelled of meat.

When Yan Jiyun arrived, he found Cheng Xueying sitting cross-legged on the steps outside, gnawing on a lamb chop—grease all over his face. His maid, who had come with him as part of his dowry, kept nervously watching the surroundings.

“Young master, be careful. If anyone sees, it’ll be bad.”

“No one’s coming, don’t worry.”

“Even if no one comes here, some passing servant from another yard could spot you! They’d be shocked.”

“Just stand guard and no one will know. By the way, how did you do with the matter I asked you to look into?”

“You mean about Liu Er?”

“I finally managed to lure him out today…Did you find anything in his room?”

“Nothing strange at all, young master. Spotless. There was nothing. When are we leaving the Liu house? With Liu San dead, there’s no reason to linger—any excuse will do.”

“No need to rush. We haven’t found what I want yet.”

“But if Liu Er really had a map out of town, he’d have left long ago. Why’d he stay here? He’s the wildest one in town. By the way, he took you to the hospital today—notice anything new?”

“I did, in fact. He was different than I expected—polite, not at all like a wastrel.”

“Maybe he’s just pretending?”

Yan Jiyun, hiding under a stone bench, thought to himself that every Liu was an actor—no wonder Liu Er was as well.

So, Cheng Xueying had married into the family to obtain the map out of Jiangnan Town?

Did he think Liu Jingxi had it?

While the young master and maid were chatting over lamb, Yan Jiyun slipped into the bridal suite once again.

This time, he searched through Cheng Xueying’s belongings, especially the unremarkable clothing trunks.

He rifled through the trunk and found an envelope—no address, seal broken. Clearly, the owner frequently re-read this letter.

Yan Jiyun carried the letter out to the yard, hiding it in the grass, then climbed back inside to keep searching. The rest of the luggage didn’t hold anything special.

He barely had time for a further look when he bumped a teacup lid on the floor, alerting the two outside; he had to leap out the window, deliberately flicking his long tail behind as a farewell.

The maid said, “What’s with the cat? A black one, too—that’s bad luck.”

Cheng Xueying: “When has the Liu family ever been lucky?”

The maid thought of the groom who died on the wedding night, then nodded—the Lius truly weren’t fit for humans.

Neither chased after the stray cat, so Yan Jiyun slipped away unscathed. He grabbed the letter from the lawn and planned to read it in his own room.

He was just leaving when urgent footsteps approached their courtyard—it sounded serious, and the runner was heading for Cheng Xueying’s place.

As he ran, the newcomer shouted, “Second Miss! Second Miss! Something’s happened!”

Cheng Xueying, who had just washed his hands, found a trusted family steward dashing toward him—someone who helped run their family businesses.

Strange to come at this hour, and he looked as if death had struck!

Cheng Xueying’s face turned pale, dreading the news.

“Uncle Wang, why are you here?” The Liu servants had to accompany him to the back; usually, they’d need the owner’s approval.

Uncle Wang, flustered, said, “Second Miss, come home—your father is dying!”

Cheng Xueying’s mind went blank. “What do you mean dying? Wasn’t he fine?”

Uncle Wang: “It’s complicated—there was a fire tonight. Master was trapped inside. If Madam hadn’t risked her life to rescue him, he would’ve—”

Cheng Xueying: “And my mother?”

Uncle Wang: “She just fainted from smoke, but she’ll recover. Your father was struck on the head by a falling, burned beam. The doctor says he might not make it through the night!”

Cheng Xueying swayed. “Why wasn’t I told?”

Uncle Wang: “Everyone was busy saving people. The news just reached us. Second Miss, you have to go to the hospital—see Master before it’s too late!”

Cheng Xueying’s voice trembled. “Let’s go!”

Yan Jiyun’s mind raced—how could the Cheng family have caught fire so suddenly, and why Cheng Liang in particular? Was it related to him selling the map to Ninth Master that afternoon?

But only a few people knew about that, and they hadn’t even started searching for treasure. Did Song Kai leak it? No, Song Kai didn’t know Cheng Liang had gone to see Ninth Master. After Yang Er and Yan Jiyun left, Song Kai was still with his sweetheart.

Things were growing complicated—and interesting.

Cheng Xueying had no time for appearances now and hurried away to Central Hospital.

Yan Jiyun turned back into a man and quickly read through the letter. The handwriting seemed familiar, but he couldn’t recall whose it was. He’d only seen a few people’s penmanship in this instance. Tucking the letter into his pocket, he prepared to catch up to Cheng Xueying.

Another odd thing—didn’t the Liu family have a phone? Why send someone in person instead of calling for Cheng Xueying?

As he went to get his bicycle, he saw Liu Jingxi, dressed flamboyantly and doused in cologne—clearly about to head out on a date.

Pinching his nose, Yan Jiyun said, “Cousin, something’s wrong!”

Liu Jingxi: “The only thing wrong is you rejecting my expensive cologne!”

Yan Jiyun: “Third cousin-sister’s family is in trouble. Someone just came for her—her father’s on the brink of death.”

Liu Jingxi paused, then said, “I was just in the living room, how did I not know? Get in!”

Yan Jiyun got in the front seat, barely buckled in before the car shot forward.

Holy—does he want to die speeding like that?!

Wait…he’d just realized: the handwriting on that letter was a lot like Liu Jingxi’s.

No way—could this turn out to be a forbidden love story between uncle and nephew?