Chapter 22: Attracting the Organization's Attention

The bright sunlight baked his cheeks, uncomfortably warm.

Rubbing his sore eyes, Ren Ye woke up slowly. Immediately after, a pungent smell of smoke made him cough twice.

Looking up, a familiar old face came into view, complete with the familiar crust in his eyes.

Huang Wei stood by the bed, craning his neck, grinning in appreciation: "As expected of the convict I took a liking to, you really do have some tricks up your sleeve...!"

Ren Ye frowned as he looked around the room. It was thick with smoke, and after taking a whiff, it smelled like Liqun brand cigarettes. "Brother Huang, if you smoke like this, aren't you afraid of getting lung cancer?"

"I'm a Power-type warrior; my cardiovascular and respiratory functions are strong." Huang Wei looked down and pulled out his phone. "I could smoke three cartons right here and be perfectly fine."

"Well, I'm not, big brother! Do you have any idea that subjecting others to secondhand smoke is immoral?" Ren Ye’s eyes were bloodshot as he raised a hand, gesturing, "Come on, give me one."

"Everything can wait for a bit." Huang Wei sat on the edge of the bed and handed the phone to Ren Ye. "Call your sister first. Hurry up, or I might be suspended today."

?

Ren Ye paused, his eyes looking a bit dazed. "Suspended? Why do I need to call my sister?"

"Because not only does your sister want to sue the Qingfu Prison, she wants to sue us too." Huang Wei looked utterly helpless. "I really give up on your family; not a single one of you is a light to deal with."

"Sue you? What’s going on?" Ren Ye was even more bewildered.

"Just after you arrived, she and your father went to the prison for a visit. You weren't there, so we had to come up with a suitable excuse to stall them. The prison told them that you were involved in a major cold case that had a new breakthrough, so the relevant authorities had to take you out to help, primarily to provide leads and assist in arrests... If you show merit, you can even apply for a sentence reduction.

"Let’s just say, that’s great news, right? If it were anyone else's sister, she’d be happy, surely...!" Huang Wei looked at Ren Ye in despair. "Who knew your sister would act like she was picked up from the street? She found out you were taken away and insisted on speaking with you, claiming that even prisoners are human beings and the prison has no right to make you do such dangerous work. She said she had to communicate with you personally. If they didn't agree, she would start a livestream... she would sue the G-Procuratorate! Yesterday, she even gifted herself some virtual items to build hype for her stream... I was called in by my superiors and got a royal scolding."

"...Heh."

Ren Ye gave a helpless, bitter smile. "That’s her style."

"And this is what you call a 'scholarly family'? You still want me to get her into the department? Forget it, I want to live a few more days." Huang Wei pushed the phone forward. "Quick, call her and calm her down. Then I’ll let you go home later to see them."

Ren Ye didn't take the phone, just smiling as he replied, "If you don't secure her a graduate recommendation and get her into the department, I think... this is going to be very difficult to negotiate."

?

Huang Wei looked stunned. "Are you both just a pair of shameless rascals?"

"Are you going to let me call or not?" Ren Ye retorted. "If not, get out, I'm going back to sleep."

"...Fine, I give in." Huang Wei gritted his teeth. "I’ll try to pull some strings for you, alright?"

"That’s more like it."

Ren Ye sat cross-legged on the bed and skillfully dialed a number.

"Beep... Beep-beep~!"

The call connected quickly, and a crisp female voice erupted from the receiver, her speech as rapid as a machine gun: "Hello? You don't need to call me anymore. Come to my livestream tonight and let everyone know why a model prisoner! Why a labor hero of the entire prison district! Suddenly disappeared and isn't allowed to contact his family... Let me tell you, don't think I'm joking. Don't look at the fact that I only have a thousand followers...!"

"Alright, quit the nagging, it’s me." Ren Ye rubbed his forehead, interrupting her.

After a brief silence, a roar came from the receiver: "Ren Ye! Where the hell did you die, huh?! Ren Daguo and I went to deposit money for you, but we couldn't see you, and we couldn't reach you... Do you have any idea how worried we are?"

"My former department had a case they needed me to help with, so I came over to assist," Ren Ye replied calmly. "Don't yell. I'm fine, see? I even get to walk around a bit."

"If I believe you, I'm Ren Daguo!" The younger sister called her father by his full name, her temper fierce. "I called your former colleagues. Even though they changed their story later, they originally said there was no case at all. That Huang Wei guy must be lying. He said he’s a leader from the City Bureau—bullshit! Look at his sloppy, disheveled appearance. Which leader dresses like that? He doesn't even have an LV belt...!"

Huang Wei listened to the shouting on the phone and looked down at his old belt; for a moment, he felt deeply ashamed.

"Alright, stop yelling." Ren Ye couldn't do anything about his sister, so he tried to soothe her. "I’ll be home today, we can talk more when you get back tonight."

"Hmph, I already prepared the stream, and I even spent money on two rockets to warm up..."

"Tell him to reimburse you later." Ren Ye looked at Old Huang with a mischievous expression.

"Beep-beep!"

His sister didn't say anything more and hung up the phone decisively.

Huang Wei looked at Ren Ye in agony. "How much are two rockets?"

"A thousand, maybe."

"I'll give her two thousand if you get her to block me, can you do that?"

"Haha."

Ren Ye laughed. "Fine, buy me a meal. I'm hungry."

...

Lianhu Road, at a breakfast shop.

Two baskets of steamed buns, three small side dishes, and two bottles of warm peanut milk—this is what life is about.

Outside the shop, the sun was bright, the traffic was heavy, and a group of elderly people who had finished their morning exercise stood in line for breakfast, chatting away.

Although the scene was noisy, it felt comforting.

*Sigh*, being the Prince of Huai is too exhausting; this is the true essence of human life.

After returning last night, Huang Wei saw Ren Ye sleeping so soundly that he couldn't bear to wake him, so he sent the "Long-Legged One" away and stayed in the room himself for the night.

Having pulled an all-nighter, Old Huang was starving. He bit into a bun, his mouth glistening with oil, and asked vaguely, "Come on, stop keeping me in suspense. Tell me, what exactly is your profession? Is it Ordered or Unordered? What are its traits? I’m telling you, the entire headquarters is waiting for my report..."

Ren Ye sipped his peanut milk. "I don't have a profession."

"No profession? Bullshit, impossible!"

"Why would I lie to you?" Ren Ye picked up a bun and replied softly, "I only passed the first act of the story; it hasn't ended yet."

"Ah?" Huang Wei was stunned. "You mean this Star Gate is a narrative-driven one? You have to go back in?"

"Yes, in seven days, I have to go back in. I don't know how many acts there are in total."

"...!" Huang Wei swallowed hard, feeling deeply shocked.

In his understanding, regular Star Gates were usually cleared in one go. Those that took longer usually lasted only a day or two. But for someone like Ren Ye, who had only finished one act in three days, and had two specialized Star Gates paving the way for the "plot" before entering, he had never seen such a format before.

"Quick, tell me, what exactly is going on inside?" Huang Wei snapped back to reality and urged him with a solemn expression.

*Hiccup~*

Ren Ye let out a satisfied belch and waved his hand. "Get me another bottle of peanut milk, and I'll tell you properly."

...

Twenty minutes later, after listening to Ren Ye describe the last three days, Huang Wei’s expression became completely blank.

He felt... he might be about to take off.

So far, the only "official members" Ren Ye had encountered were Huang Wei and the Long-Legged One, but in reality, all the "Watchers" in Shanghai, and even many big shots at headquarters, were closely watching this kid who had been pulled out of prison...

After all, a Star Gate calling out to an ordinary person was a phenomenon that had never happened before.

And the information Ren Ye had just brought out was enough to exceed everyone's psychological expectations.

After listening, Huang Wei had only one feeling: the worldview of this Star Gate was extremely vast and meticulous, and subsequent acts might even involve other Star Gates.

Most conventional Star Gates, like a train station or a haunted nursing home, were small in scale, with incomplete, fragmented worldviews. Once a player completed a mission, the adventure ended.

But this Star Gate mentioned the capital, the tomb of a former dynasty's princess, and even the war-torn Southern Frontier, along with a complete official system of the Qingliang Prefecture.

Most importantly... most of the native residents in this Star Gate were actually "Awakened," not just fragmented souls like typical NPCs.

The background was too grand. Huang Wei speculated that this was a Star Gate that had been "downgraded" after shattering.

It might be a fragment space created after something massive—perhaps even a "God Gate"—burst.

The supernatural inheritance produced by such a Star Gate was bound to be ex-trem-ely rare. And it might be the very inheritance profession that the big shots at headquarters had been craving all along...

There were only five people in the entire country with that profession.

And Ren Ye, who had such potential, was discovered by Huang Wei, who had also successfully persuaded him to enter the gate.

If his speculation was correct, how much credit would that be? Even if his ancestral graves were smoking, he might not stumble upon such an opportunity.

Promotion and a raise were certain; he might even be transferred to headquarters...

Over the years, Huang Wei’s marriage, family life, and career had all been rocky, but at this moment, he felt like the clouds had parted to reveal the light, and he had finally caught his life’s opportunity. The gloom and frustration of his unappreciated talent vanished in an instant.

"Brother Huang, what are you thinking about? Why do you have that creepy look on your face?" Ren Ye asked curiously.

Huang Wei snapped out of it, his eyes filled with suppressed excitement. "You said earlier that you successfully killed a player and obtained her entry token, right?"

"That's right." Ren Ye shook the empty glass bottle and invited him sincerely, "According to the Star Gate's prompt, I should be able to bring one more person next time. How about you come with me?"

"No, no, no." Huang Wei waved his hands frantically. "I’m not going, it’s too dangerous."

*Damn it*, is that human language?

Ren Ye looked at him sideways. "Friend, that’s not what you said when you came looking for me."

"Alright, I’ll lay my cards on the table. I'm a weakling... My combat ability isn't great, and going would just be sending myself to my death." Huang Wei spread his hands honestly. "Besides, based on the information you described, this Qingliang Prefecture Star Gate should only be open to those without an inheritance. I already have a profession, so even if I took your token, I probably couldn't get in."

Ren Ye was curious upon hearing this. "You mean all the other players in this Star Gate are newbies like me?"

"No, not necessarily." Huang Wei explained seriously, "Players without a professional inheritance aren't necessarily newbies. They might have already been to other Star Gates, just without obtaining a professional inheritance. You can understand it as... they haven't left the 'newbie village' yet, but they’ve already leveled up."

"Oh, that makes sense." Ren Ye nodded.

"The fact that you can bring one person in is crucial; we must be cautious." Huang Wei lowered his head in thought for a long while. "I will apply to headquarters and try to pick the most powerful person from the newbie village to provide support for you."

"I hope you’re reliable; otherwise, my sister will extort you to death," Ren Ye replied with a smile.

"Understood, understood, I believe that." Huang Wei wiped the oil from the corner of his mouth with a napkin and turned to call out, "Waiter, check please."

...

A little while later, by the side of the road.

As Ren Ye and Huang Wei were waiting for a car, Ren Ye suddenly said, "Oh, right, there’s one more thing. The character I killed in Qingliang Prefecture was a player named Liu Ling'er, and her identity card was a 'Songstress.' Before she died, she threatened me, saying she was a member of an organization called the 'Bell Society' and would come to find my family for revenge offline."

When Huang Wei heard the words "Bell Society," his pupils contracted. He replied with a cold laugh, "Heh, offline? Tell them to bring it on, I want to see how they plan to do it offline!"

Ren Ye looked at him seriously. "I chose to enter the gate myself, so life and death are up to fate; if something happens, I won't blame anyone. But my family—that’s my bottom line."

Huang Wei turned, grabbed Ren Ye's shoulder with his large hand, and replied with equal seriousness, "That is our organization's bottom line as well."

Words were unnecessary after that.

Before long, Ren Ye got into the organization's car and headed home.

...

Around ten in the morning.

Shanghai, Changning Road.

A gentle breeze blew over the willows, and the Wusong River snaked by in the distance, its green ripples shimmering and emitting a fresh, damp scent.

An old off-road vehicle arrived from the south and stopped in front of a shop called "Dodo Pet Paradise."

Huang Wei killed the engine and pushed the door open. As he hurried toward the pet paradise, he spoke into his phone: "Yes, take people and set up rotating shifts... Don't give me any complaints. You might be speaking to a future special agent from headquarters right now... I'm not showing off, I'm just stating facts. That’s all."

The call ended. Huang Wei stood at the entrance, straightened his clothes, and pushed the door open.

The organization Huang Wei worked for was called the "Watchers," a "special unit" that had been established for a long time, and its members were all Star Gate players.

The original intent behind the "Watchers" was derived from a traditional Chinese custom—the act of staying up on New Year’s Eve. This symbolized bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, the continuation of Chinese heritage, and praying for the future and for the next generation.

Huang Wei was the acting head of the Qingfu district in Shanghai, and the person he was about to meet was his direct superior—Yan Dodo.

As the door of the pet paradise opened, an overwhelming smell hit his nostrils. Huang Wei walked quickly to the front desk and asked a young girl, "Where’s the boss?"

"On the second floor, in the 'Tropical Rainforest' area." The girl was watching a web drama while snacking, her work attitude extremely perfunctory.

"Got it."

Huang Wei responded, bypassed the dog and cat area, passed through the reptile section, and finally reached the tropical rainforest themed area on the second floor.

A young man in his twenties, wearing a white lab coat and looking very handsome, was sitting cross-legged in the center of the "rainforest," tinkering with a lizard no longer than a finger.

He was focused, holding tweezers in his left hand, pulling at the skin shedding from the lizard...

*Hiss, hiss-rip...!*

The tiny lizard shook its body frantically in the young man's hands, letting out weak cries. It was hard to tell if it felt good or was in pain.

Seeing this, Huang Wei couldn't help but shiver. He had always felt that people who kept pets like eels or lizards were probably midnight streamers—after all, it was a professional necessity—but it was hard for a normal person to accept.

However, this leader was clearly not a normal person, and many of the pets in the park were his lifeblood...

Yan Dodo stared at the lizard and suddenly asked, "Is Ren Ye back?"

"Yes, yes, he's back." Huang Wei replied with a fawning smile, bowing and scraping.

"Wait a moment, let me peel the skin off 'Stinky Treasure' first, then we'll talk." Yan Dodo spoke in a soft, gentle voice, sounding like a warm, caring man.

About ten minutes later, after Yan Dodo finished peeling the lizard skin and gave Stinky Treasure a bath, he brought Huang Wei into the lounge area.

As the two drank coffee, they began to exchange information.

The warm sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making Yan Dodo’s skin look even fairer. He had long eyelashes and a slightly androgynous look, with none of the airs of a leader.

Although Yan Dodo had only been transferred to Shanghai for about three months, Old Huang still showed him great respect, sitting with his back straight and not even smoking, clearly narrating Ren Ye’s situation.

Yan Dodo held his coffee cup, listening in detail to Ren Ye’s experiences, and his eyes suddenly brightened. "Ren Ye’s experience and performance are much higher than we expected."

"Yes." Huang Wei nodded immediately. "The inheritance value of this Star Gate is immeasurable."

Yan Dodo nodded in agreement. "What do you need me to do?"

"Two things. First, I need to select a player without an inheritance who has top-tier potential and combat ability to enter the Star Gate with Ren Ye in a week."

"That’s no problem. Choose whoever you want from the headquarters or our own side." Yan Dodo agreed without a second thought.

"I don't have the authority to access personnel files."

"I'll grant you access," Yan Dodo replied generously.

"Thank you, leader. Second, Ren Ye also made some requests... I... I'm not sure how to handle them, hehe." Huang Wei scratched his head.

Yan Dodo took a sip of coffee and asked with a smile, "What requests did he make?"

"He wants the unit to provide housing for his family, and for his father's medical coverage to be linked to us. Also, the kid wants us to help his sister get a graduate recommendation, and after graduation... she wants to be a clerk in our unit." Huang Wei repeated all the conditions Ren Ye had set.

After thinking for a moment, Yan Dodo replied softly, "You can agree to those for now. Anything else?"

"He also hopes you will promote me." Huang Wei said it abruptly and straightforwardly.

?

Yan Dodo was confused. "He asked for that?"

"Yes." Huang Wei deliberately put on a foolish expression. "He thinks my position is too low, that I have to ask the leader for permission for everything and can't make decisions myself... He's a convict, so you can understand him being a bit selfish, right? But I suggested he talk to a higher authority, and who knew he wouldn't want to? He only wants to deal with me, saying it's because he’s familiar with me. *Sigh*, I really can't do anything with him...!"

In the workplace, don't think your leader is a fool, and don't think you can think of things they can't. Sometimes being direct and straightforward is more effective.

Of course, this way of communicating requires some understanding of the leader's personality... Fortunately, Old Huang had spent a few months with Yan Dodo during a training session at headquarters.

Old Huang, who had spent half his life in the system, knew very well that opportunities in life were few and far between, and once they arrived, you had to grab them.

Yan Dodo examined Old Huang with a smile. "How many years have you been the acting head of Qingfu district?"

"Four years. Ever since Old Xu retired, I've been the acting head."

"Starting from today, you’re officially confirmed. I’ll handle the paperwork. Regarding the basic and auxiliary work surrounding Ren Ye, as long as it doesn't cross the line and stays within the rules, you have full authority to handle it without reporting back." The seemingly "fragile" Yan Dodo spoke with great decisiveness.

"Yes, yes, I will definitely serve him well." Old Huang almost laughed out loud. "There’s one more thing."

"What?"

"Ren Ye also wants another two million. You know, convicts are insatiable and shameless; he thinks he’s very important now, you know...!" Huang Wei shamelessly pinned the blame on Ren Ye and started to babble incessantly.

After being stunned for a long time, Yan Dodo slowly pulled out his phone. "Wait a moment."

"What’s wrong, leader?"

"I’ll give Ren Ye a call and verify this two million with him." Yan Dodo handed the phone over politely.

Old Huang was stunned on the spot.

"Come on, make the call!"

"...!" Old Huang blinked, then slapped his thigh. "Forget it, I won't bother you, leader. I’ll go back and work on him some more. We can't agree to every condition he has; if he wants one million today and two million tomorrow, that will just spoil him!"

Yan Dodo looked at him sideways. "You came here to scam me? What do you need two million for?"

The two looked at each other, and Old Huang rubbed his palms in embarrassment. "Before Ren Ye went in, we lost four people to trade for the 'Imperial Brush' needed for entry. Although headquarters provided pensions... I feel that our direct unit should show some support as well. But my budget... you know the situation."

Yan Dodo thought for two seconds. "Next time, just say it directly. Don't play these games; it just makes me look stupid."

"...You agree?"

"This is the only time. Anything else?"

"No, no. All your colleagues in the Qingfu district salute you!" Huang Wei immediately stood up and bowed. "Then I won't disturb you while you peel Stinky Treasure's skin. You're busy, I'll go."

"Select the person to accompany Ren Ye as soon as possible; I also need to apply for it."

"Understood!"

After their exchange, Old Huang happily left the pet paradise.

Yan Dodo slowly put down his coffee cup and immediately called the finance department below. "Transfer two million to the Qingfu side, and tomorrow, apply for three million from headquarters..."

The finance person wasn't surprised at all. Instead, they asked proficiently, "Boss, do you want Qingfu to provide an invoice for three million?"

"No, keep that extra million; it’s for the mid-year bonuses. Also, tell Xiao Liu to go to the judicial department in the next two days and pull all of Ren Ye’s files... including his previous police officer files, graduation records, and conviction records... My requirement is simple: make him vanish from the face of the earth. Also, book a ticket immediately, I’m going to headquarters." As he spoke, Yan Dodo had already stood up.

...

Shanghai, Shijia Pu.

This was an old town area where most of the surrounding buildings were low red-brick houses, their walls covered in traces of rainwater.

On both sides of the narrow main road, many elderly residents lived in the neighborhood, gathered in front of various local snack shops. They were dressed quite elegantly, chatting and enjoying the cool air in groups of three or five, or playing chess and drinking tea.

By current housing prices, the apartments here weren't cheap—they were even a bit luxurious—but the quality of life for the residents wasn't particularly high because the apartments were generally very small, with some even housing three generations.

However, because this place had a certain historical significance, waiting for demolition was unlikely, and they couldn't sell them—if they sold, they couldn't afford to buy back in—so it was a rather unique existence in Shanghai.

An off-road vehicle pulled up slowly outside a narrow alley. Ren Ye stepped out, bleary-eyed, thanked the driver, and headed toward his home.

He was born and raised here, and he was familiar with many of the residents, but he wasn't in the mood to greet anyone right now. Ever since he came out of the Star Gate, Ren Ye had felt exceptionally exhausted and sleepy... This was probably the aftereffect of using the "Princess's Ultimate Move."

A few minutes later.

On the third floor of a small red-brick building, Ren Ye opened the keypad lock. As he entered, he heard a flurry of typing.

In a bedroom on the left, a man in his fifties wore headphones that covered half his face. He was dressed in a yellowed undershirt and baggy shorts, his hair extremely messy as he sat in front of a computer, typing with intense focus.

On the desk, which was barely a meter long, sat three packs of cigarettes, a cup of tea, and a large ashtray.

He had a cigarette in his mouth, typing away while muttering to himself, though it was unclear what he was saying.

This was Ren Ye’s biological father—Ren Daguo, a "flop" web writer with a stable, albeit meager, income.

"I’m home."

After changing into his slippers, Ren Ye shouted.

A full four or five seconds passed before Ren Daguo took the cigarette from his mouth, narrowed his eyes, and replied, "There’s some leftovers in the fridge. If you want to eat, eat; if not, order something. Don't talk to me, I’m editing the manuscript...!"

"...Oh."

Ren Ye replied out of habit and walked toward the kitchen, familiar with every inch of the place.

He hadn't been back in over three years, but the house looked just as it had before. The furniture was old, but it was filled with various daily necessities. The doors to his and his sister's rooms were open, ventilating the space.

What is a home?

It’s a place where you feel at peace the moment you see the environment, a place where you smell familiar scents the moment you walk through the door.

That was something the outside world could never provide...

Ren Ye didn't know why, but even though he had just eaten, he still felt a bit hungry. He walked into the kitchen, took the leftovers wrapped in plastic wrap from the fridge, heated them briefly in the microwave, and sat down at the dining table in the living room to eat.

Ren Daguo had divorced a long time ago. Once his wife left, he had to take care of two children, so he learned all the skills he hadn't known before, especially cooking—he was top-tier.

Ren Ye stole a glance at his old man, deliberately staying silent to see when he would notice him.

And so, in the living room, Ren Ye ate heartily; in the bedroom, his father hammered away at the keyboard. The frequency of his finger movements was such that even if he went to work at a high-end club, he would undoubtedly be the top star.

The father and son maintained this silence for over twenty minutes, during which his father didn't look toward the living room even once.

*Ring-ring!*

A sharp phone ring interrupted Ren Daguo’s train of thought. He frowned, picked up the phone, pushed the keyboard aside, and walked straight toward the bathroom. "Ah, I’m editing! But this requires changing the outline... I understand, add some 'spice' to the plot, they love that... Uh-huh, tell me...!"

He walked out of the bedroom, straight through the living room, never once looking toward the dining table. And before he even reached the bathroom, he had already unzipped his pants.

Ren Ye chewed on a spare rib, his eyes following his father’s body. For a split second, he was genuinely worried about his father’s mental and visual state.

*Flush!!*

Five minutes later, the sound of a toilet flushing came from the bathroom. For a writer, half an hour for a bathroom break was normal.

*Creak!*

The door opened. His father pulled up his pants and cursed with intense focus, "A loser, a playboy, what else would he do besides chasing women? Stay at home and play with himself? He doesn't know anything, but he insists on giving his opinion...!"

"Heh."

Ren Ye looked at him and gave a cold laugh, still not saying a word.

His father walked toward the dining table. It was only when he was a meter away that he slowly looked up, preparing to pick up the kettle.

A person!

A living person!

A man, appearing out of nowhere in his line of sight!

Ren Daguo’s pupils contracted sharply, and he stumbled back two steps: "Holy shit!! When did you get back?"

Ren Ye licked a grain of rice from his lip. "Long time no see, great writer!"

"Ah?"

Ren Daguo looked at his son, dazed. He slowly took off his glasses, cleaned them carefully, and put them back on. "Holy shit! It really is you."

"...!" Ren Ye was speechless. "I shouted when I came in, didn't you answer?"

"Oh, right." Ren Daguo finally revealed a look of surprise and joy, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "Haha, right, I heard someone shout, but I thought it was your sister coming back. I was too immersed, I just forgot."

"She should be back soon too." Ren Ye looked down and finished the rice in his bowl.

Ren Daguo looked at him, and his expression suddenly turned to horror, the smile on his face vanishing. "Damn, you... you didn't break out of prison, did you?!!"

"Can we not be so dramatic for once?" Ren Ye looked at him sideways. "Didn't you two go to the prison? You were even going to sue my former department. I was just pulled out and granted special permission to come home once."

Ren Daguo finally snapped back to reality. He frowned and replied, "Right, we went to see you a few days ago, but the prison said... you were taken out to help solve a cold case, and if you did well, you could get a sentence reduction."

"Yeah, that’s what I’m doing." Ren Ye nodded.

"No, they just let you come home like this? Without anyone watching you?" Ren Daguo pushed his glasses up, skeptical. "Aren't they afraid you’ll run away?"

"Am I crazy? I only have two years left, and if I show merit this time, I can get a reduction. Why would I run?" Ren Ye put down his bowl. "Besides, there’s someone waiting for me downstairs."

"Oh." Ren Daguo nodded slowly. "Son, is this dangerous?! If it's dangerous, we can't do it. Just serve the two years, and when you get out, I’ll pull some strings to find you a job...!"

"It’s fine, don't worry." Ren Ye waved his hand. "I’m mainly responsible for baiting two suspects."

"Hmm, that’s alright then..."

"Stop talking about me. How have you been? Did you start a new book?" Ren Ye picked up the kettle and skillfully poured two cups of water.

Ren Daguo crossed his legs, his expression blank and melancholy. "I wrote one, but I haven't published it yet. I’ve been editing other manuscripts these past few days... Hey, since you’re back, help me look it over, will you?!"

In the past, to break into the youth market, Ren Daguo would always drag his son and daughter to brainstorm plots; it had almost become a family habit.

"Heh? Do you need my help? Just watch a couple of movies and you’ll have everything you need, won't you?" Ren Ye chuckled.

"Vulgar!! How are you talking to your father?" Ren Daguo scolded, his expression turning focused again as he explained, "I’m editing a story about ancient time-travel. The story was originally about a prince’s mansion that hid many imperial secret agents...!"

Ren Ye was exhausted, leaning his head back against the chair, looking completely perfunctory.

"Look, the situation is that an important character who laid the groundwork for the imperial court was written to death, creating a plot hole. I need to fix it, but the difficulty is...!"

"Wait, hold on a second."

Suddenly, Ren Ye opened his eyes.