Lian Qing felt his mental endurance had been put to the ultimate test.
In recent days, the situation in S City had shifted drastically, stirring up chaos like a once-still pond turned turbulent. Anyone remotely connected to the upheaval couldn’t help but worry, anxious that their own interests might be affected.
The Lian family was no exception, and in fact, they were more deeply entangled than most.
The Lians occupied a delicate position. The current conflict was between the Pei family and the Jiang family, and for the Lians, no choice could come easily.
Lian Qing had grown up with Pei Yusheng. Even now, they were inseparable childhood friends. He had always stood firmly on Pei Yusheng’s side. But ever since the passing of Old Master Lian and the relocation of Lian Headquarters to S City, Lian Qing’s father had been seeking to align with the Fang family.
The Jiang family relied on the protection of the Fang family. As soon as trouble arose, they immediately sought the Fang family’s support.
In such a situation, remaining neutral was nothing more than a hollow phrase. Lian Qing never wavered in his loyalty to Pei Yusheng, but his father’s attitude was a source of constant uncertainty.
Ever since the incident, Lian Qing had avoided returning to the main Lian residence. Even when contact was necessary, he never disclosed anything to his father.
Ordinarily, the Lian family might barely maintain a facade of stability. But this conflict openly laid all divisions bare. It was not an easy time for Lian Qing. Fortunately, the situation gradually clarified, and everything finally reached a resolution.
Shanhai Manor was sealed off, Jiang Duo’s overseas escape blocked, and he was taken into custody. The two strongest pillars of the older generation in the Jiang family—including Jiang Duo’s father—were directly removed by the inspection team.
With that, the Jiang family completely collapsed, leaving no chance of recovery. One chapter of the Jiang family’s history had come to a definitive close.
During this period, the Fang family had seemingly not truly extended help to the Jiang family. Lian Qing could even glimpse this from his father’s stance—if the Fang family had intended to unite with the Jiang family against Pei Yusheng, Lian Qing certainly would not have been allowed to leave, let alone support his second brother.
The Fang family had their own affairs to manage. Fang Wuwu, who had abused the family’s resources for personal gain, was directly expelled from the ancestral hall by Old Master Fang and erased from the family registry. News of this spread widely in S City, ultimately ending with Fang Wuwu being investigated for past illegal activities and imprisoned.
Decisive and unyielding—no leniency was shown. The Fang family’s self-cleaning of its house caused a stir, but the true focus of public gossip remained Pei Yusheng, the second young master of the Pei family.
Upon first arriving in S City, Pei Yusheng had been unsteady, unfamiliar with his surroundings, yet he immediately crushed the Jiang family’s formidable resistance, astonishing everyone. Those who had underestimated him were left dumbfounded, forced to reconsider their misjudgments.
No one had expected that a playboy—expelled from overseas studies, dismissed from military service, seemingly incapable of achieving anything—would wield such decisive power, uprooting an old, long-established family with deep influence and removing them entirely.
This was no mere privileged heir living off family protection. He was the Pei family’s next-generation inheritor, a future pillar of the household.
Previously, many had questioned how Pei Xiaolin, known for his rigor and strength, could raise a seemingly incapable son. But now, it was clear: Pei Xiaolin had cultivated the perfect successor.
This second young master had not only inherited his father’s skill, but also carried the quiet dignity of the old master, understanding the value of discretion and subtlety.
For a time, discussion spread not only in S City but even back in B City, the Pei family’s home base.
Lian Qing was among the most excited. Having known Pei Yusheng for so many years, he understood his abilities and recognized the malice behind any rumors. While he knew his second brother never cared for gossip, witnessing those who had doubted him being proven wrong was exhilarating.
Yet, this excitement soon gave way to worry.
From the moment Pei Yusheng personally confronted the Jiang family at Shanhai Manor, he had barely slept, operating nonstop around the clock. His advisory team and assistants took turns supporting him, and the B City Peis continuously provided aid—but no one had ever seen him rest.
Witnessing the struggle firsthand, Lian Qing initially felt admiration and concern. But over time, this concern evolved into a deep, almost indescribable fear.
Extended periods of intense work were testing both body and mind. Pei Yusheng had to make instant decisions based on rapidly changing situations, with no ready answers—everything relied solely on his judgment.
And if he erred, the full responsibility rested on his shoulders alone.
Such pressure, coupled with relentless activity, was unsustainable.
The second young master was not invincible.
Lian Qing knew Pei Yusheng had a longstanding insomnia problem, but even before, his sleeplessness had never reached this extreme.
The only similar occurrence had been right after Pei Yusheng completed his military service—a period Lian Qing could barely recall without shuddering.
For over a month, Pei Yusheng had gone without effective sleep, growing irritable, hostile, and hypersensitive. Every sound seemed threatening, every disturbance in his surroundings a potential attack.
Before any proper intervention could be found, Pei Yusheng lost complete control. His residence was wrecked, and even three teammates together could not restrain him. The deputy captain had two ribs broken by his kicks.
A specially trained ex-soldier, once uncontrolled, posed an unpredictable danger. And Pei Yusheng was among the very best—the lethal potential of his solo combat skills had been verified multiple times. Conventional force could not subdue him.
Moreover, his counter-surveillance ability, drug resistance, and endurance were all elite-level. Every attempt to contain him had failed. To subdue him without harm was pure fantasy.
Ultimately, those unable to cope were forced to isolate him completely, cutting off food and water for three full days until he was finally exhausted and subdued.
Even recalling that episode made Lian Qing break into cold sweat.
Now, the harsh reality was plain—Pei Yusheng’s current streak of sleeplessness had already exceeded that record. If this continued, it could only repeat the previous nightmare.
Lian Qing had tried to persuade him to rest, but Pei Yusheng’s determination to personally manage Jiang Duo had reached an astonishing level. He completed every step himself, even those that could have been delegated.
The Jiang family was a difficult target, so careful attention was understandable. Yet Jiang Duo was merely the first piece to be removed. Even his father did not merit such treatment.
But Pei Yusheng insisted on personally breaking Jiang Duo’s will, stripping away hope piece by piece, driving him to madness.
He pushed the limits of legality to torment Jiang Duo. Though these methods were discreet and most outsiders assumed Jiang Duo was merely unlucky, the few who knew the truth could not help but wonder:
When had the second young master developed such deep hatred for Jiang Duo?
Lian Qing could not figure it out. The struggle ended with the Peis victorious, but the winner’s state was deeply worrying.
Pei Yusheng had again become extremely sensitive to sound. Even the breathing of those nearby during decision-making could irritate him. This mirrored the signs before his last breakdown. Lian Qing’s alarm bells rang. He tried every possible medical consultation.
But the Jiang affair was not fully resolved, leaving Pei Yusheng no time for systematic treatment. Doctors could only observe as he continued to push his body.
Finally, with the Jiang family toppled, the victor could have enjoyed some leisure after victory—but Pei Yusheng still did not rest.
It wasn’t a matter of time; he simply could no longer sleep.
He underwent systematic therapy with sophisticated equipment, but the results were minimal. Doctors advised him to recall memories of deep sleep and find similar mental relaxation, but Pei Yusheng remained silent.
Upon returning, he suddenly smashed the surveillance screens.
Before Lian Qing could understand his second brother’s anger, he received a message from Pei Yusheng’s mother.
Pei’s mother, overseas and busy, had relied on domestic contacts for assistance. When Pei Yusheng first lost control, the news had been quickly sealed, known only to a few. To prevent wider spread, she had entrusted Lian Qing.
Her request confirmed Lian Qing’s worst fears—she had asked him to coordinate security, deploy forces, and monitor Pei Yusheng’s movements at all times.
This was their preparation for Pei Yusheng’s second episode of loss of control.
Lian Qing truly did not want to see his second brother tortured like this again. But for the sake of the larger picture, he had no choice but to follow Pei Yusheng’s mother’s instructions and prepare a team specifically to deal with him.
The team had been assembled a week earlier. During that time, Lian Qing had never given up on trying to bring his brother back to calm, but there had been no sign of improvement.
It wasn’t until yesterday that Lian Qing suddenly received a call from Pei Yusheng’s mother.
All staff inside Rose Villa had been removed, leaving Pei Yusheng alone. The villa’s security system had been switched to lockdown mode; no one could enter or exit without the highest level of authorization.
Lian Qing realized the gravity of the situation.
His second brother had locked himself inside the villa.
This was an extremely dangerous signal, and probably the last remnant of Pei Yusheng’s rationality. Lian Qing tried contacting him once, but the call was immediately hung up. He didn’t dare try again.
Even the doorbell could potentially trigger Pei Yusheng, making him feel threatened and putting himself at risk.
Uncle Xu had gone back to B City for business and could not return in time. Lian Qing assembled the remaining team and ultimately decided to act at the hour of utmost human weakness—dawn—forcing their way into the villa to subdue Pei Yusheng.
It was an operation fraught with anxiety and tension.
At five o’clock in the morning, Lian Qing led the team to Rose Villa. They had helped design the security system themselves, so they were familiar with how to navigate it.
Lian Qing stationed half the team at the front gate. In lockdown mode, the doorbell would only light up to signal attention, producing no sound to stimulate the patient. Lian Qing was in charge of ringing the bell to draw focus, preventing Pei Yusheng from noticing the other half of the team breaking in through the back.
He did not know how much rationality his brother still retained. Even with a meticulously planned operation, Lian Qing felt uneasy.
What surprised him, however, was that the doorbell was actually answered.
The doorbell’s monitoring system was one-way; Lian Qing couldn’t see Pei Yusheng’s condition. The fact that it was answered meant there was still some rationality left. He quickly delivered the pre-prepared excuse, and to his relief, the front door was opened.
Although pleased, Lian Qing remained cautious. He quickly rendezvoused with the team entering from the back, and together they pushed open the door.
The plan had accounted for many scenarios, and Lian Qing had imagined countless possibilities—but no one had anticipated what they saw. When the door opened, it was not Pei Yusheng who appeared.
Someone else was inside the villa.
The security team froze. Lian Qing froze.
The youth before them was delicate, strikingly beautiful, enough to stop anyone in their tracks—yet completely unfamiliar.
Why was this person suddenly in his second brother’s home?
Then the sound from the speaker startled Lian Qing so much he nearly fainted.
What was going on? Orders had been issued repeatedly—how could such a mishap still occur?
Caught off guard, Lian Qing focused entirely on Pei Yusheng’s situation, not noticing that the boy did not wear the communication wristband issued to all villa staff.
The operational plan had been sent through those wristbands. Without one, the boy paused at Lian Qing’s words, but did not question the plan, merely replying, “That’s the speaker’s built-in program.”
Lian Qing was furious. He hurriedly waved, “Quick, turn it off!”
The boy moved to switch off the speaker. Lian Qing, standing at the doorway, felt increasingly uneasy. The team leader subtly gestured to him, signaling that this individual was suspicious and asking if he should be subdued first to avoid interfering with the operation.
Lian Qing thought it over and shook his head, pointing to himself.
With the team entering, noise was inevitable, and they didn’t know where Pei Yusheng was. If they accidentally encountered him, so many people suddenly breaking in could trigger a dangerous reaction. It would be safer for Lian Qing to go in alone—less movement, less chance of threatening Pei Yusheng.
The boy appeared delicate and weak. Lian Qing alone could handle him.
He took a handkerchief from the team leader, soaked with freshly applied ether. This anesthetic wouldn’t affect Pei Yusheng, but it was enough for an ordinary person. Covering the mouth and nose for a brief moment would render someone immobile.
He hid the handkerchief behind him and tiptoed forward. The boy faced away, his silhouette frail and slight.
As Lian Qing approached and took a closer look, he hesitated.
Would too much ether be applied?
Every person’s tolerance was different. This boy appeared fragile, his butterfly-shaped shoulder blades visible even through clothing. Lian Qing worried that excessive force could harm him.
After careful consideration, Lian Qing decided to act lightly and briefly, minimizing harm.
While he was thinking, the boy continued fiddling with the speaker, not turning around or noticing Lian Qing’s approach—making Lian Qing’s actions much easier.
He silently reached out, intending to subdue the boy from behind. Everything was going smoothly—until, just as his hand was about to pass over the boy’s shoulder, the youth suddenly raised his hand and threw something from his arms.
Despite his confusion, there was no time to hesitate. Lian Qing pressed the handkerchief to the boy’s face—
But for some reason, a sudden chill ran through his wrist.
The next second, searing pain radiated from that cold spot. Before he could even cry out, the world spun violently, a roaring wind rushing past his ears, and before Lian Qing could react, his wrist was seized, and he was executed a fluid, perfect over-the-shoulder throw!
“Ah…!”
A curse turned into a distorted shriek. Lian Qing’s reflexes failed him; he instinctively shut his eyes, bracing for the brutal impact.
“Bang!”
A muffled thud sounded. The anticipated agony never came; instead, something cushioned his back. Surprised, Lian Qing opened his eyes to see a face both stunning and expressionless hovering above him.
“Y–you…?!”
The boy ignored him, pulled his foot back from the cushion beneath Lian Qing’s head, and stepped away.
The white handkerchief floated down lightly, landing on Lian Qing’s chest. He grabbed it and sat up, finally noticing that the object cushioning his back was… a soft cat-paw pillow.
That was what the boy had thrown from his arms earlier.
Lian Qing was dumbfounded.
Had this kid anticipated exactly where he would fall?
And he’d provided cushioning in advance?!
Still staring in disbelief, Lian Qing saw the boy frown and look toward the front door at the vigilant team.
Though they hadn’t rushed in, the wide-open doorway made them fully visible.
Before he could think further, footsteps sounded from upstairs. Lian Qing waved urgently, signaling them to retreat and shut the door—any sight of him could provoke Pei Yusheng.
The door closed just in time, and before Lian Qing could even rise, a familiar, deep voice rang out.
“What are you doing?”
His heart thudded wildly. Lian Qing froze, looking up to see Pei Yusheng standing on the stair railing, gazing down at them.
There was no time to feel relief that the door had been closed in time; sweat immediately broke out on Lian Qing’s back.
His brother appeared… conscious?
He didn’t want the team to provoke Pei Yusheng, but could he handle it alone?
“B–Bro?” Lian Qing hurriedly stood, stammering, hands slick with sweat as they rubbed against the pillow. He scrambled for an excuse.
Wait… pillow?!
“Well, I thought this pillow looked cute, so I tried to pick it up… and it accidentally slipped…”
He spoke haltingly while carefully gauging Pei Yusheng’s expression.
His brother appeared far more rational than expected. He merely glanced at the pillow and asked, “Do you like it?”
Lian Qing had expected him to say, “If you like it, take it,” but to his surprise, Pei Yusheng said, “If you like it, have Zhou Li buy a set and send it to you.”
“Ah?” Lian Qing froze.
Zhou Li was Pei Yusheng’s assistant.
Pei Yusheng didn’t come downstairs. He tapped the stair railing with his fingers and looked at the boy beside him. “Did you hit the emergency alert?”
Lian Qing turned to the boy, his heart rising.
He feared the boy would reveal the presence of the team at the door.
If his brother was not fully conscious, so many people would provoke a breakdown. If he was alert… it would be even worse, reopening the scars of previous episodes.
Sensing Lian Qing’s unease, the boy glanced at him, then turned and said, “Sorry for disturbing you, Mr. Pei. I didn’t recognize Mr. Lian and thought someone was trying to force their way in, so I notified you.”
Although surprised by the boy’s respectful tone, Lian Qing quickly continued the story to avoid revealing the team’s presence: “Second brother, I needed to borrow a car, urgently, so I was a bit anxious.”
Pei Yusheng’s clarity both shocked and worried Lian Qing—would his excuse hold up?
Fortunately, Pei Yusheng only glanced at him and said, “The keys are in the entryway cabinet. Go get them yourself.”
He glanced at the wall clock. “I have a meeting. We’ll talk afterward.”
Lian Qing nodded rapidly. “Okay, okay. Go ahead, I’ll take the keys and leave.”
Pei Yusheng didn’t immediately leave. Instead, he asked, “Have you eaten breakfast?”
“I haven’t. I’ll eat when I go back,” Lian Qing said, feigning casualness. Yet Pei Yusheng remained.
Lian Qing paused. What was wrong? Had he misspoken?
Before he could figure it out, a clear, slightly soft voice sounded beside him.
“Not finished yet.”
It was the boy.
“Reheat it before eating; don’t just have dessert,” Pei Yusheng instructed.
The boy nodded, “Understood, Mr. Pei.”
Pei Yusheng left upstairs, leaving only the boy on the first floor and Lian Qing, stunned.
What was happening?
Lian Qing’s mind was full of question marks.
Why had his previously irritable, sleep-deprived brother suddenly returned to normal—and why was this boy with him, completely unharmed?
Once he confirmed Pei Yusheng had gone, Lian Qing couldn’t help asking, “Who are you?”
The boy glanced at the cat-paw pillow still in Lian Qing’s hands. “I’m a caretaker.”
A caretaker?
Lian Qing was confused; he had been told all staff had left. Apparently, one remained.
His watch vibrated—five minutes of recording completed. Lian Qing snapped back, sending the video of Pei Yusheng’s reactions to the doctor.
He also notified the team at the door to repair the equipment that had been damaged.
Though the team didn’t get to execute the original plan, this was fortunate.
After handling that, Lian Qing turned back to continue asking, “Second brother, what did you do last night?”
He didn’t know how much the caretaker knew about Pei Yusheng’s condition and couldn’t expose the risks of his insomnia-induced breakdown, so he asked vaguely.
The boy answered each question responsibly, like a diligent caretaker: “He rested very little. The rest of the time, he worked.”
“Rested?” Lian Qing seized on the key point. “He slept?”
The boy nodded.
Lian Qing pressed further. “How did he sleep?”
The boy paused, then said, “Mr. Pei was busy with work. Around one in the morning, once he was exhausted, he went to sleep.”
Lian Qing was momentarily speechless.
Exhausted… and just went to sleep?
A problem that had troubled them for so long suddenly sounded… so simple, just like that?
He thought for a moment. Could it be that last night, his brother, having finally felt sleepy and not wanting to be disturbed, had set the villa to lockdown mode?
Lian Qing asked, “How long did he sleep?”
“Less than an hour,” the boy replied. “After waking up, he went straight back to work.”
Pei Yusheng’s issues seemed serious, but if he could actually fall asleep, he could recover quite a bit, Lian Qing thought. That probably explained why his brother’s mood had stabilized last night and why nothing went wrong.
He focused on this matter and didn’t even ask whether the boy had been present while Pei Yusheng slept.
After all, his brother got irritated even by people breathing when thinking; if he’d activated lockdown mode during sleep, he surely wouldn’t allow any interruptions.
But then, why had he left someone in the house?
Lian Qing asked, “Weren’t all the other staff gone? Why are you still here?”
The boy said, “I’m the night caretaker.”
Night caretaker? Shifts… even among caretakers?
Lian Qing frowned, glancing at him. Something felt off.
Earlier, he had been completely focused on Pei Yusheng’s condition and hadn’t noticed anything else. Now, looking at the boy’s features, a thought suddenly struck him.
When doctors design treatment plans, they sometimes suggest that sharing a bed or sleeping near someone familiar can improve sleep quality in some cases.
Could it be…?
Lian Qing blurted out, “You’re a girl?”
“……”
The boy had been staring at the cat-paw pillow in Lian Qing’s hands. Upon hearing this, he finally looked up.
He offered a polite smile, looking obedient, yet somehow colder than when he had been expressionless just moments ago.
The boy raised a hand, pointing toward the full-length mirror in the living room.
“Mr. Lian, look in the mirror. Between the two of us, who looks more like a girl?”
“Ah? Oh… you’re not?”
Lian Qing realized his mistake and scratched his head.
He had misjudged, and it wasn’t the time to press a person who clearly cared about their appearance.
“Sorry, I was wrong,” he said, sighing with disappointment.
He had thought there might be hope for the doctor’s plan.
But then again, his brother had never had such a personal object in all these years. That was why the treatment plan had never tried this method.
After all, such matters cannot be forced.
Pei Yusheng had never agreed to any of the match-making arrangements his father had chosen, nor had he ever tried to pursue anyone on his own.
He knew that even if he found someone he liked, his dissatisfied father would intervene.
Better to stay in peace.
After instructing the boy, Lian Qing left, planning to inform Aunt Pei of the situation first.
The team was still repairing the villa. Lian Qing found a quiet corner and dialed the phone.
He wasn’t sure if he could get through, as Aunt Pei had been busy lately.
Soon, a gentle, soft female voice answered: “Xiao Qing?”
“Auntie, it’s me,” Lian Qing said. “Second brother is fine. He fell asleep last night and is now in a meeting. Once he finishes, we’ll take him for a full check-up.”
The voice could barely contain its joy: “Yusheng slept? He’s alright?”
“Yes,” Lian Qing replied. “There was someone left in the villa last night. Everything went smoothly, so he must be okay. He’s recovered.”
The voice hesitated for a moment: “You mean… someone stayed with Yusheng, everything was fine, and he was able to sleep?”
Although the phrasing might be ambiguous, Lian Qing continued, “Yes, he’s a night caretaker.”
A soft sigh came from the other end. “A caretaker, huh?”
The words were gentle, more thoughtful than interrogative.
“Yes.”
Silence followed for a long time before Aunt Pei’s cautious voice returned: “Xiao Qing… the one who stayed with Yusheng, the one who helped him sleep…”
“What kind of girl is she? Can you describe her briefly?”
“Ah?” Lian Qing said. “Not a girl. It’s a very young boy. He really does look a bit like a girl—I almost mistook him just now…”
He described him carefully. On hearing the words “boy,” there was a much longer silence on the other end.
Even the faintest sound of breathing disappeared.