Chapter 1: The Gift
Songhai City.
At 7:30 in the morning, in a dim room, on a soft large bed, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly awoke, clutching his head and curling up like a shrimp.
His head felt like it was about to split open, as if steel needles were embedded in his brain. The pain was so intense that his scalp twitched, causing hallucinations and illusions. Chaotic images flashed through his mind, while his ears were filled with noisy, meaningless sounds.
Zhang Yuanqing knew his old ailment had relapsed.
Trembling, he crawled out of bed, pulled open the bedside drawer, shakily found the medicine bottle, and eagerly twisted it open. He poured out five or six small blue pills and swallowed them whole.
Then, he threw himself back onto the bed, gasping for air, enduring the excruciating pain.
After about ten seconds, the soul-rending headache subsided and then settled.
"Phew," Zhang Yuanqing exhaled in relief, covered in cold sweat.
In high school, he had contracted a strange illness. The symptoms included his brain uncontrollably recalling all past memories, including forgotten junk information; involuntarily collecting and analyzing external information; and achieving an incredible level of control over his body.
Fortunately, this state couldn't last too long before it would break off due to the body's inability to withstand the strain.
It was precisely because of this ability that he had effortlessly been admitted to Songhai University—a top-ranked prestigious institution in the country.
Zhang Yuanqing called this state "brain overload," believing he might be evolving into a superhuman, but the evolution kept getting interrupted because his body couldn't support it.
When he shared this hypothesis with the doctor, the doctor said he didn't understand but was greatly shocked, and suggested that Zhang Yuanqing visit the psychiatric department downstairs.
In any case, the hospital couldn't determine the cause of his condition. Later, his mother brought him special medication from abroad, which finally got the illness under control. As long as he took the medicine regularly, it wouldn't flare up.
"It must be because I didn't rest well last night, I'm too tired. It's all Jiang Yuer's fault for insisting on coming to my room to play games in the middle of the night."
Though he said this, his heart secretly grew heavy, because Zhang Yuanqing knew that the drug's effectiveness was starting to weaken, and his condition was becoming increasingly severe.
"I'll have to increase the dosage from now on." Zhang Yuanqing put on his cotton slippers and went to the window, swiftly pulling open the curtains.
Sunlight rushed in eagerly, filling the room.
April in Songhai City was bright and beautiful, with a cool and comfortable morning breeze greeting him.
"Knock knock!"
At this moment, a knocking sound came from outside, and his grandmother called out:
"Yuanzi, time to get up."
"Not getting up!" Zhang Yuanqing coldly and mercilessly refused, wanting to go back to sleep.
On a beautiful spring weekend, wasn't it a waste of life not to sleep in?
"I'll give you three minutes. If you don't get up, I'll splash you awake."
His grandmother was even more cold and merciless.
"Alright, alright." Zhang Yuanqing immediately gave in.
He knew his hot-tempered grandmother was capable of doing just that.
When Zhang Yuanqing was still in elementary school, his father had passed away in a car accident. His strong-willed mother didn't remarry, instead bringing her son back to settle in Songhai, leaving him in the care of his grandparents.
She then threw herself into her career, becoming the career woman praised by all the relatives.
Later, his mother bought her own house, but Zhang Yuanqing didn't like that empty large apartment and still lived with his grandparents.
After all, his mom left early and returned late every day, going on business trips every few days, completely focused on her career. Even on weekends, if she wasn't working overtime, she'd just order takeout at mealtimes.
The thing she said most often to her son was, "Do you have enough money? If not, tell Mom." A career-driven mother who could financially satisfy him without limit sounded pretty good.
But Zhang Yuanqing always smiled and told his mother: The pocket money from grandma and aunt is enough.
Oh, and there was also his younger aunt.
The woman who had insisted on coming to his room to play games last night was his younger aunt.
Zhang Yuanqing yawned, turned the bedroom doorknob, and came out to the living room.
His grandmother's house, including the shared area, was about 150 square meters. Zhang Yuanqing remembered that when they sold the old house to buy this new one years ago, it cost over 40,000 yuan per square meter.
Six or seven years had passed, and now the housing prices in this neighborhood had risen to 110,000 yuan per square meter, nearly doubling.
Fortunately, his grandfather had been farsighted back then. If it were still the old house, Zhang Yuanqing would have to sleep in the living room now, as he had grown up and could no longer sleep with his younger aunt.
At the long dining table by the living room, the culprit who had caused his headache was "gulp gulp gulp" drinking porridge, her pink slippers swinging under the table.
She had delicate and beautiful features, with a round oval face that looked quite sweet, and a tear mole at the corner of her right eye.
Having just woken up, her fluffy, messy big waves were scattered about, giving her an added touch of languid charm.
His younger aunt was called Jiang Yuer, four years older than him.
Seeing Zhang Yuanqing come out, his younger aunt licked some porridge from the corner of her mouth and said in surprise:
"Wow, up so early? That's not like you."
"Your mom's good work."
"How can you talk about people like that?"
"I'm just telling the truth."
Zhang Yuanqing examined his younger aunt's beautiful face, which was full of spirit and radiant.
They say the night doesn't cheat those who stay up late, it rewards them with dark circles, but this rule didn't seem to apply to the woman before him.
Hearing the commotion, his grandmother in the kitchen poked her head out to look, and a moment later, came out carrying a bowl of porridge.
His grandmother's black hair was streaked with silver, and her gaze was very sharp—one look and you could tell she was the type of old lady with a bad temper.
Although loose skin and shallow wrinkles had stolen her former glory, one could still faintly see that she had possessed good looks in her youth.
Zhang Yuanqing took the porridge his grandmother handed him, gulped down a mouthful, and asked:
"Where's grandpa?"
"Out for a walk," his grandmother said.
His grandfather was a retired detective. Even at his advanced age, he still maintained a very regular lifestyle, always going to bed at 10 PM and waking up at 6 AM.
The pretty younger aunt drank her porridge and said with a smile:
"After breakfast, I'll take you to the mall to buy some clothes."
You're that kind-hearted? Zhang Yuanqing was about to agree when his grandmother beside him shot him a murderous glance:
"If you dare go, I'll break your dog legs."
"Mom, how can you be like this?" The younger aunt said with a flirtatious air: "I just want to buy some spring clothes for Yuanzi, and you're not happy about it? Even though he's a 'wai sun' (maternal nephew), he's still family, right~"
His grandmother's one move broke a thousand techniques, "You want your dog legs broken too?"
The younger aunt pouted and lowered her head to drink her porridge.
Hearing the mother-daughter negotiation, Zhang Yuanqing knew his grandmother must have arranged another blind date for his younger aunt, and the mischievous aunt wanted to drag him along to muddy the waters.
This was how it usually went. She would bring her nephew to the blind date, sit for a few minutes, and then her socially adept nephew would win over the date. The two men would chat happily, discussing everything from people's livelihoods to world affairs, while she had nothing to do with it.
She could just drink her beverage and play on her phone, and the blind date would feel that he had demonstrated sufficient social experience and knowledge in front of a beautiful woman, thus feeling pleased and self-satisfied.
Jiang Yuer had been delicate and cute since childhood, always praised by neighbors. With her high beauty, sweet and obedient nature, she was very popular among elders.
With such a beautiful daughter, of course, his grandmother had to guard her strictly. Since middle school, she had constantly admonished her not to date early, not to go out with male classmates.
Her young daughter indeed didn't disappoint her, not having a boyfriend even until after college graduation. But after entering society, especially after turning 25 at the beginning of the year, his grandmother became a bit restless.
She thought, I just didn't want you to date early, not become a leftover woman. How many years of youth does a woman have?
So she gathered her old friends, collecting information on promising young men from all over, arranging blind dates for her daughter.
"Grandma, she clearly doesn't want to date yet. Forced melons aren't sweet," Zhang Yuanqing said while nibbling on a bun, volunteering himself:
"Why don't you arrange some blind dates for me? This melon is very sweet."
His grandmother angrily said: "You're still young, what's the rush? There are so many female classmates in college, can't you find one yourself? If you keep causing trouble, be careful I'll beat you."
His grandmother was a southern woman, but her temper wasn't gentle at all, it was especially fiery.
Even Zhang Yuanqing's career-driven mother didn't dare to talk back to his grandmother.
I've grown up, okay? I've been a craftsman for several years now, Zhang Yuanqing grumbled inwardly.
After breakfast, under his grandmother's forceful demand, the younger aunt went back to her room to change clothes and put on makeup, then went out for the blind date.
The younger aunt applied light makeup, which made her look even more stunningly beautiful.
She wore a fluffy round-neck knit sweater paired with a long coat, light-colored skinny jeans wrapping her long legs, shapely and round. The narrow trouser legs were tucked into black Martin boots.
Her simple forest-style outfit wasn't gaudy or flashy, but very exquisite.
The younger aunt gave him a knowing look, picked up her bag, and swayed her waist as she left:
"Mom, I'm going out for the blind date!"
Zhang Yuanqing returned to his room and unhurriedly changed into a black T-shirt, a windbreaker, and put on running shoes.
After a few minutes, he opened the bedroom door.
His grandmother was cleaning in the living room. Seeing him come out, she stopped her work and silently watched him.
Zhang Yuanqing imitated his younger aunt's tone:
"Mom, I'm also going out for a blind date!"
"Get back here." His grandmother raised her broom, threatening: "If you dare step out this door, I'll break your dog legs."
"Okay!" Zhang Yuanqing obediently returned to his bedroom.
Sitting at his desk, he picked up his phone and sent a message to his younger aunt:
"The mission failed before it began, leaving this hero in tears."
"Speak human!"
His younger aunt must be driving, her reply was concise and to the point.
"I've been stopped at home by grandma, you'll have to go to the blind date yourself."
His younger aunt sent a voice message.
Zhang Yuanqing played it, and Jiang Yuer's angry voice came from the speaker:
"What use are you?!"
The younger aunt recalled a voice message, then sent another one. This time she changed her tone, coquettishly coaxing:
"Good nephew, come quickly~ Auntie loves you the most, mwah~"
Huh, women!
Think you can make me go against grandma's wishes just by acting coy? At least send a red envelope or something.
At this moment, a slightly harsh ringing sound came. Zhang Yuanqing went to the living room and, under his grandmother's watchful eye, pressed the talk button on the building intercom and said:
"Who is it!"
"Delivery."
A voice came from the speaker.
Zhang Yuanqing pressed the door open button. After two or three minutes, a delivery man in uniform came up in the elevator, holding a package:
"Is this Zhang Yuanqing?"
"That's me."
I didn't order anything online though, he thought confusedly as he signed for it, glancing at the package information. The package didn't list a sender, but the address was from the neighboring Jiangnan Province's Hangcheng.
He returned to his room, found a paper cutter from his desk drawer, and opened the package.
Inside were a black card wrapped in bubble wrap and a yellow envelope.
Zhang Yuanqing picked up the black card, which was about the size of an ID card. The material seemed to be metal, but it felt extremely smooth to the touch. The card was very exquisitely made, with faint silver cloud patterns along the edges and a black round moon in the center.
The black round moon was printed very delicately, with clear irregular patches on its surface.
What is this? With a puzzled mind, he opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.
"Yuanzi, I've obtained a very interesting item. I once thought it could change my life, but I'm limited in my abilities and can't master it. I think if it's you, it shouldn't be a problem.
"We're brothers, this is my gift to you.
"Lei Yibing!"
PS: I'm an 18-year-old new author, please support me, thank you!!
(End of Chapter)