“Mr. Shang is in the hospital,” Fu Qian said. “His condition doesn’t seem to be improving.”
“He said he can’t go. He hopes you can go in his place,” Fu Qian continued. “Besides you, the group is sending someone else.”
Fu Qian could already guess what Shang Wei was thinking. He had checked beforehand and confirmed that Shang Wei wasn’t faking his illness. He had even signed a confidentiality agreement with the hospital.
Shang Wei isn’t going?
In his previous life, around this same time, Shang Wei had only used illness as an excuse. But in this life, he had actually contracted a foul disease. He probably hadn’t expected Xu Rong to end up in the hospital again.
Shang Xuci sneered inwardly. What a coincidence. They must have planned this from the start.
Fu Qian stood behind him, his phone vibrating in his pocket. He stepped outside to answer the call, then returned to the office and reported, “Mr. Shang, they’ve sent an invitation. The time and location are confirmed in Country M.”
Shang Xuci listened as Fu Qian recited the time and place, exactly as it had been in his previous life. His narrow eyes narrowed slightly. “Prepare as I instructed. Everything will proceed according to plan.”
Whether or not he made the same choice as before, Shang Xuci would not take it lightly. On the contrary, he would make that person pay the price.
Fu Qian nodded. “Don’t worry.”
He hadn’t expected that person to be so bold as to actually want to kill Mr. Shang.
It was true that Shang Jue didn’t look well and could die at any moment. Those targeting the Shang Group had been circling for a long time. He had endured their games long enough, and now Shang Xuci wanted to put an end to it all as soon as possible. After all, his fate had already begun to change—it was time to clear the board.
“Don’t tell Jian Xun about my business trip.”
“Okay.”
…
In the hallway.
A fluffy, snow-white cat, seemingly delightful to pet, crouched in a corner, intently nibbling on dried fish. After finishing the last piece, the cat padded toward Shang Xuci’s office. Seeing no one inside, it turned and noticed Fu Qian still there.
The cat leapt onto Secretary Fu’s desk and asked with a meow, “Meow!”
Where’s Shang Xuci?
Fu Qian, seeing the cat, deftly pulled out a catnip and held it under the cat’s mouth, his eyes still fixed on the computer.
But Jian Xun didn’t bite the catnip. Instead, he turned to look at the computer screen and saw Shang Xuci’s name. Looking again, he realized Fu Qian was booking a flight ticket for his boss.
The cat, a large lump of fur, sprawled across most of the desk. Its ears twitched, and it let out a long yawn.
Then something suddenly flashed through his mind.
Wait!
This time and place!
Isn’t this just the plot where the boss gets injured, disabled, and sick? Jian Xun was both happy that the finale had finally arrived, yet also worried about Shang Xuci.
He paced back and forth on the table, worry written all over his face.
What should he do? Sui Sui can’t get on the plane. Sui Sui can’t go with the boss.
And given Shang Xuci’s attitude, he definitely wouldn’t take a cat abroad. What if someone asked, and Shang Xuci outright refused? What if someone had to “monitor the cat”? That would be a disaster.
Fu Qian, who was standing nearby, finished his work, turned toward the front right row, frowned, and asked, “Why isn’t Jian Xun here again?”
The pacing white cat froze mid-step, its paw raised stiffly in the air, then darted toward the bathroom.
Suddenly, the big white cat’s eyes lit up. If Sui Sui couldn’t go with the boss—then he could!
He had an ID card and a salary. He could go in secret!
Luckily, I just memorized the departure time and address. Now I can turn into a human and book the same flight!
In the restroom, Jian Xun booked his flight ticket, tapped his phone back into his pocket, washed his hands, and returned to his workstation.
There, he noticed Fu Qian staring at him intently, which made Jian Xun feel uneasy.
Secretary Fu didn’t ask where he had been all morning. Instead, he simply gave him a task: to accompany someone to inspect Yinfeng Entertainment’s esports department for a week.
“Ah!” Jian Xun exclaimed. “What about clocking in then? Do I have to climb this side of the building to clock in and out?”
Fu Qian pursed his lips. “No need to clock in.”
“Oh, okay.”
Great! Jian Xun rejoiced inwardly. He’d been worrying about how to handle his work here. After all, he could be his stand-in, Sui Sui—but not his stand-in, Jian Xun.
…
International Airport.
Jian Xun was fully disguised: a high-necked white T-shirt, a long black trench coat, black casual pants, black Martin boots, a black mask, black sunglasses, and a black baseball cap. From head to toe, he was dressed in black.
It was off-season, so the plane wasn’t crowded. After boarding and taking his seat, Jian Xun didn’t see Shang Xuci. Knowing Shang Xuci was in first class, he considered changing his ticket as well. But after asking the flight attendant about the price, he sat back down quietly.
So expensive!
Jian Xun squeezed his wallet in his pocket and gave up.
After sleeping four or five hours, he woke once, asked if there was still half the flight left, then drifted back to sleep.
When the plane landed, the sky was already gray, nearly dark.
Jian Xun sniffed his way off the plane, chasing after the passengers. He spotted a striking man in the crowd and immediately ran after him.
After the driver picked up Shang Xuci, Jian Xun hailed another car, using hand gestures and a translation app to get the driver to follow the car in front. They eventually arrived at Shang Xuci’s hotel.
Jian Xun checked in and tossed and turned in bed that night, unable to sleep. Without Shang Xuci’s presence, the sound of his heartbeat, or the warmth of his body, he suffered from insomnia.
Thinking of the impending events, Jian Xun felt apprehensive. He had to follow the next day’s itinerary to prevent a tragedy!
Before dawn, the big white cat followed someone in the elevator to the parking lot, tracked the license plate to Shang Xuci’s car, and waited there early.
When daylight arrived, the sky was hazy and the sun was absent.
At the sound of movement, Jian Xun immediately perked up. He saw a tall man in a black suit approach the car, glance around, and open the door with his key.
Has the driver changed? He looks different from yesterday.
Jian Xun took advantage of the man rolling down his window while speaking on the phone and crept closer, looking for a chance. When Shang Xuci arrived, the driver got out to open the door. Jian Xun seized the opportunity to slip through and hide behind the stuffed animals in the back seat. He tucked his large tail between his hips and held it with both hands.
After the man got into the car, Jian Xun felt a little strange. His nose twitched—he couldn’t smell Shang Xuci. Just as he was wondering, the car drove off and then stopped outside the hotel. A taller, more muscular thug in a suit climbed into the back seat. His trouser pockets bulged with something; on closer inspection Jian Xun saw a cold, black handle that looked a lot like…
The suited thug was bald and held a walkie-talkie. He spoke in a rare language Jian Xun couldn’t understand, and his expression was menacing.
For a moment, Jian Xun wondered if he had boarded the wrong car. He felt relieved when the driver called out, “Mr. Shang.” Relief flooded him—he had gotten on the right car.
He checked his points first; if anything went wrong, he wanted a plan.
Jian Xun was surprised to find his intimacy points were almost one hundred!
That’s a lot!
Another car passed them.
Shang Xuci, dressed casually, crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and rested, fingering the Buddhist beads his grandmother had given him as he listened to the report.
After the bald man hung up the phone, the car fell into an eerie silence; none of the three spoke.
The strange atmosphere lasted nearly half an hour, and the car turned from a bustling avenue into the wilderness, where the road grew steeper.
Jian Xun held the tip of his tail toward the suited thug, stared at the bald head so shiny it reflected light, and felt his heart begin to itch.
Close your eyes and hypnotize. Don’t look, don’t look! You have important things to do now — you can’t play!
The cat kept himself still for half an hour, his eyes nearly closing. He shook his head quickly, refocused, and stared intently at the road ahead.
Focus, focus — just look ahead.
He continued to encourage himself. He could hold his body still for an hour, he told himself, but his eyes kept darting.
Looking away to collect himself, he returned his gaze to the round, large, bald head.
There wasn’t a single hair on it.
The cat sniffed and detected a faint scent of wood. The bald head looked hard, iron-like, and cold. It looked like a good… head!
Tentatively, the cat extended a paw.
Wanted to knock.
Would it go “dong” (soft) or “DONG” (loud)?
Playfulness won out over caution. With an expression that said he wanted to be naughty, the big white cat curiously reached out to touch the bald head.
At the instant of contact, he retracted his claws and hid.
Seeing no reaction from the bald man, the cat grew bolder. He balled his little paws into fists and delivered a rapid series of vicious meow-punches to the bald head!
Bang!
Someone’s attacking!!!
The bald man reacted immediately, covering his head to block the blows. He turned and drew a weapon, aiming it toward the trunk.
“Who’s there? Get out, or I’ll shoot.”
“Meow~”
A frightened, trembling, pitiful cat sound rang out.
The bald man pushed aside a large plush stuffed animal and saw a gorgeous lion-like cat curled atop it. Its head rested on its front paws, ears drooping, mouth slightly pouted, afraid to move. Only its large watery blue eyes stared back.
It looked pitiful and wronged.
“What happened?”
“There’s a cat hiding in the car,” the team leader in the passenger seat said, glancing back.
“What did you say?!” Shang Xuci snapped. His voice, usually calm, turned as cold as cracking ice. His fingers — which had been fingering the Buddhist beads — clenched so hard that his knuckles paled.
The air thickened. The driver darted a glance at Shang Xuci in the rearview mirror. Seeing his boss’s brow furrow and face darken, he trembled inwardly and immediately focused back on the road.
The bald man lifted the stiff, motionless cat into his arms, inspected it carefully, and reported, “A large white cat with blue eyes and long fur. I don’t know the breed. It weighs about ten pounds. Its legs are trembling and its expression is dull. It doesn’t resist or meow.”
The bald man had never owned a cat and had little interest in them. The cat’s smooth fur felt pleasant to the touch, but the animal’s timid expression made it seem frightened and cowardly.
At that moment, Jian Xun had only two words in his head: It’s over!
It’s over, it’s over — we’ve been discovered!!
What are they going to do with Maomao?!
Where’s the boss?!
Why isn’t the boss here?!
Jian Xun stared at the man in the passenger seat who looked like Shang Xuci. When the man turned to glance at Maomao, Jian Xun realized with shock — it wasn’t Shang Xuci!
The atmosphere inside the car grew heavy. The large white cat curled up in the corner of the soft back seat, clutching his tail.
The man in black in the passenger seat snapped a photo and sent it to Shang Xuci. Shang Xuci glanced at it and instructed the butler not to look for the cat. Then he ordered the driver, “Change route and rendezvous with them.”
The driver, deputy captain of the bodyguards, had been tasked with ensuring Shang Xuci’s absolute safety. Not even the slightest deviation was allowed.
But since the boss had given the order, he couldn’t object.
Shang Xuci knew firsthand how dangerous this trip was — the conspiracy was aimed at him. If this cooperation succeeded, the Shang Group would be his, and plenty of people would not be pleased. Last time, midway through the journey, he had sensed something wrong. Despite being outnumbered, he barely managed to escape. But in the end, his car crashed off a cliff, leaving both legs crippled.
This time, the incident, the route, everything was the same. To avoid suspicion, he had arranged for a stand-in to sit in his place. The plain-looking cars tailing them were all filled with his own men. If anything happened, the bodyguards would rush in immediately.
Overseas, laws were lax, and even murder could go unpunished — enough to embolden desperate criminals.
That was why Shang Xuci had hired top-tier international mercenaries. Skilled, disciplined, and experienced, they specialized in counter-assassination operations.
Even when a cat suddenly appeared, they remained vigilant, checking it for any surveillance devices.
Only after confirming it was the boss’s cat did Jian Xun escape suspicion.
The bodyguards, unaware of how important the cat was to their boss, simply left it in the car. Their mission was to protect Shang Xuci, not a pet.
The second half of the journey was unusually quiet. Even Sui Sui, the cat, sensed the strange atmosphere.
Jian Xun’s heart finally eased. He remembered that, in the book, the big boss had an accident on the road. But since Shang Xuci wasn’t in this car, he let out a breath of relief.
…
Noon.
The car pulled up at its destination.
Xu Huai was already waiting at the entrance.
The Xu family was also invested in this project, and Shang Xuci had given them significant support. Xu Huai had even taken the initiative to cooperate with Zhilida, hoping to overcome the crisis together.
Shang Xuci stepped out of the car. Xu Huai moved forward. “Let’s go upstairs first.”
“Wait a moment, I need to make a call.” He had lost contact with the stand-in’s car a few minutes ago, and Sui Sui was in it as well. The others all had ways to protect themselves, but the cat didn’t.
Sui Sui was so timid. Shang Xuci worried he might get hurt by accident.
Beep, beep, beep—
“Sorry, the number you dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later…”
Shang Xuci called three times. No one answered.
He checked the GPS tracker. The car hadn’t moved.
“I’ll have someone check it out,” Fu Qian said from behind.
Shang Xuci’s voice turned cold. “No need.”
“I’ll go find him.”