Over the following week, Hu Xiaoyu accompanied Yu Tan to and from work, returning with him each evening to the Yu estate.
Every morning, upon waking, he would quietly channel a portion of the spiritual energy he had accumulated overnight into Yu Tan. Though Yu Tan's complexion still retained its unnatural pallor, his lips had grown faintly rosy, lending him a sharper, more captivating beauty.
Yu Tan could feel it as well.
The cold that had gnawed at his limbs and bones—like a winter frost lodged deep within—was beginning to thaw, the way spring loosens ice.
He had endured too many hardships in his youth. Though he had clawed his way to power through sheer will, his body had long since begun to fail him. By every reasonable account, he was destined for an early grave.
And that was fine. When death finally came, he had always intended to drag down with him all those he despised.
But now, staring at his own reflection—lips flushed with color, eyes clear—he hardly recognized himself.
This change had begun the day Hu Xiaoyu appeared.
If life could be endured in comfort until the very end… perhaps that wasn't such a terrible fate.
When Yu Tan came downstairs that morning, the first thing he did was look for that foolish little fox.
Uncle Hong was in the living room, directing the maids as they set out for breakfast. At the sight of Yu Tan's calm expression, he exhaled in relief. Eight days had passed, and the young master had not once woken in a temper.
"Where is he?" Yu Tan asked.
"Do you mean Ah Jiu, young master?" Uncle Hong stepped forward.
"The other one."
"Oh—Xiaoyu went jogging with Ah Jiu. It's Saturday, after all. You don't need to work today. You could have slept a bit longer."
"Jogging?" Yu Tan's brows furrowed. "Since when are they that close?"
Uncle Hong thought of the two sparring in the basement gym earlier, but wisely chose not to elaborate.
Hu Xiaoyu had taken to jogging simply to expend excess energy. Running the villa's winding mountain paths also let him absorb the natural essence from trees and flowers.
Ah Jiu, however, was left quietly shaken. Watching Hu Xiaoyu complete twenty laps without breaking a sweat had made him question his own worth entirely.
When they returned, both showered and changed—Hu Xiaoyu's room was right next door, after all. Though he still wasn't accustomed to all human habits, he had at least learned to change clothes.
As he passed through the living room, the faint scent of Yu Tan caught his attention, pulling him instinctively toward the small terrace.
There, lounging in a recliner, sat Yu Tan—shirtless beneath a loosely draped bathrobe, long legs stretched out, pale chest exposed.
He sensed Hu Xiaoyu's approach immediately. Turning his head, his features were carved in sharp relief beneath the morning light: the high bridge of his nose, the depth of his gaze—an icy counterpoint to the careless looseness of his robe.
"Where were you?" he asked.
"Jogging. The air was wonderful," Hu Xiaoyu replied.
Sensing Yu Tan's mood, he instinctively released a thin thread of spiritual energy into the man's robe.
"With Ah Jiu?" Yu Tan rose, tall and imposing, his dark brows drawn together. "Was it fun?"
Hu Xiaoyu nodded, catching his hand and launching into an eager description of his first run in human form. He spoke of the cool wind, the dappled sunlight through leaves, the curious birds that had watched him from the trees—simple joys that delighted him.
Yu Tan listened, expression easing despite himself.
Hu Xiaoyu tugged at his hand, urging, "If only you'd come with me—even just for a walk!"
"You want me to walk with you?"
"Of course!"
"Keep dreaming."
"Sleeping in is bad for your health."
"Eat," Yu Tan cut him off, settling at the table. He had worked until midnight, and his patience was thin. "And stop bothering Ah Jiu. He's busy."
"Okay…" Hu Xiaoyu pouted, lips curling. A flicker of jealousy stirred in his chest at how much Yu Tan seemed to value Ah Jiu—just a flicker. After all, it was Ah Jiu who had always been at Yu Tan's side, not him.
But when Ah Jiu entered, freshly showered and ready for breakfast, Hu Xiaoyu forgot all about it and simply smiled.
After breakfast, Hu Xiaoyu requested a day off.
He did not wish to be away from Yu Tan for long, so he promised he would return by nightfall. His parents had been calling him incessantly, and it was time to visit.
Yu Tan nearly refused. But after a pause, he relented.
"You've got a job now," he said. "Bring them a gift. Pick something from the storeroom with Uncle Hong."
Uncle Hong's heart was light that morning. Ever since Xiaoyu's arrival, the young master's temper had softened. Now he was even thoughtful enough to consider gifts. Truly remarkable.
Together, they descended to the storeroom. The first basement level held the gym and wine cellar, the storeroom on the second. Though there was an elevator, Uncle Hong chose the stairs, eager to chat with Hu Xiaoyu a little longer.
"Xiaoyu," he said gently, "be sure to come back, won't you?"
Hu Xiaoyu nodded, distracted by the boxing ring they passed.
"That's Yu Tan's space, isn't it?"
He had once asked Ah Jiu the same, but received no reply.
Uncle Hong smiled. "Yes. The young master had it built himself. He's fond of Muay Thai—picked it up abroad. Even brought Ah Jiu back with him. But Ah Jiu can't beat him. Not even close."
Hu Xiaoyu thought of the battered body he had examined with spiritual energy—the scars, the damage—yet somehow, Yu Tan still trained.
Back in the living room, silence reigned. Yu Tan disliked noise. The servants lived in the annex and only came at set times to cook and clean.
With Hu Xiaoyu gone, Yu Tan gave Ah Jiu a few instructions, then resumed breakfast. Lately, his appetite had increased—nearly a third more than usual.
Ah Jiu hesitated, then asked quietly, "Boss… what if Xiaoyu doesn't come back?"
The Hu family was wealthy enough to pay any penalty fees without concern.
Yu Tan's gaze slid towards him, cold and sharp. "He'll come back."
Ah Jiu understood. There were many ways to return—willingly, or otherwise.
Hu Xiaoyu, meanwhile, selected only two gifts. He wasn't stingy, but the thought of giving away Yu Tan's possessions made him oddly reluctant.
When he returned upstairs, Yu Tan was on the sofa, reading.
Hu Xiaoyu leaned over the back, poking his head beside his shoulder. "Yu Tan, can Ah Jiu take me home?"
He had no desire to linger at the Hu residence. His father and mother had once locked the original Hu Xiaoyu away. Who knew what they might do again?
But with Ah Jiu at his side, they might not dare. And if they did… Ah Jiu could report back. Yu Tan would come for him.
Yu Tan had not yet spoken when Ah Jiu entered with a bag.
"Xiaoyu, I'll take you home."
He was Yu Tan's man, always had been. And this, clearly, was an order.
Hu Xiaoyu grinned. "Great! But… did Yu Tan tell you to?"
Yu Tan pushed his head away, sounding irritated. "No. He volunteered."
Ah Jiu: "..."
He braced himself and handed Hu Xiaoyu the bag. "The boss prepared new clothes for you. Go change—it's been a while since you've gone home."
Hu Xiaoyu, long used to Yu Tan's contradictions, accepted happily and went off to change.
Ah Jiu leaned close to Yu Tan, murmuring, "The item was hidden well. He won't notice."
In his room, Hu Xiaoyu tried on the outfit. It fit perfectly, as though tailored. Yu Tan must have prepared it in advance. His heart warmed.
When he returned, Yu Tan was gone—likely upstairs.
Ah Jiu's gaze flicked to the hem of the clothes. Sewn within was a tiny listening device.
For Yu Tan, suspicion was habit. This was simply protocol—a routine test. Ah Jiu had done it many times before.
And yet, this time felt different. Almost cruel. Almost as if they were bullying Xiaoyu.
He only prayed the boy wouldn't say anything reckless at the Hu residence—nothing that could turn against the boss.
Upstairs in the study, Yu Tan had already switched on the monitor linked to the device.
After testing it, he turned back to his mountain of work, forgetting about it entirely—
Until, suddenly, a startled voice crackled through the receiver:
"Brother Liu? What are you doing here?"