Songhai City.
At 7:30 AM, in the dimly lit room, Zhang Yuanqing jolted awake on the plush bed, clutching his head and curling into a fetal position.
His head felt like it was about to split open, as if steel needles were embedded in his skull, causing his scalp to twitch in agony. The pain triggered auditory and visual hallucinations, chaotic images flashing through his mind, and his ears filled with meaningless, cacophonous noise.
Zhang Yuanqing knew his old affliction had returned.
He shakily climbed out of bed, pulled open the bedside table drawer, and fumbled for the medicine bottle. He twisted it open with trembling hands, poured out five or six small blue pills, and swallowed them whole.
Then, he collapsed back onto the bed, gasping for breath and enduring the searing pain.
After a dozen seconds, the soul-rending headache began to subside, gradually fading away.
"Huff," Zhang Yuanqing exhaled in relief, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.
During his high school years, he had contracted a bizarre illness. Its symptoms included his brain uncontrollably recalling every past memory, including long-forgotten junk data; uncontrollably gathering and analyzing external information; and his brain exerting an uncanny level of control over his body.
Fortunately, this state couldn't last long. The strain on his body would eventually force it to shut down.
It was precisely this ability that allowed him to breeze through the entrance exam for Songhai University—one of the nation's top-ranked prestigious institutions.
Zhang Yuanqing called this state "brain overload." He believed he might be evolving into a superhuman, but his body couldn't sustain the transformation, causing it to interrupt frequently.
When he shared this theory with his doctor, the doctor admitted to not understanding but was deeply shocked, suggesting he visit the psychiatry department downstairs.
In the end, the hospital couldn't diagnose the cause. Later, his mother brought back a miracle drug from abroad, which finally brought his condition under control. As long as he took the medication regularly, the episodes wouldn't recur.
"It must be because I didn't get enough rest last night. I'm too tired. It's all Jiang Yu'er's fault—insisting on playing games in my room until the early hours!"
Though he grumbled aloud, his heart sank. Zhang Yuanqing knew the medication's effectiveness was waning, and his symptoms were growing more severe.
"I'll have to increase the dosage from now on," he muttered, slipping into his slippers and striding to the window. With a whoosh, he yanked open the curtains.
Sunlight flooded the room, filling it with warmth.
April in Songhai City was a season of vibrant spring, the morning breeze cool and refreshing against his skin.
Knock, knock!
A knock echoed through the room, followed by his grandmother's voice from outside the door:
"Yuanzi, time to get up."
"No!" Zhang Yuanqing refused coldly and ruthlessly, wanting to sleep in.
The spring sun was shining brightly, and it was the weekend. What was the point of life if you couldn't sleep in?
"Three minutes. If you're not up by then, I'll wake you with a splash."
His grandmother was even more ruthless.
"Alright, alright," Zhang Yuanqing immediately relented.
He knew his hot-tempered grandmother was perfectly capable of carrying out her threat.
When Zhang Yuanqing was still in elementary school, his father died in a car accident. His strong-willed mother never remarried, and she brought her son back to Songhai to live with his grandparents.
She threw herself into her career, becoming a celebrated businesswoman praised by relatives as a "strong woman."
Later, his mother bought her own apartment, but Zhang Yuanqing disliked the empty, sprawling flat and continued living with his grandparents.
After all, his mother left early and returned late every day, frequently traveling for work. Even on weekends when she wasn't working overtime, she'd order takeout for dinner.
The most common thing she said to her son was, "Do you have enough money? Tell Mom if you need more." Having a successful businesswoman mother who could financially support you without limit sounded pretty good.
But Zhang Yuanqing always smiled and told her, "The allowance from Grandmother and Aunt is enough."
Ah, and Aunt.
The woman who insisted on playing video games in his room last night was his aunt.
Zhang Yuanqing yawned, twisted the bedroom doorknob, and stepped into the living room.
The apartment at his grandmother's house, including the shared area, was 150 square meters. He remembered that when they sold their old house to buy this new one, it cost over 40,000 yuan per square meter.
Six or seven years later, the neighborhood's property prices had soared to 110,000 yuan per square meter, nearly tripling.
It was fortunate that his grandfather had the foresight to make the switch. If they had stayed in their old house, Zhang Yuanqing would have been sleeping in the living room. Now that he was older, he couldn't share a bed with his aunt anymore.
At the long dining table by the living room, the culprit behind his headache—the one who had been "glug-glug-glugging" down porridge—sat with her pink slippers dangling beneath the table.
Her features were delicate and beautiful, her round, oval face radiating sweetness, and a beauty mark graced the corner of her right eye.
Having just woken up, her voluminous, tousled waves cascaded around her shoulders, lending her an air of languid allure.
His aunt, Jiang Yu'er, was four years older than him.
Seeing Zhang Yuanqing emerge, she licked a stray drop of porridge from her lips and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, you're up so early? That's not like you at all."
"Your mom's doing."
"Why are you cursing?"
"I'm just stating the truth."
Zhang Yuanqing scrutinized his aunt's beautiful, radiant face, her spirit vibrant and her charm captivating.
They say the night never rewards those who stay up late; it gifts them with dark circles under their eyes. But this rule seemed to have no hold over the woman before him.
Hearing the commotion, Grandmother poked her head out of the kitchen. Moments later, she emerged carrying a bowl of congee.
Silver threads mingled with Grandmother's dark hair, and her sharp gaze betrayed a notoriously short temper. Though time had stolen her youthful beauty, leaving behind sagging skin and faint wrinkles, traces of her former loveliness remained.
Zhang Yuanqing accepted the congee from Grandmother and gulped down a mouthful. "Where's Grandfather?" he asked.
"Out for his morning walk," Grandmother replied.
Grandfather, a retired criminal investigator, maintained a strict routine even in his old age. He retired to bed at ten every night and woke promptly at six each morning.
His aunt, sipping her congee, grinned mischievously. "After breakfast, I'll take you shopping for some spring clothes."
Since when have you been so generous? Zhang Yuanqing was about to accept when Grandmother shot him a murderous glare.
"If you dare go, I'll break your legs."
"Mom, how can you be so mean?" his aunt whined, her tone dripping with insincerity. "I just want to buy Yuanzi some spring outfits. Why are you so against it? He may be a nephew by marriage, but he's still family!"
"I'll break all your bones if you try anything," Grandmother warned. "Do you want your legs broken too?"
Aunt pouted and lowered her head to sip her congee.
Hearing the mother-daughter's exchange, Zhang Yuanqing immediately knew Grandmother had arranged another blind date for Aunt. The mischievous Aunt, as always, was trying to drag him into the mess.
This was their usual routine. Aunt would bring her nephew to the blind date, sit for a few minutes, and then her socially adept nephew would charm the date. The two men would then engage in lively conversation, discussing everything from national policies to global affairs, leaving Aunt completely out of the loop.
She could simply sip her drink and play on her phone while the date felt pleased with himself for showcasing his worldly experience and knowledge in front of a beautiful woman, boosting his ego.
Jiang Yu'er had been delicate and adorable since childhood, the darling of the neighborhood. With her striking looks, sweet demeanor, and obedient nature, she was adored by her elders.
Naturally, Grandmother had been fiercely protective of her beautiful daughter. During middle school, she had strictly forbidden early romances and outings with male classmates.
Her youngest daughter hadn't disappointed her. Even after graduating from Songhai University, she remained without a boyfriend. But as she entered the workforce, especially after turning 25 earlier this year, Grandmother began to grow restless.
I just didn't want her to date too young, not become a spinster! How many years of youth does a woman have?
So she gathered her old friends, scouring the country for profiles of promising young men to arrange blind dates for her daughter.
"Grandmother, it's obvious she doesn't want a boyfriend yet. You can't force these things," Zhang Yuanqing said, munching on a steamed bun. "Why don't you set me up on a blind date instead? I'm a sweet catch."
"You're still too young to be in a rush," Grandmother snapped. "You're surrounded by girls at Songhai University—can't you find someone yourself? Stop messing around, or I'll give you a beating."
Though a Southern woman, Grandmother had a fiery temper, far from gentle. Even Zhang Yuanqing's career-driven mother dared not cross her.
I'm not a kid anymore! I've been working as a craftsman for years, Zhang Yuanqing grumbled inwardly.
After breakfast, Aunt, under Grandmother's insistence, retreated to her room to change and put on makeup for her blind date.
With a light touch of makeup, Aunt's natural radiance shone even brighter.
A fluffy, round-neck sweater paired with a long coat, light-wash skinny jeans hugging her shapely legs, and the tapered hems tucked into black combat boots completed her look.
Her Forest Style outfit was simple yet refined, avoiding gaudiness or ostentation.
Aunt tossed him a knowing glance, grabbed her purse, and sashayed out the door, hips swaying:
"Mom, I'm going on a blind date!"
Zhang Yuanqing returned to his room, calmly changed into a black T-shirt, windbreaker, and running shoes.
A few minutes later, he opened his bedroom door.
Grandmother was sweeping the living room. Seeing him emerge, she paused her work and silently watched him.
Mimicking Aunt's tone, Zhang Yuanqing declared:
"Mom, I'm going on a blind date too!"
"Get back here!" Grandmother brandished her broom threateningly. "If you dare step out that door, I'll break your legs!"
"Alright!" Zhang Yuanqing retreated obediently to his room.
Sitting at his desk, he texted Aunt:
"The hero dies before his mission's done, leaving tears to stain his robes."
"Speak plainly!" Aunt replied tersely, likely while driving.
"Grandmother's keeping me home. You'll have to go on the date alone."
Aunt sent a voice message.
Zhang Yuanqing tapped play, and Jiang Yu'er's huffy voice filled the room:
"What good are you?!"
Aunt retracted her voice message and immediately sent another, this time adopting a coquettish, saccharine tone:
"My dear nephew, come on! Auntie loves you the most! Mwah~"
Hah, women!
Thinking a little flirting and cuteness will make me cross Grandmother's line? At least send a red envelope first.
Just then, a slightly shrill doorbell rang. Zhang Yuanqing went to the living room and, under Grandmother's watchful gaze, pressed the intercom's call button.
"Who is it?"
"Delivery," a voice crackled through the speaker.
Zhang Yuanqing pressed the door release. Two or three minutes later, a uniformed delivery man arrived by elevator, clutching a package.
"Are you Zhang Yuanqing?"
"That's me."
I didn't order anything online, he thought, signing for the package with a puzzled expression. Glancing at the shipping label, he saw no sender listed, but the address was from Hangzhou, Jiangnan Province, right next door.
He returned to his room, retrieved a paper cutter from his desk drawer, and opened the package.
Inside, a black card and a yellowed letter were cushioned by shock-absorbing air padding.
Zhang Yuanqing picked up the black card, which was about the size of an ID card. It felt like metal, yet its surface was remarkably warm and smooth. The card was exquisitely crafted, with faint silver cloud patterns along the edges and a central Black Moon.
The Black Moon was meticulously printed, its irregular surface markings clearly visible.
What is this? Filled with curiosity, he tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter.
"Yuanzi, I've acquired something fascinating. I once thought it could change my life, but my abilities are limited, and I can't control it. I believe you'll have no such trouble.
"As brothers, this is my gift to you.
"Lei Yibing!"