Chapter 1: The Third Master

Midnight.

The Seventh Sense Bar was buzzing with energy.

The music is extremely rhythmic. Figures dance madly on the stage, equipped with steel plates that vibrate.

A beautiful guest sat on a high chair, her voice mellow, "Zhi Ge, I want a cup of midnight... person."

Behind the bar stood a bartender, clad in the uniform of the establishment: a white shirt paired with a black vest. The shirt was loose, two buttons undone to reveal a glimpse of his fair collarbone. A strand of short hair at his ear playfully stuck up, highlighting his superior neck line.

The sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, with graceful curves at the wrists and slender forearms as white as snow.

He leaned lazily against the edge of the bar, carefully listening to customers' orders.

The customer's cheeks were flushed because the bartender in front of them was simply too eye-catching.

She lowered her head and wrote down the order, her long eyelashes drooping slightly. Her voice was languidly charming, a husky whisper, “Good.”

The guest instantly held her face, eyes sparkling, “Zhi… Zhi-ge, your voice is so nice.”

Rongzhi took out a bottle of rum from the liquor cabinet, unscrewed the cap, and poured the rum into an ounce glass. With slender fingers holding the ounce glass, the wine in the bottle flowed into the shaker.

Rongzhi took the shaker, making a very dashing toss into the air. The ice inside clinked softly as it collided, with his back to everyone and yet so casually and accurately catching the tossed shaker, going back and forth several times, leaving the onlookers dizzy.

Her eyebrows arched playfully as she poured the prepared liquor into a shot glass, flashing a mischievous grin at the guest in front of her.

"Hey girl, are you getting any tonight?"

The amber liquor was adorned with a single red cherry, like a splash of scarlet, bright and alluringly ambiguous.

Those fox-like eyes were filled with a faint glimmer, hazy like mist, looking more alluring than wine.

The new colleague patted Rong Zhi's shoulder and said, "Rong Zhi, you should lay off next time. Look at the customers across from us, they all look like they're about to faint from your charm. I feel like any second now, those guys could come over and tear you apart."

Do you know how many times I have to finish this, then pick it up again? "Is that so?"

Rong Zhi has been working at the Seventh Sense for half a year now, and in this half year, the number of guests at the Seventh Sense has increased day by day, especially since most of them came for Rong Zhi.

After work, Rongzhi didn't go home directly.

It was a little past two in the morning. I went to a night snack stall and bought some supper, then rode my scooter towards Qingqu County Hospital.

Arrived at the ward.

His steps faltered.

There were faint sounds of conversation coming from inside the ward.

"Where's Third Master? Didn't you say he was in the hospital?"

"I don't know, Lu Guanjia said the master is here. Alright, alright, I can't get in touch with him tonight, I'll come back tomorrow."

"If it weren't for the old man being so eager to see his grandson, we wouldn't have come all this way in the middle of the night."

Rong Zhi stood for a moment, leaning against the wall. The hospital smelled of disinfectant, mixed with the sweat of patients sleeping in the hallway who didn't have a bed in a ward. It was a pungent, sour smell that made her brow furrow slightly, without any particular concern.

The sound was getting closer and the door to the ward swung open soon after.

The two people walking outside immediately saw
what was there.

Around seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a simple black shirt, the buttons were unbuttoned to the top, with long, dark hair and canvas shoes on her feet. Her slightly longer bangs hung loosely over her beautiful eyes.

Leaning there casually, brimming with nonchalant defiance.

The looks are outstanding, hard not to notice.

A man dressed like a bodyguard, instinctively blurted out, "Third Master?"

Rong Zhi raised his eyes casually, his face impassive. “Me?”

Yao Guang immediately smiled at him respectfully and said, "Third Master, I am Yao Guang, the bodyguard of the Rong family. Mr. Rong entrusted me to bring you home."

Yao Fang took over the conversation, “You are Rong Jia’s child who disappeared eighteen years ago. We will explain the rest of the reasons on the way. Now, the old man is sick and wants to see you, please come back with us first.”

The tone is respectful, meaning that what is said leaves no room for rebuttal.

Rong Zhi wasn't He Songzhi's biological child. This realization came to Rong Zhi three years ago from an argument she overheard between He Songzhi and Rong Wei before the fire that engulfed the Rong family home.

It was only a short while ago that the Rong family house suddenly caught fire. Rong Wei perished in the flames, and He Songzhi was severely injured and fell into a coma, still unconscious to this day.

Rong Zhi brought his younger brother, Rong Fengmian, from Luoxia Town to Qingqu County. On one hand, this was to allow He Songzhi to receive better treatment. On the other hand, it was so that Rong Fengmian could attend junior high school.

For the sake of convenience, I got a haircut. My style hasn't changed, but it seems like everyone around me has mistaken me for a guy.

...but was too busy to even look for his biological parents.

I had thought that the Rong family would come looking for me, but I didn't expect it to be today. However, I was already prepared.

"Third Master, we mustn't delay on the old master's side. Please hurry back with us."

Yao Fangjian didn't answer, his brows furrowed in urging. He secretly scoffed in his heart, knowing he was raised in the mountains. What use is it to look good? He has no manners at all.

He knew the feeling on his fingertip, that tingling ache from holding the chopsticks. He switched them to his other hand and nodded, “Got it, just a moment.”

After finishing his words, he ignored the two people, walked past them into the ward, and closed the door.

The Seventh Awakening.

In the dimly lit corners where the light didn't reach, the deafening music softened slightly. In a booth, two men sat side by side.

"Did you watch it? After watching, we're leaving." Jiang Gujun retracted his gaze from the bar. "I really don't understand you, flying back from Shengge Island in such a hurry just to catch a glimpse of that bartender?"

"Huh?"

A man absentmindedly chewed on an unlit cigarette, leaning languidly on the sofa. With a smile he drawled, "No?"

He turned his face, with a high nose bridge. His left index finger lightly tapped the corner of his brow. His long eyelashes drooped slightly, and his naturally smiling peach blossom eyes were alluringly captivating, exuding an air of innate charm.

The colorful lights illuminated his brows and eyes, an undeniable chill beauty.

He had been drinking, his voice a languid whisper with an almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. His profile, subtly raised, was carved with precision, every angle revealing just enough to pique interest but never revealing all.

Lord Jiang thought to himself, "Fortunately, he hadn't been in the capital these past years. Otherwise, with this appearance of his—I almost knelt down before him just looking at it—those noblewomen would have fallen over themselves for him."

"Alright, why not?" Jiang Gujun scoffed. "Then tell me, what have you figured out?"

Bai Su's eyebrows rose slightly, a pure black lighter spinning carelessly between her clearly defined fingers.

'Click.'

Then the unburnt smoke was ignited.

Smoke and mist obscured his features, leaving them somewhat hazy.

"Long."

Boshu's eyes were deep and narrowed, he chuckled lightly, "Good material, suitable for wearing a cheongsam."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Jiang Gujun was taken aback. "I'm not mistaken, that's a male, right? You've come to this state?"

Baishù glanced at him, stood up, and crushed the cigarette butt in the ashtray, nonchalantly saying, "I'm leaving."

Yao Guang and Yao Fang waited outside for half an hour.

Yao Fang wanted to rush in and tie them up, taking them directly back to the capital. Rong Zhi walked out from inside.

Then he went to find out He Songzhi's attending physician about the direction of the next treatment, and paid another month's worth of treatment fees before leaving with Yao Guang.

Yao Guang sat in the passenger seat, looking at the boy in the backseat through the rearview mirror. The boy had his head down.

The Rong family is one of the four great families in the capital. Back then, the Rong family was being attacked by the other two families. The mistress was so frightened that she gave birth to you and the second young lady prematurely. In a moment of carelessness, you were taken away.

According to Yao Guang, back then the four major aristocratic families in the capital were vying for power. Two of them conspired to bring down the Rong family. They arranged for a ghost to haunt the Rong family, leading to their downfall. Mrs. Rong was forced into premature labor and her child was snatched away by the ghost before she could even lay eyes on it.

Rongzhi is the child who was taken away. According to age, she is the third, so she is called "San Ye" (Third Master).

Rong Zhi was leaning back lazily against the backrest, his left hand lightly resting on his temple. His long sleeve fell to reveal a section of wrist bone, which sported a string of five circling Buddha beads.

A touch of fatigue lingered at the corners of his eyes, as he slowly nodded.

He wore a lazy and languid air, with a distinct smell of alcohol clinging to him. One couldn't help but wonder what he had been up to before.

Yao Guang's eyes darkened, and he remained silent.

This man, is he truly without any semblance of the elegance and propriety befitting a family member?

They received the information that she had lived in a remote village until she was fifteen, with poor academic performance. She dropped out of school after high school and went to work, even learning her gender from others around her.

Qingshu County is far from the capital city, taking eight hours by car. With the windows shut, the scenery outside flashes by.

A car was silent.

I haven't slept in two days, the atmosphere in the car is too quiet, I close my eyes and prepare to sleep.

"Third Uncle," Yao Guang turned his head and took a blanket from the drawer, handing it over. "Here you go."

Yao Fang, while driving, caught sight of his work and twitched the corner of his mouth.

Yao Guang is stupid, isn't he? He's rushing to please a master who isn't favored and has no future. What's wrong with him.

"With a knowing smile, she opened her eyes and took the blanket, draping it over her knees. She murmured softly, 'Thank you.'"

"Uncle Three, please don't be so polite."

Her smile was barely perceptible, as if it were just a thought flitting across her lips.

Reading (trigger warnings) required

Bo: bó/Su: sù

1. Not a favorite nor a spare account, long-form warm and sweet story

This article takes time to warm up, has a strong logical compulsion, and is picky. Reviews below five stars will be deleted.

I've explained everything clearly, if you like it, just read it. If you don't, there's no need to tell me, and please refrain from offering any writing advice. You're all good children who understand, so I won't have to explain further.

4. Reject all excessive ky requests, the author's temper is worse than Zhi Ge's, if it exceeds the acceptable range, they will directly open the mic

People under the age of 5 should not drink alcohol.

6. Those who can accept this, welcome all the little cute ones to pit! Wishing everyone a happy day every day! Zhige Choose you!

(The End)