Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

Lu Sheng had always harbored little enthusiasm for fishing at sea.

Today, however, he was dragged along by Grandfather Lu against his will.

But once aboard the boat, he found that fishing at sea held far more charm than he had anticipated—especially with Qin Ran, who was eager to learn, making the experience even more delightful.

The two borrowed the boss's fishing rods and spent hours engrossed in their attempts. At first, neither could cast their lines properly, and even after managing to do so, they failed to catch anything.

Lu Sheng couldn't help but question, "Are we missing something crucial? Why aren't the fish biting?"

Qin Ran smiled and replied, "Now isn't the time to dwell on what we lack. Instead, let's focus on what we can achieve with what we have."

Lu Sheng chuckled as he gazed at the floating fishing line. "With what we've got, the best I can do is reel in air."

Qin Ran teased, "You're losing hope already? But remember, despair is a sin."

Lu Sheng shrugged playfully. "What choice do we have? We've used the boss's bait, yet the fish refuse to bite. I'm out of ideas."

"The bait may be in the water," Qin Ran mused, staring thoughtfully at the bobbing line, "but is it still on the hook? Without bait, the fish won't bother with an empty hook—we're no Jiang Taigong, after all."

(Translator's note: Jiang Taigong refers to a legendary figure in Chinese folklore known for his unconventional fishing methods.)

Lu Sheng pondered this. "You're right. But the bait is made of dough—it probably dissolves the moment it hits the water."

Qin Ran approached the boat's captain. "Boss, this bait doesn't seem to work. It falls apart as soon as it hits the water. Do you have anything sturdier?"

The captain laughed. "You can't use dough as bait in the ocean! Use small fish or shrimp instead. Didn't we net some earlier?"

Qin Ran suddenly realized and thanked the captain. She fetched some small fish and shrimp from the bucket and used them as bait. Sure enough, they began catching fish shortly afterward.

However, neither Qin Ran nor Lu Sheng had much fishing experience. More often than not, the fish escaped before they could reel them in. Still, they weren't concerned about the quantity—they were simply enjoying themselves. To Lu Sheng's surprise, they managed to land a deep-sea yellow croaker weighing nearly a kilogram.

Even the boat's captain was astonished. "A yellow croaker over a kilo? That's impressive! They're notoriously hard to catch. You two must have incredible luck—I rarely snag ones that big myself."

That evening, under the starlit sky, they prepared a seafood feast. Though the boat was equipped with basic cooking utensils, seasonings were scarce. Qin Ran made do with what they had, quipping, "The finest ingredients often require the simplest preparation."

Lu Sheng wholeheartedly agreed as he savored the steamed yellow croaker. Despite the minimal seasoning—just salt and soy sauce—the dish tasted fresher and more flavorful than anything he'd eaten at a five-star hotel.

By the time they returned to shore, it was past eight o'clock. Qin Ran noticed three missed calls on her phone: one from her brother, one from her classmate Xia Lan, and one from her cousin Cheng Fei.

She called her brother first. "Big Brother, how did things go with the gas company's compensation?"

Qin Jian replied, "It's all settled. And guess what? I ran into Miss Shui—the woman from the car accident—at the gas company. We exchanged contact information, so she'll reach out once her car is repaired."

Qin Ran pressed, "Did the gas company give you any trouble?"

"No, thanks to Miss Shui's intervention. They were planning to issue an industry-wide notice, but she smoothed things over. Now, it's just a matter of terminating my contract. I'll start job hunting tomorrow."

"Alright," Qin Ran said. "I don't know much about your field…" After exchanging a few more words, she ended the call.

Next, she dialed her cousin Cheng Fei. "Fei, did you call me earlier?"

"Yes," Cheng Fei responded. "Your sister-in-law came over this afternoon, claiming your brother wants to sell the house. She called him a fool for being inflexible and mentioned he's considering divorce to pay off debts. What's going on?"

"It's related to a work issue," Qin Ran explained briefly. "But it's resolved now. As for whether they're getting divorced, that's between them. I'm not sure."

Cheng Fei sighed. "My mom's beside herself with worry. She spent the entire afternoon trying to talk sense into your sister-in-law…"

Cheng Fei's mother, Wang Hongmei, was Qin Jian and Qin Ran's aunt—and the closest family they had left. She treated them like her own children and, as an elder, naturally hoped to see them avoid such hardships. Though Qin Jian was handsome and charming, his lack of education and advancing age (thirty-one) made her fear that a divorce would leave him struggling to find another partner.

Qin Ran knew only that her sister-in-law had taken the property deed. As for the divorce, Qin Jian hadn't mentioned it, so she remained unaware. Still, marriage, she reflected, was like a pair of shoes—only those wearing them could tell if they fit.

After hanging up with Cheng Fei, she called Xia Lan. "Xia Lan, another high-paying gig?"

Xia Lan laughed. "Where do you think all these high-paying jobs come from? It's the haunted house sleepover again."

"The agent called me earlier," Xia Lan continued. "They still haven't found a suitable candidate. Are you interested in checking out the house tomorrow?"

"Of course! Why not?" Qin Ran decided without hesitation. "Xia Lan, set up a time with the agent and let me know."

"I'll send you the agent's WeChat," Xia Lan replied. "But Qin Ran, think carefully. Haunted houses are no joke—you need to be sure about this."

Qin Ran grinned. "I've thought it through. Don't worry—I've got nerves of steel. Besides, no ghost is scarier than a human, right?"

"Alright," Xia Lan relented. "I'll send you the agent's WeChat."

Through Xia Lan's recommendation, Qin Ran quickly connected with the agent on WeChat. After exchanging pleasantries, they got down to business.

Agent: "Miss Qin, I must clarify that the haunted house sleepover requires a three-month stay. Are you certain about this?"

Qin Ran: "Absolutely. Where else would I stay? Plus, I get paid. Three months? Why not three years?"

Agent: "Miss Qin, let's meet at the haunted house at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. I'll send you the location."

Qin Ran: "Great. Send it over."

The agent promptly shared the location. Upon opening it, Qin Ran discovered it was Dongjiang Villa—a remote area far from the city center. A quick map search revealed that Dongjiang Villa was a thirty-minute drive from Ren'an Clinic—or an hour and a half by subway and bus.

"Do you know Dongjiang Villa?" Qin Ran asked Lu Sheng, who was driving.

Lu Sheng shook his head. "No, never heard of it. Why? Do you have friends or relatives there?"

"No," Qin Ran replied. "It's the haunted house I mentioned earlier. The agent says it's located in Dongjiang Villa, in the eastern suburbs."

Lu Sheng shrugged. "Oh well. Let's check it out tomorrow."