Chapter 591: Old Walls and New Schemes

“Hurry, hurry—let’s go home.”

Rushing, he urged his father and sister to get back quickly.

After dropping off the luggage, they noticed the red telephone by the window was still ringing anxiously.

And with each ring, the gap seemed to shrink. Lu Xin quickly came over and picked up the phone.

Mimicking Mom’s habit, he turned and leaned against the window, picking up the receiver. “Hello?”

“You’re home already?”

In stark contrast to the frantic rings, Mom’s voice was calm and languid, void of any urgency.

Lu Xin laughed nervously, “I just got in—I haven’t even dropped off my luggage yet.”

“I figured it was about time,”

Mom replied with a smile, “I was planning to return these days, but I still have things to settle, so I’m staying here a bit longer. Don’t worry; in all this busyness, it’s a perfect chance for a little rest.”

Lu Xin nodded repeatedly, “I understand. Just make sure you rest up while you’re out there.”

“Hehe…”

Her voice brightened as if encouraged by his concern. “Also, since you’re home, handle a few things for me. In the bottom drawer of the left bedside cabinet in my room, you’ll find a checklist I wrote some time ago. Use it to buy the necessary items and give the house a proper renovation.”

“Renovate?”

Lu Xin paused, still processing the idea.

“Yes, exactly.”

Mom continued with a laugh, “You’re getting older, and you’ve been doing so well at work. We can’t keep living in this run-down house. Who knows? In a few years you might have a girlfriend, and how can we welcome guests in a place like this?”

“Oh… I see…”

Lu Xin had to admit, Mom had a point.

The house was undeniably old. Though they were used to it and reluctant to move, leaving it as it was wasn’t ideal.

“I’ve already detailed the renovation plan. Just follow the list.”

On the phone, Mom added, “You must make haste in the renovations—delay now and you might miss out on life’s big opportunities.”

“Alright, I got it.”

It was merely a renovation, yet Lu Xin couldn’t fathom why Mom was so anxious about it. Still, he agreed.

In the family, Mom bore the brunt of the labor, darting around to organize everything.

If you can help, you should always lend a hand.

After a few more casual exchanges, Mom hung up.

“What did she say?”

Lu Xin turned and saw his father and sister seated on either side of the dining table, their faces etched with concern.

“I’m keeping an eye on you—don’t wander off,” his father said casually before he pushed open the door to Mom’s room.

He had rarely stepped into Mom’s room before.

Although he knew she inhabited the largest room in the house, he’d always hesitated to enter.

Yet as he pushed the door open, the master bedroom struck him as distinctly different.

It was immense—bigger than the living room and even his small room combined—and immaculately clean, with every decoration arranged to perfection.

The decor was elegant and refined, with even the desk lamp crafted in a crystalline style.

The windows were enormous and the glass, crystal-clear.

Through the window, one could see the sprawling, uneven maze of the city’s buildings.

Before the window sat an elegant chair beside a small table displaying a bottle of red wine.

Mom usually spent her time here, cradling a glass of wine and silently watching the city.

……

Lu Xin suddenly felt an urge to sit in that chair, savor a glass of red wine, and just take in the scene.

But after a moment’s thought, he dismissed the idea.

His sister was secretly peeking from the ceiling, watching him from outside.

He was sure that if he did, she’d certainly tattle to Mom.

He turned toward the left bedside cabinet, opened the bottom drawer, and, sure enough, found a sheet of paper crammed with notes about renovations—interiors, wall finishes, flooring, building materials, types of curtains—every single detail meticulously recorded. Mom’s attention to detail was unmistakable.

“Huh? Something’s not right…”

Returning to the living room, Lu Xin studied the paper carefully until a realization hit him.

The list was clearly for renovating the entire old building.

Was Mom planning for him to renovate the whole building?

This…

Lu Xin became puzzled. He’d earned a decent sum—he’d already saved ten million in the bank!

On his recent trips, he had raked in handsome rewards from both Heichao City and Central City, even picking up a few unwanted cars—substantial income by any measure. Part of that money used to improve the house made sense.

But why would Mom want him to renovate the entire building? What did it all mean…

He didn’t even know who owned the building…

……

“I thought we were renting this place?”

Instinctively, he glanced at his curious father and sister, furrowing his brow.

They exchanged puzzled looks, clearly as baffled as he was.

It seemed he couldn’t rely on them for any answers.

They’d been living in this building for ages. Lu Xin wasn’t even sure how they came to reside here—their standard of living had always been modest. Just a few years ago, they could barely afford a decent meal, let alone a house!

Not to mention, an entire building.

Yet, the more he pondered, the stranger the building appeared.

He recalled that from early on he’d been supporting the family with his meager salary, funding the Orphanage and barely having enough left over—so many times, they struggled to pay the bills. But he never remembered the building ever lacking water or electricity.

“Dong dong…”

He tapped his head as a dull sound echoed back.

Some things were best not overthought. The more he pondered, the less clear his memories became.

With that lingering doubt, he dialed Mom’s number, only to find it disconnected.

Trying other numbers yielded nothing—apparently, Mom didn’t carry a phone.

This was a headache. Did he really have to renovate the entire building?

After a long period of deliberation, Lu Xin finally made up his mind.

Mom was meticulous; the plans she left behind couldn’t be wrong.

In other words, she truly intended for him to renovate the whole building—there was no point in seeking further confirmation. He couldn’t possibly refuse such a serious offer just because he didn’t even know who owned it.

After all, he already had ten million in the bank, and another seven or eight million was due soon.

There were even three or four cars parked right out front!

Renovate away—what’s the worst that could happen? Even a rundown building can only be worth so much.

With that thought, Lu Xin decided to start looking into the renovation first thing tomorrow.

Seeing that it was late, he took a brief rest, then cooked a pot of instant noodles and canned goods he’d brought all the way from Heichao City. He shared the meal with his father and sister before retiring early to his room.

At his worn desk, he emptied out the contents of his black bag.

Inside was a chaotic jumble of items.

There was a gun, a lighter, a steel pen, a Rubik’s Cube, a deck of playing cards, some chocolate, and even a mask painted in black and white.

As he emptied the bag, the Rubik’s Cube and playing cards landed squarely on top of the mask, leaving small dents and scratches as evidence of their collision.

“Huh?”

Lu Xin was surprised when he recognized the mask—it belonged to the Dragon Team Leader.

He had promised to check it and return it, but had forgotten.

“Maybe next time,” he thought.

With that, he picked up the mask and examined it closely, a smile gradually spreading across his face.

Glasses, Rubik’s Cube, playing cards, mask—he now possessed four parasitic items.

In a city as vast as Qinggang, there must be many more parasitic items out there.

He alone knew of a Dancing Eight-Tone Box he had snatched during his clash with the Calamity Archbishop of the Technology Church, fragments from the Disaster Museum, and even a case now in the hands of a Drunkard. Perhaps he could request their use if the need arose?

That thought eased his worries somewhat.

Musing on the matter, he gathered his items, a wry smirk tugging at his lips.

The reflection in the glass perfectly mirrored his face, every detail matching.

“Everything will come to fruition in time,”

he murmured to himself before lying back and drifting off to sleep.

……

……

The Red Moon appeared silently above the city, casting its glow over Qinggang’s Satellite City.

It also shone on the old building.

After an indeterminate time, the light in front of the building began to distort and twist.

It was as if delicate strands interwove, gradually taking the shape of a young girl.

She was a spectral image formed entirely of mental energy, yet looked just like her—dressed in a heavy black dress and holding a parasol. Her features were flawless, and she seemed to float effortlessly like a sprite.

Doll.

Qinggang’s Heaven’s Kingdom Plan had been quietly advancing—their mental power now woven into the very fabric of the city.

Using her mental power, she could weave another version of herself to appear anywhere in the city.

This filled her with joy, though sadly, that person remained oblivious.

During the day, as soon as he returned, she knew—she had expected him to visit, but he never did.

So she came on her own.

The spectral form floated lightly in the air as she drifted closer to the old building. In this city, she could sense everyone—including him, who had returned earlier—but once he entered the building, her connection faded.

Yet she was certain he was inside.

With that thought, she approached one of the building’s windows, pressed her face against the glass, and peered inside.

She longed to see him sleeping, then knock on the window so he’d let her in.

But as she drew near and glanced through a slightly parted curtain, she paused in surprise.

Then she stepped back a few meters, her expression turning confused.

That puzzled look slowly shifted.

When Doll finally comprehended what was happening, a trace of genuine fear flickered across her delicate face.