The Disgraced Heir of the Wealthy Family Has Gone Mad - Chapter 10

Saturday, city outskirts, the horse racing track.

The beautiful weather of Friday had been swept away by the gloom of Saturday. A drizzly, persistent rain made the temperature drop even further. In Jiangcheng, the rainy season typically falls in September. The grass at the horse track, nourished by the rain, was growing quite well. The season was fine, and everything was just right.

Hmm, horse racing. This feels like digging my own grave. My persona is about to go out-of-character. This feeling of being stuck between winning or losing is excruciating.

Shen Muyun arrived at the racecourse early. He did not like being late, and he needed to familiarize himself with the venue.

“Host, over here is part of the Shen family’s assets. I have to say, it is a massive family business. You guys are loaded.”

“I am the only one here who is broke. You can shut your mouth now. Your tongue is as slippery as oil.”

“Host, please do not be so irritable. It is early in the morning, and it is not good for your health. The actual controlling shareholder here is the Zhou family, so you are, um, well, how should I put it?”

Shen Muyun gave a bitter smile. This just made things better, as there was zero chance of winning.

The cold wind, mixed with the light rain, made the temperature feel even lower than before. Shen Muyun tightened his coat. His nose felt blocked, and his head felt dizzy and heavy. Don’t tell me I am actually getting a fever. This body is truly frail.

“Open the Human Marketplace System.”

“Ding! Ding! Ding!”

Shen Muyun could not help but sneeze. Looking at the system interface, he really wanted to punch it. He really did.

“Host, I have to say, your timing is quite unfortunate. The Human Marketplace System is currently under maintenance. Beep. System maintenance is in progress, and purchases are unavailable. However, you can browse ahead!”

• • Item 01: Retractable Umbrella. With this, you will never have to fear perverts again.

• • Item 02: Invisibility Cloak. Whoosh, whoosh, beep, beep! This is a great item, but I know you cannot afford it.

“System, are you torturing me? I can only look, not buy?”

“Not at all, that is not it! If you want to force it open, it is not impossible, but it costs 5,000 tokens! I can solve all your worries!”

Damn it. Is this not daylight robbery? He had just earned 5,000 tokens yesterday. This was clearly a premeditated trap. Today was even worse. They were getting arrogant and riding roughshod over him.

“System, you did this on purpose, did you not? I finally got 5,000 tokens, and they have not even warmed up in my pocket yet. The exclusive mall does not require money, but this thing is a money pit.”

The system’s little wings transformed into a tiny umbrella, shielding its head.

“I did not do this! This was mandated by the Space-Time Administration. It is not me. I am so pathetic. I… this… Host, please do not make it hard for me, heart-to-heart.”

Space-Time Administration. Shen Muyun smiled. So, there was a bigger boss behind the scenes. Interesting, though it seemed significantly more dangerous.

“What is the Space-Time Administration? Does it have criteria for selecting people?”

“Actually, it is a bit complicated. I will transmit some files to you; you can take a look yourself.”

Shen Muyun’s phone flashed, and the files were transferred successfully.

Space-Time Administration: Manages plane time, capable of traveling to the past or the future. Once a timeline is set, it cannot be altered. Seeking “fated souls.” This is the Memory Archives; we welcome all players.

According to this, Shen Muyun suddenly understood a few things. His arrival here was not entirely due to his cardiogenic sudden death. The deeper reason was that he was very likely the person the boss was looking for. But then, who exactly was this boss?

“It is said that this boss traded his own belongings for what he wanted, but the cost was to exist within the void of disorder. I must say, the boss is truly a romantic at heart. I hope he finds his fated soul soon. A century of loneliness traded for a lifetime of companionship should be worth it.”

“Beep. Low battery warning. Host, I am running out of power, so I have to disappear for a while!”

The system vanished instantly. Shen Muyun glanced at the empty air. If you do not take your job seriously, there is something wrong with your brain. Tsk, this system really lived by that motto. It did not hesitate for a second.

With no one to help him, Shen Muyun walked around the horse stables. There were a few cleaners sweeping, and others were preparing fodder in the back. They were not surprised by his arrival and just greeted him with smiles, to which Shen Muyun politely waved back.

“Brother Yun, why are you wandering around here by yourself?”

Hearing the voice behind him, Shen Muyun turned to see Lu Huainan. That is not right, he thought. This is just a horse race against Zhou Shiqing; why would he be here?

Shen Muyun turned mechanically and pulled an unnatural smile at Lu Huainan. “It is just that Zhou Shiqing extended an invitation. I was thinking of looking for a horse to see which one I share a connection with, or which one is a better match for me.”

Lu Huainan tightened his grip on his umbrella, pursed his lips, and took a few steps forward. “Brother Yun, Zhou Shiqing probably invited many of Jiangcheng’s elites. He is doing this on purpose. He wants to watch you make a fool of yourself. Do you have any confidence?”

Shen Muyun stopped in front of a horse and stared at it, observing its condition. The man and horse exchanged glances; it seemed he could tell something from it. “This is the one.”

“Huh? What did you say? Oh, you saw that too? I was just picking a horse. My apologies.”

Lu Huainan shook his head. “Brother Yun, you must do your best. I am waiting to see you emerge victorious.”

Lu Huainan looked at Shen Muyun, always feeling like he was different. Previous records clearly stated that he was afraid of horses. Was he really okay?

“It is fine. If the enemy comes, I will block them; if water comes, I will cover with earth. Who does he think he is?”

“As long as Brother Yun has confidence. I was just strolling around and did not expect to run into you. It is getting late, so I am going to grab some breakfast. See you later.”

Shen Muyun waved at him. Was this fate? Probably just another plot arrangement.

Lu Huainan closed his umbrella, glanced toward the stables with a meaningful smile, and turned to leave.

Shen Muyun instructed the staff nearby. He took the lead rope and patted the horse’s back gently. The pony seemed to sense his intentions, neighed, and followed his rhythm obediently as they walked forward.

“What is your name?”

A trainer nearby smiled. “His name is Himi. He is a bit timid.”

Shen Muyun’s right eyelid twitched inexplicably. He was not superstitious—he told himself it was just a lack of sleep—but his heart was beating quite fast. He was not nervous, so what was this? It must be the debuff of this frail body taking effect.

He walked Himi around the stables. The horse was well-behaved, matching Shen Muyun’s pace. It was a decent horse; although it was inferior to the one he had painstakingly trained in his previous life, it was acceptable.

As Shen Muyun exited the stables, he saw Zhou Shiqing walking toward him with an arrogant air. He had originally intended to move aside, as there was no point in being confrontational before the race.

However, Zhou Shiqing blocked his path directly. When Shen moved left, Zhou blocked the left; when he moved right, Zhou blocked the right. Shen Muyun’s expression darkened. He had not wanted to argue, but this was a deliberate provocation. How could he swallow this insult?

“Get out of my way!”

“Oh? Shen Muyun, are you here early to pick a horse? There are at least a thousand horses here. Are you even capable of choosing?”

Shen Muyun was already irritated by the rainy weather, and Zhou Shiqing was pushing his buttons. “If you do not have anything better to do, can you keep your mouth shut? Those who know you realize you are the young master of the Zhou family; those who do not might think you are some street hoodlum. Even if you do not care about your own reputation, you should at least save some face for the Zhou family.”

“I did not come here to argue with you. Shen Muyun, do not forget that a horse race needs a wager. What should the stake be? I have invited quite a few of Jiangcheng’s elites. You might have already run into them. If we are going to play, let us play big; otherwise, what is the fun in it?”

Shen Muyun now understood why he had seen Lu Huainan in the stables earlier. This Zhou Shiqing possessed enough influence to invite so many prominent figures from Jiangcheng. He was not as simple as he seemed.

“Fine. Say it. What is the wager? I will concede to you; since you are younger than me, it is only natural for the elder to let the younger one have his way. Bring it on.”

Zhou Shiqing had not expected Shen Muyun to agree so easily. He thought he would have to use more persuasion. It seemed things were progressing smoother than he had imagined.

“Oh, the second young master of the Shen family is quite straightforward. As for the wager, it is simple. As you know, the contract between the Zhou family and the Shen family a few days ago was ruined by you. You do not know anything about business, yet you had to meddle.”

“Whether I understand it or not is none of your business. If I see a problem in a contract, I will point it out. Are you still clinging to that contract? If you want something, just say it clearly.”

“How generous of the second young master. How about this: if you lose, go speak to Uncle Shen on our behalf. The contract is almost ready to be revised. The Zhou family has been working on this project for over half a year, and we do not want to see it ruined. Do you not agree?”

Shen Muyun noticed the hulking bodyguards behind Zhou Shiqing. He knew he had no choice but to agree. With two fists against so many, and no one else around, it was best not to start a physical conflict.

Shen Muyun smiled with disdain. “Zhou Shiqing, you can only play such petty tricks. I accept your condition. However, what if you lose?”

Zhou Shiqing said confidently, “Lose? Shen Muyun, perhaps you do not know, but I am the national youth horse racing champion. You? Do you have any chance of winning?”

Shen Muyun raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Fine. That is perfect; I will meet you, this youth champion. If you lose, it is simple: the contract between our families is voided, as if this business negotiation never happened. A fair trade, perfectly equitable.”