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Then He Guan took out a rectangular tray and spread some millets on it. After a brief pause, he said, “Let’s head upstairs.”

Lou Dong Zang only heard the sound of grain brushing against the tray and curiously asked, “What are you holding??”

He Guan instantly replied, “An alarm clock.”

“Huh?!” Naturally, Lou Dong Zang wouldn’t believe it. He added, “You got it from the kitchen?”

Hearing this, He Guan chuckled and said, “You’ll know in a moment.”

As Lou Dong Zang tried to feel for what He Guan was holding, anticipating his move, He Guan quickly shifted the tray to one side, avoiding his touch.

Instead, Lou Dong Zang’s hand brushed against He Guan’s neck.

Lou Dong Zang immediately pulled his hand back.

He Guan cleared his throat and said, “Let’s go. You can check it out after I place it down. No point in talking about it now.”

His hand felt much warmer than before.

Not bad, the nurturing was showing results. From snake to human, quite the transformation.

Lou Dong Zang, “Hmm.”

After He Guan went upstairs, he quickly found the ring in the cloakroom and also took a moment to evaluate the cloakroom size.

“This is way too extravagant. It’s wasteful. Where’s the gym?? Is it as huge as this?! What’s the point of having so many clothes??”

While He Guan criticized the ostentatious display of wealth, he simultaneously chose the largest diamond ring and quickly slipped it onto his finger.

If Ren Ning were here, he would undoubtedly express his strong disapproval.

Lou Dong Zang showed no interest in the cloakroom either, he responded, “Planning to tear it down?”

He Guan admired the big diamond ring on his hand, and said, “It’s just a thought. Actual demolition requires labor. I’ve got work tomorrow. I’m too busy.”

Having acquired the diamond ring, He Guan was in high spirits, “I’ve set your alarm clock. It’s time for you to go to bed, I’m leaving.”

He had procured the good prop for tomorrow’s scene, and the alarm was set.

Perfect.

Lou Dong Zang, “Hmm.”

It was nightfall already. For the first time in months, he felt time had flown by.

For once, Lou Dong Zang had a good night’s sleep. The room was warm, unknowingly transitioning from winter to spring.

He was awakened by birds chirping.

“Chirp.”

“Chirp-chirp-chirp—”

“Chirp-chirp!”

A small cacophony of sparrows gathered by the window. Their chirps were so loud that even the soundproof glass couldn’t muffle them.

It sounded like a couple of sparrows were busy squabbling.

Lou Dong Zang got up and moved toward the noise, first slowly touching the glass.

Noticing a human presence, a few sparrows flew away, but the bolder ones returned soon, continuing to peck at their food.

Lou Dong Zang slowly slid open the window and carefully reached out toward the noisy sparrows.

A bolder sparrow even pecked at his hand, while another hopped onto the back of his hand.

Lou Dong Zang touched some grains and brought them to his nose for a sniff.

It was one of the few grains Lou Dong Zang could name.

Millet.

The golden hue of the millet attracts sparrows that usually struggle to find food in winter.

They chatter away in flocks, squabbling over the food, and after tumbling over, they perch on Lou Dong Zang’s hand, preening their soft feathers.

Soft and delicate.

It’s truly nature’s healthiest alarm clock.

In the morning, He Guan hailed a taxi outside. When the car pulls up, he greets the driver with a smile, “Oh, it’s you again?”

The driver, “…You’re up early today. I was wondering who could live in this remote mansion. Never thought it’d be you.”

He Guan, “Yes, I’ve got work to do today.”

After letting He Guan board, the driver starts the taxi and asks, “You work in the city center?? That’s quite a distance.”

He Guan replied, “Work is work, after all.”

Outside, dawn is just breaking.

The pale blue-gray hue of the sky hadn’t fully faded yet, with misty orange strands converging at the horizon, melding into an indistinguishable chaos.

The mountain air was particularly refreshing. He Guan took a light breath, and the spark in his eyes occasionally flickered.

He was in high spirits.

As the journey was quite long, the driver initiated the casual conversation, “Work’s good. My son just graduated from a community college, and he’s clueless about what to do. These days, he…”

He Guan felt intrigued and prompted, “Tell me more.”

The driver smiled and said, “Don’t laugh, but he’s about your age and just can’t seem to find any decent job. He finally landed one, but got fired for clashing with the boss’s wife.”

He Guan avoided the topic of the firing, and picked up on another point, “Can’t find a decent job?”

The driver replied, “Yeah, well, since he couldn’t find work, after his mother scolded him, he started laboring on a construction site.”

“… He is doing all the manual work. He’s busy carrying cement all day and comes home dirtier than even me. He doesn’t complain, though.”

After thinking for a moment, He Guan offered, “If you want him to try something different, let him come to me. I’m short-staffed right now.”

Hearing this, the driver immediately pulled over to the side and turned to He Guan, “Really? You look quite young…”

He Guan, “My family wants me to take over our business soon, and I’m worried I don’t have enough staff to support it.”

The slightly skeptical driver asked, “What kind of business?”

After posing the question, he noticed He Guan’s hesitation. The driver lightly smacked himself, murmuring, “I shouldn’t pry.”

He Guan shook his head, “No, it’s alright. It’s not a secret, and I’d have to tell him later anyway. It’s an entertainment company…”

He Guan pointed towards the distant, towering spire.

The driver followed his pointing finger and looked out.

Atop that spire, the words “Star Domain” shone so brightly in the early morning light that they could be seen even from kilometers away.

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