System No. 1: [Is the Host asking this because you wish to pursue the Mission Target through the means of romantic love, thereby achieving his redemption?]

System No. 01 felt that love, being the most unique of all human emotions, was perfectly suited for redemption missions.

Lin Zhi had initially meant to express that this was simply his personal preference — after all, they were both adults, and purely emotional connections were exceedingly rare among people.

Human relationships were complex and difficult to articulate, and reaching the point of love was by no means a simple matter.

Nevertheless, he answered: [I'll give it a try.]

How far he'd take it depended entirely on how easy the prey was to reel in.

System No. 01 replied with boundless enthusiasm: [Host, do your best! Humans always yearn for pure and beautiful love!]

Pure and beautiful? Lin Zhi laughed softly to himself.

System No. 01: [Host, why are you laughing? Did I say something wrong?]

Lin Zhi: [You said it perfectly. I just think you're very cute.]

System No. 01 grew a little bashful: [Thank you for the compliment!]

Lin Zhi arrived at the first floor just as Ming Yao reached the elevator entrance.

The villa had five floors in total. Ming Yao's private space was on the fifth floor, while the original owner lived on the fourth. Per their contract, he was not permitted to set foot on the fifth floor. Ming Yao relied entirely on the elevator to move between floors, which was also why the two of them rarely crossed paths.

"I had Housekeeper Zhong prepare dinner. Would you like to eat something?"

Lin Zhi initiated a conversation with Ming Yao. Although the original owner’s memories indicated that Ming Yao was difficult to approach, he still needed to probe further — after all, this was the Mission Target he absolutely had to get close to.

The moment Lin Zhi spoke, Housekeeper Zhong's expression turned a little strange.

Having worked here for a long time, Housekeeper Zhong had witnessed many things — including the fact that shortly after Mr. Ming's marriage, this particular spouse had once tried to dine with Mr. Ming, only to be clearly told that they would not be eating together. The subject had never been raised again since. So why was it being brought up again today?

"No need."

Ming Yao's wheelchair entered the elevator. He didn't even spare a glance, his refusal clean and absolute.

It was exactly the outcome Lin Zhi had anticipated. He paid no mind to the subtle, appraising looks from the household staff nearby and sat down to eat with complete composure.

Fortunately, the original owner had specifically studied dining etiquette in order to cultivate the image of a high-society person, sparing Lin Zhi from having to manufacture any pretense in such small details.

As Lin Zhi ate, System No. 01 chattered offering suggestions:

[Host, how do you want to pursue him? Should we arrange a chance encounter? I can track the Mission Target's location in real time!

Someone as cold and aloof as Ming Yao — you'd need to keep running into him, right? Build your presence in front of him, reshape the original owner's image, make him feel how lovable you are, feel how caring you are, and gradually win his heart!]

System No. 1 continued: [Or, Host, do you have any special talents? Maybe let him see you sing, dance, or play an instrument and be captivated by your charm?]

Lin Zhi chewed slowly and deliberately, inwardly complimenting the system: [You're so experienced. You must have completed an enormous number of missions.]

System No. 01 replied modestly: [It's not that impressive, really. I just have a feeling it could work that way. I'm the first-generation Redemption System — you're my very first Host.]

Lin Zhi: [Then our System No. 01 is truly exceptionally gifted. I haven't met other AI creations, but I can tell that even among them, you would be the most outstanding one.]

System No. 01 was so thoroughly flattered it grew flustered, feeling a little giddy.

Its Host was such a little sweetheart — even the way he spoke made one feel warm and happy.

Lin Zhi concealed the calculating glimmer in his eyes. A first-generation system operating without much accumulated experience — high susceptibility to being coaxed. Next time, he could pick a more opportune moment to extract more information.

Following along with the other party's words while casually slipping in his own questions in various forms was a far more reliable way of obtaining genuine answers.

After finishing his meal, Lin Zhi did not go out. Instead, he returned to his bedroom and took his time studying this world thoroughly.

He needed a clear picture of exactly which industries and fields the Ming Family was involved in, and what he might leverage from them to serve his mission.

Ming Yao's temperament was icy — a ‘keep away’ sign in every direction. Surprisingly, this coldness was not the typical aloof personality type. In just two brief exchanges of glances, Lin Zhi had already sensed the powerful aura of territorial dominance that radiated from him.

Between Ming Yao and everyone else lay an enormous chasm. To cross it, and reach even the periphery of his domain, one had to possess an ability that could command his direct attention.

People born at the very top instinctively rejected those from outside their social stratum — an unspoken rule that governed their upbringing. Lin Zhi understood this better than anyone.

After all, Lin Zhi had once come from such a background himself. It was only his elders' poor decisions that had caused everything to collapse suddenly. They had spent immeasurable effort and endured countless hardships to claw their way back to that standing — and it had not been achieved by luck alone.

The following morning, Lin Zhi took a carefully prepared gift and had a car brought around.

System No. 01, upon hearing his stated destination, asked with some curiosity: [Aren't we going to arrange a chance encounter with the Mission Target?]

Lin Zhi: [Not yet. If we get too close right now, he'll only feel more certain that I’m after something, which will deepen his aversion. The warmth shown when you happen to be seen — that is what holds value.]

The words sounded rather cold. System No. 01 felt something was slightly off, but the logic was undeniable, so  it continued cheering Lin Zhi on.

Lin Zhi didn't think Ming Yao was lacking in care and attention. He had surely grown weary of hollow gestures long ago. Combined with the impression the original owner had already left on him, any easy attempt at change was simply out of the question — so it was better to commit to a different approach entirely.

For people like them, an approach driven by openly acknowledged financial motives was, in its own way, refreshingly straightforward.

Since Ming Yao believed him to be money-hungry, why not simply let him see just how much he loved money? After all, who in this world didn't love the things that money could bring? — Ming Yao himself included.

An ancient-style courtyard house sat quietly within the clamor of the city. Wisteria climbed along the courtyard walls; two fish glided lazily in a stone pond. The scene was one of unhurried tranquility.

Lin Zhi stepped through the gate. A parrot hanging beneath the eaves called out a cheerful auspicious greeting in a bright, clear voice.

The old man who had been entertaining the bird turned around, visibly surprised to see his visitor.

After all, half a year into the marriage, this grandson-in-law had scarcely set foot here. Aside from the one time, Old Master Ming had sought him out,  they'd met briefly, but there had been little contact since.

He had also heard about the private arrangement Lin Zhi had made with his grandson, though he hadn't pressed the matter. Ming Yao had conceded and went  through with the marriage — that was what mattered.

Compared to a great-grandchild that may or may not come, his grandson's life was far more important.

So he was reasonably cordial toward this grandson-in-law, and smiled warmly: "What brings you here today?"

Old Master Ming was seventy this year, appearing amiable and good-humored on the surface — but Lin Zhi had no intention of treating him like a kindly neighbor. People like this had spent decades becoming shrewd beyond measure.

"I came to see Grandfather. I recently came across an antique, but I'm young and have no eye for these things.  Ming Yao mentioned that Grandfather has quite a discerning appreciation for such items, so I've come to trouble you — I was hoping you might take a look and give me your assessment."

Lin Zhi naturally offered no explanation for his previous absence. Both of them understood the reason perfectly well — there was no need to fabricate excuses. A simple, direct statement of purpose was sufficient.

Under ordinary circumstances, Old Master Ming might politely decline, or look at it if he happened to be in the mood. By specifically mentioning Ming Yao, the probability of the old man agreeing rose to nearly one hundred percent.

Lin Zhi smiled with a touch of sheepishness, as though genuinely a little embarrassed. Even if Old Master Ming knew his grandson-in-law had a somewhat vain nature, it didn't matter whether this was an act or not — upon hearing that Ming Yao had spoken of his expertise, the old man couldn't help but let a faintly pleased smile cross his face.

Old Master Ming raised a hand and gestured for Lin Zhi to follow him to the pavilion, speaking as they walked: "All right, let me have a look. This is a deep field — outsiders get swindled far too easily."

Lin Zhi set the item from the gift box on the stone table for the old man's appraisal.

"The quality is average… but it looks like it might be genuine… Let me have a closer look. Uncle Jin, go fetch my things from the room."

Old Master Ming had already braced himself to see a fake, but after a few glances, it was looking like the real thing. He called over the steward standing nearby and sent him off to retrieve something.

Lin Zhi listened attentively, wearing the expression of someone eager to learn from an insider. Seeing his apparent enthusiasm, Old Master Ming was moved to offer a few additional words of explanation.

The item was, of course, genuine. Lin Zhi had spent considerable time hunting it down the day before — deliberately visiting a lower-end establishment, not to strike gold, but simply to find something passably authentic to use as a pretext for approaching the old man.

A truly fine piece, even if undervalued, would still command a high price. Arriving with something like that would have seemed contrived, and someone of Old Master Ming's nature would inevitably read too much into it.

Once the old man finished his appraisal, Lin Zhi didn't linger. On his way out, he slipped something to Uncle Jin, who was standing at the gate to see him off, and then took his leave.

"What did he give you?"

Old Master Ming had sharp eyes. He noticed without needing to be told.

"A medicinal food recipe for nourishing the stomach and spleen. Looks quite good — we could have the kitchen prepare it for you sometime."

Uncle Jin had a background in Chinese medicine. The recipe had the appropriate proportions and ingredients, with no haphazardness. He hadn't seen this particular recipe before. It showed genuine thoughtfulness.

"Since when did he decide to start winning my favor?"

Old Master Ming blew gently on his hot tea, muttering quietly.

"A junior paying their respects to their elder — that's as it should be."

Uncle Jin didn't think too deeply about it. After all, Lin Zhi had married into the Ming Family. Whatever the reasons behind the marriage, it had happened. The Ming Family had treated him well; putting in a little effort was only right.

Lin Zhi got back into the car. Rather than returning to the villa, he headed to his next destination.

Not everyone in the original owner's social circle was useless — some people were worth cultivating, and his network needed expanding.

The medicinal food recipe was not something he had purchased on a whim. He had reproduced it from memory. He had known many people like Old Master Ming during his business days, and had gone to considerable lengths to win their cooperation. This particular recipe had been purchased from an heir of a certain lineage for tens of thousands after quite an arduous process — and because of that effort, he had taken special care to memorize its contents. Sure enough, it had come in handy.

The next day, Lin Zhi returned to the old man's courtyard again.

He didn't do anything in particular — just kept Old Master Ming company, listening to music and entertaining the birds. On the third day, he came back to accompany the old man fishing.

Old Master Ming noticed his attentiveness. The young man conducted himself with appropriate deference and carried himself in a way that was pleasant and endearing. The old man was perfectly content to have him around. As long as Lin Zhi didn't come with requests, Old Master Ming had no objections. If anything, spending time with Lin Zhi was rather agreeable.

Over the course of one to two weeks, Lin Zhi spent his days accompanying the old man before going out to expand his social connections. His schedule was packed. He was unhurried and composed, but System No. 01 was growing restless.

System No. 1: [Host, it's been nearly half a month since we last saw the Mission Target.]

Ever since that one encounter at the villa, the two of them had had absolutely no interaction. With the redemption mission seemingly at a standstill, System No. 01 was beginning to feel anxious.

Lin Zhi: [Is there a time limit on our mission?]

System No. 01 paused, then said: [No, but the longer it drags on, the more likely the Mission Target may die from despair. He is suffering greatly — we need to work to save him!]

Lin Zhi offered reassurance: [Progress is already being made. Just watch quietly, and you'll see.]

System No. 01 didn't quite understand, but its Host seemed to carry a kind of quiet magnetism that soothed its nerves. It set aside its anxiety and waited for the progress its Host had spoken of.

Lin Zhi deliberately stayed away from Old Master Ming for two days, then on the third day arrived with tea snacks in hand.

Old Master Ming remarked with apparent casualness: "I was starting to think you'd grown tired of keeping me company. It’s understandable — young people need to get out and about. Why would you want to be stuck here with an old man like me all the time?"

"Some friends invited me out of town to see an art exhibition. I forgot to tell Grandfather about it," Lin Zhi said apologetically, smiling warmly as he unwrapped the tea snacks and arranged them on the lacquered red plate. He poured the old man's tea and added: "I could never grow tired of spending time with Grandfather.

"My own family passed away early on. Being here with Grandfather actually gives me a sense of peace — and there's always so much to learn."

Lin Zhi unconsciously rubbed the small birthmark on his wrist, momentarily lost in thought.

The words were half true, half performance. The original owner's parents had died while he was still in university. Lin Zhi's own family had left him even earlier. There was a genuine truth in what he said — spending time with a sharp-minded elder who had spent a lifetime accumulating wisdom was often genuinely instructive.

This gave Old Master Ming pause. Over the past half month of getting acquainted, he had come to find this grandson-in-law rather agreeable. He had also had someone look into him — no wrongdoing, no outstanding debts, nothing that would require Old Master Ming's intervention. And in all this time, Lin Zhi had never once asked for anything. It seemed he truly had just come to keep him company.

That thought moved Old Master Ming. He was seventy now — a man whose bonds with the world had grown thin. His wife had passed a few years ago, his daughter-in-law had died young, and his son had gone missing. His grandson had taken over the family enterprise and was endlessly busy. And with those legs of his — the rare times they faced each other, their very presence only brought each other grief.

Having Lin Zhi around brought more warmth and life into his home. Friends who had seen him these past few days all said he seemed to be doing much better.

But the old man would never say such things aloud. Instead, he laughed and scolded: "All you know is how to flatter me."

The parrot in its cage immediately mimicked: "Flatter me, flatter me!”

The tone was a perfect imitation, sending everyone in the courtyard into laughter. The scene was warm and full of cheer.

Lin Zhi stayed with Old Master Ming until evening before taking his leave and heading to a gathering.

He hadn't been lying — friends really had invited him out of town for an art exhibition. Now he was going to honor that invitation. Among the group was someone useful to him that he needed to connect with.

This person was Hu Tong, a wealthy young man with a passion for the arts. His older brother was the owner of Qiming Real Estate, and Qiming Real Estate had fairly close business ties with the Ming Family.

Getting close to the Mission Target was of course essential, but even chance encounters required careful staging. Entering the circles where Ming Yao appeared demanded both the credentials to be there and a credible reason for it.

This crowd of art enthusiasts had their own particular sensibility. Hu Tong was a round-faced young man with literary leanings. Lin Zhi engaged him on the subject of art, and within less than a week, Hu Tong had come to regard him as a kindred spirit.

The group spent the evening at a lounge bar, sipping cocktails and chatting. It was past midnight when Lin Zhi finally slipped away and headed home.

From the underground parking garage, he took the elevator to the fourth floor, where he found a maidservant standing outside his bedroom door.

"Sir, the Master says that now that you're home, he'd like you to wait for him in the small lounge on the third floor."

"Understood. Please prepare a glass of milk for me to clear the alcohol."

Lin Zhi gave the instruction and walked toward the staircase at the other end of the hallway.

The small lounge on the third floor had been designed by an architect for the owner of the house to receive closer guests — carved lattice screens, floor-to-ceiling windows that let in generous light, ambient accent lamps, and a relaxed aesthetic of vines and natural wood, with tiny star-shaped lights cascading down from above.

In the half year the original owner had lived here, he had never once seen Ming Yao entertain any friends in this space. As far as Lin Zhi was concerned, it made perfect sense that Ming Yao had none.

Lin Zhi made no judgment — he simply didn't know enough to do so. Besides, no feeling in this world could be forced into existence. Every relationship required two willing parties. Friendship was no different.

Because the staff cleaned daily, the small lounge remained immaculate even without guests. Lin Zhi settled into a rattan chair and gazed out at the moonlight beyond the windows.

A faint sound came from behind him. Lin Zhi turned.

The man in the wheelchair had deep-set, sculpted features — a high, sharp nose bridge, eyes slightly shadowed beneath their sockets — all of it radiating an unapproachable, shadowy coldness. Even seated in his wheelchair, not an ounce of his presence was diminished. If anything, it lent him a profound, unspeakable stillness.

The flush on Lin Zhi's face, roused by the evening's drink, gave his complexion a richer color. The light in his eyes grew softer still.

He preferred clean-tasting things. It was a pity this one was so difficult to consume.

Ming Yao studied what appeared to be his half-drunken state and asked: "Is your mind clear enough to hold a coherent conversation right now? I'd prefer that what I'm about to say doesn't slip your memory by tomorrow."

Lin Zhi replied lazily: "Go ahead."

"Whatever you're scheming — stay away from my grandfather."

Ming Yao had initially assumed a few days of fawning would be the extent of it. He hadn't expected such persistence. He had meant to say something a few days earlier, but then heard that Lin Zhi had stopped visiting, and assumed he had given up. Now Lin Zhi had gone back again today.

Uncle Jin said he behaved very well around the old man. But Ming Yao remembered all too clearly the greedy desperation with which Lin Zhi had come demanding money, and the fury when that demand had been refused. He saw nothing there that suggested a good person.

"Is it really that obvious what I'm after? You know I don't have enough money. Since you won't give me more, I figured I'd try my luck and see if Grandfather might let a little slip through his fingers my way."

Trying to convince someone with a preexisting suspicion that your intentions were pure would only invite more scrutiny. Lin Zhi saw no point in wasting breath on that.

By revealing the calculation outright, he would actually put Ming Yao at ease.

"Besides, I'd say I'm earning this through my own labor. Grandfather is alone, and you can't always be there to visit and keep him company. I keep him entertained and fulfill the filial duty in your stead — shouldn't you be rewarding me for that?"

Lin Zhi rested his cheek in his hand. His outfit today was casual, and with the movement, his sleeve slid slightly down, revealing a sandalwood bead bracelet on his wrist.

He had no intention of playing the docile, obedient spouse in front of Ming Yao. But then again, who was to say that wasn't a performance of its own.

Ming Yao's gaze fell on the bead bracelet. A faint furrow appeared between his brows.

It had been given by the old man — Ming Yao was certain of it.

Recalling Uncle Jin's words about how the old man had seemed notably happier recently, Ming Yao's thoughts turned.

A quiet knock came from beyond the lounge door. The maidservant's voice came softly: "Sir, your milk."

Lin Zhi lowered his hand and smoothed his sleeve: "Bring it in."

A warm glass of milk was placed on the table. The maidservant retreated quickly.

"I'll add one hundred thousand to your monthly allowance. In return, you'll visit Grandfather regularly. Don't entertain any extraneous ideas. Grandfather believes in fate charts — I don't."

Ming Yao's tone was measured. His eyes were utterly cold.

The original owner would have been intimidated by that look. Lin Zhi was not. In fact, he intended to push further.

"Only one hundred thousand? Make it two hundred thousand, would you — alright, darling?"

Lin Zhi's palm pressed lightly against the glass, his voice bright and coaxing.

His fair complexion was tinted with a faint blush. His half-drowsy eyes were soft and guileless. The tiny star-shaped lights above were reflected in his gaze, rendering him disarmingly, almost dizzingly beautiful.

Even System No. 01 was momentarily transfixed, and nearly wanted to nod on Ming Yao's behalf — yes, yes, agreed!

Ming Yao was visibly taken aback. His expression grew colder still: "Don't haggle."

System No. 01, not daring to speak lest it disrupt the Host's performance, could only seethe inwardly at the man's stone-cold heart!

Lin Zhi took a sip of milk. After swallowing, he swept his tongue lightly across the traces left on his lips, leaving behind a faint, dewy sheen.

With a tone of mild regret, he said: "Fine, then. Deal."

Ming Yao maneuvered his wheelchair around and left, never seeing the smile that rose quietly in Lin Zhi's eyes.

Before a spider can catch its prey, it must first spend time spinning its web.