Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

Hong Kong, Victoria Peak.

The morning mist, still carrying a hint of the sea's salty dampness, gently brushed against the villas built into the hillside. The sunlight, as if gathering its strength, finally pierced through the clouds, becoming exceptionally bright. That golden sunlight streamed in unreservedly through the enormous floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, casting the windowpane's shadow on the expensive Persian carpet, and elongating the silhouettes of the two people nestled on the sofa, like a stretched-out silhouette painting.

From the courtyard downstairs came He Yushui's giggles and Li Sanmei's Cantonese, thick with a local accent. "That's how it is, that's not how it is..." Li Sanmei's voice was cheerful, like chilled plum juice on a summer day, refreshing and invigorating. He Yushui was learning Cantonese from her, her childlike voice tender and a little unclear, occasionally uttering a half-baked, oddly accented sentence, which made Li Sanmei laugh heartily. He Yushui herself laughed shyly, her clear laughter like silver bells, drifting into the living room through the slightly open window.

He Yuzhu went to Daqing Restaurant early in the morning. He said the restaurant was doing exceptionally well today, with over a dozen tables booked and the kitchen staff extremely busy. He specifically came to ask him, the "treasure of the restaurant," to help with the cooking. As he left, he ruffled He Yushui's hair and told her to learn to speak properly from her third sister and not to be naughty.

Chen Xueru slowly lifted her head from He Damin's shoulder. The sunlight fell perfectly on her face, casting a soft glow on her fair skin, making even the finest downy hairs clearly visible. She looked at He Damin's well-defined profile, his high nose bridge and clear jawline, the sunlight dancing on his thick eyelashes and casting a small shadow.

"You just said, what's next in the game?" Her voice was soft, like a feather brushing against my heart. Her fingers unconsciously traced the delicate horn button on his cuff, the cool touch sending a shiver through her fingertips. "Where are we at?"

He Damin turned slightly to the side, his gaze falling on her face. Her eyes were bright, like obsidian soaked in a clear spring, filled with trust and reliance on him. He reached out and gently brushed a few strands of hair that had been ruffled by the wind across her forehead with his fingertips. Her hair was soft and carried a faint fragrance of shampoo.

"We'll stop for now," he said, his voice low and calm.

Chen Xueru was slightly taken aback, her beautiful eyebrows furrowing slightly: "Not moving?"

"Hmm." He Damin pulled her to sit down with him on the soft couch by the window. The couch was very comfortable, with a small indentation. "The opening moves in this game have been good enough." He looked into her eyes and explained slowly, "The Japanese, having suffered such a huge loss, won't dare send anyone else to their deaths anytime soon. Those old guys in Europe, as shrewd as monkeys, have chosen to remain silent, not wanting to get involved. And those back home... have all made their stance clear—it's better to have one more friend than one more enemy."

He paused, then turned his gaze to the window. In the distance, the azure waters of Victoria Harbour stretched out, several massive cargo ships moving slowly like silent behemoths. A sea breeze blew, carrying moisture and the faint sounds of distant ship horns.

"What we need now is time."

Chen Xueru listened quietly without interrupting. She knew her husband was well-informed and had his reasons for doing things. She never questioned him too much, but simply stayed by his side, being his strongest support.

"Over there with the Japanese," He Damin's voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible coldness, "there are many things that originally belonged to us. Those treasures passed down from our ancestors, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, gold, jade... How much did they loot when they invaded? Now they're all piled up in their warehouses, displayed in their museums, and flaunted as their spoils of war."

He turned his head and looked sharply at Chen Xueru.

"But we can't go get it now."

"Why?" Chen Xueru asked softly, sensing the suppressed emotion in her husband's voice.

"The timing isn't right." He Damin picked up a teacup from the small table beside him. It was a warm cup of Longjing tea, its aroma wafting through the air. "Firstly, I just showed off my skills in Hong Kong, taking care of those fools. All sorts of forces are watching me. If I were to go to Japan and cause trouble now, it would be like telling everyone—'I, He Damin, can not only kill people in Hong Kong, but I can also steal things in Tokyo.' Wouldn't that make me a target of public criticism? It would cause public outrage, and it's not worth it."

Chen Xueru nodded; she understood this principle. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down; the tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind.

"Secondly," He Damin's lips curled into a meaningful smile, "the Japanese are currently putting all their effort into developing their industry. I've heard their economy is recovering very quickly, like they've been injected with chicken blood. Let them work hard for a few more years, build bigger factories, more advanced equipment, and more mature technology... then those things will become more valuable."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip of the warm tea, and felt a comfortable warmth as the tea slid down his throat.

"If I go and take it now, all I'll get are inanimate objects, a pile of antique gold that won't generate money. If I wait a few more years for them to develop, what I'll get are living things—factories, technologies, and equipment that can produce and create value."

Chen Xueru seemed to understand, but she didn't press for details. She simply leaned back on his shoulder, feeling the warmth and strength emanating from him, and whispered, "So what are you going to do lately? You can't just stay home all day, can you?"

He Damin remained silent for a moment, his gaze deep.

"Go into the little world," he said. "To study something."

"A small world?" Chen Xueru looked up, her eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of longing. Since she started cultivating with her husband, she knew that he had a magical "small world space," like a secret base that he carried with him, but she had never been inside. She had only heard her husband occasionally mention some of the scenes inside.

He Damin smiled as he looked at the curiosity in her eyes.

"Would you like to go inside and take a look?"

Chen Xueru hesitated for a moment, then gently shook her head: "Not now. Wait until you've finished your research and everything's set up inside, then you can take me for a tour." She knew her husband was going in for important business and didn't want to disturb him.

He Damin smiled, reached out and placed a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead, like a feather falling.

"it is good."

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the birds outside the window began their incessant chirping. Chen Xueru rose early and changed into a smart, off-white suit skirt, perfectly tailored—custom-made in France by He Damin. She meticulously styled her long hair into a neat updo, revealing her slender neck and delicate collarbones. She carefully examined herself in the mirror, applying a touch of light mauve lipstick to improve her complexion. The woman in the mirror had long since shed the naiveté and timidity of her days in Beijing, replaced by the composure and confidence of a businesswoman.

"How is it?" She turned around and asked He Damin, who was leaning against the headboard reading a book. The morning light shone through the thin curtains, casting a hazy glow on him.

He Damin looked up, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, his eyes filled with admiration. The well-tailored suit accentuated her slender waist, and the skirt hem fell just an inch below her knees, revealing a section of her shapely, fair calves. On her feet were a pair of black stiletto heels, which made her appear tall and energetic.

"The mistress of the Global Bank," he closed the book, a smile playing on his lips, "is exactly like this. She has a very commanding presence."

Chen Xueru blushed slightly at his praise, walked over and kissed him on the cheek, leaving a faint scent of lipstick.

"Then I'm leaving. I've already told Yu Shui and Brother Zhu that they don't need to wait for me for lunch."

"Okay. Be careful on the road," He Damin instructed, reaching out to straighten her slightly disheveled collar.

Chen Xueru picked up the exquisite black crocodile leather handbag, which contained documents, lipstick, and a small handgun—He Damin insisted she carry it, saying it was for self-defense. She walked out of the bedroom, her steps light and firm.

Downstairs, the driver was already waiting respectfully. It was a brand-new black Rolls-Royce, its body gleaming and shimmering in the morning light. This was a car that He Damin had recently commissioned, specially made for Chen Xueru; it was not only comfortable but also fully bulletproof.

He Damin stood at the second-floor window, watching Chen Xueru get into the car and the driver skillfully start it. The black sedan slowly drove out of the villa gate and headed down the winding mountain road, quickly becoming a small black dot. He only looked away when the car had completely disappeared from sight.

"Alright," he muttered to himself, turning and heading towards the study.

The study was quiet, sunlight filtering through the blinds and casting dappled shadows on the floor. He Damin sat cross-legged on the thick carpet, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

With a thought, his physical body vanished silently from the spot, like an ink droplet dissolving into water, as if it had never existed.