There was a sweet hum in his ears; a familiar lullaby. Soft, like the daintiest of whispers, yet heavy, drilling into his brain and lulling him into deeper ecstasy.


    And Chao Zhenyu let it.


    All around him now were delicate giggles, some cooing something he could no longer hear. Countless hands and lips caressed his bare body, and they laughed eagerly at his faintest moan or blush. Never enough to satisfy him; tenderly leaving him wanting more. Hazy itching caused by strands of long hair was quickly resolved; His sensitive skin scalded where their fingertips grazed, and in a numbing discomfort, he grasped at the nearest woman.


    I can''t… do this anymore…


    He must have accidentally said that out loud, for those words immediately elicited a consonance of fervor. Chao Zhenyu gasped, and one of the women took his parting lips as an invitation, kissing him in impassioned rapture. Her tongue swirled into his mouth, saliva coating his chin, causing him to tilt his head back in an effort to breathe. Even the taste was delectably sweet, like children''s candy. It was all he could make out- steam and sugar. He felt the hot breath of another on his cheek, gently licking away his dried tears.


    Chao Zhenyu closed his eyes, and let the pain blossom into dissonant pleasure.


    In the distant dream, a vague part of him thought:


    If I am Zain Valefor…


    …Then who is Chao Zhenyu?


    …


    It took a while before Chao Zhenyu finally awoke. And even now, with his eyes half closed, he was still fighting the urge to go back to sleep. He felt hot and uncomfortable all over, pools of sweat causing his clothes to stick to his skin. Painful, cold tingles rippled throughout his body, like thin worms wriggling underneath his flesh. Gritting his teeth, Chao Zhenyu sluggishly raised the back of his palm to his forehead.


    Hot. Burning hot.


    Chao Zhenyu exhaled with a tired breath, and reluctantly accepted his fate to his bed. He had already thought he was at his most vulnerable, but it seems like the gods decided to make it a physical battle too. He was sick.


    Was a fever considered a "natural" death?


    …Maybe if I die right now, it could be considered a mission accomplished.


    He closed his eyes again, succumbing to the headache and chills. The dream last night, although it seemed like a fantasy, was strangely familiar. He wasn''t sure, but the events of the day before could have unlocked a memory, something his mind had subconsciously hidden away. And if this was his past self, then that ending he feared, the void, had to be avoided at all costs.


    If the dream is a memory, then perhaps "I" really was the type of young master to fall into promiscuity and base desires.


    Regardless, that concealed sadness can''t be ignored. What made my past self feel that way?


    …Something must have happened.


    Chao Zhenyu snuggled into the thick, cozy blanket. Well, first step''s first. I have to get better.


    Just as he made himself comfortable, he heard the sharp creak of the door. Chao Zhenyu stayed still, pretending to be asleep. As the footsteps got louder, so did his heartbeat, thumping furiously against the throbbing in his head. He felt a drop of sweat trail down his cheek, gathering below his chin.


    Fuck. He resisted the distraction, and focused on regulating his breathing.


    Then, he felt a warm touch to his jaw. With one swift flick, the bead of sweat was wiped off.


    Chao Zhenyu furrowed his eyebrows, chest clenching in uncertainty. Underneath the heavy blanket, he gripped the bedsheets.


    Was this one of… those women?


    "Mistress, it seems like the servant was telling the truth."


    A young woman''s voice, blatantly laden with disinterest, caused Chao Zhenyu to pause. Though it was her words, not her tone, that had him thinking.


    …Mistress?


    If I''m "young master", then…


    Just as he expected, there was another figure present. A soft hand slowly ran through his messy hair, and Chao Zhenyu grimaced at the touch. Still, as the woman continued, he too began to relax into her palm. It was different from the physicality he had imagined. It was… strangely comforting.


    "Lower your voice, Ethel," The mistress- no, his mother- whispered. Even her words were soft. Not sticky sweet, but rather low and mellow, undisguised with warmth.


    Since I have a mother, then what about my father? I''ll have to slowly figure out everyone around me, one step at a time. Especially since I have to assume most are hostile. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "Props to him," Ethel continued, albeit quieter. "This is rare after all- I still remember all the times he said he was sick before. Even if this was because of his own ineptitude."


    There was a short pause. Chao Zhenyu noted down their interaction.


    "Mistress, why did you visit Zain this time? Did you know beforehand?"


    Inwardly, Chao Zhenyu scoffed. So it seemed like in the past "he" often pretended he was sick. And for what? The only thing that upset him more than the way this new servant was treating him, was the pathetic nature of his past self. And he was forced to inherit it.


    Yet soon enough, his mother''s petting soothed him.


    "I simply happened to pass by," His mother responded. "It was… convenient."


    …Convenient?


    The female servant next to her, Ethel, must have revealed something in her facial expression, for soon after his mother clarified.


    "It''s all the same, regardless. My son won''t succumb to just this."


    And with that, she withdrew her hand, and the two of them left.


    Soon after, Chao Zhenyu heard knocking on the door. Rolling his eyes, he lifted his head from the pillow, and sullenly peeked at the entrance. Whatever. He had a feeling he knew who it was. That, and nothing could override his current determination to stay in bed.


    "Come in."


    The door steadily creaked open, before a familiar head popped through the crack. Of course. A wide grin appeared on the boy servant''s face.


    "Young master," He started. He looked around outside, before quickly closing the door behind him. Then, he made his way to Chao Zhenyu''s bed, carrying a tray of food. The warm and inviting smell caused Chao Zhenyu to sniff the air a few more times.


    "What are you so happy about?" Chao Zhenyu frowned.


    The servant placed the tray on a nearby table, before propping his back with a pillow, helping him to sit up.


    "Please, young master, quit teasing this servant," He beamed. "We both know what I''m happy about."


    Chao Zhenyu had a bad feeling. He eyed the strange food on the tray, before guessing.


    "...The mistress came to see me…?"


    "Precisely!" The servant slapped his knee. "I know you''re reluctant to smile, young master, so let this servant express your happiness for you!"


    Wonderful. Chao Zhenyu pinched the bridge of his nose. I need this to stop before it gets even more outrageous.


    "Calm down, I-"


    The moment he said that, he noticed the servant''s expression subtly change. As if he was genuinely happy for him.


    "I mean," Chao Zhenyu stuttered, looking slightly away. "I am indeed… a little happy."


    When the servant''s face lit up once more, Chao Zhenyu could only swallow down his true feelings and embarrassment. He did feel much better, however, when the servant placed down his piping-hot meal on a slight ledge in front of him. His stomach growled in anticipation. Due to his headaches and sickness, he hadn''t noticed before, but he was starving.


    But even a starving beast contemplates swallowing down unknown food.


    He stared in front of him, trying his best not to reveal any incongruities.


    And then, under the servant''s seemingly watchful eye, he slowly raised his knife and fork, and began cutting at the dark objects on his plate. Red juices spilled out at each cut. Could this also be deliberate? Chao Zhenyu held his breath. The servant was reminding him of what could happen…


    "...Young master, you''re not supposed to cut those open…"


    His hand on the knife stopped moving. Chao Zhenyu suddenly placed down his utensils and threw himself back into the mattress. Coughing relentlessly, a look of rare helplessness spread across his face.


    "Young master!" The servant quickly moved to help him up, before Chao Zhenyu shook his head.


    "I still seem to be… slightly sick," Chao Zhenyu managed in between coughs. "Leave me be…"


    "W-Wait, young master, you haven''t eaten for more than a day now- uh- how about I''ll help feed the young master, if you''ll excuse me?"


    Watching the servant frantically sputter about, Chao Zhenyu gave a long look in contemplation, before a seemingly reluctant nod.


    Perfect. Chao Zhenyu relaxed against the bed frame, staring at the servant delicately spooning up the black object, before holding it in front of him. I love the smart ones the best. Chao Zhenyu opened his mouth, before slowly savoring it.


    It was cold to the touch, and seemed to have been frozen beforehand. A thin skin covered it, and once broken into, sweet juices poured out. The rest of the flesh was creamy, and when combined, was smooth, melting perfection. He understood why he wasn''t supposed to cut them open now. It was meant to be relished in bites, so that the juice inside wouldn''t be wasted.


    After he finished the treat, the servant then moved on to the next plate, the steaming hot dish he had smelt earlier. It was full of some type of common porridge. There was a bowl next to it as well, filled with what looked like saucy cuts of meat. If there wasn''t someone else present, Chao Zhenyu would have probably licked his lips.


    "I''m so sorry, young master," The servant commented as he fed him. "Since the mistress is here, the kitchen is more strict than usual, so your meals will be more like this until you get better."


    Chao Zhenyu wondered what he used to prefer. Luckily the servant seemed to know.


    "And as for drinks…"


    "What drinks?"


    "Unfortunately, young master, even the wine cabinet…"


    Chao Zhenyu gave a short nod of understanding. His view on his past self dropped another several degrees. His own moral compass was admittedly rudimentary, but even he knew of the bare basics. Drinking… seemed to be fine, but he dimly remembered it was drinking during the day that was looked down upon.


    Even though… I can''t really remember why.


    When he finished his meal, he turned to the servant, who was piling up the plates. In a hurry to satisfy his hunger, he almost forgot to gain more information. He wanted to ask the servant about Ethel, but after thinking it through some more, Chao Zhenyu decided he still didn''t know enough.


    Even if the worst case scenario was improbable, he couldn''t take the risk. If the servant and Ethel were on communicating terms, or even if they weren''t, asking about a person simply unnecessarily conveyed too much. He could be viewed as suspecting Ethel or just disliking her, and if he hadn''t before…


    On the other hand, he was fine being seen as stupid or ignorant. It made things easier for him.


    "Mother mentioned she ''simply had to pass by'', what did she mean by that?"


    "Young master, I''m not sure," The servant wondered. "Did you not ask the mistress?"


    "I was asleep."


    The two stared at each other. Chao Zhenyu coughed.


    "...I was pretending to be asleep."


    When the servant still looked at him with that bewildered expression he seemed to always wear, Chao Zhenyu eyed him for a second time.


    "Is there something wrong?" He asked. "If there''s nothing else, then you''re dismissed."


    Forget it. As the servant finished cleaning up and left the room, Chao Zhenyu thought about his next plans. He had wanted to ask him some more about his family, surroundings, and his past self, but it would probably seem like an outright interrogation. Instead, he would have to go around himself.


    He needed to act quickly. Currently, he at least has a breather- he was known to be sick. But soon after, his duties and past schedule would catch up to him. Waiting in bed wasn''t going to be enough. He would simply have to get better physically later.


    Tonight, I''m going to finally make use of this body''s reputation.