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Manhole covers are common in urban areas due to the various underground pipelines, such as sewers, gas lines, water pipes, electrical conduits, and communication cables. These manholes facilitate maintenance and repairs. In residential areas like this, most of the manholes are for sewers or sewage wells. Wide roads are ideal for large sewage trucks to come and clean regularly.

This necessity is universal, whether in upscale villa districts or ordinary residential areas. No matter how luxurious a community is, if the sewage wells are not regularly cleaned by sewage trucks, blockages are inevitable.

Lin Xian walked slowly, observing the manhole covers placed “just right” along the road. He chuckled to himself and shifted his gaze away.

When he reached the front of Ji Lin’s villa, Lin Xian rang the doorbell.

“Welcome,” Ji Lin quickly opened the door and smiled at Lin Xian standing at the entrance. “Come on in. Your help is greatly appreciated.”

He led Lin Xian into the house. The living room was relatively tidy, but it was unlikely that Ji Lin had cleaned it himself. Someone as wealthy as Ji Lin probably had a housekeeper or a maid. Otherwise, given Ji Lin’s self-care abilities, he would likely starve.

The living room floor was covered with various decorations, colorful props, and numerous uninflated balloons.

“Are you trying to turn your house into an amusement park?” Lin Xian asked, puzzled. “Isn’t this a bit much for a birthday party?”

“It’s fine. Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared,” Ji Lin replied casually.

Lin Xian scanned the luxurious villa with large floor-to-ceiling windows. It was decorated in an opulent Nordic style and even had a fireplace that was more for show than for use.

“I usually like to sit here,” Ji Lin pointed to a spot on the wooden floor. “Normally, this living room is filled with books and newspapers. I love books. Sometimes sleeping among them makes me feel more at peace than sleeping in a bed.”

“That’s my bedroom,” Ji Lin pointed to a room on the first floor across from the living room. “Typically, bedrooms are on the second floor, but I’m too lazy to go upstairs. I rarely go up there; it’s more convenient to sleep on the first floor.”

Lin Xian and Ji Lin entered the bedroom. Although the bedroom was not small, it was clearly not proportional to the villa’s size. It seemed that, as Ji Lin mentioned, this bedroom was converted from other first-floor rooms. Normally, the bedrooms would be on the second floor.

The bedroom’s setup was extremely simple, with only a desk, a bed, and an en-suite bathroom, and little else.

“This fits my stereotypical impression of you,” Lin Xian teased.

He walked to the desk, where two photo frames were placed. He picked up one. It looked like a family photo with a father, mother, and a little boy standing in front.

But Lin Xian quickly recognized one familiar face—Xu Yun.

The man standing on the right in the back was Xu Yun from his younger years. Lin Xian had seen Xu Yun’s younger self in the Donghai University graduation album, and it was unmistakably him.

Apparently, Xu Yun had been very happy back then; his face radiated youth and cheerfulness.

The beautiful and virtuous-looking woman standing beside Xu Yun was obviously his wife. She was Ji Lin’s sister, Ji Xin Shui’s niece, and Xu Yi Yi’s mother. The little boy was easy to guess.

The boy in a small suit and bow tie was young Ji Lin, who looked about four or five years old in the photo. The picture must have been taken when Xu Yun and Ji Xin Shui were on good terms, often giving gifts and books to Ji Lin. This was a happy time exclusive to the three of them—beautiful, yet short-lived.

Lin Xian held the frame and pointed to the little boy, looking back at Ji Lin.

“If I’m not mistaken, this is a family photo of you and Xu Yun’s family?”

Ji Lin nodded. “Yes, we were very close back then.”

Lin Xian looked into his eyes. “Xu Yun died tragically, leaving behind a daughter in a vegetative state. Do you feel sad about his death?”

“Of course, I do,” Ji Lin nodded. “Xu Yun was my first friend in life. I liked him very much.”

Lin Xian put down the photo frame and picked up the other one. This frame also contained a photo, but its atmosphere was much more serious than the previous family portrait.

It was a photo of three people—an old man, a boy, and a girl. The old man had white hair at the temples, dry skin, and wore a black wool felt hat. His eyes were sharp and cold, and he sat sternly in a chair.

The face in the photograph was Ji Xin Shui’s, a man Lin Xian recognized from numerous news articles. His sharp, distinguished features reminded Lin Xian of the stern aristocrats from classic Western films.

Flanking Ji Xin Shui were two children, a boy and a girl. The boy, Ji Lin, appeared older than in previous photos Lin had seen, his hair now long enough to brush his eyebrows. Despite his youth, there was a refined beauty about him, the kind that might have made him a star in Hollywood as a child.

The girl to the right seemed like a fairy tale princess, possibly from the Middle East, with her delicate, sharp features and a statuesque figure that hinted at her future beauty. She stood nearly a head taller than Ji Lin, which wasn’t unusual since girls often grow faster, particularly those of mixed heritage.

“Who’s this?” Lin Xian pointed to the girl in the photo as he turned to Ji Lin. “Is she your sister too? I’ve never heard you mention her.”

“That’s Angelica,” Ji Lin replied softly. “She’s one of the orphans Ji Xin Shui adopted. We grew up together. You love movies, Lin Xian. You might know her.”

Angelica? The name set Lin Xian’s thoughts racing as he tried to place her among the faces of Hollywood stars.

Suddenly, it clicked.

“Angelica… the Hollywood actress?” he asked, eyes widening in realization.

Ji Lin nodded. “Yes, that’s right. She starred in ‘Broken Bridge,’ the movie that got an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, and she was nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Actress. So yes, we’re like family.”

“I remember now,” Lin Xian said, recalling a past conversation in their dorm room. “You told me Ji Xin Shui would take in exceptionally talented children. It’s clear why he chose you, but what about Angelica? It can’t just be because she’s stunning.”

“Definitely not,” Ji Lin chuckled, taking the photo from Lin Xian and gazing at it affectionately. “Angelica is incredibly smart. Hollywood isn’t easy to navigate, and it takes more than looks. She’s capable, especially in action roles. She’s proactive… much like you.”

“Me?” Lin Xian was taken aback.

“Yes,” Ji Lin continued, setting the photo back down. “Remember how you drove alone to chase that suspect? If that bomb hadn’t gone off, you would’ve tried to stop the taxi with your sports car, right? Maybe even flip it?”

“Probably,” Lin Xian admitted, recalling his readiness to use Zhao Ying Jun’s Ferrari to intercept the taxi. A well-placed hit could indeed flip a taxi due to the car’s low center of gravity and centrifugal force, but he never got the chance as the taxi exploded first.

“Angelica would do the same,” Ji Lin stated.

“In the movies?” Lin Xian inquired.

Ji Lin shook his head, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. “In real life too. She’s just as daring.”

…

After leaving the bedroom, Lin Xian and Ji Lin began decorating the living room. With everything from decorations to board games available online, setting up was straightforward and quick. In just an hour, they had transformed the room into a festive, welcoming space, perfect for Ji Lin’s upcoming birthday.

“You’ve really gone all out,” Lin Xian noted, impressed by the array of games and decorations.

“I researched a lot online,” Ji Lin admitted. “Everyone suggests board games for parties. We had so much fun with them at Chu An Qing’s birthday, I thought we should have them too.”

“That makes sense,” Lin Xian laughed. “Playing games in a group is always more enjoyable.”

“Speaking of which,” Ji Lin said as he arranged the games, “I don’t have many friends to invite like Chu An Qing does. If you have any friends you’d like to bring, feel free.”

In Donghai, Lin Xian’s social circle was limited. “Aren’t Chu An Qing’s classmates coming?”

“They are, but it’s a small group, and all girls,” Ji Lin replied.

“Okay,” Lin Xian smiled, thinking of someone he could invite. “I do have a high school classmate here in Donghai. Mind if I invite him to your party?”

“Of course not,” Ji Lin smiled warmly. “The more, the merrier. I’d rather have a lively house than a quiet birthday. Can he make it?”

“I’ll check,” Lin Xian said, pulling out his phone and showing Ji Lin the contact name.

“Who is it?” Ji Lin leaned in curiously.

“Zhou Duan Yun.”