Ah, mid-month already, have you secured your new monthly passes? Your support is greatly appreciated.

When one speaks of castles, they are surely a hallmark of the Western nations. Unlike the Eastern countries, which achieved feudalism relatively early, the West spent a considerable period under a system of fiefdoms. The king was merely a nominal ruler; beneath him resided lords and nobles of varying stature. A king was king only with the backing of these lords and nobles; otherwise, his throne could change hands at any moment. In fact, the widespread adoption of constitutional monarchy in the West owes much to the foundational structure of that very feudal system.

However, due to the inherently unstable relationships—between king and lord, and lord and lord—both monarchs and nobility favored constructing strongholds within their domains. Leaving the European continent aside, the British Isles alone are dotted with countless castles of every imaginable design. The construction of a castle served two primary purposes. First, it was the noble’s residence, requiring living quarters such as bedrooms, drawing rooms, dining halls, and banquet halls. Wherever possible, nobles would spare no expense in decorating their castles to be lavish and comfortable, reflecting their privileged status.

The second purpose, naturally, was defense. A castle stood as an independent, self-sufficient entity capable of repelling invaders—a strategic stronghold rooted in the territory, utilizing natural defenses, formidable curtain walls, and military armaments to secure dominion.

Indeed, while riding the train, Wang Guan had glimpsed the outlines of some ancient fortresses through the window. Yet, these were fleeting shadows, a mere glimpse through a tube—he had failed to truly appreciate their luxurious beauty. But here, at this very moment, led by Fang Mingsheng, Wang Guan emerged from the small town and proceeded across a sweep of emerald grassland. Soon, a magnificent castle loomed before them.

Wang Guan surveyed the scene. The castle was nestled within picturesque mountains, a winding stream tracing its path before the structure. Brightly colored birds strolled leisurely among the thickets. The expanse of green forest meeting the white-walled, grey-roofed architecture was the very definition of elegance and tranquility.

“What, beautiful, isn’t it?” Fang Mingsheng chuckled, “Every time I come here, I can’t help but marvel. Why don't we have private residences like this in China?”

“It’s not that we don't have them, but rather that those who dared to build such structures had their families purged,” Wang Guan shook his head. “And your finding the castle so beautiful is likely just a case of novelty. If a foreigner visited China and saw the Forbidden City or the Summer Palace, they might express the exact same awe you feel now.”

“Heh, perhaps,” Fang Mingsheng offered, content with his momentary sentiment and unwilling to debate the matter further with Wang Guan. He quickened his pace toward the castle gates.

Moments later, as the two drew nearer, the castle’s sheer scale became even clearer. From a distance, it was grand; up close, its breadth and opulence were palpable. The entire complex was divided into two main parts: the primary body of the castle, which preserved its medieval defensive architecture, and the later additions, mostly recreational facilities built according to the owner’s preference, including modern gyms, swimming pools, and libraries.

“Of course, the most luxurious and beautiful part is the main structure—the bedrooms, reception halls, and especially the banquet hall, whose magnificent décor is indescribable,” Fang Mingsheng described, his voice laced with slight excitement, as they approached the main entrance. “The walls were still hung with exquisite tapestries, alongside exquisite furniture, various artworks, and collectibles. Resplendent, glittering with gold…”

As a private estate, there were naturally gate guards stationed beside the main entrance. Seeing strangers approach, someone immediately emerged from the guardhouse, demanding loudly to know their purpose. Naturally, Fang Mingsheng stepped forward to handle the exchange. Wang Guan assumed that after a brief parley, the guards would grant them entry.

However, the outcome defied his expectations. After some discussion, Fang Mingsheng’s expression shifted dramatically. His polite smile froze, and his normally courteous tone sharpened with urgency. It was impossible to tell what they were saying, but the guard kept shaking his head, clearly refusing them entry.

“What’s going on?” Wang Guan asked, observing the changing dynamics and sensing something amiss, his brow furrowed. “Mr. Fang, has something gone wrong?”

“Mr. Hill is not at the castle; he had to leave suddenly on business…” Fang Mingsheng’s expression soured instantly. Though he tried to maintain composure, a flash of indignation flickered in his eyes—it was unclear whether his anger was directed at Mr. Hill or the guard. Regardless, they had arranged the visit for that morning, yet the owner was absent, having failed even to notify the guards, leaving them barred outside. Considering this, Wang Guan felt some sympathy for Fang Mingsheng’s frustration, while also starting to doubt the depth of his friendship with this Mr. Hill.

At the opportune moment, Wang Guan suggested thoughtfully, “You must have his contact number, right? Call him to see what’s happening.”

Prompted by Wang Guan, Fang Mingsheng calmed himself, nodded, and pulled out his phone to dial. Fortunately, the situation wasn't a complete disaster; the call went through. After about thirty seconds, the line connected, and Fang Mingsheng began to smile, ready to speak, when a rapid, brief burst of sound erupted from the phone before it abruptly disconnected.

“Hill…” Before Fang Mingsheng could react, he heard the dead tone of no signal from his phone. In that instant, he could no longer restrain himself. His initial enthusiasm evaporated, replaced by a classic vulgar curse: “Niǎoxīpǐ!”

To be frank, Wang Guan had been somewhat annoyed by the rebuff, but hearing Fang Mingsheng’s outburst made him chuckle, dissipating much of his own dissatisfaction. After all, Wang Guan was approaching this castle visit with a non-essential attitude, whereas Fang Mingsheng had been genuinely enthusiastic and thoroughly prepared. Yet, man proposes and God disposes. Whether the castle owner did it deliberately or not, leaving at this precise moment looked suspiciously like making a fool of Fang Mingsheng.

The scene was rather akin to unrequited love; more plainly put, the emperor wasn't worried, but the eunuch was frantic. Fang Mingsheng played the part of the eager eunuch, bringing Wang Guan along to help with some unlocking task, only for the castle's owner to simply take off on a whim, leaving them stranded at the gate. Imagine how you would feel in such a situation. Wang Guan felt that a single curse was actually a display of restraint; otherwise, Fang Mingsheng should have thrown his phone against the wall...

“Mr. Fang,” Wang Guan admitted he was enjoying a moment of schadenfreude, but noticing the guard’s strange gaze, he suppressed his smile and said with a serious air, “Since the master is out, we should leave then.”

“…Right, let’s go. We’ll head back now.” Fang Mingsheng gradually regained control. Of course, this was the calm of a man whose surface was still, but whose heart was churning with high waves. In any case, he clearly did not want to linger there, sweeping his sleeve and turning to leave.

One must consider who Fang Mingsheng was: a leading tycoon in China. Despite Wang Guan’s outward indifference, he had always maintained outward respect, never giving offense face-to-face. A man of such stature, possessed of considerable pride, had just been slammed shut on his face. Remembering how deferential he had been to Wang Guan just to secure this favor, Fang Mingsheng’s current anger was immense. His expression, as dark as stagnant water, was testament to the depth of his fury. Wang Guan followed respectfully, matching his steps, deliberately avoiding any mention of the recent incident to steer clear of collateral damage.

They soon returned to the small town. They had been heading towards the train station, but halfway there, Fang Mingsheng abruptly stopped and veered off, cutting through the town streets aimlessly.

“Something’s fishy...” Wang Guan started, instinctively wondering if Fang Mingsheng was unwilling to give up and planned to wait for the owner’s return. But then he dismissed the idea. Fang Mingsheng was too concerned with appearances… Wait, appearances! In a flash, Wang Guan grasped something and began to understand. Face was the key.

Yesterday, Fang Mingsheng had told Yu Wei that he would be visiting a friend for two or three days. Now, less than half a day later, he was about to return to London. If Yu Wei saw them return so quickly, she would surely ask why, and the truth would be revealed. Given Fang Mingsheng’s nature, this would be an unbearable humiliation, one he would never let a third party witness. Hence, he was currently caught in a dilemma.

Understanding this, Wang Guan couldn't help but suppress a secret smile. However, feeling that Fang Mingsheng had been quite helpful recently, Wang Guan didn't want to corner him. Pretending not to notice, he casually remarked, “Mr. Fang, since we are here, there’s no need to rush off. Are there any famous historical sites or interesting buildings in this town? Perhaps you could show me around?”

“…Ah, yes, of course, there are,” Fang Mingsheng instantly recovered. A sliver of light broke through his gloomy expression, and he forced a faint smile, pointing the way. “There is a beautiful lake just over there where you can see various rare birds.”

“Let’s go take a look then,” Wang Guan replied with a smile, genuinely interested. After all, it was a rare trip to Britain, and taking in the natural scenery, so distinct from back home, would be worthwhile. Fang Mingsheng was delighted by this suggestion and immediately took the lead.

In truth, he didn't need to guide them; they could simply follow the other tourists to the crystal-clear lake, shimmering like a green emerald, just outside the town limits. The lake lay in the center of a vibrant green plain, appearing from a distance like a translucent jewel embedded within it. Surrounding the water was a small grove of trees, where various small animals could be seen foraging by the shore, and numerous beautiful birds soared overhead—a breathtaking sight...