Chapter 28
Mu Feiyi gently stroked the little hamster’s tail. It was clean and dry, and the creature still smelled faintly of sweet milk.
Hmm. Did he really use the restroom, or did he just go for a casual stroll?
Every time they crossed paths, the little fellow had that same pleasant, milky scent. He couldn’t help wondering what kind of luxury bathing sand the eldest young lady of the Yu family used; she certainly kept this tiny household god pristine and charming.
Glancing toward the corridor leading to the restrooms, Mu Feiyi lightly pinched the hamster’s tail. “Were you just in the bathroom?”
The little hamster decided to play completely dumb. Cradled in the man’s broad palm, he fixed his gaze firmly on the opposite wall, stubbornly refusing to make eye contact.
I am merely a simple little hamster who knows nothing about the world. How could I possibly understand human affairs? Please stop interrogating me; even if you ask, the little hamster won’t give you any answers. A little hamster’s brain is only the size of a peanut—it definitely can’t process complex human speech!
Mu Feiyi let out a low chuckle at the creature’s blatant act of ignorance. Intentionally feigning surprise, he raised his voice slightly: “Could it be that our little hamster relieved himself in some dusty corner on the carpet? Is our handsome, well-mannered little guest actually this uncivilized?”
“Squeak, squeak, squeak!” No! Absolutely not!
The little hamster is impeccably clean! I… I used the proper facilities!
Flustered, the hamster rolled onto his back in Mu Feiyi’s palm, squeaking in protest while frantically flailing his front paws to gesture toward the hall.
Mu Feiyi pieced the pantomime together: the creature was insisting he had used the restroom, even if the logistics remained a mystery. Still, knowing what a bathroom was and actively defending his hygiene was remarkably clever.
Mu Feiyi studied the tiny creature with genuine curiosity. Could an ordinary hamster truly possess this level of awareness? Could an animal with such a tiny skull evolve this much intelligence? Or was the furball resting in his hand a once-in-a-century genius among hamsters?
He reached down to stroke the creature’s soft belly. The hamster looked up at him with wide, liquid eyes, looking sweet, defenseless, and thoroughly well-behaved.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Mu Feiyi decided not to overthink it. He lifted the little creature and placed him gently over his sternum, lightly patting the plush back. “Good little boy.”
He didn’t care to investigate whether the drunkards in the restroom had genuinely dialed his number by accident. As far as the rest of the room was concerned, he would ensure everyone believed those fools had simply hit the wrong contact after having a few drinks too many—or that the caller had done it intentionally. Under no circumstances would suspicion ever fall upon this innocent little furball.
Leaning back into the plush leather sofa, Mu Feiyi propped his long legs on the low table, a faint, mocking smile playing at the corners of his lips in the dim lounge light.
Resting against his chest, the hamster seemed docile and calm.
Well, perhaps not entirely docile.
After lying still for a moment, the little hamster tilted his head down to inspect the human beneath him.
Mu Feiyi had discarded his suit jacket upon entering the private suite. He was wearing a crisp white dress shirt, with the collar buttons left undone, revealing a glimpse of pale skin and collarbone.
Lying pressed against his chest, the hamster could clearly feel the steady, rhythmic thump-thump-thump of the man’s heartbeat. Before long, his own tiny heart began pounding in sync—thump-thump-thump—loud and embarrassingly fast. It was terribly distracting.
Licking his nose, the little hamster looked around, desperate for something to occupy his attention.
His eyes landed directly on the open collar.
So… so indecent!
Blushing beneath his fur, the little hamster nudged the folded fabric with his head in an attempt to tidy it up. Yet his tiny paws betrayed him, creeping forward bit by bit toward the warm, exposed skin.
“Should we handle those two idiots?” Young Master Qian asked, raising an eyebrow as he flipped a polished pocketknife open and shut.
Mu Feiyi chuckled with complete indifference. “Don’t bother. I’ve known for a long time that there would be…” He took a slow breath, exhaling with mild exasperation. “…no shortage of presumptuous freeloaders.”
Relying on the Mu family? Hah.
Lowering his eyelids, he murmured, “Just drag them out.”
“On it.” Young Master Qian strode toward the back, kicking the restroom door wide open.
The heavy crash sent the conspirators inside into a panicked flurry of yelps and curses.
Mu Feiyi didn’t even turn his head. His attention was wholly captured by the little hamster, who had somehow wriggled his way straight beneath his shirt.
Yes—the creature was currently resting directly against his bare skin.
“Hmm?” Mu Feiyi didn’t read too much into it, assuming the creature’s natural burrowing instincts had simply kicked in. Reaching beneath the cotton, he gently pulled the intruder back out into the open air.
Setting the hamster on his chest once more, he marveled at how weightless the creature felt—light as down. Yet that tiny, pinkish-white tummy radiated an incredible amount of warmth, feeling toasty against his skin.
“It’s a good thing you’re just a tiny hamster,” Young Master Shao commented, pouring himself another drink as he watched the creature stubbornly try to tunnel back beneath the shirt. “If you were a growing kitten, he’d be suffocated in a couple of months.”
Stroking his chin, Mu Feiyi gently held the persistent furball back. “Do you really want to hide in there that badly?”
The hamster’s velvety ears burned with embarrassment. He didn’t utter a peep, but he refused to stay outside.
“Is it too loud out here? Did Minghang’s shouting startle you?” Puzzled, Mu Feiyi lifted the hem of his shirt, peering down at the creature burrowing into the dark folds.
“Squeak, squeak, squeak.” I’m not coming out, and that’s that! If you want to believe I’m frightened, then go ahead and believe it!
Turning his back to the man, the little hamster presented his plush rear, while his front paws rested squarely against the human’s firm pectoral muscle.
Yes! A real, solid chest muscle!
The man’s build wasn’t overly bulky, but lean, taut, and remarkably resilient. His frame carried an understated, athletic power. More importantly, the chest muscle wasn’t excessively large; the contour was just right.
It was the exact elevation the little hamster preferred.
After all, the little hamster suffered from a slight fear of heights. If the muscle had been any larger, climbing to the peak would have made him dizzy! This gentle slope was absolute perfection.
Self-satisfied with his flawless logic, the stubborn little hamster licked his damp nose, settling comfortably into the hollow of the man’s chest.
Mu Feiyi gave the round rear a light flick. “Come out of there. Your sister will be here any minute. How am I supposed to hand you over like this? Reach into my shirt and pull you out? She’ll think I’m an absolute degenerate.”
Young Master Qian, Qian Shan, nearly choked on his wine, sputtering with laughter. “You can just tell her, ‘Hold on, Miss Yu—I’ve got a massive treasure tucked away in my shirt for you!'”
“Hahaha! I can’t breathe!” someone chimed in. “Quick, hide the good liquor bottles before Yu Tianwei walks through that door, or she’ll break them over your head.”
“Minghang, ease up on them,” Young Master Shao called toward the restroom corridor, glancing at the family doctor. “You’re scaring Feiyi’s precious pet. Just toss them out onto the street and be done with it.”
“Right, kick them out! Don’t frighten his little treasure,” Qian Shan agreed, setting his glass down and leaning over the armrest, determined to peek at the creature nestled inside the shirt.
“What are you gawking at?” Shao grabbed Qian Shan by the collar and yanked him back onto the cushions. “Flirting with our Young Master Mu now, are we?”
“I’m just admiring the hamster!” Qian Shan, an unrepentant troublemaker, pointed shamelessly at Mu Feiyi’s chest. “Come on, look at that bulge! Doesn’t that gentle curve look suspiciously like a maiden’s—”
“You clearly have a death wish,” Shao sighed, shaking his head.
Right on cue, Mu Feiyi scooped the hamster from his shirt, set him safely onto the coffee table, and immediately pinned the squawking Qian Shan to the sofa, relentlessly trying to shove an unpeeled apple into his mouth.
Over by the hallway, Qian Minghang hauled the three bruised drunkards out by their collars. Disgraced and desperate, one of them spat bitterly through swollen lips:
“My family’s business is ten times stronger than anything Mu Feiyi has left! Without the backing of the clan, he’s a nobody! Do you honestly think they’ll ever let him back in? Mu Tianya has already taken over every flagship portfolio he abandoned!”
“Oh?” Mu Feiyi paused, releasing Qian Shan and arching an eyebrow. If it involved that particular portfolio, he was genuinely curious.
Qian Shan straightened his collar, recognizing the reference immediately. “You mean the luxury residential development overseas?”
“Yes! That exact one!” the man shouted, struggling against Minghang’s grip with a defiant sneer. “You poured blood, sweat, and tears into that framework, only for someone else to reap the rewards!”
Mu Feiyi straightened his cuffs, an amused, mocking glint dancing in his sapphire eyes. “In that case, you clearly haven’t checked the morning financial wires. The overseas consortium formally announced the termination of their joint venture with the Mu Corporation at dawn.”
“Wait… wouldn’t international protocol require notifying the board before issuing a public severance?”
“Foreign investment funds are far more pragmatic than our local boards,” Shao remarked with a dry laugh. “They follow capital and competency, not family names. Without Feiyi at the helm, the Mu Corporation is a sinking ship. They know the clan lacks the liquidity and expertise to manage high-end foreign ventures.
“That partnership was built solely on Feiyi’s personal expansion strategy; it offered a mutual framework to squeeze regional competitors. Now that the corporation has swapped leadership for an incompetent puppet, they’re struggling to keep domestic creditors at bay—how could they possibly support an overseas venture?”
“Brutal, but entirely logical,” Qian Shan muttered. “What happens if Old Master Mu swallows his pride and begs Feiyi to return? Will the consortium come crawling back?”
“They trusted Feiyi from the start, so resuming talks would be trivial if he went back,” Shao replied. “Feiyi isn’t naive; he knows how to leverage their reliance to his advantage.”
“Which means the board is probably having a collective stroke right about now.”
Mu Feiyi sank back into the sofa cushions, his eyes shimmering with cold, detached sarcasm. He had walked away with nothing purely out of disdain for the family, refusing to leave them any legal or moral leverage over his future.
He had never claimed to be a forgiving man.
Pat-pat-pat.
The round hamster hopped down from the glass table onto his lap, scrambled up his shirtfront with stubby legs, and slipped right back into the warm collar.
“If you keep this up, your sister is going to skin me alive,” Mu Feiyi murmured, shaking his head. When Yu Tianwei arrived, he truly wouldn’t be able to defend himself; that woman was notoriously protective and rarely listened to reason.
“Squeak, squeak, squeak~”
The little hamster doesn’t care about your excuses! The little hamster just wants to lie on the chest muscle that has the perfect elevation!
Having secured his cozy spot, the little creature went limp, playing dead against the warm skin. He even extended his tiny tongue to give the muscle a stealthy, exploratory lick.
Unfortunately, his tongue was so microscopic that Mu Feiyi didn’t feel the mischievous gesture at all.
Instead, the man watched as the three humiliated schemers were shoved out the double doors. Qian Shan chuckled beside him, shaking his head in disbelief. “Those three are an absolute riot. How completely brainless do you have to be to badmouth someone in a restroom while actively dialing their personal number?”
“Who knows?” Mu Feiyi murmured, glancing down at the little furball resting peacefully inside his shirt with eyes gently closed.
He slipped a finger inside to lightly tap the top of the creature’s head. The thick fur yielded beneath his touch, forming a tiny dimple.
“I need to find a way to take you home from the Yu estate,” he whispered, a rare possessiveness coloring his tone. It had been years since he had wanted anything—let alone a tiny pet—this intensely.
He stroked the hamster’s plush cheek, watching the creature swat his finger away in annoyance before letting out a string of disgruntled squeaks.
Though he couldn’t understand the sounds, Mu Feiyi had no trouble guessing the meaning: Keep dreaming! Don’t even think about it! Not a chance, I’m never leaving with you!
The little fellow was remarkably stubborn, likely repeating the exact same complaint over and over.
A quiet smile touched Mu Feiyi’s lips. In his life, he had never failed to claim what he set his sights on.
Gently scratching beneath the tiny chin, his voice dropped into an intimate murmur:
“Will you become my little hamster—and mine alone—from now on?”
The little hamster narrowed his eyes contentedly, his short tail giving a soft wag as if thoroughly pleased with the arrangement.
In Mu Feiyi’s heart, the matter was settled: the little fellow was willing.
Yet bargaining for him with the Yu family would be an entirely different story. That household operated on deep familial devotion, not corporate transactions. Between Yu Tianwei storming over in a murderous fury and Uncle Yu doting on the creature day in and day out, it was obvious the entire clan viewed this tiny furball as blood kin.
“Then they were truly fortunate to have crossed paths with you first,” Mu Feiyi murmured, his gaze drifting into a quiet daze.
If the little creature had ended up in his hands from the start, he would have treated him with the exact same devotion—cherished as family.
Family. Kin.
A hollow ache stirred in his chest. What did that word even mean?
He had spent years envying Yu Tianwei. Uncle Yu had always been an exceptional guardian to both his daughter and his nephew. In contrast, the cold, calculating dynamic within the vast Mu estate—especially toward him, the designated heir—was an endless battleground. Mu Feiyi had never experienced true familial warmth, though he had watched it from afar, and the Yu household was its finest portrait.
In that house, children were encouraged to succeed, but if they chose a quieter path, they were still free to live life on their own terms. As the elder sister, Yu Tianwei had shouldered corporate burdens early on, building a fortress of security so her younger brother could live without care. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoyuan had adamantly refused to squabble over inheritances, voluntarily transferring his personal equity to his uncle and sister to keep their bond untainted.
They were a remarkably good family.
In the past, Mu Feiyi had deliberately kept his distance from them, afraid that prolonged exposure would breed an ugly, covetous jealousy toward Yu Tianwei—and toward Yu Xiaoyuan.
Yet look at him now.
Resting over his chest, the little hamster had melted into a flat pancake. The creature appeared fast asleep, his velvety ears drooping softly against his fur, radiating a steady, comforting warmth through the cotton of Mu Feiyi’s shirt.
Mu Feiyi let out a wry, helpless sigh. “I’m definitely going to get an earful.” There was no dodging it now.
Across the room, Qian Shan opened his mouth to suggest slipping the hamster out the back, but Young Master Shao delivered a sharp kick to his shin, silently ordering him to stay out of the crossfire.
A second later, the double doors were kicked open.
Yu Tianwei swept into the room radiating pure, murderous intent. The rowdy chatter of the private lounge died instantly. The atmosphere turned so quiet a falling needle would have sounded like a thunderclap, and a quick-witted server hurriedly muted the background music.
The guests instinctively shifted back against the banquettes, eyes wide with anticipation.
Her eyes blazing, Miss Yu marched across the floorboards in stiletto heels, coming to a dead stop before Mu Feiyi’s sofa. Thrusting an open palm toward his face, she snapped, “Hand him over!”
Reclining against the leather cushions, Mu Feiyi merely lifted his lids to meet her furious glare. He glanced down at the sleeping creature resting on his chest, remaining entirely silent and motionless.
Yu Tianwei was practically driven mad with rage. “If you want a pet, go buy your own damn hamster! That is my family’s child!”
“How about you buy a replacement instead, Miss Yu?” Mu Feiyi replied, his deep blue eyes completely devoid of mockery. “What if I trade you my commercial parcel in S City for this little hamster?”
Young Master Shao nearly choked on his drink. Good grief… these people have completely lost their minds.
The entire room held its breath, staring at Yu Tianwei in absolute disbelief. The Yu family was unquestionably wealthy, but prime real estate in S City was virtually unobtainable. Municipal acquisition costs were staggering, regulatory approvals were a bureaucratic nightmare, and securing metropolitan zoning required deep state alignment. Was Mu Feiyi genuinely insane? Handing over an empire-tier asset for a pocket pet that might live for only a couple of years?
“Keep your land! I only want my little brother—my little hamster!” Tianwei rejected the fortune without a second’s hesitation. Stepping forward, she commanded, “little hamster, over here! We’re going home!”
Insane, Shao thought, his hand trembling as he lifted his wine glass. One offers billions without blinking, and the other treats it like dirt.
As the center of the multi-billion-yuan standoff, the little hamster reluctantly wriggled out from under Mu Feiyi’s shirtfront. He shook his fur back into place, perched neatly on the man’s chest, and stretched his tiny front paws toward his sister, letting out an eager chorus: “Squeak, squeak, squeak~”
He clearly wanted his sister to scoop him up!
The instant Tianwei’s eyes landed on the furball, her venomous glare melted into fond tenderness. “My sweet boy… did you have fun today?”
The fluffy little creature nodded with frantic enthusiasm, squeaking up a storm.
I had an amazing time! The little hamster helped Mu Feiyi expose some terrible traitors, and then I watched three whole episodes of a cartoon about a cat and a mouse, and I even ate—
Watching the little fellow chatter so excitedly, Tianwei’s expression softened completely. She reached down to collect him.
Before her fingers could brush the fur, Mu Feiyi scooped the hamster into his broad palm, pulling him back against his side and refusing to yield.
Tianwei was never one to suffer fools. Her temper flared in an instant; snatching an unopened wine bottle from the bucket, she glared down at the man like an enraged lioness. “Mu Feiyi!”
“Whoa, easy! Calm down, Miss Yu, please calm down!” Qian Shan scrambled forward, catching her by the wrist. “Take a breath! The mouse is definitely yours, nobody is disputing that!”
He shot a frantic, desperate glance toward Qian Minghang.
The latter was practically crying with suppressed laughter. “It’s just a tiny pet. If you two can’t agree, why not share custody? Three days at your estate, three days at his, and let the little fellow pick where he spends his weekends.”
“Are you arbitrating a divorce custody battle?!” Young Master Shao snapped, glaring at Minghang before turning back to Mu Feiyi. “I’m with Miss Yu on this one, Feiyi. The hamster belongs to her household. The second she called his name, he hopped right up to go home. With you, he was just out for a casual afternoon.”
Mu Feiyi’s jaw tightened. He pressed his lips into a hard line, his fingers curling possessively around the creature.
Pop.
The little hamster poked his round head out through the gap between Mu Feiyi’s thumb and index finger. He looked at his fuming sister, then glanced back at the grim, silent man holding him captive.
He rubbed his chubby cheeks with two paws, letting out a soft, bashful squeak: “Squeak, squeak~”
Goodness… this little hamster really is an irresistible, kingdom-toppling beauty!
Watching the creature look inexplicably delighted with himself, Mu Feiyi’s lips parted. He desperately wanted to ask the little hamster to stay. Yet the words caught in his throat; he had never begged anyone for companionship in his entire life.
A shadow of genuine sorrow crossed his features as his hand tightened slightly around the furball.
The sudden pressure felt uncomfortable, prompting the hamster to glance up in confusion. “Squeak?”
Mu Feiyi loosened his grip immediately.
To his surprise, the little creature didn’t bolt. Instead, the hamster simply tilted his head, gazing at him with obsidian eyes that were remarkably clear, pure, and focused—as though in that quiet second, the entire noisy room had faded away, leaving only the two of them. It was a gaze that felt entirely devoted, as if that tiny heart had room to shelter only one person.
Mu Feiyi took a slow breath, letting the tension leave his shoulders.
“What are you looking so pleased about?” he murmured, exasperated, lightly tapping the fur between the hamster’s ears. A tiny dimple formed on the crown. “Hmm? What’s so funny?”
“Squeak, squeak, squeak.” I’m not laughing at all!
The hamster flicked his tail, feeling a tiny twinge of guilt. Well, he was a little bit pleased—mostly because his sister had come to take him home!
Mu Feiyi read the body language effortlessly, and a bitter, self-deprecating sadness settled into his eyes.
“Go on, then,” he whispered softly, his fingers opening completely. “Let’s not meet again.”
Tianwei wasted no time. Sweeping her hand down, she snatched the hamster out of his loosened grip before he could change his mind. “I certainly hope you keep your word, Chairman Mu.”
Young Master Shao shook his head with a dry smirk. Unbelievable. It really is like watching parents tear each other apart over a toddler.
Perched on his sister’s shoulder as she turned toward the exit, the little hamster looked back at Mu Feiyi. Sitting alone in the center of the plush leather banquette, surrounded by laughter and luxury, the tall man looked profoundly, achingly isolated.
A wave of soft-hearted sympathy washed over the little beast.
After a second’s hesitation, he scrambled down his sister’s back.
With nimble precision, he used the folds of her designer jacket like footholds, dropped lightly onto the carpet, shook his coat back into place, and bounded back across the floorboards—pat-pat-pat—straight toward the lonely figure on the sofa.
“Squeak, squeak, squeak~” Why are you acting so miserable? Is it because the little hamster is leaving, and you don’t have any real friends left to talk to?
The creature scampered straight up to his wingtips, squeaking with urgent concern.
Mu Feiyi snapped upright, sliding off the sofa to drop onto one knee, holding his open palms flat against the rug.
The milk-tea-colored hamster leaped forward, scrambling across the open floor with breathless determination. Round, soft, and radiating pure, unvarnished warmth, he looked like a tiny, living ember tumbling through the dim room.
In that single instant, every trace of darkness and exhaustion lifted from Mu Feiyi’s soul.
The Old Master’s cold manipulations, the parasitic scheming of his relatives, the bitter sting of betrayal from fair-weather allies—all of it evaporated into thin air the moment that tiny creature threw himself into his hands.
Opening his arms, Mu Feiyi gently gathered the hopping hamster into his palms, lifting the soft furball straight to his cheek.
Sure enough, the little creature pressed his velvet body against the man’s jawline, nuzzling softly. Letting out a sequence of hushed, melodic chirps, he seemed to whisper: Don’t be sad anymore.
Mu Feiyi felt as though a radiant, gentle sun had bloomed directly against his skin. He wanted nothing more than to slip the furball into his breast pocket and hide him away from the rest of the world forever.
The hamster patted his own cheeks with tiny paws, fished out a pristine, roasted peanut from deep inside his spatial pouch, and set it carefully into the center of the man’s open palm.
He looked up, squeaking with solemn, earnest ceremony: “Squeak, squeak, squeak.”
You complicated humans care so much about proper farewells, don’t you? Fine, the little hamster will give you a proper send-off.
Don’t be downcast. Go out into the world and see what’s out there. Everything is about to change very soon—and your world will change along with it.
The wasteland will be full of terror, but it will also be overflowing with opportunity. For a formidable predator like you, this might actually be a magnificent new beginning. Take a hug from the little hamster, and stop being miserable. Every setback right now is just preparation for what comes next.
Here—I’ll give you a peanut. That always fixes everything! It’s the little hamster’s absolute favorite, and I’m sharing it with you!
Mu Feiyi gently cradled the little creature against his chest, a fierce, silent vow taking root in his heart.
Sooner or later, I will take you away from the Yu family.
I will make you mine—and mine alone.
He would construct an entire fortress for this little hamster, filling every corridor with the finest, sweetest roasted nuts on earth. He would lock the heavy gates behind them, sealing the outside world away so that only the two of them remained within the walls.
Leaning against the doorway, Yu Tianwei folded her arms, letting out a sharp, disdainful scoff.
The world was barreling toward total collapse, and here was Yu Xiaoyuan, playing with absolute fire. Had that foolish boy given even a single second of thought to what would happen if Mu Feiyi ever uncovered the truth behind his furry disguise?
Second Young Master Mu was notoriously ruthless. Imagine the day that cold, calculating predator realized he had been emotionally manipulated by a magical hamster!
Tsk, tsk. Tianwei rolled her eyes. Look at you, still rubbing your face against his cheek. You’re even using your tiny paws to hold his face! When the truth finally comes out, little brother, he’s going to skin you alive—and your sister won’t be able to save you!
