Chapter 253: Can Feel—It

The placement of the Liang Family as this pawn injected a strong stimulant into the New Era, greatly alleviating its urgent resource shortages. Su Wenqian's shoulder pressure dropped sharply, finally allowing her to catch her breath and devote more energy to internal affairs and long-term planning.

As for Qin Feng, amidst his grand strategic arrangements, he occasionally turned his gaze toward seemingly insignificant details. The system's upgrade had not only granted him greater power and deeper insight into the rules, but also seemed to sharpen his perception, enabling him to detect subtle nuances hidden beneath the surface—nuances he might have previously overlooked.

That evening, after finishing his duties, Qin Feng strolled along the neat, quiet pathways of the Guanlan Yuan residential district. The environment was elegant, shaded by green trees, and simulated sunset light filtered through the leaves, casting dappled spots of glow—evoking a quiet, otherworldly pastoral charm.

He had not come here intentionally; he was merely walking aimlessly, relaxing his mind.

As he passed a house with its own private courtyard, his steps paused slightly.

The courtyard gate was slightly ajar; from within came the clear, childish laughter of a little girl, and the soft hum of a gentle female voice. It was Xia Wan's home. Xia Tian was clearly still busy at the construction site; only Xia Madam and her young daughter Nannan were in the courtyard.

Qin Feng's gaze did not rest on the mother and daughter playing inside, but was drawn to an object in the corner beside the gate.

It was a worn leather folding stool.

The wooden frame was dark in color, its edges smoothed by frequent use. Most notably, the seat was made of deep brown leather—not particularly luxurious in quality, but meticulously maintained, its grain clearly visible, glowing softly in the sunset.

Qin Feng stopped and stood silently, gazing at the leather folding stool for several seconds.

His eyes were focused, as if examining a work of art, or sensing something intangible.

Su Wenqian, slightly behind him, frowned in confusion and followed his gaze—she saw only an ordinary, old folding stool, and could not understand why Mr. Qin would find it interesting.

At that moment, Xia Madam seemed to sense movement outside the gate. She looked up and saw Qin Feng standing just beyond the threshold. She froze for a moment, then her face flushed with alarm and uncertainty; she quickly set down what she was holding and pulled Nannan toward the door.

"M-Mr. Qin!" Xia Madam greeted nervously, instinctively hiding Nannan behind her. She had always held deep reverence for this young, imposing leader.

Nannan, however, was not shy. She peeked out from behind her mother's back, curiously staring at Qin Feng.

Qin Feng withdrew his gaze from the stool and looked at Xia Madam. His expression remained calm as ever; he gave a slight nod. "I apologize for the disturbance."

"No, no!" Xia Madam hurriedly waved her hands.

Qin Feng's gaze returned to the leather folding stool. Suddenly, he spoke, asking a question that surprised both Xia Madam and Su Wenqian:

"This stool has been around for quite some time, hasn't it?"

Xia Madam blinked, startled he'd asked about this. She answered honestly: "Yes… yes, it was left behind by the child's grandmother. Brought over from our hometown. We keep it by the door, sit on it occasionally."

Qin Feng nodded. He took half a step forward. Under the slightly bewildered gaze of Xia Madam and Su Wenqian, he reached out and gently brushed his fingertips across the leather seat.

His movement was slow, light—as if he were not touching an object, but sensing the faint, time-worn pulse emanating from it.

The sensation beneath his fingertips was cool, carrying the inherent suppleness and fine texture of leather.

After a moment, he withdrew his hand, as if confirming something. He murmured softly, his voice quiet yet clearly reaching the ears of both women:

"I can feel—it's leather."

Su Wenqian: "..."

Xia Madam: "..."

Both women were momentarily stunned.

Did Mr. Qin stop just to… confirm whether this stool was made of leather?

This… this is just too…

Su Wenqian stared at Qin Feng's still, impassive profile, utterly unable to comprehend the meaning behind his action. How could someone of his stature take interest in such an ordinary, worn object—and actually touch it to feel it?

Xia Madam grew increasingly uneasy, unsure of what hidden intent lay behind this enigmatic leader's behavior.

Only Qin Feng knew that the instant his fingertips touched the leather, the deep star-vortex interface of his upgraded system had flickered—almost imperceptibly. A fleeting sensation, indescribable yet unmistakable, as if briefly resonating with some ancient, accumulated "information."

The leather of the stool itself may have been ordinary, but the time it carried—and the possible connection to Xia Wan's mysterious "past"—had stirred a trace of curiosity in him.

He offered no explanation, nor cast another glance at the stool. He gave Xia Madam another slight nod, then continued walking forward, as if his question and touch had been nothing more than idle words and a casual gesture.

Su Wenqian hurried to follow, her mind filled with unanswered questions.

Xia Madam watched Qin Feng's retreating back, then looked again at the old stool by the gate. Her brow furrowed slightly; an inexplicable unease settled in her chest. She felt Mr. Qin's action had meant something—but she could not fathom what.

Under the sunset, the leather folding stool remained quietly in its corner, appearing merely an ordinary, aged object.

But once ripples form, they are hard to still.

Qin Feng's casual touch and quiet words were like a pebble dropped into a deep pool—perhaps stirring faint waves beneath unnoticed layers.

And of all this, Xia Wan, far away in the depths of Kunlun Mountain, facing unknown trials, remained utterly unaware.