The Little Succubus's Hypnosis Manual - Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Household Registration
Zhou Qiyue instructed his assistant to prepare everything needed to reissue Xie Nanxing’s hukou booklet and ID card, then took Nanxing with him to the Public Security Bureau’s Household Registration Hall.
He had gone to great lengths beforehand—his assistant had already arranged forged copies of Nanxing’s birth certificate, school enrollment records, and so on. Even if the police tried to send Nanxing back to the station, he wouldn’t end up an undocumented orphan in the welfare system for life.
Sure enough, the assistant produced every piece of paperwork at once. Yet despite their meticulous preparation, Nanxing’s hukou application was still blocked.
“A lot of your information is missing. We can’t process this,” the clerk said, returning the documents.
Zhou Qiyue suppressed his irritation. “What additional proof do you need?”
The clerk glanced back at a colleague, then stammered, “He’s eighteen and has no record in our system. Who knows if any of this is genuine? And since you’re trying to add him to your household, where is the proof of your relationship?”
“Then let him register independently,” Zhou tried.
“He owns no assets—he can’t open a household account on his own,” the clerk snapped, clearly making trouble. “Step aside and don’t block the line.”
Nanxing gripped Zhou’s sleeve, too intimidated by the clerk’s fierce manner to utter a word.
“It’s okay,” Zhou said, smoothing Nanxing’s hair as they left the hall.
Someone at the police station had tried to send Nanxing back to the welfare center; now his ID application was thwarted. None of it could be coincidence.
“I’ll take you home first. I have to deal with something,” Zhou said, his temper flaring; a vein throbbed at his temple.
Nanxing rose on tiptoe and gently smoothed that throbbing vein. “Gege… don’t be angry.”
“Hm…” Zhou swallowed the sourness in his throat. He didn’t want to alarm Nanxing with the scary things that could happen to an undocumented adult.
Now that Nanxing was living with him, he was Zhou’s responsibility—whatever it took.
“I’ll get it done,” Zhou promised—not only to Nanxing, but to himself.
After dropping Nanxing off, Zhou opened his phone’s blacklist and unblocked the last number he’d added.
The call connected instantly. Zhou got right to the point: “Was that you?”
Wei Shuyun’s voice came back, feigning innocence: “What do you mean, Qiyue? You still owe me dinner.”
Zhou massaged his throbbing temples, but the memory of Nanxing’s gentle touch steadied him.
Glancing at his watch, he said, “Eleven o’clock. I’ll be at Four Seasons Pavilion.”
“All right,” Wei agreed cheerfully.
Zhou had the driver turn toward Four Seasons Pavilion. No private booth was available—and he didn’t intend to dine with Wei Shuyun anyway—so he sat in the main hall’s corner.
Wei arrived punctually, ordered several dishes, then slid the menu across. “What would you like to eat?”
“I’m not hungry. You order for yourself.”
Wei stiffened but smoothly took back the menu and ticked off the dishes he knew Zhou liked.
“You remember back in university,” Wei reminisced, “you used to treat yourself to this place’s food every month—ordering takeout if you couldn’t come in person.”
A gentle smile warmed his face, but Zhou’s expression hardened. “We’re not exactly ‘old friends,’ are we?”
The memory of happier times shattered like glass in Zhou’s mind, leaving only prickly fragments.
Wei’s smile vanished, replaced by desperation. He reached across the table and clasped Zhou’s hand. “I truly like you—but you know the Wei family isn’t just about me. If I’d only thought of myself back then, I wouldn’t have gotten a share of the inheritance.”
Tears glimmered in his voice. To him, Zhou’s rejection had meant misunderstanding his plight.
Zhou couldn’t help scoffing. “So you casually stole a year’s worth of my team’s research, just like that?”
“No… it wasn’t like that,” Wei stammered, shame burning his cheeks. “I’ve compensated everyone. And I… after graduation I’ll take over our branch office. Once we partner, your company will soar too.”
“Hmph.” Zhou’s laugh was ice. “Would I partner with someone who’s been caught misappropriating academic work?”
He loathed tears—they solved nothing. He’d understood that at age five.
Wei’s face went ashen, his strength draining away. He slumped into his chair.
Just then the waiter arrived with their food. Wei hastily averted his gaze and dabbed at his eyes with a few napkins.
Once the waiter left, Zhou spoke gravely: “I’m just warning you not to pull shady tricks. The old man at home might not harm you, but there could be repercussions for you. He might blame you.”
Zhou stood. “This meal’s on me—consider it your one dinner. Don’t come looking for me again.”
As Zhou passed him, Wei grabbed his sleeve, desperation in his eyes. “Qiyue! We’re in the same boat—both treated like servants at home. At least you have one brother. I… I don’t know how many half-siblings there are, but I’m terrified I’ll be thrown out too. Why can’t you understand?”
Wei’s grip wrinkled the expensive suit—Zhou didn’t mind Nanxing’s hands, but he couldn’t tolerate this.
Zhou pried Wei’s hand free and walked on.
Outside, that familiar car idled—the same one that had tailed him at the bureau.
Frustration coiled in his chest as he went to the window. “Still haven’t had enough of my misfortune?”
The tinted window rolled down to reveal not his half-brother but… his father, Zhou Shengyan. No explanation for his surveillance, he simply said, “I can’t get enough of your troubles.”
“I assume you have a proposal,” Zhou Qiyue said coldly.
Zhou Shengyan didn’t hedge: “That product you’re about to launch.”
“Impossible.” Zhou Qiyue’s refusal was instant. Those were years of his lab’s work—he’d never hand that over.
Zhou Shengyan leaned back, smile brittle. “Then it’s settled—your teammate can join my household register. He’s handsome enough.”
That smile had no warmth—it was all calculation.
“Don’t count on it.”
“You’re just as possessive of your wife as you are of your child. Good luck finding many blessings in life.” He began raising the window.
Zhou Qiyue’s temper flared. “I seem to recall you have something hidden at home. I wonder how your old man would feel about that.”
Zhou Shengyan’s smile froze halfway. He’d said too much.
“You know full well what I’m talking about.” Zhou Qiyue turned away.
Zhou Shengyan had the driver follow but whispered after them, “You’re not worried he might have impure motives?”
Zhou Qiyue’s eyes darkened. “If he ever chose to leave, I won’t stop him.”
His fist clenched at his side.
Zhou Shengyan closed his door and called up an app on his phone—one of those surveillance feeds.
On screen lay a figure in an over‐long shirt, nothing underneath, sprawled on a couch with nothing better to do than pelt Zhou Shengyan with naughty selfies.
He opened WeChat and let himself smile. After all, he had no intention of letting Shen Zhile—his old flame—go anywhere.
Meanwhile, Zhou Qiyue didn’t go home right away but returned to the office. Halfway there, Nanxing video‐called to ask if he’d eaten.
All Zhou had to see was Nanxing’s little round face to feel his own exhaustion melt away. “Not yet—I’m starving.”
“Then Gege… come home. Dinner’s ready.”
Zhou Qiyue nearly smiled. “No time—I have a meeting in an hour.”
Nanxing’s face fell so visibly, Zhou felt a pang of guilt. Aunt Wu mouthed: “Bring dinner.”
He obediently messaged back, “Bring it here.”
Aunt Wu rushed to pack up a meal.
The call came again almost immediately—it was the same police officer.
“Mr. Zhou,” the officer snapped. “Is that vagrant well enough? He’s already registered here. Unless you bring him in, I can’t clear my report.”
“If he has an ID, he shouldn’t need to go to a shelter,” Zhou said.
“In theory. But you have ten days to produce one, or I’m stuck.”
“Understood.” Zhou hung up, anxiety pinching his chest.
He had no choice but to endure a second miserable dinner, once more drinking more than he could handle—only to secure no partnership.
Back in the car, he’d had enough. He opened WeChat on his phone.
Nanxing’s message alert—now the soft drip of water—pinged:
“Gege… come home early.”
Smiling, Zhou replied: “I will.”
He slipped the phone into his pocket, letting the memory of Nanxing’s faith give him strength.