Asianovel

Chapter 68: Suspicions

After settling Luo Le, Gu Heting turned around and left.

Gu Heting's school residence is a one-bedroom, one-living room, one-kitchen, and one-bathroom apartment. It has been regularly cleaned by an aunt (referring to a domestic helper or housekeeper), so it is not dirty and can be moved into directly.

"Ahh..."

Hearing the sound, Luo Le looked down to find the little bundle in his arms had awakened, gazing at him with wide eyes.

"Ah, you're awake."

He reached out to rub Chen Chen's cheek, and a trail of saliva trickled down from the corners of Chen Chen's unsealed lips.

Luo Le found it amusing and reached over to wipe his mouth.

"We'll be staying here for now. Grow up quickly, okay?"

After that, they settled into their new residence.

Every day, Gu Heting would come over in the afternoon and generally stay for two hours before leaving.

There were times when she would bring nutrient solutions, fruits, or other items that Luo Le might need.

Chen Chen needs to drink milk seven times a day, and sometimes, when he wakes up hungry in the night, Luo Le has no choice but to get up and prepare the milk.

Within a few days, signs of fatigue began to show under Luo Le's eyes, darkening with each passing night.

He barely ventured out except to take out the trash, and was forced to adjust his schedule to match Chen Chen's.

It's a mystery how there can be so much sleep to catch up on in a single day.

In addition to the absence of an AI brain, it can be said to be almost isolated from the world, except for the occasional visits from Gu Heting.

Fortunately, Huo Lanjing hadn't come looking for her.

Another full month and a half had passed by in a blink of an eye.

Despite the numerous tugs in her hair by Chen Chen, Luo Le went to prepare his milk formula.

Upon arriving, Gu Heting immediately noticed the scene and chuckled, "This style is quite impressive."

Luo Le yawned, dismissing his childish behavior.

"Don't be angry. I have some good news for you."

Luo Le rubbed the baby bottle in his palm, checking the temperature by pouring milk onto his wrist as he asked, "What?"

Gu Heting didn't beat around the bush and said with a smile, "The person you were hiding from has left."

Has Huo Lanjing left?

Luo Le: "Really?"

"Of course,"

Upon receiving an affirmative response, Luo Le's gaze remained inscrutable as he pursed his lips. "That's wonderful. Will you be free tomorrow?"

Gu Heting was somewhat puzzled: "What's the matter?"

"It's time for me to return as well."

Gu Heting waved his hand and said, "I advise you not to do that. Every day when I go back, I can still feel the burning gaze."

Luo Le wore a puzzled expression. "He didn't withdraw his people?"

"No, I think he probably won't leave, he left in quite a hurry this time, I guess he'll be back after a while." Gu Heting said with a sigh.

Upon further reflection, Luo Le realized how he could have forgotten -- Huo Lanjing was always someone who wouldn't rest until he achieved his goal.

He poured the milk into his cupped palm again; this time, the temperature was just right.

About to speak, the sound of Chen Chen's crying echoed from within the room, interrupting their conversation.

After informing Gu Heting, Luo Le took the milk bottle and went inside.

After a while, Chen Chen, satiated and content, ceased his antics. Luo Le carried him over to the sofa to lie down.

"And this one." Gu Heting brought over a bow-shaped semicircle surrounding Chen Chen, adorned with little animal pendants that swayed with his movements.

Luo Le sat twenty centimeters above Chen Chen's head, while Gu Heting was at the tail end.

Observing the one who was amusing Chen Chen, Luo Le rubbed the palms of their hands together.

"Could I ask a favor of you?"

Gu Heting lifted his head, the smile on the corner of his mouth lingering: "Hmm?"

"Would you be willing to purchase a townhouse for me, a three-story detached dwelling with a rooftop, using your name? The payment would be made through my account."

Gu Heting slightly furrowed his brows and asked, "Shall I transfer it to you after I've finished buying it?"

Isn't this too much of a hassle?

Luo Le shook his head. "No, the fact that he hasn't withdrawn means he hasn't given up yet. He might trace you right after the transfer is completed."

Gu Heting hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Shall we proceed with the transfer once they have withdrawn?"

Luo Le: "Mm."

Gu Heting had been taking care of him before, and also occasionally running errands for him from time to time. He owes a great debt of gratitude.

He had never been one to owe favors, but he wasn't adept at navigating social dynamics. After much contemplation, this was the only solution he could devise.

When Chen Chen grows up a bit more, he'll return to the Empire. It's unlikely he'll come back. This house can be seen as compensation for that favor.

Once he fetches his mother, they'll return to Planet 423.

Though there was nothing grand there, he found great pleasure in the place's leisurely pace of life.

Let's settle there for two years first. We'll return to the Empire when it's about time for Chen Chen to start receiving an education.

When Wind City created this ID, they had already taken this issue into account. Hence, the ID named Gu Zhiwei held the privilege of unfettered choice in their children's education within the Empire.

Suddenly, Gu Heting exclaimed softly, "Look, look at your son."

Luo Le lowered his head upon hearing the sound.

At this moment, Chen Chen, lying on the sofa, rested his head on its soft cushion while propping himself up with his shoulders, exerting great effort as evidenced by the sounds he was making.

Worried that he might have difficulty breathing, Luo Le got up to lift him, but her hand was suddenly struck by Gu Heting.

"Let him come himself."

Luo Le vividly recalled the tender feel of Chen Chen's body. With his spine underdeveloped, he couldn't even stand while holding him. Could he really flip over?

They watched as the figure struggled for a long while but failed to flip over.

After lying down for too long, both of them grew concerned about the potential impact on their lungs, and thus decided to give up.

Yet, before they could lay a hand on Chen Chen, they witnessed him tilt his head back and, with a sudden lurch of his body, flip over them.

Gu Heting turned his head to look at him, "What do you think, I told you he could do it, it's been three months, it's about time for a turnaround."

Luo Le was surprised that this soft little creature, who couldn't even hold its head up steadily, could actually flip over.

He watched as Gu Heting held Chen Chen in his arms, swayed him a couple of times, patted his butt, and said with a smile, "Raise the dragon head."

Upon finishing his words, Chen Chen broke into a grin; however, his laughter was accompanied by a flow of saliva.

"Oh, do keep an eye on your son."

Luo Le promptly grabbed two tissues to wipe Chen Chen's mouth.

Gu Heting suddenly remembered something and turned to ask, "Chen Chen should have a physical examination. Bring along the notebook related to him and let's go have a look."

Luo Le nodded and turned to pack his belongings.

The hospital is equipped with specialized infant health screening instruments that provide more comprehensive data, tailored specifically for young children.

Gu Heting unfolded the small blanket, then asked Luo Le to wait here, and went to check on Chen Chen with a "hey" while holding him.

The office was meticulously arranged, with Luo Le seated in his chair, swiveling around several times.

At the same time, Gu Heting has already placed Chen Chen into the detector, watching the alternating blue lights and paying attention to the numbers on the display screen.

Chen Chen delightedly danced with joy under the alternating glow of the lights.

After a moment, the report came out.

Gu Heting took it and read through it line by line.

When Chen Chen was born, due to limitations in resources, such an extensive examination had not been conducted on him.

Suddenly, Gu Heting's gaze fell on a certain spot, and his eyes flickered slightly.

The Mα gene - how could Chen Chen possibly possess the Mα gene?

Alphas and Omegas typically manifest their natures at the age of eighteen. There exists a particular gene in the world; should it present itself, it irrefutably identifies a child as an Alpha, with their mental prowess destined to escalate to an A+ level, leaving no room for doubt.

This is the recessive α-gene, exceedingly rare, occurring in only one out of sixty million individuals. There's a fifty percent chance it can be passed down genetically.

And this gene...

Looking at the little one giggling, Gu Heting was slightly distracted. After a while, he carried him back.

By the time he arrived, Luo Le might have grown weary from waiting and had fallen asleep, curled up on the table.

If it were any other day, Gu Heting might have just let him continue to sleep, but he had something to attend to in a while.

He gently nudged Luo Le.

Luo Le gradually came to, opening his eyes to find the man before him. Rubbing his eyes, he asked, "How is it?"

"No issues at all, perfectly healthy."

Luo Le nodded. "In that case, I'll be heading back first. I'll cook tomorrow. If you don't mind, come over for dinner after work."

Gu Heting had no objections.

The following evening, Luo Le cooked three dishes and one soup while Chen Chen was asleep.

By the time the last dish was ready, the other two had already grown cold.

No sooner had I heated it up than the doorbell rang.

Luo Le took off his apron and walked over, only to find Gu Heting standing outside the door.

Didn't he have the key?

Could it be that they left it behind?

Luo Le pulled open the door, but Gu Heting didn't come in right away. Instead, he just stood there, looking at him.

With a full heart of curiosity, he waved his hand in front of her eyes. "What's wrong with you? Are you alright?"

Gu Heting snapped back to reality upon hearing the voice, managing to force a somewhat strained smile.

"Nothing much, just a bit weary."

"Let's retire early tonight."

Chen Chen sat on the sofa, gazing at the pendant hanging above, reaching out to grasp it with delight.

At the dining table, both remained silent, quietly enjoying their meal.

After a while, Gu Heting suddenly looked up and called out to him.

Luo Le tilted his head slightly. "Hm?"

Gu Heting reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, saying, "This is a new ID. With this, you won't have to hide and dodge anymore."

Luo Le frowned slightly and glanced at him. "Where did this come from?"

Gu Heting: "I got it from a friend."

When creating the identity of Gu Zhiwei, Wind City mentioned that the Empire was tightening its grip on such matters.

How did Gu Heting's friend manage to obtain that?

"Which friend?"

"Accept it, this is the identity of an Imperial citizen, granting you all the privileges of the Empire's nobility. With this status, you can provide Chen Chen with better educational opportunities."

Luo Le pushed the card back again. "No need," he said.

This privileged number, Wind City mentioned it was very expensive. He couldn't accept it.

Gu Heting: "Why?"

In the Empire, the nobility formed a circle, the influential families another, and the wealthy and politically connected offspring constituted yet another circle. Each group grew up intertwined.

If he were to genuinely use these IDs to exercise privileges, it's likely that the fraud would be discovered within an hour.

Not to mention, such a status would make it more likely for her to encounter Huo Lanjing.

"No other reason really, I've just grown accustomed to it."

Gu Heting raised his eyes and noticed that Luo Le's gaze was extremely firm, so he sighed and took back the item.

"Very well, do reach out to me if you have any matters in the future."

Luo Le nods, "Alright."

In the meantime, within the Fifth Planet's office, an unusual silence reigned.

Huo Lanjing sat in his chair, gazing at the map of the spacecraft with a troubled frown.

He spent a month on the Second Planet, but his efforts proved fruitless.

Following that, his subordinate reported that they seemed to have found Luo Le, which was why he rushed back in a great hurry, only to find out it was just someone who resembled her.

Qin Chen suddenly spoke from the side, "You haven't found her yet?"

"Mm." There was a hint of impatience in his tone.

Chapter 117: Exploded

Ji Min couldn't think of any reason to hold back in that instant.

He pressed forward again.

Relying on memory, he guided the person towards the edge of the bed.

In the darkness, they stumbled and bumped into the bench at the foot of the bed, producing a muffled thud.

Lu Ran, who was being held, paused and struggled slightly.

But for the first time, the man in front of him ignored his struggles, lost in heavy breathing.

"Hey, your leg!"

Lu Ran tried to turn his head away, but was pulled back by the grip on his chin.

"My leg is fine," the man replied casually, his voice lost amidst the deepening kiss.

Lu Ran's tongue throbbed in pain from being sucked.

The air in his chest was relentlessly stolen away, while heavy, ragged breaths pelted his face, scorching hot.

His rationality grew hazy, melting into a thick and sweet syrup.

Yet, a single thread of concern still lingered cautiously over Ji Min's leg.

Struggling once more, Lu Ran seized a moment to catch his breath between the man's lips.

Then, with effort, he pushed against the person in front of him.

Only at this moment did Lu Ran truly comprehend the immense strength of the man before him.

His attempt to push away was effortlessly neutralized by Ji Min's gentle grip.

With just one hand, Ji Min held both of Lu Ran's wrists firmly behind his back.

His knee brushed against the edge of the bed in a futile attempt to resist for a moment.

Ultimately, he trembled before collapsing backward.

The tall and powerful male figure pressed down upon him.

Unlike last time, there was no comical squishing on top of him, but they were still pressed intimately together.

He was securely trapped beneath the man.

Click.

It was the sound of a metal belt buckle being undone.

Lu Ran froze for a moment, instinctively struggling once more.

As he shifted slightly, the man lying atop him let out a low groan.

The man's brow knitted tightly together, and he let out a low, ragged breath.

A voice hoarse to the point of being barely recognizable whispered intimately into the youth's ear, "Immediately."

The room was dimly lit, creating an atmosphere of intimacy.

It exuded an indescribable warmth and sultriness.

The curtains were undrawn, and the faint yellow light from the courtyard filtered in, just enough for Ji Min to discern the flush on the young man's cheeks.

Ji Min lowered his head to kiss again.

In this moment of utmost intimacy and ambiguity.

Yet, he heard the youth beneath him lean in close to his ear, his voice a devilish whisper, "Uncle Ji."

Ji Min: "..."

It was as if someone had slammed on the brakes on a highway, jerking Ji Min's reason back to reality in an instant.

He fell silent for a moment, then lowered his gaze to the man beneath him, Lu Ran.

The young man's cheeks were still flushed, yet he looked at him with a mischievous expression, calling out again, "Uncle Ji, what are you doing?"

Ji Min: "..."

He lowered his head again, intent on silencing the person with a kiss.

In the middle of the kiss, he couldn't help but grit his teeth and say through clenched jaws, "Did you have to call me that way at this moment?"

"Haha! Haha! Haha!"

Lu Ran forcefully pushed the person away, flipped over on the bed, and stood up, reaching out to turn on the light.

Blinding brightness instantly filled the entire bedroom.

Dispelling the intimacy that had been concealed in the darkness.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Lu Ran stood with his hands on his hips, looking at Ji Min and asking,

"Would you assume that my anger has subsided now?"

Ji Min: "..."

Indeed, he had forgotten about that.

First with Uncle Ji's remark, and then with Lu Ran jumping up and causing a commotion.

Now, there's nothing else to be done.

The man sat cross-legged on the bed, propping his forehead with a sigh.

After some thought, he still felt stifled.

He said helplessly, "Just go ahead and kill me then."

"Did I call you wrong?"

Lu Ran also sat across from him, gesturing at Ji Min. "Didn't you want to be my elder before? When I called Gu Zhi 'Uncle Gu,' weren't you quite dissatisfied?"

Ji Min: "..."

At this moment, he didn't wish to utter a single word.

Glancing at the youth across from him, he couldn't help but feel that his present state was rather ungainly. He reached out to fetch a pillow, placing it demurely upon his lap.

Seeing this, Lu Ran burst into another round of laughter.

He pounced forward, seizing Ji Min by the neck and asking, "Well, have you realized your mistake?"

Ji Min had developed a slight aversion to Lu Ran's pranks.

Seeing someone rush over, he hurriedly caught them with his hands and let out a long sigh. "What do you think?"

After such a scene, whether it was a person or a ghost, they would realize their mistake.

"Oh?" Lu Ran raised an eyebrow and asked,

"Well then, let me ask you, if something were to happen again in the future, would you still keep the dangers from me, secretly making wills and arrangements for friends just like before?"

Ji Min paused for a moment before obediently responding, "Of course not."

The man's reply was impeccable, radiating righteousness: "I'll definitely discuss it properly with you."

Lu Ran: "..."

Fixing Ji Min with a stern gaze, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "What did that moment of hesitation mean?"

"Ahem."

Ji Min raised his hand to touch his nose, diverting the subject with a soft plea, "You're leaning on me."

Lu Ran was infuriated.

Without further ado, he smacked him lightly with the pillow, his voice stern: "Don't interrupt! Answer me properly!"

Ji Min furrowed his brow and let out a muffled hum, pulling the person closer into his embrace.

He leaned against the headboard of the bed, gazing down at the youth in his arms whose eyes shone with both determination and sincerity. With a sigh, he answered earnestly:

"Rest assured, I won't hide any dangers from you anymore, forcing you to climb in through the window to see me. That was indeed my fault," the man said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "But..."

"What 'but'?" Lu Ran's displeasure was evident.

"However, if there are unforeseen circumstances, I'll still find ways to ensure everything is taken care of," Ji Min said, gently stroking his hair.

Lu Ran took a deep breath and reached out to grip his throat again.

"I think you're doing this on purpose. You know it upsets me, yet you insist on going ahead with it!" He pressed his fingers against Ji Min's Adam's apple.

Ji Min quickly dodged.

"I'm about to explode with anger! You sleep alone!" Lu Ran struggled to get up.

But the man reached out to hold him back.

With all his might, Lu Ran tried to sit up, but his face flushed in vain as he remained stuck.

He simply reached out to tousle Ji Min's hair instead.

After some playful antics.

Suddenly, Ji Min winced and furrowed his brow.

Lu Ran quickly ceased his actions, turning to examine Ji Min's leg:

"What's wrong? Is your leg hurting again?"

Leaning his chin on Lu Ran's shoulder, the man sighed softly, "My leg is fine, but other parts of me are about to break from your antics."

Lu Ran: "..."

He fell silent for a moment, still somewhat concerned. Eventually, he lifted the pillow off Ji Min's legs to take a look.

After just a brief glance, he threw the pillow back, his ears reddening as he said,

"Nonsense, it's not broken at all!"

Unable to contain himself, Ji Min chuckled as he embraced the other.

They sat facing each other, leaning against the headboard of the bed.

Lu Ran nestled in Ji Min's arms and said in a muffled voice,

"I don't like it when you arrange those things."

Seemingly, every move was planned with the assumption of his departure.

But Lu Ran was unwilling to entertain such "assumptions."

Ji Min rubbed his chin against the top of Lu Ran's head.

Precisely because he knew that Lu Ran was reluctant to think about these matters, Ji Min had secretly made arrangements without informing him.

Lu Ran was not ready to confront these hypothetical scenarios.

Let him face it alone then.

It was late into the night.

In the end, Ji Min took a shower, gradually suppressing the urge that came with just being discharged from the hospital.

Lu Ran didn't return to his own room either.

After waiting for Ji Min to finish his ablutions, he took a shower as well.

With his hair half-dried, he climbed into bed, still steaming from the shower.

Only when he got on the bed did he realize that Ji Min had brought another blanket up.

There were now two separate blankets on the large bed.

Ji Min lay in one of them, eyes already closed and drifting off to sleep.

The man slept very properly, with his limbs well-behaved, stretched out long and straight.

Lu Ran observed for a moment before slipping under his own covers.

Then, he emerged from the other side of the blanket and slinked into Ji Min's.

"Tsk."

Ji Min opened his eyes, promptly grabbing hold of his hand.

"What are you doing?" Ji Min looked at him coolly, then reached up to brush a hand through his hair. "Dry off before coming in."

But Lu Ran chuckled and burrowed in completely, wrapping his arms and legs tightly around the man.

"Lu Ran, you're being too much," the man said in a deep voice.

He had just prevented an accident, and now this rascal was intentionally teasing him.

Yet, Lu Ran hugged him with all limbs, issuing a muffled sigh. "Boss, you're really like a huggable bear."

The moment he heard the term "Boss," Ji Min knew the kid was half-asleep.

He sighed, deciding against sending the person away.

Rather than removing the blanket, he gently tugged it upwards, enveloping the youth's head within its cozy confines.

The lights in the bedroom dimmed once more, and the two of them fell asleep in each other's embrace.

As the two of them took a break, the Shen family's banquet was only just reaching its climax.

The guests in the courtyard had gradually dispersed.

Yet, Shen Hongyuan's study was still occupied by numerous prominent figures from the business world.

Now, the Fang family had expressed their intention to cooperate with the Shen family.

Should they genuinely secure the HZ project, the Shen family's status would undoubtedly soar.

At present, many individuals were keen on doing the Shen family a favor.

Seizing this opportunity, Shen Hongyuan began to actively seek investments.

He was also willing to lower himself, flattering the influential figures in the study and entertaining them with his wit, leaving them all grinning from ear to ear.

"One good turn deserves another. Let's seal the deal tomorrow and sign the contract!" one of them proposed.

The others also expressed their eagerness to collaborate.

Shen Hongyuan promptly agreed, "Very well, I'll be available anytime tomorrow!"

With several investments secured in a row, Shen Hongyuan felt invigorated.

Noticing the increased warmth in the expressions of the executives before him, he responded in kind.

Especially Mr. Yang, the eldest among them, Shen Hongyuan almost wished he could support the man while descending the stairs.

Upon reaching the ground floor and preparing to depart, the executives, assuming they had spent quite some time and consumed refreshments, excused themselves to use the restroom.

At that moment, Shen Hongyuan treated these gentlemen as if they were his saviors.

Upon hearing that the group was heading to the restroom, Shen Hongyuan couldn't help but shudder, recalling Lu Ran's visit earlier that day.

"Please wait a moment, Mr. Yang," Shen Hongyuan said, not daring to be careless and fearful of any mishaps.

Rather than assigning a servant, he personally went down to the first floor to inspect the restrooms.

Hmm, everything seemed to be in order.

Each stall was tidied up neatly, with no sign of cockroaches lurking about.

This relieved Shen Hongyuan greatly.

He hadn't expected that Lu Ran wouldn't pull any pranks today.

After the inspection, Shen Hongyuan personally supported President Yang into the restroom:

"The floor here can be slippery. Please be cautious, sir."

Despite his efforts, Shen Hongyuan was, after all, still the boss of a company.

Seeing that Manager Yang had gone into a stall to use the toilet, Shen Hongyuan had no interest in waiting for him in the bathroom and thus returned to the corridor outside, where he lit a cigarette.

Coincidentally, Shen Xingyu walked over at that moment.

Upon seeing Shen Hongyuan, he frowned and said, "Dad, did Shen Cheng do something again today?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Hongyuan's gaze darkened.

He waved his hand and said, "That's your uncle. He's still your senior, regardless."

Shen Xingyu sighed. "Dad, I've told you not to associate with him anymore."

Shen Hongyuan's expression turned grim. "He's a director of the company and my younger brother. If anything really happens, can I just ignore him?"

"Allow me to speak frankly," Shen Xingyu said with a cold tone. "The internal financial deficit of the Shen Corporation is all because you've been indulging him."

"Enough, I know what I'm doing."

Shen Hongyuan spoke sternly, "Your uncle's father passed away due to company affairs. If it weren't for him, there wouldn't be the Shen Corporation as it is now. Where would you be CEO of?"

Shen Xingyu was left speechless.

Shen Hongyuan was in a good mood that day and didn't intend to get angry with his son.

He patted Shen Xingyu and said,

"Alright, go entertain those uncles and elders. We should be able to settle the funding issue today."

As he finished speaking, the sound of the bathroom door slamming echoed behind him.

He turned around to see President Yang, who had just entered for a bowel movement, stumbling out with a distended belly.

His clothes were drenched, and his face was filled with terror.

As he ran, he yelled, "It's exploded! It came out!"

Rong Shu was taken aback once more.

She had only consumed two cups of fruit wine. How could she have affected him? In her previous life, she had consumed alcohol many times, yet he had never complained about her scent the following day.

After Gu Changjin left, she instinctively lifted her arm and sniffed it. Aside from the fresh scent of pear blossoms, there was no peculiar or unpleasant odor.

"Yingyue, Ying Que, come here and smell me to see if there's any strange smell on me."

Yingyue and Ying Que had also heard Gu Changjin's words earlier. Hearing Rong Shu's request, they bent down and took a whiff of her body.

Yingyue replied first, "This servant only smells the pear blossom fragrance from yesterday. I don't detect any other odor."

Nodding vigorously, Ying Que agreed, "This servant didn't smell anything strange either. Could it be that the smell is from Sir himself? Yesterday, Sir didn't arrive at Songsi Courtyard until midnight and didn't use the washroom. Perhaps he's the one who smells bad."

Her lady had always been a fragrant beauty, so Ying Que disliked what Sir had said just now. Unconsciously, she tried to shift the blame onto Gu Changjin.

Just as Lord Gu, drenched in 'dirty water', stepped onto the carriage, Chang Ji, who was beside him, noticed his relaxed expression and found it rather odd.

Why is Master in such a good mood today?

Ever since Jin-shi passed out in the Ministry of Justice's prison a couple of days ago, Master's mood has been gloomy for two consecutive days. Based on Chang Ji's understanding of his master, this gloominess should last a few more days, as Jin-shi's health won't hold out much longer.

Though the Supreme Court and the Board of Censors have reviewed the new verdict for Xu Li'er's case and submitted it to the Wenyuan Pavilion, they have no idea when the chief state counselor will present it to the inner court.

Chang Ji had been too afraid to inquire about this matter, for he didn't want to further upset Gu Changjin. Now, seeing that his master seemed to be in a slightly better mood, he mustered the courage to ask, "Master, has there been any progress in Xu Li'er's case?"

Gu Changjin's gaze fell on the window as he replied coolly, "The cabinet should submit that verdict to the inner court either today or tomorrow. At this moment, all the officials and citizens in the capital are waiting for the final judgment in this case. The Chief Eunuch of the Office of Ceremonial wouldn't dare to hold onto the verdict privately. Within seven days at most, Jin-shi and Xu Li'er should be able to leave the prison."

Chang Ji's lips twitched.

Seven days... He wondered if Jin-shi would survive until then.

Wanting to ask but hesitant to do so, after inquiring about the case, he noticed that his master's mood had worsened. Eyeing Gu Changjin carefully, he suddenly paused and asked, "What happened to the right side of Master's face? It looks like it's red."

He added in bewilderment, "Could it be a bug bite? But with Master's skills, not even a mosquito could get close to you."

Unintentionally, the speaker's words struck a chord in the listener.

Gu Changjin's lips straightened, and he narrowed his eyes slightly.

Indeed, with his skills, it was difficult for anyone else to come close to him, let alone pinch a mark on his face like that.

Last night, he had deliberately allowed the girl to approach him out of curiosity to see what she would do. However, he shouldn't have stood there motionless and endured it when her hand touched his face.

It was as if... he was intentionally letting her vent her anger.

More importantly, it was as if he had done such a thing countless times before.

Gu Changjin pressed his chest, where his heart, since the night he entered that magnificent canopy bed, had been pounding wildly with unrest.

He is an inquisitive person, always eager to uncover the roots of matters and discern their underlying reasons, subsequently formulating strategies to address them.

Thus, she closed her eyes and, like an impartial observer, meticulously dissected every moment she spent with Rong Shu yesterday, both in the study and by the canopy bed.

He returned to Songsi Courtyard to ascertain the extent of her influence over him.

The closer he was to her, the faster his heart beat, but that was all there was to it. The night before, he had lain by her side with no inclination whatsoever to engage in any amorous dalliance with her.

As long as he didn't think of her, avoid her, or inquire about anything related to her, his heart would return to its usual state.

Gu Changjin opened his eyes, having made up his mind.

The carriage arrived at the entrance of the Ministry of Punishment's office unnoticed. Chang Ji got down to open the door and asked when they should come back for him.

"Come fetch me at sunset. Also—" Gu Changjin paused before continuing calmly, "Tell them at the Songsi Courtyard that due to the Ministry's busy workload before the new year, I'll be staying in my study from now on."

Chang Ji was not surprised at all by Gu Changjin's decision to return to his study. In fact, he found it more normal than the previous night when his master had taken the initiative to spend the night at the Songsi Courtyard. Yesterday, Chang Ji almost dropped his jaw in disbelief.

After acknowledging the order, he returned to Wutong Lane.

Once Sun Daoping left, Chang Ji and Heng Ping went back to their residence. After parking the carriage, as they approached the entrance of their quarters, they noticed someone standing there.

The person wore a pine-green skirt, with her hair neatly arranged in a round bun. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her expression was stern—it could only be Aunt An.

Chang Ji's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly put on a servile smile, greeting warmly, "Oh, Aunt An, why are you here? Has Lady sent you with any instructions?"

"Auntie didn't send me; I came out of curiosity. Young Master spent the night at the Songsi Courtyard yesterday. Why didn't you or Heng Ping inform me?"

Chang Ji inwardly sensed trouble but maintained an even more earnest smile on his face. Bending his waist, he repeatedly apologized, "Heng Ping has been occupied with tasks assigned by the Master these past few days, thus he couldn't spare any time. It was my oversight not to inform you and Madam, but I assure you it won't happen again."

Indeed, he had not been idle these days. With Heng Ping absent, Gu Changjin's entire service relied on him alone, leaving him as busy as a bee with its head caught in its own legs.

But Chang Ji, having grown up under Nanny An's tutelage, knew precisely what words would soothe the old nanny's blackened heart.

Upon hearing Chang Ji's explanation, Nanny An's expression visibly softened. "It seems you've become a bit too relaxed lately. Next time if there's anything you don't report, I'll inform Madam and send you back to Jinan for some rigorous bone-strengthening exercises."

After a light reprimand, Nanny An casually brought up Heng Ping. "You mentioned that Heng Ping rushed off due to the Young Master's orders. Do you know what task he was assigned?"

Chapter LXVII: The Search Begins

Gu Heting was taken aback for a moment, then he released his grip and said, "I apologize for my rudeness."

Luo Le adjusted his clothes again, thinking that Gu Heting had already left, but to his surprise, he was still there.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward. Luo Le turned back and asked, "Aren't you going to be busy?"

Gu Heting pursed his lips and said, "Go, I must go. As for the butterfly on your shoulder..."

Luo Le tilted his head to glance at his shoulder. "Oh, this? I got it tattooed."

Gu Heting slightly furrowed his brows, with a hint of disbelief: "Tattooed?"

Luo Le's lips curved slightly. "Does it not seem like me?"

"It does seem so."

It didn't seem like a tattoo; it appeared more like something he had brought into the world from his mother's womb.

Luo Le glanced at Gu Heting with a puzzled look.

"Shall you attend to your tasks? I'll get changed, otherwise there might be too many people downstairs handling the discharge procedures later."

Gu Heting glanced at his shoulder and acknowledged with a nod before leaving.

Gazing at his retreating figure, Luo Le pressed her lips together and fell into a slight trance.

In his teenage years, Luo Le associated with a group of wayward aristocrats, racing cars, indulging in alcohol, and partaking in all sorts of revelries, never once tasting defeat.

The group of privileged youths, having witnessed Luo Le's audacious racing skills, dared not provoke him easily.

He had never been anyone's definition of an obedient child, yet here he was, unexpectedly experiencing what it felt like.

Luo Le smiled. As he walked over to change his clothes, he remembered that the curtains were still open.

He approached and drew the curtains, taking just two steps when something in the corner of his eye caught his attention – a commotion at the hospital entrance.

There, parked, was a black hovering vehicle that appeared increasingly familiar the more he looked at it.

Isn't that license plate on the car Huo Lanjing's favorite?

No way, right?

Luo Le stepped forward, leaning against the glass, scanning for that figure. Suddenly, he spotted the person downstairs.

Why on earth would Huo Lanjing come to the Second Planet out of the blue? It was clear he was here for Luo Le.

Luo Le hastily drew the curtains shut and glanced back at Chen Chen, still sound asleep.

He couldn't let Huo Lanjing catch him.

In a flurry, Luo Le threw on some clothes, too rushed to gather anything else.

Grabbing a small blanket, he wrapped Chen Chen in it, then lifted him gently into his arms.

Perhaps because his movements were a bit rough, or maybe his anxiety had affected Chen Chen, the baby began crying loudly the moment he was picked up.

As a new father, Luo Le had no experience soothing a child.

Contemplating for a moment, he gently patted Chen Chen's back and softly said, "Good boy, Chen Chen, don't cry. Be a good boy."

Seemingly understanding, Chen Chen stopped crying.

With his big eyes wide open, he stared at Luo Le as if he could really see him.

Luo Le smiled and dashed out the door with the child in his arms.

Just as he pressed the elevator button, he noticed an elevator about to arrive on this floor.

It was coming from downstairs.

Luo Le hastily rushed to the stairwell corner with Chen Chen. Taking the stairs would be too slow; they had to take the elevator.

If Huo Lanjing ordered the hospital to be sealed off before he reached the ground floor, there would be no escape.

Luo Le hid by the staircase entrance, constantly watching the elevator, afraid of missing it.

A minute later, the elevator doors opened.

Huo Lanjing emerged from the elevator, clad in a deep camel-colored coat, his steps hurried.

A nurse pushed an Omega in a hospital gown across his path.

He paused for a moment.

Luo Le's heart hung in suspense, his gaze cautiously landing on Huo Lanjing.

Fearful that he might approach.

Suddenly, Chen Chen in his arms began to cry, the wails echoing loudly.

Huo Lanjing stopped nearby, looking over with a puzzled expression.

Luo Le inwardly cursed, hastily withdrawing and swaying Chen Chen back and forth in his arms, patting him as he did so, remembering that infants often enjoyed being jostled about.

His body had not yet fully recovered, leaving him devoid of strength. Though Chen Chen was not heavy, he could not run while carrying him.

All he could do was pray fervently, "Please don't come over, please don't."

Perhaps his wish was answered by the heavens.

Huo Lanjing had only taken a few steps when Captain Lin suddenly emerged from the elevator. "General, let's go. The doctor is waiting for us at the entrance."

Huo Lanjing nodded and turned to leave with Captain Lin.

Watching his figure disappear around the corner, Luo Le hurriedly joined the crowd and entered the elevator.

At the same time, at the closed door of the patient's room, three doctors in white coats were waiting.

As Huo Lanjing approached, the lead doctor extended his hand. "General Huo, I've long heard of your reputation. It's an honor to meet you."

Seeing his sycophantic expression, Huo Lanjing gave him a cold glance. beads of sweat formed on the doctor's forehead, and he took a step back.

Huo Lanjing ignored him, grabbing the handle and pushing the door open.

The room was empty.

An open bottle sat on the bedside table, and the patient's gown was messily sprawled on the bed.

A vein pulsed on Huo Lanjing's forehead. "Seal the hospital, find her for me."

A doctor hurriedly interjected, "General Huo, you can't do that. There are still patients seeking treatment."

Lieutenant Lin stepped forward to clarify, "The General means to seal the hospital, allowing entry but not exit."

Upon understanding his intention, the doctor didn't linger and went to seek the director's approval.

Moreover, it was clear to anyone that the General's mood was terrible. Staying any longer might turn him into a venting target.

Huo Lanjing strode inside. At the foot of the bed, there was a small bag, and the slippers were neatly placed underneath. The water bottle had its cap open.

If not for the hospital gown on the bed, one might have thought that the patient had just gone to the restroom and would return momentarily.

Huo Lanjing sat down, clutching the gown, his gaze darkening as he fixated on it, lost in thought.

"General, it seems Madam has given birth to a little prince," Lieutenant Lin said, presenting a medical record before him.

Huo Lanjing took the paper and flipped it over, revealing the words on its surface.

Gu Chenyue.

A child born from the fusion of his and Luo Le's blood.

He reached out to gently stroke both names, a subtle glint flickering in his eyes.

So Luo Le had named their child Chenyue.

Meanwhile, as Luo Le reached the ground floor, he quickened his pace towards the entrance.

The building he lived in was already close to the door, and within three minutes of descending the stairs, he was outside.

It wasn't until he was safely inside his car that Luo Le allowed himself to relax.

Gazing at the ceaseless flow of traffic through the window, Luo Le felt a bit lost.

Leaving the Second Planet was definitely out of the question now. Chen Chen was only a little over a month old, and his fragile body would not withstand the strain of space-time travel.

Considering that Huo Lanjing managed to track him down to the hospital, he must have uncovered his identity by now. If Luo Le were to return, he might well be walking right into a trap set by Huo Lanjing's men.

Luo Le leaned against the car window, lost in thought.

He couldn't risk going to an establishment like a hotel that required identification.

So, where could he go now?

Should he contact Wind City now?

Wait, Luo Le suddenly realized his mistake. He had yet to retrieve his AI brain.

How could he have forgotten about such a crucial matter?

Luo Le hastily instructed the autonomous hovercar to change its destination.

*

The staff member looked grave as they asked, "Are you sure you want to retrieve your AI brain?"

Luo Le nodded, responding earnestly, "Yes, please do it quickly."

"Alright, follow me."

A few minutes later, Luo Le felt a weight lifted off her shoulders as she pulled the newly bought mask up over her nose.

On their way here, Luo Le had already fed Chen Chen, who was now contentedly asleep after a full meal.

Luo Le lowered her gaze to look at the tiny bundle of joy on her chest. She reached out to gently rub his face; it was soft and squishy, indentation forming under her touch.

— "Gu Zhiwei?"

The sudden voice startled Luo Le, who stiffened and gradually turned sideways.

No way, could he be recognized despite being so well-covered?

He raised his eyes and saw that it was Gu Heting.

"Why are you here? No, how did you know I was here?"

Gu Heting blinked at him and said, "It was just a guess."

"Aren't you supposed to be in the lab at this hour?"

Luo Le looked at him with a hint of confusion.

Gu Heting smiled and said, "You must be avoiding someone and not going home."

Luo Le felt somewhat awkward, unsure of how to respond.

"Where are you headed next? If you haven't found a place yet, I do have a suggestion for a temporary residence."

"Where exactly?"

Gu Heting pursed his lips and said, "How about my dormitory? Would you like to go there?"

Luo Le furrowed his brow slightly. Wouldn't a place like school require real identities?

It seems that he noticed his doubts, so Gu Heting explained: "No need for real names, and there's no one else, you can rest assured."

Luo Le nods, he indeed has nowhere else to go at the moment.

"Thank you. I'll make sure to pay the rent."

Gu Heting knew that if it was for free, Luo Le might not feel at ease living there: "Alright, five hundred a month will do. I rarely stay there either, but may I ask you a few questions?"

"What?"

Gu Heting's car was parked right outside the door. After walking for a short while, it was easily spotted.

"Step into the car first, you can't afford to catch a chill right now."

Luo Le nodded, and the two of them got into the back seat together.

Moments later, the vehicle began to move.

Gu Heting spoke: "Is that fierce and ferocious person another father of Chen Chen?"

Luo Le didn't intend to hide anything and nodded.

"He's... so domineering. You wouldn't believe it, but the moment he found you were missing, he ordered the hospital to be locked down, allowing entry but not exit."

Luo Le knew he would do this. Thankfully, he was one step ahead.

"He's always been like that."

"It's evident."

After that, neither of them spoke, and the carriage fell into a sudden silence.

"Does Chen Chen have a godfather now?" Gu Heting suddenly asked this question.

Thinking of someone on the distant Fifth Planet, Luo Le smiled. "I've got it."

"Well, I didn't expect someone else to beat me to it."

At that very moment, a distant Wind City let out an unbidden sneeze. Rubbing his nose, he wondered if Brother Le was thinking of him.

Gu Heting said with a smile, "Then would you like to consider me as an older brother? I'm thirty this year, so I should be a few years older than you."

After a long while, Luo Le did not respond. Just as Gu Heting thought he was unwilling and was about to treat it as a joke, he suddenly saw Luo Le nod his head.

"Truly?" The tone held a touch of delight.

During this period, Gu Heting has been of great assistance to him. Without Gu Heting's help, he might have truly struggled to manage on his own.

Luo Le nods sincerely, "Mm-hmm."

Gu Heting: "That's wonderful."

Perhaps it was because of excessive joy, but Gu Heting was quite talkative all the way.

It is often said that a three-year age gap constitutes a generational divide. Gu Heting is thirty years old, which is almost eight years older than him.

Luo Le could only respond to him from time to time.

Suddenly, Luo Le thought of a question and turned his head to ask, "Do you have an Omega?"

Ever since Luo Le has known Gu Heting, he has never met his family nor seen him discuss relationships.

Yet, during this period, he could faintly detect the subtle scent of an Omega.

If there were, it wouldn't have been appropriate for him to have lived there in the past.

After all, it would seem peculiar for an Omega with a child to move into his quarters.

Surely no omega would be indifferent to such a matter.

"No, there isn't."

Gu Heting had just finished speaking when he noticed Luo Le's expression, which was somewhat amusing. He said with a smile, "Why do you look at me as if I were a scumbag? Really, there's nothing like that. I like Alphas, so you can rest assured, there's definitely no Omega involved."

Luo Le paused, refraining from asking further questions.

You really don't need your real name to enter the school, you just need Gu Heting's guarantee.

Chapter 146: Heaven's Transformation

Wen Ying had no time to entertain Muershi's antics; his eyebrows were almost knitted into a deep frown.

"The hole seems to be growing larger," Muershi observed from the balcony, his gaze fixed on the apocalyptic sky. "The barrier of that portal is feeble. If it expands any further, lower-ranking demons might be able to pass through."

"Wen Ying, do you think it was the Extremists or someone from the Church?" As he spoke from the balcony's railing, he pulled Muershi along and locked the door behind them before swiftly descending towards the darkness below.

Considering there were no exorcists present in the neighborhood today, whether or not it was the Church's doing, they must be aware of the situation and have prepared accordingly beforehand.

Citizens looked up in awe at the unprecedented phenomenon, many capturing the scene and sharing it online. Numerous comments flooded the internet, with some joking about the apocalypse, others speculating on divine tribulations or even alien invasions.

This time, the government found it impossible to wipe out all the posts, as there were simply too many people sharing images and information – it was beyond their control.

Supermarkets, convenience stores, vegetable markets, jewelry shops – places deemed essential in such circumstances – were inundated with people rushing to stock up on supplies.

Employees at the jewelry shops had never witnessed such a frenzied gold-buying spree; it seemed as if their gold was being treated like common vegetables in a market.

Among the panic buyers were those who had left work halfway through, fearing that some terrifying event might disrupt societal order. They hastily gathered provisions, while others hurried to drive to safer locations. Suddenly, the streets swelled with traffic, filled with honking cars and chattering voices, creating a chaotic buzz.

Wen Ying flew on, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

The hole in the sky continued to expand, surrounded by lightning-laced clouds that rumbled ominously. The animals within the city cried out restlessly, unsettling the hearts of those who heard them.

Wen Ying and Muershi approached beneath the massive hole. Several streets had already been enveloped by it, and one could see official personnel evacuating the area.

As Wen Ying caught sight of a particular structure - the headquarters of the Devil Corporation - he couldn't help but curse inwardly. There was no doubt now; the group of exorcists from the Church must be involved.

In this region, many ordinary people were being guided away. Quite a number of them took out their phones to take pictures, and the leaked videos sparked a huge uproar online.

Those who seemed to be officials had already stepped in to evacuate the area, and no expert would dare attribute this to any ordinary meteorological phenomenon now.

Speculations about the impending apocalypse were rampant online. The government, at present, was focusing solely on suppressing doomsday propaganda and any rhetoric that incited social unrest. They were promptly banning user IDs, and in more severe cases, individuals would face detention after the fact.

In the Yang family, both Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi had returned from outside, and even Yang Shiming, who was attending school, was called back. The house was guarded, and with everyone gathered together, they managed to find some sense of security.

Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi instructed their servants to venture out and procure a substantial amount of food and water. Huo Jue was also present, and they had anticipated that he would propose returning home. However, Huo Jue did not do so. Instead, he stated that the outside world was currently in a state of disarray, and suggested remaining here for a while longer to assess the situation before making any decisions.

Yang Rixi pretended to go to the restroom and whispered to Wen Ying's puppet avatar, "What is that black hole in the sky? Why does it contain such an immense amount of demonic energy?"

Yang Shiming knocked on the outer door. "Big bro, I need something."

Yang Rixi opened the door and let him in, with Beros entering alongside them.

Beros immediately asked Wen Ying, "Did you go see it?"

"We were beneath the black hole – that's the headquarters of the mobile game company. Quite a few exorcists and police officers were evacuating the citizens there," Wen Ying replied. "The barrier of the black hole is weakening. In about a minute, lower demons will be able to pass through."

Upon hearing 'lower demons', Yang Shiming heaved a sigh of relief. "Lower demons are manageable. I should be able to handle low-level demons."

Beros' voice was cold. "Lower demons are the most common type among high-ranking demons, not low-level ones."

Yang Shiming's face instantly turned fearful. "Are you demons planning a massive invasion of the human world? Would being with you make me a traitor to humanity?"

Traitor to humanity? Wen Ying chuckled. "If there were really traitors, those official exorcists you've seen would be the biggest group of them."

Yang Rixi: "???"

Yang Shiming: "What the hell?!"

Boros had no intention of entertaining this useless, easily startled fellow and flew over to Wen Ying's side, asking, "Did you see any magic arrays or the caster that's maintaining the portal over there?"

Wen Ying and Muershi circled the area but failed to detect any magical disturbances related to the skyward passage. All they could sense was that the barrier here was weaker.

Perhaps the exorcists from the Church who were collaborating with the extremist faction had used some unknown method to weaken the barrier in this area beforehand, preparing for the magical portal from the Demon Realm.

Since the location of the casting wasn't here, they had no way of stopping the spell.

That didn't mean they couldn't do anything at all. Wen Ying's puppet avatar attached itself to Yang Rixi and sneaked out to find Lin Wenpu. Lin Wenpu happened to be at home. With a mix of threats and incentives, he made Lin Wenpu talk.

Although Lin Wenpu knew about the existence of demons, he was just an ordinary person. He could only see the low-level demons without physical bodies because he possessed enchanted items. His greatest use was to act as a conduit for their anger.

Being an ordinary person, it would be difficult for the Church's exorcists who were investigating the traitors to find anything on him. Even if they did, they wouldn't have any evidence.

The only evidence lay in the locked room within the Demon Corporation building. Within the room, only a demon could detect the problematic products mixed among the others.

When Lin Wenpu was visited by a demon, he initially thought of using his enchanted items against it. However, he found that his enchanted items were like toys in front of the demon and immediately knelt down.

"Great Demon, sir, what do you wish to know from me? I promise to spill everything I know! But I'm just a messenger, I don't know much. Please don't get angry!"

Initially aloof and indifferent, Wen Ying was utterly taken aback when the being knelt down just seconds later.

Lin Wenpu was sharp-witted. He surmised that the demon's visit couldn't have been with the intent to kill him, for he hadn't done anything significant besides serving as a mere transfer point during the transportation process – akin to a logistic hub. It was implausible for him to have offended such a powerful demon.

Since it was unlikely that he had offended the demon, Lin Wenpu deduced that the creature must have sought him out for information.

With this realization, Lin Wenpu promptly knelt and divulged everything he knew.

Wen Ying fell silent for a few seconds before asking, "Was that magical passage constructed by the Church?"

Lin Wenpu shook his head. "I don't know. I'm only responsible for conveying the anger. It's been a long time since my line of work was active, so I haven't had any contact with exorcists or demons for quite some time."

"Worthless!" Wen Ying's tone conveyed his disappointment.

Shivering, Lin Wenpu strained his memory for any useful information to save his life. Finally, something came to mind, and he quickly said, "One of the demons who came to me for anger mentioned that their staged plan is nearing success."

"Anything else?"

"No, n-nothing more. They were just casually chatting, saying that once this phase of their plan succeeds, they'll be able to command more low-level demons as subordinates."

More low-level demons? Wen Ying's first thought was the demonic realm portal in the sky, but he quickly dismissed it. The demonic realm didn't have many low-level demons.

As a demon who had attended classes, he possessed this basic knowledge. Low-level demons typically emerged from the seven emotions and six desires of humans, not from those of high-level demons.

On the contrary, when some incredibly powerful high-level demons died, they might give birth to intermediate or even high-level demons. These newly born beings originated from their dissipating magical power, distinct from their original selves, yet still new lives.

The magical portal had delivered demonic energy from the demonic realm, turning the human world, at least Mu City, into a breeding ground for low-level demons.

Wen Ying seemed to understand the purpose behind the black hole's opening.

Leaving his essence at the scene, Wen Ying flew back to the Yang residence to inform Huo Jue through Muershi.

With the current situation, Wen Ying temporarily spared Lin Wenpu's life. Possessing Yang Rixi, he first went to find his parents, ensuring their safety before returning to the Yang family.

To avoid arousing suspicion from Yang Zhenxing and the others, Wen Ying left Yang Rixi's body and asked Perseus and Muershi to follow him upstairs to discuss their next move.

Sitting down at the desk, Wen Ying shared the information he had gathered and his speculations with them, then asked his companions, "This situation has surpassed the scope of the final exam. What are your plans now?"

Perseus sat cross-legged and replied, "The stability of the human world doesn't concern us. If demons emerge from the portal, we'll deal with them. If not, we'll seize an opportunity to deal with Xiao Long. There's no need to overthink; our current strength is only a fraction of our true forms."

It was the answer Berlos would give. Wen Ying looked at Muershi, who smiled and said, "My thoughts align with Berlos."

As they were pure demons, they didn't care about how the human world would fare. Wen Ying's heart sank slightly; they didn't share the same perspective.

Berlos asked curiously, "Don't you think the same?" His guard instantly rose. What scheme was Wen Ying cooking up now?

"I believe that if we disrupt the extremist party's plot this time, we'll definitely come out on top," Wen Ying replied.

Berlos clicked his tongue. "If the magic array for the spell was in the Human Realm, I'd think the same way too."

The black hole in the sky suddenly stopped expanding, and its energy had stabilized.

All three demons looked out the window as several dark shadows flew out of the hole.

Wen Ying took a few steps forward, surprised. Had he been wrong?

Berlos stood up. "Seems like you were mistaken. Their goal isn't just to fill Mu City with demonic energy to nourish low-level demons."

As Berlos spoke, his aura was like a sword unsheathed, irresistible and sharp. A faint black demonic energy swirled around him, resembling black flames eager to devour their enemies.

Feeling the aura of battle beneath the black hole, exorcists were engaged in combat with the first wave of low-ranking demons who had descended into the human realm.

As the second batch of low-ranking demons arrived, the three demons keenly sensed that the rules governing the human world had shifted, the suppression against their kind weakening.

Muershi narrowed his eyes slightly. "Their aims extend beyond what we just speculated."

They sought to influence the very rules themselves.

Wen Ying was unfamiliar with the "operating mechanism" of the human world's rules, but he understood the outcome: the more demons that descended, the weaker the suppression on them became. If that was the case, then continuously transporting demons to the human world would effectively nullify their weakened state.

Suddenly, Muershi declared, "I see now. The increase of demonic aura in the human realm strengthens the exorcists, naturally weakening the rules."

Wen Ying was physically present beneath the black hole, at the heart of the battlefield where exorcists and demons clashed. Though most exorcists were not as powerful as the demons, their numbers made up for it. The demons were still in a weakened state, not yet at their peak.

As they conversed, the internet had already exploded with news. Not extraterrestrial beings, but something even more fantastical. Some dared to take photos, and from the blurry, enlarged images, people could discern creatures emerging from the black hole with wings on their backs and horns on their heads. These humanoid figures resembled the legendary depiction of demons.

"Damn, is doomsday turning into the descent of mythology?"

"Where are the angels? What happened to them?"

"The Dragon Squad does indeed exist, right? I heard from my friend that it's a battlefield over there, with people from the country fighting those demons – not with scientific firearms!"

"But I heard gunshots?"

"Probably supernatural beings and soldiers working together."

"This is in the city; they can't use heavy artillery or else they would have just bombed the area outright."

"Will the world change after this?"

With all the commotion here, the relevant departments of the demonic realm took notice.

Upon hearing that it was happening in his territory, Lennach, Perseus' father, flew into a rage and led his subordinates straight to the scene.

Since they were no longer hiding, he could take the opportunity to eliminate them all at once, sparing himself the trouble of searching for them day after day.

Alruda, upon receiving the news, continued watering her flowers without pause, only furrowing her brow slightly as she said to Feng Luo beside her, "It's impossible for this forest to be the only weak spot in the barrier. The Extremists must have found a new vulnerability."

"With Wen Ying and the others there, things aren't too terrible," Feng Luo reassured her.

Aludama stared fixedly at the flowers he was watering, "The demonic aura from the Realm of Devils has passed. It will affect the entire plane's barrier. If they find a few more weak spots and send more demons through, the barrier will gradually fade away."

Feng Luo looked at the flowers Aludama was tending to with a detached tone, "Actually, the barrier breaking isn't much of an issue for us. What we should worry about is humanity."

"No," Aludama suddenly spoke with certainty, "Have you heard of human tales of heroes? Heroes who slay the Devil King."

A flood of question marks filled Feng Luo's mind. Humans? Slaying the Devil King? Who would slay the Devil King? Humans? It sounded like a fairy tale.

Wen Ying, in his original form, observed the scene for a while. The humans were not at a disadvantage. The exorcists and soldiers were cooperating seamlessly, and just like fire magic, firearms also posed a threat to the demons.

If not for the fact that this was an urban area, they could have easily eradicated several lesser demons with aerial bombardment or tank fire.

Wen Ying couldn't help but feel his blood boil with excitement, his demonic heritage urging him to join the battle.

He took a deep breath to suppress this impulse. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a shadow nearby. His gaze sharpened, assuming it to be reinforcements from the exorcists, only to discover that it was another demon cloaked in a shroud of black demonic aura.

The other party had also noticed him. Both sides sized each other up warily.

Wen Ying pondered for a moment before raising his hand, conjuring a small Mirror of True Form in his palm. The other demon's wariness dissipated as it gradually approached.

As the black demon drew closer, Wen Ying realized that its physique suggested it was underage, with slender bones and a figure that appeared feminine.

"Wen Ying?" The voice came with a hint of uncertainty.

"It's me," Wen Ying paused, "Which classmate of mine are you?"

The other relaxed and chuckled, "I'm Koroy."

Wen Ying replied, "What a small world."

Koroy, the demonic fairy, sensed a clue: "There are other demons in Mu City?"

Wen Ying nodded and gestured with three fingers.

Koroy fell silent for a moment before asking, "Are you here to steal points?"

Wen Ying replied calmly, "No, I'm just here to see what's going on. With so many exorcists around, there wouldn't be any points left to snatch, right?"

Koroy didn't respond immediately but pondered for a while before saying, "I've uncovered some information. Quite a few of those exorcists have ties with extremist factions. I planned on taking advantage of the chaos, disguising myself among the demons to eliminate them, then slipping away."

"A commendable strategy." Wen Ying glanced at Xiao Long, who held a magic staff in his hand. Radiant divine light enveloped him, extending out to empower his comrades nearby.

Many of the lesser demons from the Realm of Devils sought to breach the layers of defense to lay siege on Xiao Long.

"Have you also found someone?"

Wen Ying nodded.

On the other side, Wen Ying's avatar doll suddenly heard Muershi say, "In fact, we can infiltrate those demons and launch our attack on our target, with so many of our 'kinsfolk' providing cover for us."

Boros's spirits lifted. "You can still come up with a workable plan."

Upon hearing a similar response from Koroy, Wen Ying's gaze darkened slightly. Actually, he didn't agree with Koroy's plan. Even if some exorcists were colluding with the extremist faction, causing this disaster, on the surface, they were currently protecting ordinary people and this city.

If the demonic forces were to intervene and assault them at this moment, the pressure on the human side would significantly increase.

He hadn't intended to reveal Koroy's thoughts to Beros and Muershi, yet Muershi had surmised them on his own.

Indeed, the race of the Vilefowl is truly detestable, yet Wen Ying had no reason to disagree with Muershi's plan. Thus, Wen Ying patted Muershi's shoulder and said, "You stay here; Boros can come assist me."

Muershi protested, "If I stay, my score will definitely drop."

Wen Ying's smile remained unchanged as he whispered into Muershi's ear, "The bathroom."

Muershi: "… I'll stay." He gritted his teeth and spoke through clenched jaws, casting an aggrieved glance at Wen Ying.

Perseus felt a surge of satisfaction seeing Muershi stay behind. His gaze on Muershi was filled with triumph and arrogance.

Muershi wished he could say that the devil who had trapped Perseus in the toilet for a week was none other than him.

Perseus felt that Wen Ying had treated him fairly by not making him stay while leaving Muershi behind. This unexpected turn of events brought him inexplicable joy.

Wen Ying thought to himself that there needed to be at least one devil to guard the neighborhood since his parents had returned home. They needed protection, and Perseus would never agree to stay, so it had to be Muershi.

As Muershi watched the two devils depart, he grumbled about how cunning Wen Ying was, clearly having one body there already, and now sending his puppet doppelganger over too.

Wen Ying's main body had infiltrated the group of devils, targeting Xiao Long with a purpose. His puppet doppelganger didn't join the battle, instead separating from Perseus halfway through and rushing to find Lan Jiaying, who, as expected, was no longer in the house.

"Wanting to earn points without fully recovering… you're truly stubborn…" Wen Ying murmured to himself.

Wen Ying turned to fly towards the balcony, gazing pensively at the distant black hole.

The current scene was utterly disastrous. The overcast sky seemed torn apart, with malevolent and eerie black fog spewing out lower demons. slender lightning bolts appeared intermittently, accompanied by sporadic jets of flame or water tornadoes. Amidst the clash, the once tranquil Mu City had transformed into a bloody battlefield.

Exorcists had temporarily confined those lower demons to a specific area, preventing them from harming ordinary people. However, if their numbers continued to increase, the exorcists would struggle, and some would inevitably slip through the net.

A single lower demon against a group of humans – the outcome was predictable.

Wen Ying's gaze darkened. Berlos and Koroy didn't need to consider human casualties, allowing them to attack problematic exorcists without restraint. But he couldn't afford to do the same.

Before Wen Ying could come up with a solution here, his main body, in the midst of the battle, noticed another tiny black figure, identical to them.

His puppet avatar blurted out a string of curses. The world was damn small indeed. That little black person must be yet another classmate. Were they all being transported to Mu City in clusters?

Wen Ying wore a frustrated expression.

Yang Rixi, who was now inhabited by the puppet avatar, left Yang Shiming's hidden love nest and flew towards the nearby battlefield.

There must be something in the Human Realm that facilitated the opening of a passage from the Demon Realm.

Wen Ying had been observing for quite some time before an idea struck him, prompting him to infiltrate the now-deserted Demon Corporation building.

He returned to the previously locked room, which was now unlocked. Pushing the door open, he found the interior remained unchanged.

Wen Ying did something that could only be described as foolish – he touched every single product in the room one by one.

The demon-themed mobile game had been popular for years, so there were an astonishing several hundred new items in this room, each with numerous variations. By the time Wen Ying finished touching them all, two more waves of lesser demons had arrived outside.

Those lesser demons were radicals.

After an unknown period, just as Wen Ying was starting to doubt his own intelligence and on the verge of giving up, he stumbled upon a peculiar item.

It was an acrylic coaster printed with a magic array. With a forceful twist, Wen Ying broke it in half. Suddenly, the black hole outside began shrinking. The discovery filled those present with both delight and astonishment, while the radicals were shocked and enraged.

Xiao Long was uncertain, but his status forbade any out-of-place expressions. He forcefully suppressed his surprise and anger.

The anchor point was gone?

Watching the black hole outside gradually shrink, Wen Ying's lips curled into a knowing smile.

With only a limited number of demons in their class, and the world being so vast, it was highly irregular for several demon classmates to be randomly teleported to the small Mu City. This defied logic.

The demonic teacher who taught the art of magic arrays previously mentioned that teleportation arrays often require anchor points, and many of these points share commonalities. This is why Wen Ying speculated that Mu City might possess such an anchor.

This towering edifice stands precisely beneath the black hole. If there were an anchor point to be found, chances are high that it would be located here.

To my surprise, they disguised it as a peripheral, and Wen Ying clicked his tongue in disbelief. It was truly an insult to them, the fans of the two-dimensional world who cherish such peripherals.

No longer were there an unceasing stream of demons emerging to threaten the city's safety; Wen Ying's true form was now unencumbered by worry. Intertwined with their fury over the insult to their surrounding creations, they unleashed their full might, swiftly shattering the protective barrier of exorcists before Xiao Long and then piercing through their opponent's defensive aura. A single punch landed squarely on their adversary's face.

A pungent mix of bitterness and rust exploded, leaving Xiao Long's face twisted in disbelief as he spun through the air.

Boros: "?" He sensed Wen Ying's anger but couldn't fathom what had provoked it.

Soon, his focus shifted to his frustration with his current state of weakness. This body was too fragile, easily injured by the slightest impact, and he couldn't exert his strength. Boros's aura grew increasingly volatile, instilling fear in the exorcists who faced him.

Some among the exorcists began to realize something was amiss. Those few dark figures were distinct from other demons, their aggression far more intense, and they seemed to have specific targets in mind. They paid little attention to those who weren't on their list.

Xiao Le recognized the demon that had killed Wang Run that day; now its target was Xiao Long.

A thought flashed through Xiao Le's mind, causing his pupils to constrict.

He was aware that there were numerous traitors within the Church. During previous investigations, some peculiar incidents had pointed towards Xiao Long's retinue of knight servants, but higher-ups intervened, claiming they were framed. Thus, those matters were dealt with as such.

Recently, many intermediate and low-level demons had been killed in Mu City, cutting off the leads that he and his colleagues were pursuing. Both he and his peers had complained about how the murderer was making their investigation more challenging.

If the culprits were these demons cloaked in dark magic, and if the intermediate and low-level demons they killed were connected to the extremist faction, then the exorcists they intended to kill now...

Xiao Le suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. They aimed to kill the Saint, Xiao Long, as well as the head of the Knights' Order and other high-ranking officials in Mu City's branch of the Church...

If they were all traitors, this would merely be the tip of the iceberg. In terms of numbers, were the "traitors" themselves, or were they the ones colluding with the extremist faction?

Xiao Le dared not dwell on it too much. The more he pondered, the more terrified he became. How deeply had the Church's middle and upper echelons been corrupted? Was the Church still the righteous institution it claimed to be?

His hand holding the weapon trembled slightly, causing the demonic opponent to believe he was afraid. It cackled as it pounced, but despite his quivering body, Xiao Le mustered all his strength to pin the underestimating demon to the ground.

"Xiao Le!" Xiao Long's panicked voice echoed from behind. Turning around, Xiao Le saw tendrils from the black demon binding Xiao Long, several of them piercing his body.

Blood stained the green vines, a stark contrast against their color.

Wen Ying's grip tightened, and the vines followed his will, entwining Xiao Long, constricting him from all sides, effectively dealing with this Church's Saint Son.

Shivering, Xiao Le met the demon's gaze.

Chapter 116 - Going Home

After witnessing this scene, the people around them were genuinely stunned.

What was going on?

Why did it seem like Ji Min's "status in the family" had decreased even though his leg was better?

Ji Min sat on the sofa nearby.

Lu Ran leaned against the back of the couch, engrossed in his phone with his head down.

At first glance, the two seemed completely unfamiliar with each other.

But after witnessing what just happened, no one dared to think that anymore.

Shen Xingran was thoroughly embarrassed.

He glanced at Lu Ran, then at Ji Min, gritted his teeth, cursed them as "gay men," and slunk away in disgrace.

The others who had gathered also dispersed in twos and threes.

Ji Min sat with his legs bent in the single sofa.

Normally, when he was seated in his custom-made wheelchair, he didn't feel anything out of the ordinary.

But now, sitting on this sofa, he appeared slightly uncomfortable.

Perhaps due to the awkward seating position, his long legs, which were usually covered by a thin blanket, would occasionally shift and change posture, drawing much attention.

After sitting for a while, Ji Min couldn't resist and gently reached out to touch the youth behind him.

Lu Ran was attentively observing the Shen family father and son, as well as their cousin, outside the door, completely ignoring him.

Yet, here was a man not yet thirty, handsome, physically fit, and in possession of the entire Ji Corporation.

In the circle of noble families, his allure is by no means insignificant.

Despite the vague awareness of the relationship between Ji Min and Lu Ran, there were still those who held onto their hopes.

A few elders, leveraging their seniority, approached Ji Min with their accomplished younger relatives in tow to offer their "congratulations."

Lu Ran snapped back to reality.

He noticed a cluster of people had gathered around them.

In front of Ji Min, a middle-aged man slightly older than Shen Hongyuan was holding his son's hand and "promoting" him:

"This is my youngest son. He used to play at the Ji residence when he was little. I wonder if you still remember him..."

Lu Ran paused and cast a brief glance at Ji Min.

The man replied straightforwardly, without any consideration for the other's feelings, "I don't remember."

The elderly man and the young one left in an awkward silence.

Soon after, another pair arrived.

A prominent socialite was pulling along her daughter.

The mother wore an ingratiating expression, while her daughter, whose face was filled with embarrassment, kept shooting fleeting glances at her, wishing she could vanish into outer space on the spot.

Just as this pair arrived, another mother approached, towing her son along.

As the two parties found themselves in close proximity, before they could even engage Ji Min in conversation, the mothers began to exchange barbs.

Observing the tension escalating between them.

Someone else was lurking in the wings, seizing the opportunity to surpass the two bickering individuals with a clever detour.

Observing the altercation, Lu Ran thought, "..."

Ji Min, on edge and anxious that someone's temper might flare up, thought, "..."

He discreetly glanced at Lu Ran behind him.

To his surprise, the young man was engrossed in watching the rival groups as they vied for dominance, finding it highly entertaining.

Ji Min: "..."

Excellent, all his concerns were unnecessary.

However, as the three groups of people were indeed approaching, Ji Min furrowed his brow and cleared his throat, ready to speak up.

At that moment, he noticed Lu Ran, who had been standing silently behind him, finally making a move.

The person still didn't say a word.

Yet, he moved slowly and resolutely around the sofa, bending slightly to sit directly on the armrest of the single-seater sofa, right next to Ji Min.

The youth stood with his arms folded across his chest, his face set in a cold expression as he surveyed the oblivious people around him.

His posture was a blatant declaration of ownership.

Observing the diverse and subtle thoughts swirling among the onlookers, all couldn't help but murmur to themselves silently.

There were those who had long heard of the actions of this young master from the Shen family.

Seeing this, he silently laid his thoughts to rest.

Some believe that fortune favors the bold, and wish to try their luck once more.

They greeted Ji Min with openness and ease. Could Lu Ran still cling onto him after this?

Just as he was about to speak, he saw the man seated on the sofa suddenly emit a muffled chuckle, reaching out to draw the youth into an embrace by his waist.

Then, he lifted his head and looked at everyone, the amusement in his eyes fading slightly.

Under the watchful eyes of all.

The man sighed in an extremely indulgent and yet helpless tone.

"I apologize to all the elders, my beloved can be quite difficult to appease when upset. I'm afraid I won't have the time to receive your congratulations at the moment."

Everyone was startled, not expecting Ji Min to say such a thing.

The use of the term "lover" left no doubt as to their relationship.

At this point, any inappropriate thoughts vanished into thin air.

Even if someone wanted to linger, they didn't have the face to do so.

No one dared to question Ji Min's words, no matter how astonished they were.

Amidst light laughter, the crowd dispersed to resume their individual tasks.

Lu Ran remained seated on the arm of the sofa, unmoving.

At first glance, the youth appeared utterly composed, but upon closer inspection, one would notice the tips of his ears, hidden amidst his hair, flushed a delicate shade of red.

"Move aside, your embrace is making me uncomfortable."

Lu Ran reached out to gently nudge Ji Min's arm.

Ji Min clicked his tongue. "Aren't you supposed to be angry and seeking comfort elsewhere? Why are you still sitting here blocking my way?"

Speaking up to this point, Lu Ran was quite candid.

He lifted his chin and huffed, "One thing at a time."

Yes, he was angry, but...

No one could lay a finger on the person he cared about!

Despite the fact that everyone else had clearly left.

Yet, the young man still sat with his arms crossed and his head raised on the armrest of the sofa, his gaze sharp and wary.

Ji Min couldn't hold back and chuckled, embracing Lu Ran.

"Scoffing at someone like that?" he sighed, amused.

"Behave yourself," Lu Ran rolled his eyes.

That meant he was still upset.

Ji Min lifted his gaze to study the profile of the young man.

Despite his young age, the boy took love seriously.

He clearly distinguished between personal squabbles and external crises.

When it was time to scold him, he would do so without hesitation, and when it came to dealing with outsiders, he was just as straightforward.

He was honest and candid to an endearing extent.

In Ji Min's chest, it felt as if a pot of boiling water was simmering, producing a constant stream of steam.

His fingers traced the thin fabric of Lu Ran's shirt at his waist.

He found the surrounding commotion too much to bear.

After sitting quietly for a while, he couldn't resist and whispered, "Is there anything else? Should we go back?"

Lu Ran cast him a glance, assuming that the man was experiencing discomfort in his leg.

After some thought, considering he had already expressed his concern and there was nothing else to do, he nodded and got up from the sofa.

Rising to his feet, he cast a fleeting glance back at the man on the sofa.

Despite his sulking expression, he still reached out to Ji Min and grumpily said, "I'll pull you up."

Ji Min smiled as he gently placed his hand within the young boy's palm.

Ji Min's palm was broad enough to easily encompass Lu Ran's hand, making it momentarily unclear who was holding whom.

Lu Ran exerted some force with his arm but found himself unable to budge the other.

Fang Chen, who had rushed over to find Lu Ran and "happened" to witness this scene, fell silent with an expression of disbelief.

Ji Min supported the person in his arms and whispered softly,

"You call that strength to pull me over?"

After saying this, he lifted his gaze to look at Fang Chen not far away.

He nodded politely but distantly, saying, "Young Master Fang, thank you for taking care of Lu Ran recently. Please convey my regards to your father."

Feeling thoroughly embarrassed, Fang Chen responded, "…."

"Ahaahaha... I suddenly remembered that I have something else to attend to." He quickly made an excuse and left.

"Are you crazy! Why did you suddenly use so much force?!"

Lu Ran was baffled.

Ji Min raised an eyebrow and spoke candidly,

"Oh, what's wrong with a former boyfriend having some petty thoughts when he sees the object of your affection?"

Lu Ran: "..."

"Are you coming or not? If not, I'll leave."

Only then did Ji Min rise and follow him.

Once they were in the car, Ji Min instructed the driver, "Take us home."

"Hmm?" Lu Ran looked at him in surprise. "You're not going back to the hospital?"

Ji Min sighed and reached out to tap his forehead, saying in a teasing tone, "You're not hoping for my well-being, are you? You want me to leave the hospital today."

"Aah?"

The youth's eyes shimmered brightly with pure, unbridled delight.

But then he remembered that he was still angry and forcibly suppressed those feelings, only responding with a cold and indifferent "Oh."

Ji Min suppressed the amusement at the corners of his lips, pretending not to have noticed anything.

When the two left the party, it was almost midnight.

Upon returning to the Ji residence, they prepared to retire for the night.

Given Ji Min's current condition, his leg still couldn't endure too much strain, so he took the elevator upstairs.

It wasn't until they stepped out of the lift and stood before the same door that Lu Ran sensed something amiss. They stood outside Ji Min's bedroom, staring at each other with wide eyes.

"Why aren't you going in?" Ji Min asked with a smile.

Lu Ran: "..."

"I'll go in if I want to." He reached out to push the door open and walked in.

Upon entering, he saw his belongings scattered around the bedroom and fell silent for a moment. He then walked over to the sofa, picked up the jacket and trousers thrown on it.

Retreating to the bedroom, he picked up his pajamas.

Gathering a few more items here and there, Lu Ran walked silently out of the room.

Halfway through, someone tugged at him from behind.

"Where are you going?" Ji Min asked softly.

"I'm going back to my room to sleep," Lu Ran replied.

"Isn't it the same when you're sleeping in your boyfriend's room?" Ji Min said.

His voice was barely audible.

The room was eerily quiet.

So quiet that the word "boyfriend" seemed to echo gently against the walls.

"Big Yellow, the dog, gets scared when sleeping alone. I need to keep him company," Lu Ran explained.

Ji Min raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Hmm? Has Big Yellow only started to be afraid after sleeping alone for so many days?"

Lu Ran: "..."

He continued to hold the clothes and turned to leave but accidentally hit the light switch.

With a snap, the bedroom was plunged into darkness.

Warm breath and a familiar, comforting embrace enveloped him simultaneously in the dark.

"Let me hold you for a moment," Ji Min whispered into his ear in the darkness.

His voice carried the pent-up longing of the past few months and the sigh of relief after surviving a crisis and finally getting what he wished for.

"Just let me hold you," the man murmured again in a low, hoarse tone.

The oppressive sword hanging above his head had finally lifted, leaving reality behind.

Yet, the terror and agony from the blade's descent still lingered vividly in his memory.

Lu Ran's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

He released the grip on the clothing in his hands and turned to embrace Ji Min.

Grasping onto the familiar shoulders, he nestled into that comforting embrace.

With a hoarse voice, Lu Ran called out, "Boss."

"Mm," Ji Min responded, not correcting his address.

Lu Ran called again, "Ji Min."

"Mm, I'm back," Ji Min replied.

Upon hearing these words, a simultaneous ache surged through Lu Ran's throat, his vocal cords, and his eyes.

He buried his face into the man's neck, striving to suppress the surging acidity in his eyes.

In the darkness, a finger brushed against the warmth of his eyelashes.

Moistened fingertips glide down his cheek, gently clasping his jaw and lifting it up.

For the past three months, all the repressed choices, yearnings, and fears found their release in the intimacy of their lips and tongues.

Ji Min kissed fiercely.

More fierce than any of their previous kisses, with an intensity that seemed to make up for those past moments when he'd entertained the notion of "letting go."

He had never wanted to release his hold on the other.

Whether it was choosing a suitable partner for the young man or leaving him alone in this vast, empty world.

A subtle hint of blood tinged the air as heat escalated, mingling between their lips and tongues.

Ji Min closed his eyes briefly.

He slightly parted his lips, instinctively holding back.

Yet, the young man in front of him seized the moment and closed the gap.

Chapter 105: Station 23: The Second Round

Lin Yongjian couldn't hold back and whispered a warning in a low voice:

"Ming, Yi, Yang! Don't push it!"

"What's so excessive about this?"

Ming Yiyang casually flipped the cup upside down on the table, the sound echoing like a decisive strike to seal the deal:

"Teacher Yan can sit if he likes."

As a result, everyone else's gazes shifted to Yan Qiling, waiting to see if he "liked" it.

Yan Qiling remained calm and composed, his smile radiant.

He said,

"Let's put a cushion down."

The servant actually fetched a cushion and placed it on Ming Yiyang's lap, and Yan Qiling unexpectedly sat down just like that.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Bai Changfeng's heart ached. He had assumed that this charming young man was unattached, but to his surprise, he turned out to be the beloved of that rascal across from him. He couldn't find a more captivating man in the entire mansion, and now he despised him to the core!

Having suffered a defeat in love, Bai Changfeng found success in his career. He soon discovered that he could now perceive the situation inside Ming Yiyang's cup!

The chaotic dice were arranged randomly, seemingly business as usual.

Bai Changfeng took a deep breath.

This time, he mimicked Ming Yiyang, slapping the table and causing the cup to vibrate. He reached out with both hands, gripping the upper and lower ends of the cup, and began to shake it frantically.

The noise it produced didn't bother the spectators but rather seemed to target the cup in Ming Yiyang's hand!

The youth calmly used his index finger to press against the upper half of the cup.

With just this simple action, Bai Changfeng realized that the scene inside the cup was completely shielded from view, and once again, he was unable to see what was inside!

This time, Ming Yiyang seemed to be playing a game, casually spinning the dice cup with his index finger, the sound of the dice rolling rough and muted, as if he wasn't applying much force at all.

Bai Changfeng felt insulted.

But it didn't matter. He believed his spiritual energy had surged into the opponent's dice – without the dice, how could this person compete against him?

He gritted his teeth and slapped the dice cup down on the table with a loud smack!

As if on purpose, Ming Yiyang also gradually stopped his spinning motion, coincidentally halting at the same time as Bai Changfeng.

They stared at each other, victory shining vividly in the depths of their eyes.

Yet, a crimson tinge of ruthlessness flickered in Bai Changfeng's gaze, while Ming Yiyang's eyes gradually shimmered with a fine, diamond-like radiance.

Neither of them made the first move to lift the dice cup.

To outsiders, their rivalry appeared intense, but in reality, Ming Yiyang's focus was mostly on his own legs.

The tangible weight of Yan Qiling pressing down through the cushion lent him an unprecedented sense of security, as if he had already won the game.

With one hand gently resting on the cold waist of the person before him, the smooth silk in his palm seemed to flow like water, delicate and fragile enough to make him worry if the calluses on his palm might damage the silk threads.

Just then, the icy body leaned back abruptly.

Ming Yiyang instinctively reached out to hold the person close. He saw Yan Qiling tilt up his delicate chin with a smile on his lips:

"Prince Bai, this kind of betting is rather dull. How about we try guessing the number on each other's dice?

White Changfeng's eyes lit up:

"What's the stake?"

Yan Qiling chuckled softly:

"If I guess correctly, this round counts as five times my chips. If I'm wrong, it'll be five times yours."

White Changfeng narrowed his eyes:

"Well, now that you've made a proposal, I should ask for something too, right? What about teeth? I have plenty of those in my possession."

Yan Qiling's arm elegantly looped around the silver-haired youth's neck, gently resting on the other shoulder with an alluring subtlety.

"Sure, what does Prince White desire?"

White Changfeng's initially sluggish desires rekindled. Before he could speak, Madam Old Bai, seated above, lightly waved her fan and smiled, saying,

"Well then... perhaps Mister Yan could henceforth become my honored guest, abstaining from worldly affairs from this point on?"

White Changfeng's lewd intentions were immediately extinguished by his mother's words, causing his expression to darken. However, he dared not say much in response.

But Yan Qiling did not agree.

"It would be imposing too much, Madam, to use this as a wager."

"Is that so? I don't perceive it that way," the woman replied with a smile, hiding her teeth behind her fan.

"Since Mister Yan is concerned, I shall make a concession. If my son wins, you, Mister Yan, will swear to the heavens on the spot that you will no longer interfere in matters within my domain, how about that?"

Yan Qiling inquired,

"Madam is truly determined to use this as leverage for our negotiation?"

Lady Old Bai idly twirled the edge of her fan,

"Mr. Yan, I've already made two concessions for you. You can't possibly not make any. Speaking of which, if it comes down to armed confrontation, it would be a lose-lose situation. You might come out unscathed, but those behind you might not fare as well..."

Ming Yiyang sensed the pressure of Yan Qiling's grip on his shoulder and stiffly reached out to gently pat his lower back, a gesture to reassure him.

But in the end, Yan Qiling yielded,

"Alright."

Bai Changfeng was displeased and gave the beauty before him a cold smile,

"After Mother has had her say, I too have a condition. Number guessing is fine, but you guess my number, not the other way around. Moreover, the points in your bug containers must be higher than mine, equality is not acceptable! That will count as your defeat."

Yan Qiling remained silent, but Bai Changfeng noticed that his mother also didn't speak, which he took as tacit approval to proceed.

With confidence brimming, he declared,

"Five times the stakes, isn't that a reasonable request?"

After a moment of contemplation, Yan Qiling gave a chilly smile and said,

"It seems Young Master Bai is rather fearful that we might roll another triple, hence this rule. Either we revise the rule for triples, or I won't accept this additional condition."

Bai Changfeng had indeed suggested this due to concerns about another triple, but now that his opponent had exposed his motive, he couldn't hide it any longer. He had no choice but to concede,

"If your total is exactly one point higher than mine, then it counts as a triple."

Yan Qiling's objective achieved, he replied promptly,

"Agreed, but from now on, both of you will re-roll your dice."

"Absolutely not an issue!"

Bai Changfeng rolled the dice anew, while Ming Yiyang, following Yan Qiling's instructions, casually shook the dice according to his mood.

Two betting pots slammed onto the table, and Bai Changfeng gripped his own pot tightly with a chilling smile,

"Go ahead and reveal first."

His request was illogical, but it suited his interests.

He absolutely couldn't allow Ming Yiyang to have a leopard in this round; otherwise, the fivefold reward would instantly multiply to ten times!!

Ming Yiyang didn't immediately lift the lid but instead embraced the person in his arms and leaned closer, asking:

"Would you like to open it?"

Yan Qiling leaned against his shoulder, speaking with a detached tone:

"Go ahead and open it."

Five dice, each showing six dots, were arranged in a line, accompanied by a sprinkle of white powder nearby.

Bai Changfeng glanced at them before looking at Yan Qiling.

"Guess," Yan Qiling said nonchalantly.

"With a Grand Slam," White Changfeng laughed heartily.

"You know I have a Grand Slam, so you should also be aware that you've lost."

He casually opened the dice cup, revealing six six-sided dice, all showing the number six, before everyone's eyes.

With this, neither Ming Yiyang nor the one who had pledged their teeth would be able to turn the tables!

Shi Wen Guang's face was as pale as ash, while Si Shuhao stroked his chin in deep thought.

Only Ming Yiyang gazed at the dice before him, letting out a soft laugh laced with irony and a hint of obscure contempt.

"It seems that Young Master Bai's luck is better than mine..."

"Just a bit off."

No sooner had he finished speaking when another dice tumbled out of the cup in his hand. Under everyone's watchful eyes, it came to a stop, landing on the side with the number 6!

Now, six 6s were lined up before him, just like Bai Changfeng, a grand slam!

"What's so different? You're in the same position as me! Didn't you forget that we agreed the leopard had to be one point larger than mine? You've already lost!"

Bai Changfeng laughed triumphantly, but Ming Yiyang raised an eyebrow and shook the lid of his cup.

Snap.

Another dice rolled out, coming to rest on the side with the number 1.

"There's no need to rush, Prince Bai."

The silver-haired youth was nonchalant, leaning back and wrapping an arm around the man beside him. He laughed with abandon:

"Isn't there still one more dice?"

Bai Changfeng seemed to have been struck by a tremendous blow, and he abruptly stood up, his face contorted as he exclaimed,

"It's impossible! You cheated!!! We all had six dice, but you have seven! How is that possible?!"

"Yes, how could it be possible. But there it is in the gongzhong, what can we do about it?"

Ming Yiyang rose calmly, gathering all the teeth on the table into his own pile of chips as if he found nothing to argue about,

"Besides, the gongzhong was prepared by your Bai family. I didn't bring any dice when I came. How could I have cheated? Perhaps it was your revered deity's aid that made your maid accidentally add an extra one while washing the dice?"

Bai Changfeng was nearly beside himself with rage,

"This is cheating! This doesn't count, the competition is null and void!"

Yan Qiling, however, smiled. His heterochromatic eyes glanced at the enigmatic Elder Lady Bai, who was lounging on the couch,

"It might be too late to call it off. Some oaths, once made, cannot be taken back. Elder Lady Bai, wouldn't you agree?"

Elder Lady Bai's response was a cold and detached remark:

"Place their stakes for them."

Ming Yiyang had wagered all fifteen teeth in one go and, as a result, he now held a total of 165 teeth, including his initial investment – a sudden windfall indeed.

However, despite this, neither of the two displayed any obvious signs of joy, unlike others would have.

Shi Wenguang was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. The second round had unexpectedly allowed all the "investors" to recoup their losses. Overjoyed, he wished for Ming Yiyang to stop immediately, but to his surprise, Ming Yiyang placed another fifty teeth on the table!

His first instinct was to intervene.

"Ming Yiyang, how can you stake everyone's teeth? We've already gained more than enough..."

Ming Yiyang glanced back at him briefly, replying,

"If it's not your profit, stay quiet. Focus on the matter at hand."

Shi Wenguang was furious but also aware that he was powerless to change the situation.

Just then, Lady Old Bai, sitting at the head of the table, suddenly burst into a frail and aged laughter. The contrast between her laughter and her youthful beauty made it all the more eerie.

Her vermilion lips curled as she spoke:

"It's simply uninteresting to bet against my son alone. For the final round, Mr. Ming, I invite you to join the table with — oh, Mr. Lin. It would indeed make the game more intriguing, don't you think?"

Although her question at the end seemed to seek his opinion, it was clear that she wasn't truly asking for consent. With a casual wave of her hand, she said:

"Changfeng, step aside and let Mr. Lin take your place."

White Changfeng was reluctant, but he dared not defy his mother's command. He reluctantly set down the dice cup and retreated.

In his stead, Lin Yongjian, standing in the crowd with a stunned expression, stepped forward hesitantly.

He didn't immediately approach the table.

Old Madam White, however, was quite pleased with the current situation:

"In that case, the stakes and rules remain the same as before. The teeth left behind by my son will serve as Mr. Lin's initial capital, which can be seen as a loan from him — Mr. Lin, there will be no interest charged for this round. Please, take your seat."

"To both of you, place your bets."

Chapter 192: Incident

The advantage of having over a hundred people from the Zhou family living nearby was that Shen Lie and Chen Dashan no longer needed to go fetch the Zhou and Zheng families for hunting trips. With Feng's young man and Gannier, their group was large enough, and they could already handle farming, land clearance, and trapping mountain chickens without any issues.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan led the villagers to explore another direction outside the village.

When the harvest of mountain yams began, the delayed autumn harvest in the valley, due to less sunlight throughout the year, also started.

While the villagers outside were busy digging up mountain yams, the harvest within the valley was handled by those who stayed behind, gathering crops from each household regardless of ownership.

Apart from the elderly and women, the child soldiers were also quite helpful during this time. Even youngsters like Shen Jin and Shen Yin contributed to doing whatever tasks they could manage.

It was a lively and bustling scene of harvest, but no one expected that an incident would arise when Shen Jin helped the old man Lu fill a bamboo tube with water.

At that moment, everyone was harvesting rice in the Lu family's field. The villagers in the valley were closest to the Lus, and with old age, it was inevitable that after working for hours, they would become thirsty and tired. Shen Jin, who had been assigned lighter tasks, noticed the struggle of Old Man Lu trying to pour water from his bamboo tube, so he offered to help and fetched more water. As the Lu family was nearest, he naturally went there.

Shen Yin, seeing this, asked the nearby Elderly Chen, Old Lady Chen, and Grandma Xu if they needed water too. Everyone was exhausted and parched, so the two brothers took two bamboo tubes each and set off.

Actually, because of Wang Chunniang, the Lu family had left someone behind for such an important task as harvesting rice – Lu Daniu.

Jin Shen went in to fetch water, and naturally, Lady Lu offered her assistance. It was only a matter of filling the containers with water, but after being trapped in the cave for several days, Wang Chunniang fixated on Jin Shen and suddenly sneered, spitting out a barb: "The two of you have milk and consider whoever gives it your mother."

Jin Shen glanced at her, remembering Shen An's instructions and deciding not to engage.

However, his silence only fueled Wang Chunniang's pent-up anger from the past few days. Seeing that even Shen San and Li Shi's son ignored her, the madness that had been brewing within her erupted.

"You follow your wonderful elder brother and sister-in-law, enjoying all the luxuries, do you forget how your parents and sister died?"

Jin Shen's face visibly darkened, while Yin Shen turned pale.

Seeing the change in her brothers' expressions, Wang Chunniang felt a sense of satisfaction. "This valley is so bountiful, yet your family suffered such a tragic fate. Why help now? If they had taken you along when they left, would the three of you be orphans?"

Not just Jin Shen and Yin Shen, but even Lady Lu's face paled. She exclaimed sharply, "Mother, what are you saying!"

Behind the wooden fence, Lady Lu could only voice her protest. Without the key, she couldn't even cover her mother's mouth if she wanted to.

"What am I saying? I'm speaking the truth. If I were Shen San or Li Shi, and had such sons, I'd climb up as a ghost at night just to strangle them."

With a loud 'slap,' one sound was Yin Shen's water-filled bamboo tube dropping to the ground, while the other was Jin Shen throwing his own bamboo tube with a thud against the wooden fence confining Wang Chunniang.

Lu Daniu was startled and, with trembling hands, pleaded with Shen Jin, "Little Jin, don't listen to my mother's nonsense."

Shen Jin's face was twisted, his breaths rapid as he fixed his gaze on Wang Chunniang without turning away. He spoke to Shen Yin, who was standing beside him, "Little Yin, go out first."

Tears had already welled up in Shen Yin's eyes, rendering him unable to move. Shen Jin then spoke to Lu Daniu, "Take my brother outside."

How could Lu Daniu dare to leave?

Shen Jin barked, "Get out!"

Despite being two years younger than her, Lu Daniu was genuinely frightened. She realized that after all, her mother was the one confined here. Seeing Shen Yin weeping in fear, she quickly went to pull him away.

Wang Chunniang was also startled by Shen Jin's sharp command. Turning her head, she saw a nine-year-old boy swallowing hard, suppressing the fright from earlier.

Watching Lu Daniu lead Shen Yin out, Wang Chunniang sneered, "So, was I wrong?"

Step by step, Shen Jin approached the fence, his eyes never leaving Wang Chunniang. The darkness in his gaze gave Wang Chunniang an eerie feeling, causing her to instinctively want to retreat.

However, there was barely any space for her to move in the small cave carved out. She sat by the bed, only a couple of steps away from the fence.

Shen Jin fixated on Wang Chunniang, "You know our suffering, but do you truly understand its depth?"

"Do you know that my parents and sister perished? Do you know how they died?"

Despite his orderly speech and calm tone, there was an unsettling madness beneath the surface that Wang Chunniang couldn't ignore.

Sure enough, he wept and laughed in turns, silent yet with his chest quivering. Tears streaming down his face, it was neither a smile nor a sob, a sight more chilling than a simple expression of joy or sorrow on a child's face.

Through his laughter and tears, he placed a hand on his heart and, after a long while, gasped as he stared at Wang Chunniang, "Let me tell you, the grain is gone, the crops in the fields are ruined. Everyone was herded into the city like ducks, with no food to eat."

"Do you know what happens when people are hungry for too long?"

"Have you seen them resort to eating human flesh?"

At this point, his own breathing grew labored, his chest feeling constricted. With one hand pressed against it, his red-rimmed eyes locked onto Wang Chunniang, "Do you know how my sister died? Huh? You dare say such things?"

With that, his emotions spilled over, "In the city, cannibals are everywhere. If they can't prey on others, they feed their own children to others. If they can't bring themselves to do that, they smother their kids to give them to others for a piece of flesh in return."

"Have you experienced this? Yet you dare to say those words?"

"My sister was killed by my father, and my mother, in retaliation, killed him, only to be stabbed to death by him. Do you know that? If it weren't for Master Xu saving us, my two brothers and I would have all been butchered and boiled."

"How is that? Are we not worthy of living? Huh? Not worthy?"

"Did my eldest brother and his wife save us just to create enmity? Huh?"

With the last bamboo tube in his hand, he hurled it at the fence gap, hitting Wang Chunniang on her head and face.

Shen Jin clutched his chest, overwhelmed by pain. If not for holding onto the fence, he would have slid to the ground.

"Why, why do you get to expose our wounds? Why can someone like you live peacefully here, still thriving?

As he spoke, he collapsed, sitting outside the fence with his mouth wide open, gasping for air, tears and snot streaming down his face. The nightmares that had haunted him through countless sleepless nights seemed to return, crushing him once more.

Lu Daniu had already rushed to call her grandparents as soon as they exited the cave. Their farmland was just a short distance from home. When Lu Laoshan and his group arrived, they witnessed this scene.

What Shen San, Li Shi, and Tianya's deaths entailed was something that Shopkeeper Xu and Shen Lie had never elaborated on before.

Lu Shuzhuang, the one most afraid of his mother causing trouble, was the closest to home. He had heard Shen Jin's words as he ran towards them, the latter part making him halt mid-stride.

The words his grandmother had once spoken echoed in his mind, intertwining with Shen Yin's tearful outburst—how could someone like you still live peacefully here, still thrive so well? Each accusation struck him like a hammer to the face.

Old Madam Chen arrived a step too late, only to find Shen Yin huddled against the cave entrance, trembling uncontrollably.

In those final days in Qiyang County, Shen Yin had been starved to the point of numbness. He vaguely sensed that something was amiss with his parents' deaths, but he never knew the true horror of how Tianya had died.

He had always assumed that Tianya had been secretly taken away by someone.

Chapter 66: The Crimson Butterfly

Huo Lanjing's gaze darkened. "Huo Fei, she is my wife."

His words carried a clear warning.

Huo Fei leaned back nonchalantly and sneered. "Isn't she your ex-wife? I seem to recall you signing the divorce papers rather swiftly."

Huo Lanjing clenched the teacup in his hand, his icy eyes furrowing.

"Why are you glaring at me? Isn't what I said the truth?"

Huo Fei shrugged indifferently but noticed him stand up and turn to leave.

She quickly called out, "Hey, where are you going?"

Huo Lanjing paused, then replied, "Back home."

Huo Fei smiled. "Wait, weren't you looking for Luo Le? I might have a lead."

Huo Lanjing retracted his steps and turned around. "What?"

Huo Fei straightened her posture, suppressing the smile on her lips. "I can tell you, but before that, I have a few questions for you."

Huo Lanjing replied, "Ask."

Seeing his willingness, Huo Fei didn't prolong the suspense.

"What do you truly think of Luo Le?"

Huo Lanjing opened his mouth but wasn't sure where to begin.

How did he view Luo Le?

Ever since Luo Le's departure, he found himself uncontrollably thinking about him, often lost in thought.

Later, he realized that a part of his heart was empty, an emptiness that couldn't be filled.

He wanted to see Luo Le, even if it were just an illusion.

Huo Lanjing mused that perhaps this was the answer to Luo Le's previous question.

Huo Fei sighed. "Think carefully. Is it habit or genuine feelings you have for him? If it's just a matter of habit, there's no need to bring him back. You'll eventually get used to…"

Huo Lanjing clenched his fists, refuting, "No."

"Very well, that's emotion. Have you figured out what kind of emotion it is? There are numerous forms of emotions - familial love, romantic love, friendship. Do you see him as a younger brother, a friend, or perhaps, a lover?"

Unfamiliar words suddenly presented themselves before me.

Huo Lanjing was taken aback for a moment before he pursed his lips. "Lover."

"Really? Did you feel something odd when he was declared dead?"

Huo Lanjing nodded. How could he not?

At that time, it felt as if an invisible hand was mercilessly kneading his heart, making it hard to breathe.

Huo Fei pressed on with her question, "Did you keep thinking about him afterwards?"

Struck by the truth, Huo Lanjing suddenly felt like he had grasped that answer.

"Yes," his tone held a hint of excitement.

"Anything else?"

"I want to see him."

Huo Fei's smile was forced. "You based your judgment on these factors?"

Huo Lanjing shook his head but remained silent.

"I'll ask you this—do you want to see Father and Papa?"

Without waiting for a response, Huo Fei continued, "When they left, did you go crazy missing them, feeling guilty towards them?"

At these words, Huo Lanjing's heart tightened. These reactions were what he had experienced after Luo Le's departure. Did Huo Fei think he was mistaken?

His dark red eyes narrowed as he pondered, "What are you trying to say?"

"I want you to understand your feelings for him. Both Father and Papa were deeply devoted, so how did they produce a heart of stone like you?"

Huo Fei sighed as she spoke.

Exhausted by the barrage of inexplicable questions, Huo Lanjing's voice turned cold. "Are you done? Give me the information."

Huo Fei fell silent for a moment before lifting her gaze with sincerity. "Speaking of him, I even pity him. When one truly loves someone, it's impossible to hide it. Yet you... Don't even mention him. I can't sense any love from you. Your actions now are identical to when Father and Papa first left."

Why was Huo Fei telling him all this?

A possibility suddenly occurred to Huo Lanjing. His icy gaze pierced her as he interrupted, "Are you saying all this to make me give up?"

"No, I won't pressure you into making any choices. Although I don't hold him in high regard, our Huo family has never produced a scoundrel who'd so utterly disregard others' emotions. As your family, I hope you clarify your feelings before deciding. Until then, don't disturb him."

Huo Fei sipped her tea. "Love, friendship, and familial affection—distinguishing these may be too difficult for you. Let me tell you the most direct difference between love and the other two: possession and desire. Think back. Do you feel stifled or uneasy seeing him with someone else? And... umm."

Awkward as it was for her to discuss such matters as an elder, Huo Fei cleared her throat softly. "That desire, you know."

Grasping Huo Fei's intention, Huo Lanjing softened his tone and lowered his eyes. "Alright, I understand."

"Here you go."

Huo Fei tossed over a small box, which Huo Lanjing effortlessly caught. Upon opening it, he found a black cufflink inside.

Perplexed, he reached out, "What's this?"

Seeing his reaction, Luo Le probably hadn't given it to him yet.

She had thought that she had given it to him, but he had declined.

"Haven't you heard? It's the gift your wife gives you every year."

Huo Lanjing paused. Luo Le would indeed bring him a pile of items every year, but after he declined them, they would never reappear in front of him.

However, he had never seen this particular cufflink before.

Huo Lanjing was wearing a white shirt and a black jacket that day. After some consideration, he affixed the cufflink onto his left sleeve.

His action of putting on the cufflink was deliberate and unhurried.

Light glanced off the black cufflinks, casting a deep crimson hue that harmonized superbly with the irregularly patched suit he wore.

Huo Fei couldn't help but secretly admire; Luo Le truly had an excellent eye. This cufflink was indeed perfectly suited for the young man.

Though the Luo family wasn't an influential aristocratic clan, Luo Le wouldn't be someone to take a liking to Huo Lanjing merely because of his family's wealth.

After much contemplation, she still believed that Luo Le was more likely drawn to her appearance.

"Any news?"

"I've given it to you."

Huo Lanjing adjusted it and looked up at her. "You didn't mean that..."

"I won this cufflink at an auction on the Second Planet."

Having said that, Huo Fei didn't elaborate further.

In auctions like those, the previous owners' names were usually visible. Upon seeing the name on it, she finally understood.

Huo Lanjing turned and left.

As he reached the door, Huo Fei called out to him again.

He slightly tilted his body, his gaze seemingly inquiring what was the matter.

"After all these years, have you still not let yourself go? Father and your father wouldn't want to see you like this."

Huo Lanjing paused for a moment before pushing the door open and departing.

Watching his retreating figure, Huo Fei was momentarily at a loss for words.

When Huo Lanjing was young, his behavior was wayward, and by the age of twelve, he became even more insubordinate, defying everyone's attempts to discipline him. Their grandfather was unable to manage him, so they sent their father to take him into the military for training.

After joining the military, his character landed him in numerous troubles. By chance, he stumbled upon the traces of the insectoid race and, alone, followed them.

Back then, he encountered the royal family of the insectoids, whose guards were incredibly powerful combatants.

Despite Huo Lanjing's formidable mental strength and exceptional talent, he was no match for those guards.

He was taken away just like that.

Later, their father received a challenge, and their father, upon learning the news, couldn't remain idle and immediately went to the military.

Somewhere along the way, something happened, and only he survived.

Their grandfather, already displeased with Huo Lanjing's wayward nature, was devastated by the loss of his child. His unchanneled fury then fell upon him.

Huo Fei was only sixteen at the time, harboring her own grievances, so she watched coldly from the sidelines.

She didn't notice that her already reticent brother had become even more composed and taciturn.

This composure was a composure akin to death.

Yet, no one realized back then that something was amiss with him.

Eventually, their grandfather passed away from the heartache, and following the funeral, Huo Lanjing departed for the First Army.

After that, he rarely replied to her letters.

It wasn't until Huo Lanjing returned home that Huo Fei sensed something amiss.

In the past, he was merely reserved and disinclined to share his thoughts. But now, when she spoke to him, she felt an invisible barrier between them.

It was as if he had barricaded himself inside, unwilling to come out or let others in.

Only then did Huo Fei realize that Huo Lanjing was the only person in this world with whom she shared the same blood. If anything happened to him, she would have no family left.

Thus, Huo Fei sought out psychologists everywhere, hoping to mend their relationship, but Huo Lanjing refused to go.

Eventually, when Huo Lanjing ascended to his position, he was forbidden from seeking psychological help for the rest of his life.

Huo Lanjing left the house promptly, heading straight for the spacecraft. After bidding farewell to Commander Lin and the administrative officials of the Second Planet, he set off.

The afternoon sun was warm, and below the hospital, patients in their gowns were leisurely chatting under the trees.

Gu Heting and Luo Le strolled leisurely through the small garden, occasionally discussing with him the precautions of raising children.

Luo Le listened attentively, interjecting with a question from time to time.

"By the way, you're being discharged today. Have you finished packing?"

"There's nothing to pack."

"By the way, when you return, make sure to take it easy and have a light diet. Honestly, my advice would be to stay for a longer period."

"No, I'm not particularly fond of the scent of hospitals."

Each visit to the hospital always brought something unpleasant, and he couldn't rest well here anyway.

Luo Le still preferred to go back home.

"Alright, if there's anything, I'll be staying next door. Just look for me."

"Mm-hm."

They chatted all the way back to the hospital room.

Upon arrival, the nurse carried Chen Chen in.

Previously, Chen Chen had been sleeping in an incubator, not with him.

Luo Le spread his arms, signaling for the nurse to place the child in them.

Seeing his stiff hands, the nurse smiled and said, "Support his bottom, head, and neck gently. His spine isn't fully developed yet."

Prior to this, Luo Le had been lying in bed and hadn't held Chen Chen much, following the nurse's instructions with some success.

Luo Le dared not hold on too tightly, feeling Chen Chen's heartbeat, he was somewhat dazed.

Is this... his creation?

How tiny it is, with its soft body and milky scent. It's sleeping with its eyes closed, so well-behaved.

Gu Heting watched from the side, and Luo Le, seeing the child's dazed expression, felt as if he was about to be overwhelmed with cuteness.

After a moment, Luo Le gently placed the child on the bed and draped a small blanket over him from the side.

Having completed these tasks, Luo Le deftly unfastened the buttons with one hand while tidying up the small water cup with the other.

Since his back was turned, Gu Heting could only see him tidying up.

Approaching her, he was about to offer assistance when Luo Le removed her garment.

Upon his left shoulder, a tiny blood-colored butterfly blossomed, its allure vivid and enchanting.

Gu Yiting froze, seizing his wrist in surprise. His gaze lingered unwaveringly on it.

Luo Le turned his head. "What are you doing?"

Chapter 115: "Falling for Another"

"Cough."

Ji Min cleared his throat softly.

He cast an upward glance at the youth beside him.

Lu Ran lowered his gaze, engrossed in playing with his phone, utterly disregarding him.

It appears to be engaged in conversation with Fang Chen.

For a while, Ji Min watched, then reached out to take the young man's phone.

"What are you chatting about? Let me have a look," he said.

Lu Ran evaded his hand and glanced at him. "What are you doing, invading my privacy?"

Ji Min: "..."

He slowly withdrew his hand and said with displeasure, "How come I didn't know when you became so close to Fang Chen?"

"Who knows?"

Lu Ran's voice was leisurely. "Suddenly having a good friend fall from the sky, one must cherish it properly."

The tone was incredibly sardonic.

If Ji Min couldn't pick up on this now, he might as well have not lived all these years.

He thought to himself that this kid could be incredibly dense at times, but shockingly perceptive at others.

It was clear that Lu Ran had noticed his arrangement and was unhappy about it, thus provoking him here.

"Cough."

Ji Min raised his hand to touch the tip of his nose. He spoke softly, "I just thought that you should socialize more with people your age, that's why I... "

To his surprise, Lu Ran agreed without any hesitation.

"Yes," he said. "I used to spend time mostly with those older than me. Now I realize, it's the young ones who are more fun."

Ji Min: "..."

He raised his hand to rub his forehead.

With no other option, he glanced aside, seeking help from Butler Chen with an imploring expression.

Housekeeper Chen pretended not to notice and focused intently on examining the carpet in the rehabilitation area.

The consequences of one's actions should be faced by oneself.

Observing him is utterly pointless.

With a sigh, Ji Min could do nothing but accept it.

He turned to the youth at his side, a note of helplessness threading through his voice as he said,

"Is that how you behave? Is it appropriate to openly discuss falling for someone else with me, your current boyfriend?"

Ji Min emphasized the term "current boyfriend."

To which the young man replied, "Why wouldn't it work?"

Lu Ran smirks, his eyes narrowing as he looks over.

"You're both settling your estate and arranging for friends. You put so much effort into acting as my senior."

"Given that we can't be boyfriends now, is it not acceptable for me to share my romantic journey with you, as a respected elder?"

Saying this, Lu Ran beamed and showed him a photo of himself and Fang Chen together.

Q: "What do you think? Is the romantic interest I've chosen this time satisfactory? Is he better than the last one?"

Ji Min: "..."

It's over, there's no soothing this situation now.

A tense stalemate ensued for a moment.

As the nurses around, eager for a spectacle, gradually dispersed, Butler Chen also walked to a short distance away, engaging in conversation with the on-duty doctor.

Only then did Ji Min let out a sigh.

He leaned in closer to Lu Ran once again, then gently touched his forehead against the youth's before resting his chin upon the younger man's shoulder.

"Please, don't tease me anymore, I beg of you," he pleaded in a soft, earnest tone.

After the surgery, there's bound to be some difference.

Unconstrained by the wheelchair, the man across from him could now approach as closely as he desired.

And there was no need for Lu Ran's consent.

Ji Min, standing well over six feet tall, now leaned his entire upper body forward, his build towering and imposing.

He resembled an oversized teddy bear for hugging.

In his almost-thirty years, Ji Min's display of coquettishness was rather irresistible.

"Keep your distance," Lu Ran said sternly, pushing him away.

He exerted some effort, but surprisingly, he couldn't budge the man?

Considering the other person's leg, Lu Ran didn't dare to apply too much force.

In the end, he only said coldly, "Hey, I already told you I've moved on!"

"Y-Yes, yes."

Ji Min chuckled against his ear, "If you've really moved on, why do you still come to this hospital you hate the most every day to accompany your ex-boyfriend for rehabilitation?"

"Do the person you like now know how much you're still hung up on your ex-boyfriend?" the man asked softly.

"..."

The words sounded like an affair, making Lu Ran's face flush red.

With great effort, he pushed the man away and sat up from the bench.

With flushed ears, he smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes.

"I'm going back," he said.

Without thinking, Ji Min pulled him back and frowned. "Where to?"

"Back home," Lu Ran replied.

Ji Min glanced at the sky outside.

He held the youth's wrist, unable to shake off a lingering reluctance as he said, "It's so late. Don't bother going back. There's an empty room here."

Lu Ran rolled his eyes at him. "You just said a moment ago that I hate hospitals the most."

Ji Min: "..."

He fell silent for a moment, eventually releasing Lu Ran's hand. He sighed and said, "Be careful on your way."

Ever since Ji Min embarked on official rehabilitation, he also began handling company affairs personally.

Conducting video conferences and communicating with partners via video calls had become the norm.

Ji Min had been absent for nearly three months, and upon his reemergence, everyone noticed that the wheelchair he used to rely on was gone.

In its place was an ordinary office chair.

This change was truly conspicuous.

Ever since Ji Min assumed power, he had always been seen in a wheelchair.

Though it was never explicitly mentioned, everyone assumed that his legs were beyond healing, leaving him disabled for life.

To everyone's surprise, however, the operations of the Ji Corporation hadn't skipped a beat during those three months.

Miraculously, Ji Min's legs had recovered.

Soon, this news spread like wildfire through the entire high society of Jing City.

Despite the fact that Ji Min's status and net worth remained unchanged.

Yet, the mere act of him standing up from his wheelchair elevated the young head of the Ji family significantly in the public's perception.

Another topic of much discussion was the Shen family.

Previously, the Shen family had been vying with the Lino family for the rights to the HZ project.

In terms of strength, both families were evenly matched.

However, during the competition, Shen Hongyuan grew overly anxious, going so far as to entertain the young master of the Fang family and proposing a joint venture with the Lino family.

His eagerness invited speculation about the state of the Shen family.

Later, the Lino family released some unfavorable news about the Shen family, seemingly gaining the upper hand in the competition.

But business landscapes can shift dramatically overnight.

Who could have predicted that just when all seemed lost, a laboratory under the Shen family's umbrella would make a groundbreaking technological breakthrough, suddenly turning the tables on the Lino family?

Rumor had it that the Fang family was preparing to sign a contract with the Shen family.

This instantly elevated the Shen family's status within the social circle.

Shen Hongyuan, wanting to seize this opportunity to attract more investments, decided to host a grand banquet in celebration of Shen Xingyu's birthday.

Lu Ran also received an invitation.

The invitation was personally delivered to the Ji residence by Shen Xingyu's assistant.

Flipping it open, Lu Ran gave it a glance.

Recently, his mind had been preoccupied with Ji Min's surgery, leaving him with no interest in keeping tabs on the Shen family's affairs.

The invitation served as a reminder that it was time for him to pay a visit.

On Shen Xingyu's birthday, Lu Ran had no classes in the afternoon.

After school, instead of going to the hospital, he returned home for an afternoon nap.

Awakening from his nap, he found Ji Min's video call waiting for him.

Probably realizing that he had upset Lu Ran, Ji Min had been reaching out to him more frequently lately.

It was almost to the point of being clingy.

There would be a call in the morning, another during lunchtime, and yet another before bedtime.

Sometimes, Ji Min would even time his calls to coincide with the ten minutes after Lu Ran's classes ended.

Most of the time, Lu Ran would answer.

Occasionally, when he grew annoyed, he would dismissively say, "I'm playing games with Fang Chen. Can't talk."

Thus, as soon as he connected the video call this time, the man on the other end frowned and asked, "Playing games with Fang Chen again?"

Lu Ran rubbed his eyes, yawned, and said,

"Yes."

"Your face still bears the marks, and you're trying to deceive me?" Ji Min said.

"Oh." Lu Ran showed no sign of being caught in a lie, responding casually, "I got hit in my dream."

Ji Min: "..."

This statement was a direct hit.

For a moment, Ji Min genuinely regretted why he had ever thought of finding a playmate specifically for Lu Ran back then.

"I'm angry, Lu Ran," the man said in a deep voice. "You can already dream about someone you've just met?"

To his surprise, Lu Ran looked at him in shock.

He asked, "Are you only starting to get angry now?"

Ji Min: "..."

Suddenly, he felt like laughing again.

Noticing the displeased expression on the young man's face, he quickly composed himself and tried to soothe him.

"Not at all, I've been seething for days, even in my dreams."

Lu Ran raised his hand, poised to terminate the video call.

Ji Min hurriedly asked,

"Didn't you come over today? Were you too tired?"

"Didn't you say you were fine? Why should I have come over?" Lu Ran retorted.

President Ji, who used to say "it's fine" all the time, fell silent.

...Thank you, he truly realized his mistake.

Lu Ran checked the time and ended the video call with Ji Min.

He changed his clothes and prepared to return to the Shen family's residence.

Just as he was about to leave, Big Yellow sauntered over slowly.

Recently, Lu Ran had been constantly visiting the hospital, and pets were not allowed there, resulting in less time spent with Big Yellow.

Lu Ran immediately scooped up the dog in his arms, feeling sorry for him:

"Come on, let Daddy take you out to play."

Before leaving, Lu Ran glanced through the leashes and chose the slightly worn one with a rabbit doll attached.

Upon arriving at the destination but before entering, Lu Ran spotted Fang Chen with a displeased expression.

A circle of people had gathered around Fang Chen, yet the man acted arrogantly, ignoring everyone.

Spotting Lu Ran, he excitedly waved and dashed out from the crowd.

"Goodness gracious, you're finally here! I was about to burst!"

Fang Chen then crouched down, lavishing Big Yellow with affectionate pats.

"Why come if you felt suffocated?" Lu Ran looked at him.

Fang Chen felt a bit awkward as he replied, "I didn't want to come either, but my dad insisted I attend."

Lu Ran understood Fang Chen's implication.

Fang Chen's father had sent him as a gesture of respect to the Shen family.

It seemed that the Fangs were indeed very interested in the Shens.

Guests had started arriving one after another.

Shen Hongyuan was greeting them alongside Shen Xingyu. Upon seeing Lu Ran, his face froze, and he involuntarily asked:

"Why are you here?"

Today was an important event for the Shen family. What was the banquet assassin, Lu Ran, up to?

Seeing this, Lu Ran smiled.

He pointed in the direction of Shen Xingran, who was not far away, and said frankly, "Your dear son here specially sought me out to tell me that you've been in a good mood lately, so he asked me to come home for a visit."

Shen Xingran's face paled immediately.

In the end, it was Shen Xingyu who stepped forward and said, "I was the one who invited him."

With Shen Xingyu taking responsibility, Shen Hongyuan naturally couldn't say anything more.

Besides, Fang Chen was still present.

After Lu Ran and Fang Chen entered together, Fang Chen was promptly pulled aside by familiar uncles and elders for a chat.

Lu Ran looked around and, remembering his unfinished business from last time, decided to make a quick visit to the restroom.

Having flushed all the water balloons down the drain, Lu Ran washed his hands and stepped out.

No sooner had he left the restroom than he bumped into Shen Xingyu head-on.

The man, who had been distant yet polite outside, looked up at the restroom sign behind Lu Ran, then at the teenager in front of him, and let out a somewhat helpless sigh.

"What mischief have you cooked up this time?" Shen Xingyu asked.

"Nope," Lu Ran shrugged, continuing to lead Big Yellow out.

He passed by Shen Xingyu's side with a sidelong glance.

As he walked, the rabbit puppet dangling from the leash in his hand swayed gently, its ears fluttering.

Shen Xingyu's gaze involuntarily lingered on that rabbit puppet for a long time.

Just as Lu Ran was about to exit the corridor,

he suddenly spoke up, his voice soft, "Ran Ran, I'm very happy that you came today."

Lu Ran turned to glance at him. "You don't have to be happy. I came here to play a prank, not because of you."

Shen Xingyu was taken aback.

Sighing, he stepped forward and asked, "Can't you really come back home?

Lu Ran looked at Shen Xingyu across from him.

Actually, sometimes Lu Ran couldn't help but marvel at how remarkable Shen Xingyu was.

Born into the Shen family, he neither became a spoiled heir like Shen Xingzhuo nor was he preoccupied with power struggles like Shen Xingran.

It wasn't easy for him to grow up so focused on meaningful matters while also being highly capable.

Just like this HZ project.

With such a huge loophole within the Shen Corporation and Shen Hongyuan personally hindering progress.

Yet, Shen Xingyu could apply pressure step by step without revealing any signs of distress in crucial areas.

With a sudden smile, Lu Ran gazed at Shen Xingyu and asked,

"Do you want me to go home because you, as my elder brother, can't bear to see me wandering, or is it because the Shen family needs me back?"

Despite being only in his late teens, the young man's eyes were astoundingly perceptive.

When their gazes met, Shen Xingyu felt a flush of embarrassment and quickly looked away.

He didn't dare to meet Lu Ran's eyes nor did he dare to glance at the rabbit doll clutched in his hand.

However, Lu Ran didn't push for an answer to this trivial matter.

Casually, he glanced behind Shen Xingyu.

Then, with another smile, he said, "Don't you have an idea about what happened to me in the Shen family? Would you dare to ask me to return home without any solid evidence if you were in my shoes?"

There seemed to be a hint of leeway in his words.

Shen Xingyu promptly reassured, "Don't worry, I'm working hard to make these things happen..."

At the corner of the hallway.

Shen Xingran retracted his gaze and leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath.

As expected, he knew Lu Ran had ulterior motives!

What was Shen Xingyu up to? After being rejected once by Shen Hongyuan, did he really plan on pulling Lu Ran into the Shen family?

A familiar sense of panic welled up within him.

Shen Xingran retreated silently.

In the main hall, Mrs. Shen was engaged in lighthearted conversation with several wealthy ladies.

Shen Xingran immediately approached, hoping to find solace in his mother's presence.

Noticing his approach, Mrs. Shen swiftly found an excuse to pull him aside.

Shen Xingran assumed that Lady Shen had sensed his distress and was about to console him.

Instead, she looked around and patted her chest, asking, "Did Lu Ran come over today?"

With an unusual tone, Lady Shen remarked, "He didn't cause any trouble today, did he?"

Shen Xingran opened his mouth but said nothing.

Lady Shen looked at him, as if she wanted to say something but held back. She patted Shen Xingran's hand and advised, "This banquet is crucial for our family. Be obedient and don't provoke him."

Although her words still showed her favoritism towards him, in that moment, Shen Xingran felt an immense discomfort, a profound uneasiness.

It was as if his only source of support had distanced itself from him.

"Mom…" Shen Xingran called out.

But Lady Shen had already smiled and greeted another lady who had just entered.

Shen Xingran gazed at Madam Shen's retreating figure without uttering another word. There was no trace of disappointment in his eyes. Instead, he was merely reminded of the time when Madam Shen had suspected him of being Shen Hongyuan's illegitimate child. A scoff escaped Shen Xingran's lips as he turned and left. "I've made preparations to bring you into the Shen Corporation."

Shen Xingyu was sharing his plans with Lu Ran.

His assistant hurried over and whispered, "Your uncle has arrived and is currently chatting with President Shen..."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xingyu's brows immediately knitted together.

He immediately strode towards the entrance.

He took two steps forward, then paused, addressing the youth behind him, "Wait for me just a moment."

That was when they left.

Lu Ran overheard his assistant's words and pondered for a moment.

Cousin?

Shen Hongyuan had several cousins.

But in Lu Ran's memory, there was only one.

That cousin wasn't quite a proper person; he once attempted to harass Shen Xingran.

Eventually, he was sent to prison with the combined efforts of the Shen family and Shen Xingran's admirers.

Lu Ran glanced toward the door and saw a middle-aged man in his forties with stubble on his chin, looking rather rakish.

However, Shen Xingyu quickly blocked the man outside the door.

Lu Ran shifted his gaze away, but he could still hear Shen Xingran's voice in his ear.

"It's only natural for Brother to want to return home now, considering the rumors about the head of the Ji family…"

Shen Xingran was engaged in conversation with his friends, his voice lowered but not entirely discreet.

Upon hearing the mention of "Ji Family," the crowd around immediately lost their drowsiness.

Now, it's common knowledge that Ji Min's leg has been cured.

With his legs healed, his status naturally changed.

Leaving aside other aspects, their positions in the matrimonial market were poles apart.

At this moment, many people discreetly cast their gazes at Lu Ran when they thought of the rumors linking Ji Min with Shen Family's wayward young master.

If their memories served them right...

Lu Ran hadn't been seen with Ji Min for quite some time.

Moreover, it was rumored that he didn't have an amicable relationship with the Shen Family and had always resided outside.

Now, he had taken the initiative to return to the Shen family...

Some of Shen Xingran's friends deliberately flattered him, saying,

"At that time, he was still disabled, but he still took a fancy to you. Now that he's better, naturally, he wants someone better."

Shen Xingran stopped there without elaborating further.

Lu Ran found the conversation rather intriguing as he listened.

After a while, he interjected, "He didn't even fancy you when he was disabled; now that he's recovered, he likes you even less. So why are you whining about it?"

This comment was a direct and indiscriminate jab at the gossipers.

Shen Xingran felt that he had guessed correctly.

Otherwise, Lu Ran wouldn't have said such a thing.

Pausing for a moment, Shen Xingran looked at Lu Ran and sighed,

"Brother, how can you say that? Even though Mr. Ji... he has helped you a great deal. Isn't it rather impolite to speak of him in such a manner?"

As Shen Xingran spoke, he shook his head and hesitated before adding, "Back then, to provoke Father, you even said that Mr. Ji was hopelessly in love with you, going mad if he couldn't see you for an hour."

Upon hearing this, the looks from those around Lu Ran turned somewhat amused.

It was unexpected that someone would boast about themselves like that.

Shen Xingran, engrossed in brewing tea, failed to notice the sudden silence at the entrance.

Until the silence spread to where they were.

A tall, imposing shadow loomed over them.

Only then did Shen Xingran instinctively step back and turn his head.

Before him stood the man who had once been wheelchair-bound, appearing at the banquet in a way no one could have imagined.

The man was dressed in a tailored haute couture suit that accentuated his tall and slender figure even more.

His broad shoulders and sturdy physique exuded an innate sense of intimidation.

And now, with his dark eyes fixated intently, the air around him grew even more oppressive.

He said,

"That's right, I'm hopelessly in love with him. I go mad if I can't see him for an hour, lose my appetite, and feel like I can't live without him."

"Well, is there a problem with that?"

The room fell silent.

Shen Xingran felt his cheeks flush red in that instant.

After a long moment of silence, scattered greetings and congratulations began to echo around them.

The man who had just delivered those "tough" words approached Lu Ran and, once again, lowered his gaze, the corners of his eyes and brows carrying a hint of a smile.

He reached out to take the leash from Lu Ran's hand.

About to say something.

There was the sight of the youth sending him a sharp, disdainful glance.

"Acting, is there anyone more pretentious than you in this world?"

Ji Min: "..."

The man, who had just exuded an overpowering presence, gently cleared his throat and, with a leisurely touch, reached out to caress the young man's finger.

Lu Ran rolled his eyes.

"Why are you standing there? Are your legs quite capable of supporting you now? Find a place to sit down."

Ji Min: "..."

The man fell silent for a moment before obediently finding a nearby sofa to sit on.