Asianovel

Chapter 122: One Month

Beros's ears rang as he had never encountered a demon who dared to treat him like a lover. Watching the arrogant and domineering Demon Mirror before him, Beros endured as much as he could but finally lost his patience and took action.

As a result, the patrons in the shop were stunned. The silver-haired guy was actually fighting Beros, the notorious demon, on equal footing! At that moment, they even forgot their fear of the Three-Headed Hellhound and eagerly tried to get a better look.

The silver demon seemed to be the Demon Mirror, and it was evenly matched with Beros? The scorching black flames couldn't be disguised; that was Beros, and no demon would be bored enough to dye their hair a symbol of weakness.

The incubus held back Phileas, who wanted to intervene. While the other side was causing a ruckus, he remained seated calmly, even smiling flirtatiously.

"Isn't this your shop? Why aren't you going to break up the fight?" Phileas asked. He had researched online and found that the shop was very popular with glowing reviews. Therefore, Phileas assumed that the demons here were skilled at appeasing customers, which was why he came.

It would take some time for the shop to recover from the damage and for Beros's terrifying aura to dissipate. The incubus might not mind the financial loss, but wouldn't Essence feel the pinch from losing one of his nightlife spots?

Essence understood what Phileas was thinking and smiled even wider—his handsome face wasn't effeminate, even with pink hair. This incubus exuded standard male hormones.

Despite his seemingly delicate and boneless appearance, it was difficult to ignore his aggression. It was a different kind of aggression. Behind his usual affectionate gaze lay an indifferent heart with no waves, and his promiscuity was cold.

If the incubus were easy to handle, Phileas would have flipped him over already.

Essence tapped his reddened lips with a finger, "Have you heard of a masochist?"

Phileas: "?"

"Given Bellerophon's lingering aura, there should be quite a few demons attracted here to experience it."

Phileas: "F*ck." Could this succubus possibly be a masochist?

Since they were inside the shop surrounded by other demons, Bellerophon didn't dare to act too wildly and couldn't vent his anger on Wen Ying as he wished. After the intense activity, Wen Ying panted heavily, one hand on his waist while the other supported an overturned chair beside him, but his brows still held a brazen arrogance.

"If you still refuse, tomorrow's headline will be 'Bellerophon breaks into that kind of establishment and gets into a huge fight with a demon who caught him in the act.'"

Bellerophon: "..." He spat out a mouthful of blood.

With a chilling gaze, Bellerophon stared at Wen Ying and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

It's easier to suggest opening a window after proposing to open a door to someone who disagrees. If they reject the first suggestion, suggesting a window next will be more acceptable.

Wen Ying said, "How about this then, how about a month?"

Beros immediately agreed, "Alright."

Wen Ying was taken aback for a moment before realizing what had happened. He opened his mouth to speak, but Beros interrupted him, "Starting from today."

Wen Ying became dejected, his face clearly showing his displeasure. His unhappiness, however, made Beros happy. He grinned, pleased with himself despite knowing that his tactic would harm both himself and the enemy.

Muershi couldn't help but scold, "How could you stumble at the final step?"

The next day, they were scheduled to go to the Human Realm for their final exams. It was uncertain how long they would be away, but it would likely take at least a week, maybe even longer. Even after the exams, Beros could allow his consciousness to remain in the Human Realm for a full month before returning.

Essence had been standing by the side, also sighing. Wen Ying's intelligence seemed to falter at crucial moments, just like in many Human Realm TV dramas.

Recalling something, Beros turned to the surrounding demons with a cold demeanor and warned, "Whoever dares to mention tonight's events to anyone else will face my wrath."

The demons immediately nodded, chorusing "We dare not," "We won't say a word," "Absolutely not," and "Not even under torture."

Satisfied with their responses, Beros' expression darkened once more as he thought about the incident. He caught sight of Essence and walked over to him, "I'll transfer the store renovation fees to you."

Wen Ying wore a resentful look. Muershi approached and patted his shoulder. As Wen Ying turned his head, he saw Muershi grinning mischievously, spoiling the scholarly charm of his handsome face.

"…Anything good?"

"Muershi," the other said, "this place is ruined, but there are others. My subordinate just texted me that Lan Jiaying sneaked off to 'Nightfall.' Oh, it's a similar establishment. Let's quietly follow and give him a big surprise."

Boros, who was about to storm off in anger, paused when he heard Muershi's enthusiastic voice. His toe, which had been lifting to take a step, turned back around.

He saw Phileas not too far away. Hearing Muershi's words, he guessed that Phileas had probably come here before him and had a similar experience. He should have left angrily, but…

Just as Boros was thinking this, Wen Ying asked, "Boros, do you want to give Lan Jiaying a big surprise together?"

Without hesitation, Boros replied, "Let's go." If he was having bad luck, he wanted to see others suffer too.

Their eyes met, and Phileas shifted his gaze awkwardly. He hadn't expected to witness Boros' misfortune when trying to see another demon's downfall.

Chapter 83: Ambush

Mrs. Shen's piercing cry not only startled Shen Hongyuan but also Shen Xingyu in the adjacent room.

He had just returned home and was taking a shower to relieve his exhaustion.

The soundproofing in the Shen family's villa was excellent, and he was in the bathroom, so normally, he wouldn't have been able to hear anything.

The fact that he could hear it meant that the scream must have been incredibly loud.

Shen Xingyu assumed something major had happened.

He hastily turned off the showerhead and reached for the towel hanging on the rack.

However, his hand paused mid-air when he realized that right beside the towel, on the wall, was something that made Shen Xingyu dizzy and nauseous at the mere sight of it...

It was crawling at a leisurely pace.

It seemed to be strolling along the slippery wall with its antennae waving, resembling an elderly gentleman taking a morning walk.

However, this sight turned Shen Xingyu's face pale.

He had a deep psychological aversion to this creature.

Anyone who had swallowed half a cockroach would likely have such a trauma.

Yet, Mrs. Shen in the adjacent room continued her shrill screams, as if Shen Hongyuan had suddenly died that very night.

Shen Xingyu gritted his teeth and forcefully suppressed the urge to vomit. He stretched out his hand extremely slowly, attempting to retrieve his towel hanging on the wall without alarming the "Grandpa Cockroach."

Perhaps his movements were quiet enough that Shen Xingyu successfully avoided the cockroach and retrieved the towel.

Shen Xingyu let out a huge sigh of relief.

He quickly grabbed the towel and was about to wrap himself in the pristine bathrobe.

Unexpectedly, as he shook it, four or five dark shadows darted out from within.

Instantly, chaos erupted throughout the second floor of the Shen household.

A series of chaotic scurrying sounds echoed.

Of course, Shen Xingran, who lived on the third floor, heard the commotion as well.

He was staying up late, soothing each fish in his pond one by one. Hearing the noise, he instinctively got out of bed and stepped out of his room.

However, the moment he pushed open the door, he heard Madam Shen scream, "Roaches! They're roaches!"

Shen Xingran had experienced firsthand how terrifying those creatures could be. He promptly retreated back into his room and slammed the door shut.

"No worries, no worries."

He reassured himself.

Even if there were cockroaches, they would be on the second floor. The pest control company had visited his third-floor room three times, ensuring its safety.

With this in mind, Shen Xingran was even more hesitant to open the door.

He pretended not to have heard anything and retreated back to bed.

Throughout the night, aside from an uncomfortable pillow, nothing else disturbed him.

Shen Xingran became even more convinced that his room was secure.

The next morning, he descended to the dining room.

Despite being kept awake by the commotion from the main family the previous night, the servants had still diligently prepared breakfast.

When Shen Xingran came downstairs, Madam Shen, Shen Hongyuan, and Shen Xingyu were already waiting downstairs.

Their expressions were strikingly similar.

One could say they all looked as pale as ash.

Seated together, they resembled three small graves.

Shen Xingran feigned surprise, "Dad, Mom, and Big Brother, why do you all look so terrible?"

Mrs. Shen opened her mouth, lacking the energy to even explain.

She simply said, "We'll have to call the pest control company again today."

Shen Hongyuan nodded in silence.

Shen Xingyu, on the other hand, had made up his mind to move into the company tonight.

Maintaining a puzzled look, Shen Xingran started on his breakfast.

As he ate, he didn't forget to console Mrs. Shen, "Mom, how about you rest at my place for a while later?"

Mid-conversation, Shen Xingran lowered his head and frowned at the small steamed bun on his chopsticks.

There, in the bun he had taken a bite of, a black, thread-like object was revealed.

Shen Xingran felt a sudden wave of disgust.

Ew! How could these servants be so careless? There was actually a hair in the bun?

Shen Xingran was just about to summon a servant to demand an explanation.

Upon closer thought, it seemed that this small steamed bun was made by Madam Shen herself on a whim yesterday afternoon.

Shen Xingran could only suppress the disgust in his heart and silently used his chopsticks to pick out the hair.

When he tried to pull it out with his chopsticks, it wouldn't budge.

He tried again.

To his horror, the so-called "hair" was attached to half a dead cockroach, which was pulled out from the steamed bun.

There was no such thing as "hair."

Those were cockroach antennae!

Shen Xingran: "..."

At that moment, before a scream could escape his throat, Shen Xingran had only one question in his mind.

Why was this cockroach only half complete?

What happened to the other half?!!

The breakfast table was once again in chaos.

Shen Xingran was so disgusted that he didn't attend school that day; instead, he spent the entire day holed up in his room.

Despite the cockroach incident, the sole consolation was that his third floor remained safe.

Shen Xingran had always comforted himself in this way.

Until one day, he got up in the middle of the night to get a drink.

After filling the cup, he lifted it to his lips and took a sip.

Suddenly, he felt something touch his lips.

Shen Xingran quickly turned on the light.

Looking down, he saw a gigantic cockroach floating in the water.

It wasn't just in the cup.

To his left, to his right, on the ceiling...

Then, the largest one flew straight at his face.

Shen Xingran let out a startled cry, shattering the alluring bubble he usually cultivated in his voice.

He rushed into the bedroom without a care, grabbed the pillow, and started swinging it wildly.

A ripping sound echoed.

These past few days, he had found his sleep rather uncomfortable, and now the slightly sunken pillow split open.

In an instant, a swarm of cockroach larvae spilled out.

The latex inside the pillow was riddled with holes.

All these days!

He had been sleeping with these things!

Shen Xingran rolled his eyes, nearly fainting.

It had to be Lu Ran! Definitely Lu Ran!

Completely unaware of the turmoil the Shen family was enduring, Lu Ran had been living quite comfortably lately.

These past two days, Ji Min must have been upset with him and didn't pay much attention to him.

But the mattress in Lu Ran's room had been replaced with a firmer one.

The bedding that he used to keep on the floor was also moved up there.

Now, Lu Ran would return to Ji Min's place after school.

In the spacious villa, only he, Ji Min, and Manager Chen were present.

With the daily battles for supremacy at home no longer part of his routine, Lu Ran initially felt a bit uneasy, as if something enjoyable was missing from his life.

However, over time, Lu Ran began to realize that he had started to resemble his peers.

There was no longer the fear of a sudden outburst waiting for him at home, nor the worry of his belongings being inexplicably thrown out.

It was as if he had truly become an carefree university student.

His days now consisted solely of studying and socializing.

Upon returning home, a hearty meal was already prepared.

He was slightly more fortunate than the average college student, for he had Big Yellow to accompany him and play with!

Today was a weekend.

In a rare occurrence, Ji Min didn't go to the office but instead stayed in the sunroom of the villa.

The spring sun shone brightly.

A pot of tea was brewing on the round table.

Big Yellow sprawled on the floor, basking in the sunlight.

Butler Chen was pruning the flowers and plants in the yard.

Lu Ran followed closely, also holding a pair of gardening shears.

He attentively listened as the elderly man explained how to trim the plants properly.

Ji Min gazed through the veil of steam at the elderly figure and the young one in the courtyard.

To be honest, he was rather surprised.

Given Lu Ran's character, Ji Min had long prepared himself for the inevitable chaos and commotion that would ensue in their future life together.

Yet, the young man stayed at Master Ji's residence for several days.

The intimidating aura around him had softened, making him appear even more obedient and endearing.

He was also quite tranquil, apart from occasionally bickering with him at the dinner table. Otherwise, he would either read books or do homework, or play with Big Yellow on the lawn.

It was clear that this child had a distinct fondness for Butler Chen.

He often clung to Butler Chen like a little shadow.

Now, after listening to Butler Chen's instructions, he took up the rather large gardening shears and approached the bonsai pine as if facing a formidable enemy.

Butler Chen praised with a smile, "Well done, just like that."

However, as soon as Butler Chen turned around, the young man lost his grip on the scissors, lopping off half of the pine tree's crown.

The boy was utterly stunned.

He hurriedly caught the severed branch and vainly tried to attach it back to the cut surface.

It was as if he was praying for some miracle that would allow the branch to reattach.

But clearly, that wasn't an option.

So when Manager Chen turned around, he quickly hid the severed branch behind his back.

Ji Min had been watching the entire scene and couldn't help but chuckle, exposing him,

"You're still hiding? You've practically trimmed it bald."

Lu Ran: "..."

He was itching to throw what he was holding at the man's face.

Butler Chen also cast a disapproving glance at Ji Min.

Turning to comfort Lu Ran, he said, "It's normal for beginners to make mistakes."

At that moment, one of Ji Min's personal assistants entered and handed Ji Min a sheet of paper, saying,

"The guest list for your birthday party has been drafted. Chairman, please take a look and see if there's anything you'd like to change."

Lu Ran perked up at the mention of this.

Putting down his gardening shears, he walked from the garden into the house, asking, "Boss, is your birthday coming up?"

Ji Min glanced at him but didn't respond, only remarking, "Look at how muddy your feet are."

His tone was incredibly disdainful, but he didn't show any intention of stopping Lu Ran from entering.

Lu Ran took off his shoes and ran over to him, asking, "When is it?"

Ji Min didn't respond.

Lu Ran circled around to see the date on the form in his hand.

Ji Min held it out of his reach.

Lu Ran: "…"

He looked at Ji Min and sighed. "Boss, you're really childish."

Ji Min: "?"

A kid ten years younger than him called him childish.

Lu Ran sighed again. "Isn't it just that I rejected you a few days ago? You're still upset about it?"

Upon hearing this, the assistant immediately wore a gossiping expression.

Ji Min: "…Shut up."

Seizing the opportunity when the young man wasn't paying attention, he quickly glanced at the date of the banquet and then skipped away with a cheeky smile.

Ji Min, not one to engage in trivial squabbles with children, glanced down at the form and then looked up at the assistant, saying, "The Li family will be returning as well, include them on the list."

"Very well," the assistant acknowledged.

Lu Ran glanced at Butler Chen.

Housekeeper Chen explained softly, "The Li family is Mr.'s aunt and uncle's side, they returned to the country this year."

Lu Ran found himself instinctively wanting to inquire about Ji Min's relationship with his aunt.

But upon further reflection, he realized it was none of his concern and decided against asking.

The weather grew warmer.

With spring in full swing, life blossomed and multiplied rapidly.

The Shen family was on the verge of a catastrophic disaster, and even by seeking refuge at the company, Shen Xingyu couldn't escape its reach.

Instead, it had caused numerous bugs to surface within the company.

Despite the hardships, life went on, and responsibilities still needed to be fulfilled.

It had been half a month since Lu Ran left the Shen family.

Finally, Shen Hongyuan couldn't bear it any longer and ordered Shen Xingyu to bring Lu Ran back.

Shen Xingyu was busy with the preparation of the bidding proposal for the HZ project. Despite this additional task, he didn't find it troublesome.

He was well aware that Lu Ran was an integral part of the Shen family and needed to return.

As for the matter of bringing Lu Ran back to the Shen residence, it was both challenging and straightforward.

The challenge lay in the fact that Lu Ran was under Ji Min's protection.

Yet, it was simple because Lu Ran had to attend school every day.

In any case, the Shen family was Lu Ran's legal guardian by name.

Shen Xingyu was well aware of Ji Min's character.

It was very difficult for others to sway this man's decisions.

And exerting pressure on Ji Min was virtually impossible.

That same day, Shen Xingyu personally led his team to blockade the entrance of Lu Ran's university.

Shen Xingyu was meticulous in his work.

There were three main gates at University Y, and he had arranged for people to be present at all three.

If they were to take Lu Ran away directly from school, there would be no need to inform Ji Min.

The waiting period was tedious.

But Shen Xingyu was patient, staying in his car the whole time and even using the opportunity to get some work done.

It wasn't until the afternoon when someone sitting beside him tapped Shen Xingyu, reminding him, "Mr. Shen, he's here."

Shen Xingyu lifted his gaze to peer out the car window, witnessing a group of students clad in lab coats stepping down from the school bus and marching orderly into the campus.

Many veterinary students had external practical classes and internships.

They often returned from farms in the afternoon, rushing to attend their subsequent classes.

Instead of alighting immediately, Shen Xingyu remained seated in the car, observing for a moment.

There were nearly thirty individuals in the group.

With little effort, Shen Xingyu spotted Lu Ran among them.

While the other students chatted in pairs or small clusters, Lu Ran walked alone, removing his lab coat as he strolled. He folded it neatly and held it in his hand.

He carried out these actions in silence.

It was a tranquility that set him apart from his peers, a distinct contrast to the surrounding atmosphere.

For the past decade or so, it seemed he had been living similarly, spending his time alone in silence.

He avoided interacting with peers from families brimming with happiness and parents' affection.

In that instant, Shen Xingyu recalled the time they picked up Shen Xingran from school.

The entire Shen family was there.

There was Shen Hongyuan, Madam Shen, Shen Xingzhuo, and himself.

They watched as Shen Xingran was surrounded by adoring followers like a star.

Both Shen Hongyuan and Madam Shen took pride in this scene.

Shen Xingyu's hand was already on the car lock, but he paused for a moment.

Someone beside him asked, "What's wrong, Mr. Shen?"

"Nothing," Shen Xingyu replied, pushing open the car door.

As a son of the Shen family, he was well aware.

This time, Lu Ran's return home would be far from pleasant.

His father's attitude toward him would only worsen.

But Lu Ran had to go back.

There was no room for negotiation when it came to the Shen family or the Shen Corporation.

And so, there was none with Shen Xingyu either.

Shen Xingyu got out of the car and strode directly towards the group of veterinary students.

Tall and blessed with long legs, he possessed an outstanding appearance.

Upon approaching, he immediately caught the attention of some people.

Lu Ran soon noticed Shen Xingyu as well.

Amidst the crowd, Shen Xingyu approached him with a stern gaze in his eyes.

On the adjacent road, the sound of vehicles whizzed by.

This scene was eerily reminiscent of how Shen Xingyu had come for him in his previous life.

Lu Ran took two steps back, instinctively wanting to flee.

But soon, he suppressed that impulse, pressed his lips together, and stepped forward to meet Shen Xingyu.

Shen Xingyu was also drawing closer to him.

It seemed as if everything was replaying the events of their past lives.

Just then, a burly man wearing a hat and smoking a cigarette stepped between them.

He stretched out his hand to block Shen Xingyu's path.

Shen Xingyu frowned at him.

The person spoke with a relatively polite tone, "Mr. Shen, President Ji specifically instructed us that no one from the Shen family is to approach Young Master Lu Ran within two meters."

Chapter 82: "Caress"

Lu Ran was taken aback by the question.

He sat up straight and fell into a moment of silence.

Ji Min had initially just tried to change the subject with a casual remark.

Noticing the sudden stillness in the car, he too was startled.

He turned his gaze sidelong to the youth at his side.

The youth gazed with those eyes of gentle curvature, faintly knitting his brows.

Even his lips curled up involuntarily.

This is a look of intense contemplation.

He was earnestly pondering over the answer to this question.

Ji Min, who had spoken casually, suddenly felt a bit uneasy.

Time seemed to slow down abruptly.

Even the intricate cityscape fleeting by outside the car window turned into a blur of indistinct shapes.

The sounds of the driver's breath and Manager Chen's breathing in the front seat appeared to grow distant.

In this nearly motionless small space,

Ji Min felt his heart beating heavily and distinctly within his chest.

"Thud, thud..."

Once, twice, three times...

Ji Min's Adam's apple involuntarily bobbed.

He gazed at the youth by his side, aware that it was nothing more than a lighthearted jest to initiate their exchange.

Now, the one who had initially initiated the playful banter seemed to be awaiting a judgment preceding doomsday.

Finally, under the man's gaze.

The youth, who had been deeply engrossed in thought, stirred. He raised his hand to touch his forehead, then caressed his own cheek.

He then paused, sitting with a furrowed brow, seemingly lost in thought about something.

A subtle shift could be detected in Ji Min's Adam's apple.

He was somewhat inclined to ask, "Is everything alright? Are you feeling unwell?"

But then again, he feared that the slightest utterance might disrupt the young man's contemplation.

Thus, obtaining answers they'd rather not hear.

Another minute passed.

The youth raised his gaze to look at him, blinking twice before saying, "I don't think I like you... at all."

Ji Min was taken aback.

His heart, suspended in mid-air, thumped heavily back into place with a "pat."

Not...?

All that effort, all those schemes and maneuvers for nothing?

Without much thought, almost on instinct, Ji Min asked, "Why?"

The moment he asked, he immediately regretted it, realizing he had gone too far.

But the youth seemed utterly unfazed.

He answered earnestly,

"Given that you just posed this question, I didn't blush or experience a racing heart as depicted in those novels. I even counted my pulse just now, and it's well within the normal range, not accelerating at all!"

Ji Min: "..."

The man's expression froze in place.

Almost instinctively, he wanted to say, "All that nonsense in novels is fake. Think about it carefully!"

But after realizing what he was thinking, his expression grew even darker.

The child by his side continued, "Boss, you really have an overactive imagination. How could I possibly like you?"

"You're my boss, and you have such a terrible temper..."

Biu~

Another dagger pierced President Ji's heart.

"Still remember that I'm your boss, huh?" Ji Min gritted his teeth.

Without waiting for Lu Ran's response, he called out to the driver upfront, "Stop the car."

Then, turning to face Lu Ran with a cold expression, he said, "Get out."

Unfazed by the other's demeanor, Lu Ran replied, "But there's still one more stop until my school."

"Catch a walk," Ji Min said with icy indifference.

Grumbling, Lu Ran slung his backpack over his shoulder and got out of the car.

As he closed the door, he continued to gripe, "You're so petty. I've turned you down more than once or twice; why are you still so upset?"

Ji Min: "…"

How could it be the same?

That was merely your one-sided rejection.

Watching the sedan drive away, Lu Ran shook his head and sighed. "Why must you be so petty?"

At the Shen residence.

The recent internal issues within the Shen Corporation were still severe.

When Shen Hongyuan and Shen Xingyu returned home the next day, they found Madam Shen celebrating with Shen Xingran.

The two of them had opened a bottle of champagne and ordered a feast, seemingly in high spirits.

When Shen Hongyuan was exhausted, he disliked seeing anyone in the house indulging in merrymaking.

He immediately spoke in a stern tone, "What's all this ruckus? After a long day outside, we can't even have peace at home."

Shen Xingran pretended to be slightly fearful and put down his chopsticks.

Madam Shen promptly said, "We're celebrating because something good has happened. Can you guess what it is?"

Shen Hongyuan initially thought that Madam Shen might have a connection to facilitate their new project.

Just as he was about to feel delighted, he heard her say, "Lu Ran has moved out."

Shen Hongyuan froze, his expression darkening instantly. "What did you say?"

Unaware of his reaction, Madam Shen continued, "Finally, no one is causing trouble at home or messing with those filthy things. Now, we can sleep soundly."

Shen Xingyu's expression was also somewhat grim.

He frowned and asked, "Mom? What do you mean? Where did Lu Ran go?"

"He was picked up by Ji Min," Mrs. Shen said with a huff. "He didn't think highly of our Shen family, so he went to enjoy the benefits at the Ji residence."

As soon as she said this, she saw Shen Hongyuan, who had been wearing a stern look all along, suddenly lose his temper.

He slammed his hand on the table, toppling the champagne bottle.

The sound of the bottle hitting the ground mixed with Shen Hongyuan's roar:

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

"How could you let Lu Ran go?"

"I raised that orphan in the Shen family, throwing away all dignity. I held a grand banquet to welcome him back publicly, and now you just let him go with a single word?"

Mrs. Shen was startled by Shen Hongyuan's sudden outburst.

She covered her chest, looking at Shen Hongyuan in confusion, and said, "Why are you angry? If he wants to leave, Ji Min came to pick him up personally. What can I do about it?"

"But we can't let Lu Ran go. He's... he's..."

Shen Hongyuan stumbled over his words for a while before finally pointing at Madam Shen's nose and yelling, "He's your biological son!"

Madam Shen seemed to have been struck by something, suddenly freezing in place.

Then, like a madwoman, she leaped up to grab Shen Hongyuan's face.

The room was now filled with Madam Shen's shrill cries, "What do you mean, Shen Hongyuan? Are you coming to me now with your problems? If you hadn't argued with me during that trip, our child wouldn't have been lost!"

"It's all because of you! I'm his mother, aren't you his father?"

In the living room, the middle-aged couple began to grapple with each other.

Shen Xingran was rather stunned.

Although Madam Shen and Shen Hongyuan often quarreled, this was the first time he had seen them fight so fiercely.

He instinctively took two steps back, positioning himself in a corner away from the conflict.

Shen Xingyu looked at Shen Hongyuan and Madam Shen.

He first called out, "Dad! Mom!"

But the two, caught up in their heated argument, didn't respond.

Shen Xingyu stood by, watching them silently for a while.

He covered his forehead, sighing as if seeking refuge from the scene.

Eventually, he lowered his hand and stepped forward to forcibly separate the pair.

The living room was noisy for a while longer before it returned to silence.

Shen Hongyuan did not leave the Shen residence for work as he usually would after an argument with Madam Shen.

But the ruckus today was too great.

Even in the villa area, it was likely that the neighbors had heard something.

If he were to leave now, would the Shen family's dignity still hold any value?

In the evening.

Shen Hongyuan sat alone in the small living room, smoking a cigar.

After her outburst, Madam Shen had already retreated to their bedroom to sleep.

Shen Hongyuan's expression was somber.

Reaching out, he clipped the cigar open. As he lit it, he realized his hands were trembling.

But then, he reassured himself.

Lu Ran and Ji Min's close relationship wasn't a recent development; they had spent the night together before.

He wouldn't overreact just because Lu Ran had moved in now.

After all, they were merely two eccentric individuals; how much trouble could they really cause?

Moreover...

With a cigar between his fingers, Shen Hongyuan gazed through the partially drawn curtains at the dark night outside.

His gaze was distant.

It had been more than a decade since those events; there was no point dwelling on them.

Lu Ran was just a four-year-old back then, and after going missing, surviving a landslide – he wasn't someone worth such fear.

Still, for the sake of the Shen family's peace, Lu Ran couldn't be left to roam freely.

Something needed to be done to keep him in check.

But with these crucial days for the Shen Corporation, it might be for the best to let that Lu Ran stay outside for a few days.

Preventing any trouble at home.

With this realization, Shen Hongyuan calmed down entirely.

He was no longer in a hurry.

Gently moving his fingers, he leisurely puffed on his cigar.

The cigar was already in his mouth when he suddenly noticed something moving.

The ceiling light was off, and the room was dimly lit.

With the cigar between his teeth, Shen Hongyuan's eyes caught sight of a shadow almost as long as the cigar itself creeping slowly along its surface.

Slowly, it drew closer and closer to his face.

For a moment, both of Shen Hongyuan's eyes bulged like those of a cockfighting rooster.

Until those slender whiskers brushed against the edge of Shen Hongyuan's lips.

With a sudden cry, he leaped right off the sofa.

The lit cigar fell onto his thigh, causing him to howl in pain yet again.

His screams echoed through the room.

Mrs. Shen, who had just dozed off in the bedroom, was instantly roused. Clad in her pajamas, she stormed out irritably and asked Shen Hongyuan, "What on earth are you howling about? It's the middle of the night; someone might think our house is on fire."

"No! There's... there's..." Shen Hongyuan couldn't quite make out what it was.

After all, the object in question bore a striking resemblance to the cigar, and the lighting in the room was rather dim.

"It's from the cigar," Shen Hongyuan pointed out, gesturing toward it.

By now, the burning cigar had tumbled onto the sofa, leaving a hole in the leather upholstery.

"My goodness, what were you doing? !"

Mrs. Shen said with concern.

She walked over, picked up the cigar, and examined it from both sides. "There's nothing here. Are you just seeing things because of your age?"

At that moment, Shen Hongyuan was also somewhat uncertain.

The two of them circled around the sofa but found nothing suspicious.

Mrs. Shen scoffed. "We just had a pest control company over a few days ago. The place is spotless. There couldn't be anything here."

"Could it be… that I really saw wrongly?"

Shen Hongyuan was no longer sure.

He was indeed too exhausted today, with no progress at work and then the commotion at home.

Over there, Mrs. Shen had already gone to bed, reassured.

Shen Hongyuan gave one more suspicious look around before finally entering the bedroom.

Unbeknownst to all, a dark silhouette was climbing steadfastly on the living room's curtains.

Within the folds of the curtains, another two or three figures lay concealed...

At first glance, they seemed to blend seamlessly with the pattern of the drapes.

In the dead of night.

Mrs. Shen found herself in a half-awake, half-asleep state, sensing a slight itch on her foot.

It felt as if something was crawling over it.

Reaching out to touch it, she found nothing there.

For a moment, Mrs. Shen snapped to full awareness, then chuckled with understanding.

Back when she and Shen Hongyuan had their arguments, he often employed such tactics to soothe her.

Seems this time is no different.

Thus, Madam Shen slept soundly once more.

For the following few nights, she felt as if something was gently "caressing" her.

Sometimes it was her toes and calves, other times her arms, and occasionally, it seemed to be stroking her hair.

Initially, Madam Shen was rather pleased, thinking that he was apologizing in his own way.

Each time this happened, she pretended to be deeply asleep and deliberately remained still.

However, as the "touching" occurred more frequently, Madam Shen found it disruptive to her sleep.

The anger from their argument days ago had long dissipated for Madam Shen.

One morning during breakfast, she chided Shen Hongyuan, "We're already an old couple; there's no need for all these affectionate gestures all day. Just behave at night and sleep properly."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xingran, who had just descended from upstairs, chuckled and said, "Mom and Dad really have a great relationship."

Only Shen Hongyuan was left bewildered.

He glanced at Madam Shen and asked in puzzlement, "What's gotten into you early in the morning?"

With that, he put on his coat and left for work.

Madam Shen said to Shen Xingran, "Look at him, he's even blushing."

Night fell once again.

The familiar sensation, resembling both a crawl and a caress, returned.

Madam Shen smiled slightly.

She thought to herself, she had finally caught him red-handed.

Didn't he deny it? Well, let her catch him in the act then.

Quick as a flash, Madam Shen slapped out with her hand.

After her attempt, Madam Shen's fingers missed their target, leaving her momentarily stunned.

Soon, she felt something moving in her palm.

Curious, Madam Shen picked up the object.

Under the moonlight seeping through the window, she brought it closer for a better look.

There, in her hand, was a cockroach larger than her thumb, wriggling its antennae and claws in a desperate struggle.

Wasn't this what one would call "caressing"?

Madam Shen: "..."

Madam Shen: "Ahh——"

A shrill scream pierced the silence of the night, echoing throughout the entire Shen residence.

Chapter 168: Return to the Valley

When Shen Lie said he was leaving, it was only to take a few steps away to compose himself. Afterward, he informed Chen Dashan and headed to the small courtyard of the Shen family to collect some clothes and items such as bedding and pillows that Little Jin and his brothers couldn't bring along previously.

Shen Jin knew that his elder brother was gathering his belongings, so he borrowed a hoe from Master Xu's shop and dug a grave himself. He buried Li Shi in a mountain plot not far from his shelter.

No tombstone was erected; instead, he simply remembered the location by the tree beside which she was laid to rest.

The conditions of Shen Yin and Shen Tie were poor. Shen Jin knelt down, said a few words, bowed three times, and then hurried to catch up with Shen Lie and the others, who were waiting nearby. Together, they left Ten Li Village.

As a professional translator specializing in literary works, I will provide an elegant and contextually coherent English translation for each line. Please provide the lines you would like translated.

By the time they reached the cave where Xu had previously communicated with the shopkeeper, darkness had thoroughly descended.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan had managed to catch two pheasants and a litter of rabbits on their journey. Wei Qing, who had accompanied them on several trips in and out of the mountains, had also gained some experience. Though he was not skilled in hunting, he had gathered considerable firewood along the way, which they would not lack for in the cave.

The cavern was narrow and long. After the group lit fires to examine every nook and cranny, ensuring that no insects or snakes lurked within, they finally settled the children safely inside.

The tasks of slaughtering chickens for soup, roasting wild rabbits were taken over by the Xu family. By late afternoon, the last remnants of rice gruel and salt-sugar water were consumed by Shen Yin and Shen Tie. Come evening, Wei Lingzhen prepared a pot of oil-skimmed chicken broth, mincing the meat finely. She added a bit of rice, carefully saved from Wei Qinghe's unfinished portion, along with some wild greens picked by Shen Jin on the journey, to create a small clay pot of delicate chicken porridge for the three youngest ones.

The pottery pots, jars, and utensils were what Jin had left behind in the shelter. Shen Yi picked them up and carried them on Wei Qinghe's basket, which could be considered their brothers' belongings.

Despite having five meals a day, each of which was small and mostly liquid, they were still substantial compared to the past few months. Though Shen Yin and Shen Tie still lacked energy, they were much better off than during the day; at least they no longer feared that their brother might fall asleep and never wake up again.

The Xu family, on the other hand, enjoyed chicken soup and roasted rabbit meat. Having endured hardships in Qiyang County, it had been a long time since they had a proper meal. After eating their fill, they all felt drowsy.

After a day of fleeing, both physically and mentally, everyone was exhausted. Shen Lie took the initiative to guard the entrance of the cave, allowing the Xu family and the Shen brothers to rest.

Chen Dashan was also supposed to rest but decided to relieve Shen Lie later in the night. However, remembering how unusually quiet Shen Lie had been throughout the day and that he hadn't eaten anything, he went to the cave entrance after everyone fell asleep. He found a rock nearby and sat down beside Shen Lie, turning his head to ask, "Still can't get over it?"

Shen Lie shook his head.

Of course, he was upset. The situation and realization had dealt him a heavy blow. However, once his emotions subsided, Shen Lie understood that his three uncles' actions were ultimately responsible for the plight of the children. He didn't blame himself too harshly.

Chen Dashan glanced at the cave behind him, ensuring they were far enough away from the others. He then whispered, "Having trouble figuring out how to explain this to your sister-in-law?"

He knew about Sang Luo almost starving to death, as it was his grandparents who rescued her.

Right? But not entirely.

Shen Lie found it difficult to express himself.

He said, "If I explain the situation clearly, A Luo won't be angry with me for this decision. If she were here today, she might have made the same choice."

Pausing, he continued, "It's just that her lack of resentment stems from her kindness. As for me, I genuinely don't know how to bring this up to her."

Even if he could hunt more, how could there be no pressure in bringing three additional children into the valley? There might be no pressure for a year, but what about two or three years?

He wouldn't really let Sangluo starve, but with an abundance of meat and a scarcity of grain, how could he bear to eat rice while watching his three brothers consume grass seeds?

He forced a smile, comforting himself as he spoke to Chen Dashan, "Seems like I'll have to revert to the way we lived in the depths of the forest that one year."

A diet consisting of meat and various wild vegetables.

He could endure such a life, as could Xiao An, An Ning, and Little Gold. However, he couldn't ask Sangluo to share such a lifestyle with them.

In the end, his relationship with Sangluo was only temporary. It would be unjust to drag her into the deep pit that was the Shen family with so many people.

If he didn't want to burden Sangluo, the plan should have been set from the beginning. Shen Lie had already considered the possibility of allocating the slightly smaller cave above his own for the Xu brothers and Little Jin to share.

He would bring some refined grains from home. Once the three children regained their strength, he would provide for their food through hunting, occasionally sparing a portion from his own share.

Although Chen Dashan was unaware that Shen Lie and Sangluo were not yet officially married, he knew that most of the Shen family's grain was actually due to Sangluo's tireless efforts beforehand. Shen Lie had brought back ginseng and sold the furs from his hunts to buy more food and medicine, mostly coarse grains.

In a family, one didn't usually calculate expenses so meticulously. Besides, Shen Lie hunted, and Sangluo wasn't the type to be stingy. It would have been different if it were just Shen Lie and his two siblings, but with six siblings in total, Chen Dashan understood why Shen Lie might find it difficult to bring up the topic.

Patting Shen Lie on the shoulder, he said, "Don't worry about it. I haven't spent much time with your sister-in-law, but I have a general idea of her character. She won't hold this against you. Besides, we managed well enough in the mountains last year. Eating meat and wild vegetables wasn't bad, right? Isn't that far better than eating grass seeds?"

This remark made Shen Lie chuckle, and he felt somewhat reassured.

...

After a brief rest, they roused everyone at dawn the next day, prepared some food for the journey, and set off again as soon as there was enough light.

Thanks to the arrival of the thousands of bandits, their return trip proceeded rather smoothly. For the first two days, they hardly encountered anyone while walking through the woods – presumably, everyone had fled deeper into the forest. It wasn't until the third and fourth days that they saw groups of people foraging for wild vegetables outside.

However, Shen Lie, concerned about the health of Shen Yin and Shen Tie, refused to take detours or waste time. Whenever they spotted signs of other people, the two children were carried by Xu Wenqing and Wei Lingzhen, while Wei Qing, Shopkeeper Xu, and Uncle Xu were armed with their swords. Even if their martial arts skills were undetectable, the sight of all five of them wielding military-grade blades was intimidating enough. Moreover, since they didn't carry any provisions, no one dared to approach them along the way.

By the fifth day, all signs of human activity had vanished from the forest, and by midday on the sixth, the group finally approached the vicinity of Cloud Valley.

Wei Qinghe, exhausted from the journey, beamed with anticipation. Turning to his sister and brother-in-law, he said, "We're almost there. Just a bit more climbing."

The Xu family members looked around in curiosity, trying to locate the cave that Xu Wenbo had mentioned. Only Shen Jin held onto the bundle slung across his body with nervous tension, the fabric strained under his grip.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan surveyed their surroundings, confirming the absence of people. The woods were dense, and once inside, one's figure would quickly vanish from sight. Guided by Shen Lie and Chen Dashan through twists and turns, they eventually stopped at a spot, maneuvering around large boulders before uncovering a lid that was identical to a shelter.

No sooner had the lid been lifted when a voice echoed from within, "Who's there?"

It was Lu ErLang's voice.

Shen Lie chuckled. "Uncle Lu, it's me."

He arranged for the Xu family to descend first.

Upon recognizing Shen Lie's voice, Lu ErLang saw a line of people making their way down. He recognized Shopkeeper Xu and also noticed two young men who bore a resemblance to Xu Wenbo. It dawned on him that Shen Lie had brought the entire Xu family along.

After greeting the shopkeeper, she spotted Wei Lingzhen and Uncle Xu carrying Shen Yin and Shen Tie.

Seeing how emaciated Shen Yin and Shen Tie were, Lu Erlang's expression shifted slightly. He asked Shopkeeper Xu, "Is it chaotic outside?"

Shopkeeper Xu was also inspecting the cave. Hearing Lu Erlang's question, he nodded and sighed. "Fortunately, Ah Lie and Big Mountain went out. Otherwise, our family and these three children might not have made it."

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan had erased some traces outside before bringing Shen Jin in last. Without further ado, Lu Erlang locked the entrance from the inside and led the group towards the cave exit.

The Xu family only realized now that the secluded place Shen Lie had found to hide from the world was within such a hidden valley.

With so many people, descending the valley wouldn't be easy. Lu Erlang went down first to send a message, while Shen Lie and Chen Dashan had to bring the others down one by one or lower them down with ropes.

The Xu and Shen families were closest to this entrance, so Sang Luo was the first to receive the news. Shen An ran to inform the Xu family.

Upon hearing that Shen Lie had returned with Shopkeeper Xu's family and Little Jin and his brothers, Sang Luo's anxious heart, which had been hanging for five or six days, finally settled.

Shen Lie had been gone for far too long – over twenty days in total. For the first ten days, Sang Luo could still maintain her composure. But when he hadn't returned after fifteen days, her worry grew with each passing day.

Running out of the cave together with Shen Ning, they watched from below the entrance as Shen Lie descended the cliff holding a child in his arms. Both the aunt and niece looked up with joyful eyes.

Since she heard that Shen Jin and the others had arrived, Shen Ning couldn't contain her excitement. Now, as she saw her elder brother descending with a child in his arms, she guessed, "Sister-in-law, who do you think has come down? Is it Tian Ya?"

Upon observing the figure more closely, she ventured another guess, "Could it be Xiao Tie?"

Sang Luo nodded. "It seems like Xiao Tie. We'll know for sure when they come down."

At that moment, Grandma Xu was also hurrying out with the three children, following closely behind Shen An. They all gazed eagerly at the entrance of the cave high above. If not for the constraint of not wanting to shout loudly within the valley, they would have called out in excitement.

There was nothing more thrilling than a family reunion amidst the chaos of war.

Shen Lie descended to the bottom of the cliff and, upon turning around, spotted Sang Luo standing just a few steps away, her face beaming as she looked at him.

He had been gone for over twenty days. Seeing both Sang Luo and the tranquil An An waiting for him, his heart felt as if it was being gently caressed by a warm breeze. He held Shen Tie closer, his throat constricting as he stepped toward Sang Luo.

"I'm back," he said. The words seemed to get stuck in his throat, and after a brief pause, he continued in a low voice, "I've also brought Little Jin and the others back. I'll explain the details later, alright?"

Throughout their conversation, he was keenly observing Sang Luo's expression, so much so that his palms grew sweaty from holding Shen Tie tightly.

By now, Sang Luo had noticed the state Shen Tie was in – a far cry from what she remembered. He was practically skin and bones, and still asleep despite having just come down from the mountain. Suspecting something might have happened, she nodded, "Alright."

Reaching out to take Shen Tie.

Jin Lie hastily stepped aside and said, "He hasn't changed his clothes for days. I'll carry him in. Could you make some congee? The children must be starving; their health might have deteriorated. They can only start with light congee for now."

Sang Luo nodded. "Alright, has something happened outside?"

Jin Lie nodded. "Yes, Qi Yang County was attacked by bandits."

Jin An and Jin Ning, standing by the side, were already dumbfounded. Even at their toughest times, they had never been as thin as this. They couldn't imagine what could have happened. The siblings followed their eldest brother and sister-in-law into the cave hurriedly.

Shen Tie was placed on the bed where Jin Lie usually slept. It was hot now, so the thick bedding had been stored away. Only straw mats and a grass mat were laid out, with a thin summer quilt covering him.

Jin Lie had to go to the upper cave to receive more people, so Jin Ning took the initiative to cook the congee. Concerned about the situation outside, Sang Luo asked Jin Ning to make it light and to add an egg to make egg drops once it was done – that would nourish the body.

Jin Ning agreed repeatedly, quickly washing the rice while glancing back at Shen Tie's bed from time to time.

Until now, he still hadn't woken up. Her eyes were slightly red. After washing the rice, she promptly started the fire.

...

Both Shen Yin and Shen Jin were carried down by Shen Lie and Chen Dashan, one in front and the other behind. Shen Yin was in much better condition than Shen Tie. Though she was also emaciated, upon seeing Sang Luo and Shen An, her eyes reddened as she called out to her sister-in-law and second brother. In contrast, Shen Jin was much more reserved. He greeted everyone in turn and cautiously surveyed the valley, daring only to look straight ahead and not even turning his head to look around.

Shen An saw that Jin, Yin, and Tie had all descended and, staring fixedly at Shen Lie, asked, "Brother, where is Tian Ya?"

After posing the question, she glanced upward at the cave leading to the exit, where there were still people present.

Yet, Shen Lie merely patted Shen An and said, "Take Little Gold and Little Silver inside to rest."

Shen An stood there, utterly stunned. His gaze fixed on Shen Jin, his throat tightened with emotion, and after what seemed like an eternity, he managed to utter, "Where is Tian Ya?"

Shen Jin merely bowed her head, tears streaming down her face. Even Shen Yin's eyes reddened in an instant.

How could Sang Luo not guess? She patted Shen An and took each of Shen Jin and Shen Yin by the hand, saying, "Let's go in first. We'll talk inside."

Chapter 84: Stop 23: Evasion

The red note was quickly passed around among them.

Taking the opportunity, Shi Wen Guang asked uneasily,

"Where's Diao Qingchang?"

Yi Hongda scanned through the pages rapidly, not pausing in his speech:

"As a matchmaker, he's needed for many aspects of both weddings, so he was called early in the morning to accompany Madam Old Bai. Yu Kui and I will find an opportunity later to connect with him and synchronize information."

He looked at it some more and clicked his tongue in amazement. "Hmm, there are indeed many rules here. Where did you fellows find them? It's quite comprehensive."

Scholar Shi Wangguang secretly glanced at Yan Qiling, making sure that he didn't show any displeasure before divulging honestly, "Last night, we found three rules in the accounting room... Then, this morning, Mr. Yan brought the rest of the rules – mainly due to Mr. Yan's efforts."

Yan Qiling paid no heed to the person's cautious demeanor and instead unfolded the information he had gathered with a calm demeanor:

"In the accounting office, we discovered a severe financial deficit within the Bai family's coffers. The Bais once possessed thousands of acres of fertile land and hundreds of prosperous shops. However, starting five years ago, these assets were frenziedly sold off, mortgaged under various pretexts. Now, the entire Bai family is but an empty shell."

"The root cause of these issues lies in the eldest son of the Bai family, who is deeply addicted to gambling."

"Not only him, but his mother, Old Madam Bai, has also succumbed to the same vice."

Yan Qiling stood amidst the blue-green walls, his porcelain-white skin reflecting the damp moss on the tiles like a clear, cool pool beneath a verdant sky.

His tone was unruffled, as if nothing could perturb him:

"To plug the financial gaps in their household, the Bai family has borrowed tens of thousands from various moneylenders. Thus, they must bring back both their daughters to facilitate the marriage with the Wen family."

"Only then can they swiftly repay their debts and prevent further depletion of their wealth. Not only will this settle their obligations, but it will also provide more capital for them to continue gambling."

"The Wen family is well aware of this situation. However, they wish to know the extent of the Bai family's financial troubles. That's why Shih Wen Guang and I were brought into the Bai residence under the guise of accountants."

Lin Yongjian raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Well then, we could exploit this situation to attempt to sabotage the marriage between the Wen and Bai families. If the wedding is called off, the bride won't have to go through with it. That would break the first rule."

"Certainly an approach worth considering."

Yan Qiling didn't deliberately avoid him but expressed his agreement as he would with anyone else:

"Moreover, there are some unusual income streams in the Bai family's records."

"The Bai family isn't consistently losing money; they win and lose alternately."

The man's heterochromatic eyes, like twin glass beads, were as still as stagnant water:

"The Bai family has a substantial expenditure on temple offerings."

"The intriguing part is that, regardless of how much they spend on offerings, within three days of making the payment, the Bai family inevitably receives an unexplained windfall, which is two to three times the amount they spent on the offerings."

"However, the Bai family's offerings now exceed their capacity to sustain such expenses. Even if they continue to receive windfalls, it won't be enough to balance their books."

"The family's current existence relies entirely on loans and unexpected wealth, while their legitimate business has been neglected for years, resembling loose sand."

"The Wen family's dowry was like heavenly rain to the Bai family. Madam Old Bai dedicated all these gifts to the divine shrine."

"However, according to the accounts, it's already the fifth day, and the unexpected wealth hasn't appeared yet. This is truly fatal for Madam Old Bai."

Yi Hongda chuckled, "Could it be that the deity has been busy lately and doesn't have time to attend to Madam Old Bai?"

Mai Zeyu showed concern, waving his large, flower-patterned sleeves in a low voice, "The Bai family's obsession with wealth has become frenzied. They're willing to marry both their daughters into the Wen family, demonstrating how determined they are..."

Ming Yiyang, who had been listening quietly, took a cigarette from his pocket and put it between his lips, unlit. His expression was stern as he said, "There's no need to think of the Lord of the Abyss as humane. Whatever They do is for the sake of craving flesh and souls. The Bai family might be one part of the Lord of the Abyss, while the Wen family could be another."

"For the Bai family, there seems to be no immediate way out. Therefore, we should at least find an excuse to visit the Wen family tonight and see if the exit is there. Being able to escape is the ultimate goal."

Yi Hongda nodded in agreement. "Diao Qingchang happens to be a matchmaker. We can use his identity as a reason to pay a visit to the Wen family."

Yu Kui pursed his lips and tugged on Yi Hongda's clothes. "You... you forgot... about the servant announcing to all the courtyards this morning..."

The smile on Yi Hongda's face faded as he recalled, "Oh right, did you know that this morning, the servants were ordered to inform every courtyard to light up their lanterns and not extinguish them, regardless of whether anyone was inside? Anyone found putting out their lanterns would face family punishment, no exceptions."

Lin Yongjian and Mai Zeyu exchanged glances. As sedan chair bearers, they hadn't received such an order.

Lin Yongjian quickly sensed something amiss. "This rule... doesn't it contradict the established regulations?"

They once again unfolded the red note.

After the first three neat rows of rules, the rest was handwritten:

Never let any bride marry into the Wen family.

Keep away from men who wear red shoes.

Remember to extinguish the light when you leave, never forget.

When wishing a woman "early conception of an esteemed child," she will aid you.

Leave the room promptly when you hear a cat meowing, even at night.

After the third watch, scatter money as you pass graveyards.

All eyes were fixated on the phrase "Remember to extinguish the light when you leave."

Mai Zeyu scratched his head with his tattooed arm and asked:

"Why is there such a rule? Can we discuss it with the person in charge?"

Yi Hongda scratched his head, while Yu Kui clearly explained the reason:

"It should be... because of that Wen Family's son, right?"

Bearing the pressure of the surrounding gazes, Yu Kui steeled himself and said,

"I overheard it when I was doing odd jobs. They said that the Wen Family's son is too frail for normal activities, so the family decided to have two weddings, both for double happiness and to bring good fortune to the son."

"Then last night, the Wen Family's son suddenly collapsed. I heard he's on his deathbed. The Wen Family said that the master requested both families to keep the main lanterns in their houses lit without extinguishing them."

Yi Hongda happily put his arm around Yu Kui's neck and said cheerfully,

"Well done, boy! Your ears are even more perceptive than mine!"

Mai Zeyu tightly knitted his thick eyebrows together.

"There's no room for negotiation if it's like this. Madam White values these two weddings so much; there's no way she'd abandon this rule... Did they mention any time limit?"

Yu Kui shook his head.

"There doesn't seem to be any specific time limit for the mage's restrictions. Unless Wen Family's son experiences a sudden improvement in health, we'll have to abide by these rules indefinitely."

Yan Qiling smiled faintly, unconcerned.

"Such rules are inherently contradictory anyway."

He tapped the rule that read "Leave the room promptly when you hear a cat's cry, even at night" with his pale index finger and whispered, "For instance, if we light a lamp tonight and hear a cat's cry, regardless of whether you want to go out or not, the rule will force you to do so. There truly is no safe place here."

Yi Hongda's expression turned grave.

"What should we do then?"

Mai Zeyu stroked his chin and suddenly asked, "Hey, do these rules apply only to the Bai Family's residence or to the Wen Family as well? If we cross the burial ground and enter the Wen Family's territory, would we be free from these restrictions?"

Yi Hongda believed it was indeed a possibility, but Lin Yongjian queried,

"Though I'm unaware of how you came to this conclusion, even if what you say is true, what if we escape the Bai family's rules only to fall into the Wen family's rules?

"And besides, all of us are servants of the Bai family. What legitimate reason do we have to openly visit the Wen family? If we're caught and subjected to the family's punishment, wouldn't that just fulfill the Wujian Lord's plan?"

Yi Hongda was willing to give it a shot:

"Diao Qingchang should have a way. He's a matchmaker, after all. He could have a valid reason to bring people over."

Yu Kui timidly suggested,

"Actually... there's another method to avoid this situation altogether – not entering the house..."

"That's not possible," Yi Hongda promptly interrupted.

"As servants, both of us will inevitably have to enter. The same goes for those girls."

"The sedan bearers might not need to enter the house, but the matchmaker and accountant have to attend to their duties indoors. We don't have a valid reason not to enter… This won't work."

Shi Wenguang was also trying to find a way around this issue:

"What if we go in but don't light any lamps?"

Mai Zeyu rolled his eyes:

"You just forgot that Old Madam Bai would mete out punishment for not lighting lamps in the house? You said it yourself."

Shi Wenguang then refocused on Diao Qingchang:

"It should be acceptable for the matchmaker to send a few sedan bearers and servants, and even the accountant makes sense. However, the personal maid and young miss… It might not be possible to bring them along."

Anyway, he wanted to leave.

After the bizarre incident last night, Shi Wenguang had no desire to stay near the peculiar Yan Qiling. Secondly, he disliked the atmosphere in the Bai household.

Thirdly, he trusted Diao Qingchang, who had taken his job, more than any stranger. Yi Hongda made a swift decision:

"Time waits for no one. If we're going to make arrangements, it's best to decide now! Staying at the Bai family clearly doesn't guarantee safety based on the current situation. In any case, I'm going to give the Wen family a try."

Mai Zeyu pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, then I'll join you both at the Wen family's."

Lin Yongjian was still lost in thought, his gaze constantly following the figure standing amidst the crowd.

In the end, as if he had made up his mind, he disregarded Ming Yiyang's obstruction and walked straight up to Yan Qiling:

"Mr... Yan, I'll stick with you, shall I?"

Yan Qiling's indifferent eyes looked down at him:

"Why? I can't protect you."

"I don't need your protection, Teacher Yan. I can protect you. Isn't it better for you to have one more person by your side for safety?"

Ming Yiyang's scoff echoed.

Behind his shimmering silver bangs, the young man's deep eyes slightly lowered, tinged with unconscious arrogance:

"Protect him? You're not worthy."

The statement ignited a fire of anger in Lin Yongjian's heart. He could no longer hold back and turned to confront him:

"Ming Yiyang, we're strangers. I haven't wronged you, have I? Why do you always speak to me so disrespectfully?!"

Faced with the challenge, Ming Yiyang nonchalantly bit down on the sponge filter in his mouth:

"I'm just being honest. If you feel uncomfortable, that's none of my business."

Lin Yongjian furrowed his brows, clenched his fists, and swung them towards the young man's face!

He trained in boxing every weekend and had even studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There was no reason he should lose to this arrogant punk!

His wrist was suddenly gripped tightly, and before he knew what was happening, his entire arm was pulled under the other person's armpit, pinned down by their tense muscles. Then, he received two hard punches to his stomach, leaving him almost unable to stand.

The moment his arm was released, he lost his balance and fell to his knees with a thud, utterly humiliated.

The young man who had attacked him didn't even have a strand of hair out of place. He took two steps back, still chewing on his cigarette, and asked indifferently,

"How can you protect him if you can't even beat me? You'd better follow that Taoist Diao; at least he'll care about your well-being. I won't."

Yi Hongda hadn't expected the two to come to blows so quickly, and the fight was over in a matter of seconds. After witnessing Ming Yiyang's speed in combat, he dared not comment further. Instead, he hurriedly helped Lin Yongjian up with Mai Zeyu, jesting,

"Brother Lin, why don't you come with us? Let's head to the Wen family's place; perhaps we'll find something new... As for Brother Ming and the others, um, they're quite capable. They'll be fine, don't worry, don't worry."

As Lin Yongjian tried to rush forward to continue the fight, Mai Zeyu held him back firmly. Yi Hongda quickly intervened,

"Hey, hey, calm down! We'll go look for Diao Qingchang first, Brother Ming. We'll leave the message from the Brocade Tower to you two to convey. If there are any arrangements, just find us; we should still be around before nightfall."

Worried that the two might clash again, their group hastily left the scene.

In Shiweng Guang's heart, thoughts of Diao Qingchang prevailed, and he promptly followed suit, leaving the scene. Yu Kui, always cautious, sensing the unfavorable situation, also hastily made his escape.

In this secluded corner, only the two of them were left, facing each other.

Chapter 121: Reason

Wen Ying returned the phone to Muershi. Berlos tried to snatch it back mid-way, but Muershi wasn't in a hurry. He said, "I have a backup."

Berlos's hand was already reaching for the phone, but when he heard this, he retracted it.

Wen Ying continued, "I'm not begging you. If you don't agree, I'll upload these pictures online."

Berlos looked at Wen Ying in disbelief, his eyes bulging as if they were about to pop out. His upright ears stood completely straight, curled at the tips.

Berlos felt that this situation was familiar, but the content was different. After a brief moment of shock, he immediately turned grim. His blood-red eyes were filled with icy fury. A cold aura surrounded him, chilling to the bone and making the surrounding demons' hair stand on end. The violence within this aura exceeded the tolerance of ordinary demons.

The canine demon standing by listened to the entire conversation, wishing he had never worked in this shop. His ears drooped in fear, pressed tightly against his head, pretending he hadn't heard anything.

Where did this demon mirror get the courage to threaten the easily angered Hellhound? He still wanted to live! In the face of Berlos's furious demonic energy, he trembled uncontrollably. If he could move, he would have fled long ago.

His breaths grew more rapid as if an invisible hand was choking his throat. The canine demon's back was drenched in sweat. Initially, he thought the demon mirror was also paralyzed by this terrifying pressure, but soon, he heard the other party's voice, seemingly unaffected.

"Rein in your demonic energy. You're affecting innocent demons."

Boros's grim expression shifted suddenly, his demonic glare lifting from Wen Ying and landing on Muershi beside him.

A most malevolent bird!

Even Muershi felt a chill run down his spine under Boros's furious gaze, yet he was innocent. He had merely encouraged Wen Ying to play a game of catching someone in the act, never expecting Wen Ying to surpass expectations and turn it into a coup d'état.

Muershi raised his hands in defense, protesting, "I really didn't come up with this idea!"

Wen Ying pressed his palms against Boros's face, turning it back towards himself. "So which one do you choose?"

"Isn't a romantic relationship supposed to form only after one person confesses and the other accepts?" Boros's voice sounded strained, as if squeezed out from his throat.

Wen Ying was surprised, but Boros huffed coldly. A thoughtful look crossed Wen Ying's face. "That does seem to be the case. Then we aren't in a relationship. Am I your lover obtained through dishonorable means?"

Boros almost choked on his own blood.

Muershi pressed the back of his hand against his lips, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he struggled to hold back laughter without success.

The canine demon nearby could only wish he could pass out – what kind of terrifying conversation was this?

Wen Ying spoke, finding the logic compelling. He slapped his thigh in enthusiasm, "Yes, precisely this point!"

Chapter 81: Doctor

By the time Shen Xingran finished his story, Lu Ran had already twisted the lid back on and placed the can back into his backpack as if he hadn't done anything.

Shen Xingran assumed that Lu Ran was stunned by his taste and knowledge, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes.

He turned to Ji Min and asked, "Mr. Ji, what do you think?"

Ji Min: "..."

What did he think? He hadn't even heard half a sentence.

His full attention was on the can in Lu Ran's hand, afraid that the guy might accidentally shake the cockroach onto him.

Afterward, Shen Xingran took them to visit the main bedroom of the villa, which was the suite currently occupied by Madam Shen and Shen Hongyuan.

As soon as Ji Min opened the door, he caught sight of Lu Ran once again pulling out a canister.

Not only did he promptly pour a considerable amount into the crack of Madam Shen's bedroom door, but as he passed by Shen Xingyu's room, noticing that Shen Xingyu wasn't home, he also slipped several bugs underneath the door.

From the corner of his eye, Ji Min could only glimpse at the terrifying black shadows scurrying about on the ground.

It seemed that the fear of cockroaches was ingrained in human nature.

At this moment, even Ji Min, who was in a wheelchair, felt an urge to retract his feet.

Shen Xingyu, who had tasted cockroaches before, might have an unpredictable reaction when he returned home and saw these creatures crawling all over the floor...

By the time they reached the first floor, Lu Ran's large canister was almost empty.

Shen Xingran then led them to the kitchen.

The kitchen was spacious, and he intended to introduce the chef the Shen family had hired.

As Shen Xingran turned to call the chef, Ji Min swiftly wheeled his chair around to look at Lu Ran.

There were hardly any cockroaches left in the jar Lu Ran held, but it was still covered with a thick layer of egg cases.

Lu Ran then opened the kitchen cabinets and the refrigerator, stuffing the egg cases from the jar into every compartment.

Lastly, he poured the remaining ones into the gaps between the cabinets.

Ji Min: "...."

That was ruthless.

When Shen Xingran returned, he still persisted, "Chef Wang has gone out to buy groceries, Mr. Ji. Why don't you stay for dinner?"

The moment he finished asking, Ji Min firmly rejected the offer, "No!"

"Cough, let's leave now."

With that, Ji Min hastily led Lu Ran out of the Shen family's villa and into a car.

After leaving the villa, Lu Ran tossed the empty can into a trash bin.

Watching this scene, Ji Min couldn't help but ask, "Did you get rid of everything?"

"Relax! I left it all for them!" Lu Ran replied enthusiastically.

A mischievous smile appeared on his face as he continued,

"I've been wanting to pour it into their room, but cockroaches can crawl everywhere, and I would suffer too if I lived there. Now that we've moved out, I don't have to worry about it!"

Ji Min: "..."

Large cockroaches were not commonly seen in the capital city.

In a family like the Shens, they might never have encountered such pests before.

If Lu Ran had openly poured the contents into their room, the Shens would likely have immediately called pest control services.

But now, an entire can had been emptied silently...

The Shen family would have quite a time realizing the infestation, finding pest control, and eradicating them completely.

Besides, there was nothing that insecticide could do against egg cases.

At this moment, Ji Min felt as if he had invited a deity into his home.

But then again, this was the only source of amusement for the child. It wasn't too much to bear.

The car slowly exited the gated community where the Shen family resided.

As the familiar yet oppressive house gradually disappeared from view, Lu Ran, who had just been gleefully releasing the cockroaches, fell silent.

He turned to stare out the car window, watching the Shen family's residence fade away, his emotions mixed.

This was because Lu Ran recalled the first time he left the Shen family in his previous life.

Deciding to sever ties with his biological parents was no easy task.

Especially since it severed the family bond he had yearned for over a decade.

When he left, Lu Ran was determined, feeling both relieved and strangely bewildered.

Yet, his resolve to leave the Shen family ultimately resulted in him being bedridden for ten years.

Upon his rebirth, Lu Ran swore he would never leave the Shen family.

Even if every idiot in the Shen family were to depart, he would remain.

He would endure until they were all gone.

But now, he still chose to leave.

The young man fell into a long silence.

Ji Min glanced sideways at him.

To his surprise, the child hadn't gone to the back seat; he hadn't even pulled out the folding seat in the middle row.

Once Shen's mansion was entirely out of sight, he sat directly in the car.

Noticing Ji Min's gaze upon him, the youth leaned slightly to the side.

He didn't touch Ji Min's leg but gently rested against the armrest of the wheelchair.

He said, "Boss, if there comes a day when you no longer want me to live with you, please inform me a month... no, three months in advance, okay?"

He gestured three fingers toward Ji Min and said, "I need to find a place early before I can move out."

Something softened within Ji Min.

The man didn't say, "I won't let you leave."

He understood that to a child who had always been homeless, such a promise was as fleeting as a castle in the air, offering no real comfort.

So, he simply nodded.

Extending his broad palm, he gently placed it on the child's soft hair and rubbed gently, saying, "Alright."

The car just happened to pass by a bustling commercial street. Ji Min gently ruffled the youth's hair and said, "Don't curl up any longer. Come on, take a look and tell me what you'd like for dinner tonight."

Lu Ran climbed up and peered out the car window for a while. He then said, "I'm going to buy some ice cream."

Ji Min's brows lifted subtly.

Though it's early spring, having ice cream is quite excessive, are you trying to give your stomach a hard time?

Yet, the thought that this boy could polish off four ice creams in one go during winter made him hold back any scolding.

He simply instructed the driver to pull over by the roadside.

Whatever Ji Min wanted to eat today, he was free to do so.

Lu Ran opened the car door and got out.

Ji Min didn't follow but lowered the window to look outside.

The young man entered an ice cream fast-food shop, but soon returned empty-handed.

"Why didn't you get any?" Ji Min asked.

"Because they didn't have the flavor I wanted," Lu Ran replied.

Ji Min thought to himself that this boy was quite particular.

Just as he was about to ask Lu Ran to get back into the car, he saw Lu Ran head for a shop a little further away.

After visiting three shops back and forth, the youth finally returned with four ice creams held delicately in both hands.

It was Ji Min who eventually opened the car door for him.

Seeing how many he was holding, Ji Min instinctively reached out to help share the load.

However, Lu Ran bypassed his hand and slid directly into the car.

Ji Min: "...Are you really going to eat all four by yourself?"

Lu Ran regarded him warily. "Of course, these four are all mine!"

With that, he bent down to bite off the tips of all four ice creams.

Ji Min rolled his eyes at him. "Look at how easily you're pleased."

Lu Ran ignored him.

"Nothing else?" Ji Min asked.

Upon seeing the youth nod in agreement, he then instructed the driver to proceed to a respectable restaurant.

Dinner couldn't possibly consist solely of ice cream, right?

Following Ji Min into the restaurant, Lu Ran still held the four ice creams in his hand.

It's not particularly warm outside right now; it would be quite a challenge to consume four in one go.

Yet the youth continued to eat at a leisurely, unhurried pace.

Ji Min furrowed his brow and took a closer look.

The youth held four ice creams in his hand, each representing three distinct flavors.

Two of them are vanilla-flavored, and the pink one is likely strawberry.

There was also a light yellow one, exuding a subtle lemon fragrance.

Ji Min possesses exceptional memory.

Vaguely, he recalled that last time Lu Ran had enjoyed ice cream in his office, it was these very flavors he'd chosen.

Ji Min inquired, "You really like these three flavors, particularly vanilla?"

Upon hearing the question, Lu Ran gave a vague response, "I guess so."

As he spoke, he took another large bite of the ice cream, all the way down to the cone.

In the evening, Lu Ran returned to Ji Min's villa.

It wasn't his first time visiting, so he was quite familiar with the place.

However, he hadn't expected that Ji Min had actually prepared a room for Big Yellow.

The room was fully equipped with a dog bed and toys.

Lu Ran couldn't help but marvel; indeed, men were willing to put in effort when it came to certain rumors...

Oh wait, he should commend his boss for his generosity.

Despite Ji Min providing a new doghouse for Big Yellow, Lu Ran still brought along the old one.

Big Yellow had accompanied him through several environment changes, always with this doghouse.

Although Big Yellow was already very familiar with Ji Min's place, having something with his own scent would likely provide the puppy a sense of security.

Having tended to Big Yellow's needs, Lu Ran returned to his own room. He caressed the soft bed. He clearly remembered his reaction the last time he slept on such a plush mattress. He still wasn't accustomed to sleeping on a soft bed. However, Lu Ran didn't call for anyone. Instead, he removed the bedding from the mattress and spread it out on the carpet, making himself a makeshift floor bed. Then, he laid down on it and studied his schedule for the next day. Downstairs, Ji Min was still occupied with his tasks. Looking up, he asked the butler, "Has everything been arranged?" "I've already informed Doctor Kemler, and he should be arriving shortly," replied Butler Chen.

Ji Min nodded.

Shortly after, the sound of a car echoed from outside the courtyard.

He instinctively glanced at the lit window upstairs.

Instead of waiting for the vehicle to come in, he went out to greet personally.

Doctor Kemler was a middle-aged man in his fifties, but his hair and beard were both snowy white.

He appears to be an energetic little old man, full of spirit.

He was slightly surprised to see Ji Min, and greeted him warmly, "Ji! You've actually come out in person to welcome me!"

"So eager, have you decided to go through with the operation?"

Saying this, he opened the car door and was about to step out.

In the fraction of a second before he could descend, Ji Min called out, "Wait a moment."

Dr. Kemler: "?"

He looked down to see Ji Min scrutinizing him from head to toe with great scrutiny.

Ji Min frowned and said, "You look too much like a doctor, that won't do."

Dr. Kemler: "?"

"I did tell you not to dress so professionally, but your stethoscope is even sticking out of your shirt pocket," Ji Min pointed out.

"But I am a doctor," Dr. Kemler replied.

Ji Min turned to the butler Chen and said, "Find him something more casual to wear."

Only then did he explain to Dr. Kemler, "The children at home have a strong aversion to hospitals, so please don't give off that hospital vibe when you go in."

Dr. Kemler tried hard to recall who this "child" Ji Min was referring to, but couldn't figure out where this person came from or why they held such importance to Ji Min.

Yet, after some contemplation, he decided to be honest and said:

"I'm not well-versed in pediatrics. Should I call for a pediatrician who is more skilled in dealing with children?"

Ji Min: "..."

Butler Chen couldn't help it and chuckled.

Observing the expression on Butler Chen's face, Doctor Kemler gradually grasped the situation.

He took the adoptive father from Butler Chen and teased in a clear, fluent Mandarin, "Ji Min, have you ever heard that every tycoon has a miserable doctor friend?"

"So what?"

Ji Min raised an eyebrow, his tone cold and detached, "You're not my friend, just a doctor I hired at great expense."

"Also, change your clothes quickly."

Dr. Kemler: "..."

After Ji Min waited for them to change clothes in the car, he allowed them entry into the yard.

He led the way into the villa.

Before going upstairs, he paused and turned to Dr. Kemler, saying, "Your glasses are too doctor-like. Change them."

Unable to resist, Dr. Kemler muttered under his breath,

"Is your 'child' really just afraid of doctors? He sounds like a delicate little princess."

Ji Min ignored the teasing tone in his words and corrected him, "He's a boy."

Dr. Kemler raised an eyebrow and smoothly adjusted his phrasing, "Then what's the issue with this delicate young male?"

Ji Min frowned as he recalled,

"He occasionally falls into a state of rigidity, drenched in cold sweat, and trembling. It usually happens when he sees a specific person."

"From your description, it sounds like a panic attack," Dr. Kemler said.

"And…" Ji Min paused, "I'm not sure, but you should check if there are any issues with his limbs and joints later."

"I could do that, but without professional equipment and without being able to reveal my medical identity, it might be quite challenging," Dr. Kemler replied.

Ji Min shot him a chilly glance and, in a tone of a concerned family member, complained, "Can't you just look with your eyes?"

Dr. Kemler: "…"

Was he supposed to be an X-ray machine?

However, Ji Min's cautious preparation piqued Dr. Kemler's curiosity.

Ever since Ji Min's car accident, he had been the latter's primary physician. But he also knew all too well that Ji Min was rather indifferent about his own health, let alone anyone else's.

Ji Min led him to a room on the second floor.

Doctor Kemler took note of the cushioned runner along the hallway.

As Ji Min raised his hand to knock, Kemler expected to see a delicate, pea-princess-like youth.

To his surprise, the door opened to reveal a lively teenage boy, around eighteen or nineteen, playfully crawling on the floor with a small dog.

Spotting an outsider by the door, the boy lifted his head in curiosity.

His healthy cream-colored skin was flushed from exercise.

Next to the pale Ji Min, this boy seemed to be the picture of vitality, not illness.

Feeling deceived, Doctor Kemler was tempted to turn and leave.

But remembering his substantial salary, he swallowed his frustration.

Then, Ji Min beside him cleared his throat and introduced their guest to the young man inside, "This is a friend of mine, visiting today."

"Oh." Lu Ran knelt on the ground, straightening his body.

There was still a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Disregarding his life in the orphanage, ever since he returned to the Shen family, Lu Ran had always been excluded from their social circle.

Therefore, he didn't quite understand why Ji Min's friend would come to visit him.

Ji Min noticed this as well.

His words paused, and he quickly fabricated an excuse: "He's very interested in Y University's veterinary program, so he heard about it and wanted to discuss it with you."

"Bring him in," Lu Ran tidied up the toys on the living room rug.

Before Dr. Kemler entered the room, Ji Min shot him a warning glance.

A silent message to not reveal his profession as a doctor.

Dr. Kemler responded with a serious OK gesture.

He then greeted Lu Ran with a smile, "Hello there, young one. I have a great interest in the nutrition program at your school."

Upon Dr. Kemler's voice, Lu Ran's ears perked up with acute sensitivity.

The youth's pair of lustrous, jet-black eyes appraised him for a moment, their gaze pausing significantly upon the pen fastened at his collar.

Gazing over at Ji Min once more.

Ji Min didn't notice.

The door to Lu Ran's bedroom was ajar, allowing Ji Min a clear view of the room upon entering.

The bedding had been removed from the bed and neatly arranged on the carpet.

Ji Min was somewhat surprised.

He turned to look at the child sitting beside him and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping on the bed?"

Lu Ran felt a bit awkward but still answered honestly, "The mattress is too soft; it's not very comfortable."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ji Min asked with a frown.

"I can sleep on the floor too," Lu Ran replied.

Ji Min's lips twitched but he ultimately said nothing.

It seemed that the child had made do with such conditions last time as well.

Dr. Kemler, who was attempting to diagnose the patient with his keen observations, couldn't help but spare a moment's attention to their conversation upon hearing them.

Not fond of soft beds.

Some patients with joint pain did have this preference.

But for a teenager like the one before him, it wasn't typical.

Both Ji Min and Dr. Kemler were lost in their own thoughts when they heard the quiet child suddenly ask, "Doctor, which hospital are you affiliated with?"

"Oh, the New City Private Hospital," Dr. Kemler responded instinctively.

As soon as he spoke, he shuddered in realization.

Lifting his gaze, he met Ji Min's menacing stare.

Dr. Kemler hurriedly clarified, "Oh no, it wasn't me! I was trying my best to hide it!"

Ji Min sighed and gently placed a hand on his forehead.

Lu Ran found the situation amusing and asked, "Isn't it just a doctor making a house call? Why are you being so secretive, Boss?"

Ji Min thought to himself, 'You've got nerve.'

He sighed and asked, "How did you figure out that it was a doctor?"

"Didn't this doctor call you before?" Lu Ran pointed out.

Upon hearing this, Dr. Kemler immediately straightened up.

See, it wasn't that he couldn't withstand deception.

It was Ji Min who had let something slip ahead of time.

Ji Min never imagined that Lu Ran, who had only heard Dr. Kemler's voice once over the phone, would actually remember it.

Despite initially observing Lu Ran's aversion to hospitals, Ji Min had assumed he would also be resistant to doctors.

Ji Min had already envisaged various scenarios of the challenges of dealing with a sick child.

Surprisingly, Lu Ran was unexpectedly cooperative when he heard about the physical examination.

As Dr. Kemler was about to examine his joints, the youth hesitated momentarily, but then obediently extended his arm as requested.

Ultimately, Dr. Kemler was unable to discern anything unusual.

"Soothe your worries, Ji Min. Your young one is in perfect health."

Lu Ran, relieved but unnoticeably so, replied, "I told you!"

The next morning arrived.

Ji Min drove Lu Ran to school on his way to work.

In the car, Lu Ran continued to dwell on the matter, "You actually invited the doctor home and pretended he was a friend to hide it from me."

Feeling a bit awkward, Ji Min chose to ignore him.

Lu Ran gave him a scrutinizing look.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he asked, "Boss, if you have time to worry about a lively me, why haven't you had your leg surgery?"

Ji Min was taken aback.

Previously, Lu Ran's provocation had indeed prompted him to inquire about the surgery.

It wasn't yet certain that surgery was necessary.

Ji Min turned his head to look out the window, not responding.

It wasn't impatience but rather uncertainty about how to reply.

He also didn't wish to reveal his insecurity and... unease about the surgery in front of the child.

But the moment he turned, he felt someone boldly poke his arm.

Then, a fluffy head leaned in, persistently asking, "Why is that?"

Ji Min: "..."

After some thought, he simply employed the tactic Lu Ran often used.

Lowering his gaze to the young man before him, he inquired, "And what of you? Why do you take such an interest in my leg? Could it be that you harbor feelings for me?"

Lu Ran was taken aback.

Chapter 83: Stop 23: Is That So?

The moment Si Shuhao laid eyes on Yan Qiling, all the repressed emotions and sorrowful cries within her erupted.

Her tense nerves relaxed abruptly, causing her vision to blacken as she fainted!

However, Yan Qiling seemed to have not noticed this scene. He brushed past her without any regard for the maidservants and nurses, rudely bypassing their attempts to stop him. He walked straight to the screen, still holding that ledger in his hand.

"Madam?"

From behind the screen, Old Madam Bai's icy voice echoed.

"Bao Lu, take the others and step back."

Just as everyone was about to retreat, Old Madam called out again.

"Hold on. Miss Second, remove your silver bracelet and give it to me."

The entwined love bracelets were forcefully taken off, and Old Madam Bai put them on her own wrist, examining them from every angle but failing to spot anything unusual.

Observing the modest silver bracelet's humble appearance, which didn't match her own jade accessories, she nonchalantly tossed the matching bracelet into the tray and dismissed the matter with a casual remark:

"Very well, fate seems to be on your side. For now, let today's events unfold as such. Jiaolü, remember to find some valuable jewelry for the young ladies. Don't let the Wen family think that our Bai family is impoverished, allowing our girls to wear such trinkets."

"Truly, after being away for a few years, all that reading has ruined your sense of propriety. You're displaying such petty behavior. I wonder where you've learned to neglect the rules of our household."

Si Shuhao had already fainted, and those who had experienced Old Lady Bai's formidable demeanor dared not respond.

Fortunately, Old Lady Bai seemed to be merely complaining and didn't have any further intentions.

The two young misses, along with their maidservants, were "invited" out of the main hall and silently carried away in waiting palanquins towards the embroidery room.

Only Yan Qiling and Old Lady Bai remained in the chamber.

Amidst the swirling incense smoke, the pungent fragrance gradually became overpowering. Ordinarily, it would have made anyone's eyes water, but Yan Qiling remained unaffected.

Not only that, he carelessly set aside the ledger and, with an air of leisure, traced his index finger along the silk-screened twelve beauties partition.

"Mei Xi, Daji, Bao Si, Xi Shi..."

His fingers traced the paintings on the screen and the dim, translucent light, moving at a leisurely pace:

"Zheng Xiu, Xia Ji, Qi Fu, Xiao Zhou Hou, Xiao Mei Niang, Yang Yu Huan, Zhao Feiyan, Zhao He De."

With the last name uttered, he casually turned around the screen.

Yet, there was nothing behind it but an echoing emptiness, as if a hollow question was breathed from the depths of eternity:

"Why have you, too, entered my domain, O Master of the Boundless?!"

The man's dual eyes gazed into the abyss, his blue irises fading entirely, replaced only by a crimson glow in his right eye, like a red lotus flame burning in the dark!

He spoke softly:

"To seek something."

"And upon success, I shall depart immediately."

That hollow voice echoed, sinister and deep:

"What if I don't want to?"

The man chuckled softly.

"Why should it concern me whether you're willing or not?"

-

Si Shuhao was unsure how long she had been unconscious.

She gradually regained consciousness within the swaying palanquin, no longer possessing the strength she had mustered in the main hall earlier.

Recalling the events felt like a distant memory, an illusion from another life.

Leaning against the soft cushion, she spread her fingers apart, afraid to touch anything around her.

Piercing pain surged through her in waves. The nails that had been punctured were starting to lift and turn purple or black, a far cry from their previously well-maintained state.

She stared blankly, contemplating if her nails could grow back if they fell off.

But soon, her thoughts jumped even further into the future.

Despite Yan Qiling's timely intervention to save her, she felt an emptiness within her.

Apart from the incident where she was suspended by ropes in the classroom previously, she had never been so close to death before.

During her time with Ming Yiyang and Yan Qiling in the previous two worlds, she thought surviving wasn't that difficult – as long as they deciphered the rules, they could leave calmly and resume their normal lives.

But now, looking back,

she realized how naive she had been.

It seemed true that she had been overly protected by the Celestial Emperor, to the point of losing her basic sense of danger.

Fortunately, her actions didn't violate any rules.

Otherwise, she would have likely met a gruesome end with those few strikes.

Piercing pain shot through her fingertips from time to time.

She dared not move her fingers, unsure how to deal with the slightly flipped nails. Helpless, she allowed blood to drip onto Daxi's clothes from the cuts beneath.

For some reason, her face was suddenly wet.

She gently touched her cheek with the inside of her wrist, only to find her face covered in tears.

Her wrist was dampened by the moisture, but the young girl didn't reveal any sign of sorrow. Instead, she gave a self-deprecating smile, and a faint glimmer in her eyes shimmered in the darkness.

She couldn't.

Be so reckless anymore.

The price she would have to pay was too high.

The four girls were safely escorted into the embroidery room without any further incidents on the way.

Si Shuhao, being the injured one, was specially arranged to lie down on a bed by Sù Bó.

Liao Xinya searched everywhere for medicine and cloth to bandage her. In contrast, Yue Pengpeng, seemingly detached from the situation, started to devise an escape plan.

Si Shuhao observed everything with weary yet warming eyes, a sluggish sense of comfort rising within her tired heart.

She didn't want to dwell on what had just happened. Just as she was about to open a lighthearted story to soothe herself, she heard the rustling of fabric behind the gauze.

She should have been startled.

After all, the bed was against the wall.

No one could approach from that side, so there was no way any sound of fabric rubbing could come from there.

Yet, she sat up calmly, turning her head to gaze at the blurry wall beyond the gauze, without screaming or reacting excessively.

She didn't know what she was facing, nor was she sure if her cries for help would endanger others. Without understanding the situation, she preferred to face it alone first.

A shadow, resembling a slithering snake, emerged from behind the gauze.

It was a delicate and smooth hand, as white as an eggshell!

Si Shuhao stared at it calmly, watching it glide further, slowly touching her wrist before gently pinching it.

The young girl knew she was unarmed, with her nails in their current state, rendering her powerless to resist. If today was her doomsday, then let her death at least hold some meaning.

Just as she was about to voice out what she had witnessed, another hand suddenly emerged, followed swiftly by a third.

The second hand held a strangely shaped gourd.

The third hand uncorked the gourd and, using a cotton ball of unknown origin, dipped it into the red medicinal liquid inside before gently soothing her injured fingertips.

A fourth hand, wielding a pair of tweezers, motioned for silence with a "shh" gesture.

Then, it delicately trimmed away her flipped-back nails.

Si Shuhao suddenly understood.

These hands didn't bear her any ill will; in fact... they seemed to be here to help her?

Remaining cautious, Si Shuhao kept silent but was ready to speak up at the first sign of trouble.

Though the application of medicine was as gentle as possible, it still caused her to gasp from the pain.

Fortunately, these hands worked in perfect harmony, as if they had their own thoughts, attending to her wounds. Amidst this terrifying world where she was all alone, they brought her a absurd sense of security.

This surreal and peculiar scene was entirely concealed by the gauze. The occasional gasps of the young girl were not enough to arouse suspicion from others.

When Liao Xinya, now empty-handed, pulled back the veil, even someone as composed as she couldn't help but be astonished.

Si Shuhao's injured fingers – they had somehow been tightly wrapped without her knowledge!

The young girl was already sound asleep, offering no explanation for this phenomenon.

Liao Xinya put down the veil, and Su Bo, standing behind her, asked with concern,

"Has she fallen asleep? How is her hand?"

Liao Xinya replied with a calm expression,

"I've temporarily bandaged it with cloth for now. Leave the further treatment to me; there's no need to worry."

Su Bo let out a sigh.

"You've been working hard... I hope her beautiful nails... can grow back someday..."

Alone on the side, Yue Pengpeng paid no attention to them. Instead, he lit a candle, propped his chin up, and used a brush pen to record names on the desk, lest he forget.

-

The sky was overcast, as if rain was imminent, casting a dampness in the air that made passersby appear pale and colorless.

Despite the vibrant red decorations adorning every corner, the servants, both maids and pages, maintained an eerie silence, not revealing the slightest hint of joy or excitement.

Those in the know would recognize it as the White family sending off their daughter in marriage, but those unaware might mistake it for the White family holding a funeral ceremony.

Ming Yiyang leaned against the wall and lit a cigarette.

Vaporous mist veils the profound contours of his profile.

Amidst the green tiles and white walls, he seems like an interloper, bearing an eerie sense of mismatched elegance.

Yet, at some moments, he merges seamlessly into the ink-washed landscape, imparting a unique harmony.

Ming Yiyang spots Yan Qiling, accompanied by Shiweng Guang, appearing in this setting.

This man's dual-colored eyes shine as if rinsed by water, astonishingly radiant even in the dim light, embodying a tranquil beauty.

Ming Yiyang gazed at the other person in silence.

Chi Zihe's words rang in his ears like a sudden clap of thunder from the past:

"He's no different when he's normal or not. That kind of person is pretty terrifying, you know?"

There was indeed no difference.

It was quite terrifying.

Was it him?

The lingering smoke swirled in the breeze, but Ming Yiyang didn't extinguish it willingly.

He didn't continue smoking either, merely holding it between his fingers, allowing the burnt tobacco to scorch his skin and nails, igniting a fiery warmth.

In truth, he wasn't the only one standing there.

Lin Yongjian, Yi Hongda, and Yu Kui were also present, engaged in hushed conversation with expressions more solemn than ever before.

However, when Yan Qiling arrived with his companions, they had already turned their heads, especially Lin Yongjian.

This person seemed to have finally noticed Yan Qiling's unusual heterochromatic eyes and began to carefully trace the contours and hues within them.

Despite the inexplicable frustration in Ming Yiyang's heart, he disliked seeing this person being stared at by others.

He placed the cigarette between his lips and drew deeply.

Amidst the billowing white smoke, he watched intently as that person brushed off Lin Yongjian's attempt at conversation, walking straight towards him with bony fingers extended in a demanding gesture.

It was an unwavering, unyielding approach.

For a moment, Ming Yiyang wanted to extinguish the burning cigarette directly onto that flawless, pure white palm.

He wanted to see if the other could maintain such a calm expression when sparks flew.

But in the end, he crushed the cigarette against the damp moss.

The sound of it sizzling echoed.

Ming Yiyang recalled the first time he saw this person, calmly holding a cigarette between his tongue and lips.

Yan Qiling.

What was he thinking back then?

It seemed he had never truly grasped this person's thoughts.

Pausing for a moment, Ming Yiyang placed the charred cigarette butt into the outstretched hand of the man.

Yan Qiling took out a handkerchief from his bosom to wrap the cigarette butt, temporarily storing this now-useless piece of trash.

The young man suppressed his emotions and asked,

"How is Si Shuhao?"

"He's recovering quite well."

Having confirmed the employer's state of survival, Ming Yiyang retrieved from his chest the entwined love bracelet that Old Madam Bai had confiscated.

"The synchronization bracelet on her wrist suddenly heated up and moved to a distant location. So, I followed it and found it in the Bai family's storage room."

He took out his phone and displayed a photo:

"There was a map in the storage room. Madam Old Bai's Shou'an Hall is the heart of the entire Bai family. To the north, even farther away, are the two young ladies' embroidery chambers."

After Yan Qiling studied the map carefully, she heard the young man ask softly, almost in her ear:

"What did you do in Shou'an Hall yesterday?"

The sudden darkening of the phone screen reflected a fleeting glimmer in Yan Qiling's dual-colored eyes. He donned his trademark smile and said,

"I exchanged the ledger for some new rules."

He handed the phone back to the young man and retrieved from his bosom a red note wrapped tightly in silk:

"This, is the entirety of the rules for surviving in the Bai family."

His words silenced all whispers, drawing the attention of everyone present.

Chapter 80: Persuasion

Ji Min didn't give up.

When he met Lu Ran again, he brought up the topic once more.

Having learned from the previous aborted attempts, this time, he began the conversation with a thoughtful and solemn tone. "I've given it a lot of thought, and I believe it would be more suitable for you to move in with me."

"Eh?"

Lu Ran was stroking a dog when he heard the remark, and he looked over with an expression of astonishment.

Ji Min casually explained, "It's very quiet where I am, very suitable for you to study. And I've also prepared a room for Big Yellow."

He emphasized the last sentence with particular emphasis.

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment, eyeing him skeptically. "But I don't feel like living at the Shen residence has affected my studies..."

Saying this, he narrowed his eyes at Ji Min. "You can't possibly be..."

The moment he opened his mouth, Ji Min knew what was coming.

But by now, Ji Min had learned how to handle such situations with grace.

The man calmly sipped his tea, not responding to the child's remark.

Instead, he cut straight to the point, "You're very afraid of Shen Xingyu."

Lu Ran fell silent, clearly hit where it hurt.

Defensively, he shot back, "Not at all! I fed him a cockroach the other day, and now he runs away whenever he sees me. He should be the one afraid of me."

Ji Min raised an eyebrow but didn't comment.

He simply continued observing the young boy sitting across from him.

Under the man's seemingly penetrative gaze, Lu Ran quietly set Big Yellow down and picked up the cup in front of him.

He lowered his head to bite on the straw, then lifted his gaze to secretly glance at the man across from him.

Ji Min stared at him without moving.

Lu Ran lowered his head again to engage in a battle with the straw, flattening it and eventually shaping it into a square.

He raised his head to look at the man once more.

The man was still calmly observing him.

"Alright, alright!" Lu Ran grew slightly irritated, pushing the cup away as he stiffened his neck and declared, "What's wrong with me being a bit afraid of him?!"

"It's perfectly normal for me to be afraid of him!" Lu Ran declared assertively.

Ji Min's brows knitted deeply. "What did Shen Xingyu do to you?"

He had long noticed that Lu Ran's reactions whenever he encountered Shen Xingyu were rather unusual.

That sort of stiff, cold-sweat-inducing state far exceeded the level of "a bit scared."

Lu Ran choked.

Aside from the reason behind the car accident in his previous life after he met Shen Xingyu, he had also been somewhat afraid of Shen Xingyu before the accident.

After some careful contemplation, Lu Ran beckoned to Ji Min in a secretive manner.

Observing his actions, Ji Min leaned in closer.

Before long, he felt the youth draw close to his ear, whispering softly, "Don't you find something... not quite right about Shen Xingyu?"

"Hmm?"

Ji Min was somewhat surprised.

"What's abnormal about it?" he asked.

Finishing his question, Lu Ran wore an indescribable expression as he said, "Is he mentally ill or something?"

He even shuddered in fear as he continued, "I feel like he's more seriously ill than the others in the Shen family because he can disguise himself as a normal person."

Lu Ran argued convincingly,

"Isn't it normal for someone like me, who's mentally stable, to be scared of and keep my distance from someone like him who's mentally unstable?"

Ji Min: "..."

Actually, before meeting Lu Ran, he had quite admired Shen Xingyu.

Shen Xingyu was outstanding in his work capabilities, managing several projects for the Shen Corporation impressively.

If this were before, Ji Min would have dismissed Lu Ran's words as the ramblings of a child who flushed cups down the toilet at the slightest provocation.

But now...

Ji Min pondered carefully before nodding in agreement, "You're right."

The Shen family was evidently not a conventional bunch.

Living in such an environment was akin to a normal person living in a mental institution.

How could it not affect Lu Ran?

Thus, Ji Min logically continued, "That's why you should move out even more. You're still studying; what if you get influenced negatively by staying in the Shen household all the time?"

"Hmm? So I... should move out?"

Lu Ran seemed to be convinced.

Ji Min concealed the amusement in his eyes.

He had long realized that Lu Ran, this young one, was quite a handful.

Yet, when someone genuinely had his best interests at heart without any intention to control or dominate him, this young boy could be particularly persuadable.

Obedient, gentle, and submissive.

The young man hesitated for a moment.

Eventually, he recalled something and looked at the man across from him, asking, "But Boss... this is all about my personal affairs. It doesn't seem to be related to work. Why are you so concerned?"

Ji Min's breath caught.

It seemed that this 'negotiation' was heading towards another setback.

But Ji Min quickly pulled out another prepared argument.

With an unperturbed expression, he calmly lifted his gaze to glance at the youngster in front of him, much like how he would point out mistakes to his subordinates during meetings. His brow arched as he asked, "How is it unrelated to work?"

"How many times have you taken leave recently?"

"Well, I've been busy with my studies," Lu Ran replied.

Ji Min, resembling an unscrupulous capitalist, argued, "If your family matters didn't occupy your study time, how could your studies interfere with your work?"

Lu Ran furrowed his brow. "Hmm... Something like that, I suppose?"

Yet, why does it always feel as if something is amiss?

"You moving in would solve everything, and you wouldn't have to worry about your assignments being eaten by anyone," Ji Min earnestly implored.

"Yet, yet..."

Lu Ran endeavors to grasp the elusive sense of discomfort.

Suddenly, it dawned on him.

Turning to Ji Min, he asked, "So, Boss, are you suggesting we live together?"

Ji Min: "..."

Housekeeper Chen, having overheard the entire "negotiation," couldn't help but let out a subtle smile.

At this moment, President Ji was very tempted to turn around and leave.

However, it was unacceptable for him to leave Lu Ran alone in the Shen household.

Despite appearances, the youth seemed capable of handling everything on his own.

When it comes to matters on which Ji Min has already made a decision, his executional prowess is undeniably strong.

He drew in a deep breath, steadfastly meeting the astonished gaze of the youth, and solemnly nodded his head.

"Yes, that's right."

Before the young man could utter the words "You do like me," Ji Min gave Housekeeper Chen a subtle nod. "Ahem, Uncle Chen, please step outside for a moment."

Housekeeper Chen was taken aback but still obeyed and left the room.

He waited outside the door for a while.

The conversation inside seemed amicable, with no voices audible.

In reality, Ji Min had yet to say a word.

He was gently stroking his forehead with one hand, mentally preparing himself.

"Boss, what exactly do you want to say?" Lu Ran asked curiously.

Ji Min held up his palm to silence him.

Taking a few more deep breaths, he struggled to speak. "You've been so busy with your studies lately that you might not be aware."

"Hmm?" Lu Ran looked at him, confused.

Ji Min took another deep breath.

"Due to the fact that we haven't spent much time together recently, the rumors about me have escalated."

"What?!" Lu Ran's face paled in shock.

Maintaining his composure with great effort, Ji Min tried to sound serious while talking nonsense. "They're saying that because I'm inadequate in that department, even an ex-boyfriend as passionate about me as you eventually gave up on me."

"Aah?" Lu Ran wore a regretful expression. "Why did they figure out the truth so easily?"

Ji Min: "..."

He reached up to press against his throbbing temple, reminding himself that patience was crucial in such situations.

Thus, he forced himself to nod in agreement and continued with his fabrication:

"They also said that all those things you mentioned before were just me boasting. Apparently, after trying it, you were very unsatisfied, so much so that you didn't even want to live with me. Instead, you preferred to spend your days in the lab."

Lu Ran's eyes showed pity as he heard this. "You really had it rough, Boss."

Ji Min wiped his face dramatically. "So, do you understand now?"

moments later, the door opened.

Housekeeper Chen looked over curiously.

There, Lu Ran eagerly propelled Ji Min forward on his wheelchair.

The man on the wheelchair seemed to have lost all hope, as if half of his soul had withered away.

This sight made Butler Chen's heart skip a beat.

Could it be that Ji Min's confession was rejected?

Ji Min used to approach life with an extremely indifferent, even pessimistic attitude.

His demeanor improved slightly after meeting Lu Ran.

Now, having experienced a painful breakup, wouldn't his condition worsen?

But something didn't add up.

Didn't Lu Ran reject him, both directly and indirectly, numerous times before?

Yet, he didn't display such despairing behavior back then.

Butler Chen was worried.

He saw the young man behind the wheelchair sigh apologetically, "I'm sorry, Boss. I didn't expect that just because I've been busy with my studies and haven't visited, they would spread such rumors about you."

Butler Chen: "?"

"I knew you've been insisting on me moving in lately," Lu Ran reflected on his past actions and vowed, patting his chest, "Don't worry, Boss. Once I move in, I'll definitely put an end to all these rumors!"

Ji Min: "…"

Butler Chen remained perplexed.

Move in?

Didn't he succeed? Why did Ji Min still look so devastated?

Realizing that his repeated promises seemed unconvincing and empty, Lu Ran spoke sincerely, "This is the kingdom I've built with so much effort over these days. How could I let it crumble to ruins?"

This time, Butler Chen understood.

He looked at Ji Min in silence, silently.

Well, well.

To lure someone back, he was really pulling out all the stops.

He was even willing to admit his own incapability!

What else could be said? This was undeniably true love!

Ji Min leaned back in his chair silently, gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle with an expression that seemed to say, "Just kill me now."

The child behind him still wore a mysterious expression as he reassured, "Boss, don't worry. I absolutely won't reveal a word of what you've told me today!"

Ji Min: "...."

You've spilled everything already, yet you claim you won't speak of it?

Believing you is like believing in ghosts.

"Alright, I'll move next weekend," Lu Ran said.

As soon as he finished speaking, the man half-dead on the wheelchair suddenly sat up straight.

He checked his watch and said solemnly, "Isn't there still time today? Move today."

"Aah? So soon?" Lu Ran was rather astonished.

Ji Min gritted his teeth in frustration.

After paying such a great price, how could he not move?

He had to bring the person back today and keep a close eye on him.

Lu Ran: "..."

Indeed, men were always in a hurry when it came to such matters.

Ji Min instructed the driver to head straight for the Shen residence.

His vehicle had parked numerous times near the Shen family's home and often stopped in front of their gate.

This was the first time he had brazenly driven into the Shen family's courtyard.

All because someone in the car had rather rudely requested, "Park closer, even closer. It'll be easier for me to carry the boxes later."

It is not yet time for the workday to conclude, and currently within the Shen household, only Madame Shen and Shen Xingran are in residence.

Upon seeing the Ji family's car approaching, he hurried to greet them.

Exiting the vehicle, I saw Lu Ran alight from the backseat.

The young man descended but seemed to be pulled back by someone in the car, causing him to lean back in.

Uncertain of what was discussed within, he nodded in assurance, "I understand, I understand. How could I possibly forget the book?"

With that, he attempted to leave once more.

But before he could turn away, he was pulled back in.

The person inside the car seemed to be fussing over details like a concerned housekeeper.

Lu Ran's brows knitted together as he asked, "If I don't bring any clothes, what am I supposed to wear?"

After several more instructions, Lu Ran finally left the car.

However, not long after he got down, an elderly man dressed as a butler alighted from the passenger seat.

He stood in front of Lu Ran and offered a polite smile to Madam Shen and Shen Xingran, saying, "Our Master wishes to extend an invitation for Young Master Lu Ran to stay at the Ji residence for a few days."

Madam Shen was taken aback upon hearing Butler Chen's words.

Did this mean Lu Ran was going to leave?

As she comprehended the implications of Butler Chen's statement, Madam Shen felt a sense of confusion.

Lu Ran went missing at the age of four.

Decades later, he was finally brought back to the Shen family.

She had been annoyed and reluctant to accept him, but the moment she heard that Lu Ran was leaving, Mrs. Shen couldn't help but feel a twinge of mixed emotions.

But soon, that complexity turned into delight.

This Lu Ran was finally leaving?

No longer causing trouble for the Shen family?

This was a matter worthy of great celebration and fanfare!

Lu Ran paid no attention to the two and went straight upstairs to pack his belongings.

He didn't have much; a backpack and a suitcase contained all his possessions.

Madam Shen had transitioned from initial confusion upon hearing Lu Ran's departure to subsequent delight once she realized the implications.

Until now, as she watched Lu Ran descend the stairs with his luggage in hand, she was finally reminded that she was the mistress of the Shen household, and Lu Ran, for all intents and purposes, had already been openly acknowledged as a member of the Shen family.

At this moment, she ought to say something.

Thus, as Lu Ran passed by the living room,

There, Mrs. Shen was seated on the sofa, holding a cup of tea in her hand. She addressed him with a calm, indifferent tone: "Stop right there."

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

Seemingly sensing his departure, Madam Shen returned to the demeanor Lu Ran had first encountered when he arrived at the Shen family residence, that of the head of the household.

With a lecturing tone, she said, "When you go out, always remember that you are a member of the Shen family. Don't disgrace us in front of the Ji family."

"Going out and returning with no benefits, only to have the Shen family clean up your mess again and again..."

Her reprimand was interrupted as a figure in a wheelchair appeared in the foyer.

The man in the wheelchair scanned the living room with his dark eyes, asking impatiently, "Isn't everything ready yet?"

The target of his impatience was obvious without being stated.

Madam Shen's words were abruptly cut off as if her throat had been choked.

Beside her, Shen Xingran also looked at Ji Min in astonishment.

He had only come to the Shen residence to pick up Lu Ran, but this man had actually gotten out of the car himself.

Considering that Ji Min and Lu Ran were unrelated and had no connection at all, it was already somewhat inappropriate for him to insist on taking the young man home.

It was even less appropriate for him to make an appearance now.

"Everything's ready long ago."

Lu Ran pushed the suitcase over to Ji Min.

He was about to follow Ji Min when he caught sight of Madam Shen and paused.

Ji Min raised an eyebrow at him. "Why aren't you walking?"

Lu Ran winked at him, trying to convey his message subtly.

Unfortunately, Ji Min failed to understand and only frowned back at him.

After Lu Ran's prolonged attempts at hinting, he finally turned to Madam Shen and spoke, "My boss is very interested in the layout of this villa and would like to take a tour."

Madam Shen: "?"

Ji Min: "?"

Ji Min rubbed his temples gently.

He had already been quite impolite by personally coming to fetch Lu Ran, and now a tour...

Lu Ran shot him another intense glance.

Ji Min: "..."

He heard himself say to Madam Shen, "Indeed, I'd like to have a look at the layout of this house."

Although Madam Shen was slightly confused, she sensed an opportunity.

Recalling Shen Xingran's previous request, she promptly said, "Ranran, you and Lu Ran show President Ji around."

Ji Min had no idea what Lu Ran was up to but had no choice but to follow along reluctantly.

Shen Xingran had his own little plan. Instead of pressing the button for the second floor in order, he directly pressed the third floor as he called the elevator.

His room on the third floor was recently tidied up.

He knew all too well how much a person's surroundings could influence others' impressions of them.

Therefore, he deliberately brought Ji Min to the third floor, opened the door, and presented the room he had meticulously decorated.

Ji Min had no interest whatsoever in admiring Shen Xingran's "special group" room.

Meanwhile, Shen Xingran continued explaining the concept behind his room arrangement.

Yet, Ji Min noticed that Lu Ran, who had been by his side, was now quietly hiding behind his wheelchair.

The young man delicately unzipped his backpack and retrieved a glass jar from within.

Amidst Shen Xingran's endeavor to maintain an elegant tone, he opened the jar and whispered to the remaining "experimental ingredients" inside.

"Exit, my darlings, you are free once more~"

Ji Min: "..."

Chapter 167: Humiliated

As the Xu family members ran forward, still glancing back, they failed to react in time. Chen Dashan and Shen Lie, hidden behind the tree, had already swiftly emerged, delivering the final blows to the two bandits who were still barely alive. They ensured their deaths, then removed the iron arrows from their bodies, taking the swords that the bandits had seized from the fallen soldiers.

Their actions were swift and composed, as if they were merely reaping prey and skinning them during a hunt. The Xu family couldn't help but halt in their tracks. They were both stunned and exhausted from narrowly escaping death. Wei Lingzhen, for instance, was now so weak that she felt limp all over. If not for the fact that she was still holding onto Shen Yin, she would have collapsed.

Their entire family had nearly met their end right there that day.

Shen Lie strode forward with large and swift steps, quickly closing the distance between himself and the Xu family members. He took in each of them with a sweeping glance before finally directing his question to Shen Jin: "Where is Tian Ya?"

Shen Jin's eyes reddened instantly, and she pursed her lips, shaking her head.

Shen Lie had already guessed something when he saw only the three brothers emerge from the cave. At this moment, his nose tingled, and he swallowed to suppress the emotion. He didn't ask further and handed the seized knife to Xu Wenqing, who was beside Shen Jin. "Take it for protection."

Turning to Xu Shopkeeper, I said, "We can't afford to delay. With the chaos in the city, we must leave immediately. Big Mountain and I will scout ahead and keep watch. Could you and Uncle Xu please carry Little Silver and Little Iron?"

Shopkeeper Xu nodded repeatedly, hurriedly passing the hoe to his eldest son for him to carry. He also warned about the poison on the hoe's blade and asked for caution. Then, he took Shen Yin from his wife and explained to Shen Lie that Shen Yin and Shen Tie were desperately hungry before saying, "I've hidden some food in my shelter."

Starving, his situation aligned with Shen Lie's assumption. He nodded. "I know where the food is, but we can't go now. Our group is too large, and the city has just fallen. The bandits won't have the energy to monitor the outskirts. This is our best chance to escape. Once they regain their strength, it'll be much harder to leave. Besides, the secret tunnel could be discovered at any moment. You can't carry much grain at once, and revealing our position would be disastrous."

Xu Shopkeeper didn't ask further. "We'll follow your lead."

Xu Shuren took the iron rod from Xu Wenhong, while Chen Dashan handed his knife to Xu Wenhong and ventured ahead to scout. Shen Lie observed Shen Yin and Shen Tie. Only Shen Yin could still open her eyes to look at him, weakly mouthing something, likely calling out to him.

His eyes reddened. He squeezed Shen Yin's hand and reassured her not to be afraid. Then, he signaled for Xu Shopkeeper and the others to follow, guiding them into the forest.

Xu Wenqing and Xu Wenhong carried shovels on their shoulders and held the knife, their hands trembling with excitement. Besides keeping watch, they often glanced at Shen Lie and the already-forthgoing Chen Dashan.

So these were the Shen Lie and Chen Dashan that Father and Wenbo had mentioned. Like divine soldiers descending from the heavens.

No one paid attention to the young men's excitement. Xu Shopkeeper and the others remained vigilant, fearing exposure. Apart from initial instructions, they dared not speak another word.

...

When Shen Lie and Chen Dashan first arrived, it was challenging. Now, with all the bandits rushing into the city, their return journey was easier. They only needed to remain hidden in the forest and watch out for bandits or refugees who might have been at the sentry posts and were now heading towards the county seat. Unlike before, they didn't need to detour for two days.

Indeed, there were sentries, but they were likely stationed further away. The ones nearby had heard the commotion of the city's fall and were rushing towards the county town. Shen Lie and Chen Dashan stealthily moved through the forest, managing to evade detection.

As for the villagers who had fled into the mountains, not a single one could be seen in the vicinity.

Consequently, after just an hour and a half, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan led the elderly and children into the inner mountainous region of Ten Li Village.

Since they had been walking in the mountains, Shen Jin hadn't initially realized they were retracing their steps back to the village. It wasn't until the surroundings became increasingly familiar that he froze in shock.

Not with joy, but with fear.

His entire being was seized by an overwhelming terror, causing his pace to slow down. His eyes reddened, but he dared not let anyone notice. He lowered his head slightly.

"Your big brother and your parents, this is how it is. There are some things you mustn't know. I hope you won't blame big brother. Remember the skills I taught you. Practice them diligently. As long as you can hunt, you can survive in the forest. As long as there isn't a severe drought or epidemic, relying on this great mountain, most can endure. Do you understand?"

In the four months since leaving those families, it had felt like an eternity for Shen Jin. But no matter how long, he still vividly recalled the words his elder brother spoke to him before he left with Xiao An.

That day, he had obtained the slingshot he had yearned for so long, and his elder brother and Xiao An had dug a hideout for him. He returned home overjoyed, eagerly anticipating the next morning when he would carry his small bow and train with his elder brother, Xiao An, and the other kids, just like before.

Yet, when he went looking for them the following day, there was no more training. All that remained were empty houses.

All those who had trained together with him had departed, leaving him behind.

He was aware of the reason, hence his sorrow, not resentment.

No one dared to involve his parents in their actions. His elder brother, sister-in-law, An and Anning had treated them kindly enough.

Back then, Shen Jin believed that with his craftsmanship, a hideout, the support of the mountains, and his parents, he could somehow survive. But after the nightmare in Qiyang County, he no longer held that confidence.

Without anyone to protect him, he couldn't protect anyone else, not even himself.

Each step he took grew heavier, yet he had no idea how to initiate a conversation.

Should he beg his elder brother to take them away?

How much grain would it take to feed the three brothers?

Pirates were rampant everywhere; the land couldn't be cultivated, and without food, how could they live?

Would they end up like his family?

Shen Jin found it hard to utter a word. His elder brother and sister-in-law had not owed them anything. The family had long been divided, with all ties severed between the two branches. Despite being in the mountains, his elder brother still managed to visit him from time to time, bringing dried meat and arranging for others to look after him. Most importantly, he had rescued them from that deadly place – an immense favor that could never be repaid.

Shen Jin dared not imagine what would happen if he were to encounter another predator again.

He stifled his sobs, wiping away his tears, and followed the group in silence, watching as his elder brother and Big Shan led them to the shelter he had dug for him. He observed as his brother squatted down and reached out to lift the shelter's lid.

Shen Jin lowered his head even further, trying to hold back his tears, but they refused to listen, spilling down his cheeks before he could blink.

...

With the shelter's lid lifted, Wei Qing, who was conserving his energy with his eyes closed inside, jolted in fear. When he recognized who had opened the cover, he leaped up in excitement.

"Shen Lie!"

In a few quick steps, he climbed up the small steps within and emerged from the underground hole. Seeing his sister, her husband, and his two nephews, he joyfully scrambled out, "Sis! Wenqing, Wenhong!"

He embraced both nephews tightly.

Still damp-eyed, Shen Jin, who had expected his elder brother to return them to the shelter and then leave, stood there in a daze, staring at the unfamiliar young man emerging from his family's shelter.

Chen Dashan gave Shen Jin a fleeting glance before tactfully averting his gaze.

At this moment, Shen Lie's attention fell on Shen Yin and Shen Tie, especially the significantly weaker Shen Tie. He put down the weapons in his hands and the items on his back, took Shen Tie from Uncle Xu, and asked the shopkeeper, "Uncle Xu, it wasn't convenient to ask along the way, but what's the situation with the children?"

Ever since he saw his younger sister-in-law emerge from the shelter, Uncle Xu knew that they were temporarily safe. The anxiety he had been carrying throughout the journey finally eased. Taking the water bag filled with salted sugar water and rice soup from his wife, he fed Shen Yin and Shen Tie with Shen Lie. Only then did he describe the situation in the county.

"On the day we entered the city, Uncle Xu and I purposely kept watch at the city gate to recognize the children's faces. We also had Uncle Xu follow them to see where they were settled. Before that, Little Jin had hunted some things, and we witnessed Shen San exchanging them for food. Uncle Xu had also exchanged quite a bit for them earlier, so we didn't expect there to be a shortage of food. Due to certain reasons, my wife and children were no longer safe in Shezhou, so they came to seek refuge. Most of our food supplies were transferred to the shelter outside the city, and we didn't have much left inside. We never expected the city gates to be suddenly sealed. To facilitate our escape, we mostly exchanged our stored food for a small courtyard close to the city wall. Later, when the city started conscripting soldiers, Uncle Xu was drafted because he was listed as the head of the household when he bought the courtyard. Our family dug a tunnel in the house to hide. Yesterday, we reached the foundation of the city wall, and this morning, I thought of checking on the children you entrusted me to take care of."

Here, Master Xu couldn't help but shake his head vigorously, catching sight of Shen Lie watching him. With a heavy sigh, he said, "It was devastating. Little Tian Ya, the youngest—neither I nor Uncle Xu saw her when we arrived. As for Mr. and Mrs. Shen San..."

Glimpsing Shen Yin, who was already stirring awake to sip rice soup, and Shen Tie, who instinctively swallowed saltwater, he held back his words. He exchanged meaningful glances with his wife and Uncle Xu, signaling them to come over and take over the care of the two children while he led Shen Lie away. Only then did he continue, "I'm not entirely sure, but given the urgency of today's events, I didn't have the chance or the heart to delve into the details. But it seems your Third Uncle consumed... that substance and secretly sent Sweet Girl away. Perhaps Li Shi caught on, and in the dead of night, when he was sound asleep, she struck. She used an ax, but perhaps due to excessive starvation, her strength was insufficient, preventing her from accomplishing her aim in one blow. In the end, she was also pierced by scissors, leaving both spouses covered in bloody wounds."

Those two words were too painful for Shopkeeper Xu to utter, but Shen Lie understood all too well. His breathing grew heavy with anger, and he clenched his teeth to prevent himself from cursing the man as a beast.

It is simply impossible to fathom how these children have endured these past days, let alone what specific tribulations Sweet Ya has undergone.

"Upon our arrival, the hut was in a state of utter devastation," Xu Shopkeeper continued. "At that time, only Little Jin was still standing. The two younger ones were on the verge of collapse from starvation, lying helplessly on the ground. A group of malevolent onlookers had gathered around them. My uncle and I rushed the children and Little Jin to the clinic, but we were tailed along the way."

That man had truly set his sights on these children as his next meal.

Shen Lie clenched his fists with a cracking sound and turned to look at Shen Yin and Shen Tie. "What did the doctor say?"

"He can be saved. He's been eating mud cakes for days, but fortunately, Li was still lucid enough to starve them rather than let them eat too much. Every day, she only gave them just enough to keep them alive. We managed to get some saltwater and rice soup to feed them first. If we can take good care of them for a while, they should recover."

Shen Lie bowed deeply to Manager Xu. "Thank you very much. Despite the danger, you rescued Little Jin and his siblings in this situation."

He sincerely expressed his gratitude, but Manager Xu didn't dare accept it. Terrified, he hurriedly supported Shen Lie. "Nonsense! Not only were my mother and child under your protection, but I also owe you a favor. Just speaking for our family of five, we only managed to escape safely because of you and Big Mountain. How could I accept your thanks? It's our family that should be thanking you and Big Mountain."

"Besides, good deeds reap good rewards. Today, I truly believe in this saying. Honestly, if we hadn't saved those children and attracted that ill-intentioned person, Uncle Xu might have lost his life on the city walls today."

He recounted how Uncle Xu, moved by compassion, had promised Shen Jin that he would bury Li if possible. Later, when they discovered someone was watching them, he asked Uncle Xu to find an opportunity to take care of things. One was to bury Li, and the other was to take two days off from the city walls to hide at home.

"If that hadn't happened, who knows what Uncle Xu might have encountered near the city walls when the city fell? It's uncertain if he could have returned safely to that small courtyard, let alone escaped. If our family had waited for Uncle Xu and he didn't come back, we would have been delayed, and who knows what outcome that would have led to?"

Hearing about this incident, Shen Lie asked, "Did Shen San receive a proper burial too?"

Manager Xu shook his head. "Of course not. A person like him doesn't deserve it." He then relayed Shen Jin's reaction to Shen Lie.

Shen Lie nodded and thanked Master Xu once more before turning back to check on the situation with Shen Yin and Shen Tie.

Master Xu finally had the chance to ask, "How did you and Big Mountain happen to be right by our exit?"

Chen Dashan smiled and replied, "It was just your lucky chance."

He then recounted the story of how Chu Liu received the letter with a date from some time ago, prompting them to go out and investigate since they were worried. They discovered that Ten Mile Village was deserted, and Little Jin and his brothers were nowhere to be found in the shelter or the cave. They had then decided to head to the county town to see if they could assist Master Xu.

"Rampant bandits were everywhere, so we had to take a long detour just to reach the county town. It took us two days, and we arrived on the eighth day. We waited until today. When the city was breached, we heard unusual sounds, so we discussed it and decided to come out and investigate. As Shen Lie was walking near the spot where you dug the exit, he felt a slight vibration beneath his feet. He's cautious, so he stopped immediately. After that, he even managed to hear faint voices by leaning closer."

"Given that we assisted you in constructing the shelter, we waited outside, constantly speculating that you might dig your way out. Hence, we suspected it could be you. To avoid any mistakes, we retreated and hid in the nearby bushes."

There was no need for Chen Dashan to elaborate on what happened next. Xu Wenchao was the first to emerge, followed by Xu Wenrong. They didn't recognize either of them, which initially led to confusion. Then, they saw Shen Yin, Shen Tie, and Shen Jin, the three brothers, being passed through.

The moment Shopkeeper Xu appeared with his vial of poison, it was clear to them that pursuers were closing in. Therefore, they promptly fetched their bows, preparing for battle.

Wei Lingzhen couldn't help but react, clasping her hands together in front of her chest and looking up to heaven in gratitude. Shopkeeper Xu exclaimed even more openly, "What a tremendous stroke of luck!"

For safety reasons, the shelter was situated quite a distance from the city walls. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to excavate such a large refuge without interruption.

The timing of Shen Lie's emergence coincided with their completion of the final upward tunnel. It was as if they had received divine favor. The man bowed to Shen Lie and Chen Dashan with his two sons, "We are grateful for both heaven's grace and your assistance. This life-saving kindness will forever be etched in our hearts."

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan hastily stepped aside. Chen Dashan smiled and said, "Enough with the thanks. Let's not dwell on it."

He turned to Shen Lie, "Shouldn't we hurry up? If we wait until tomorrow, it might not be safe."

Shen Lie nodded. Seeing that the younger ones had eaten enough, and Shen Yin even had the strength to call him 'brother' through teary eyes, while Shen Tie had finally managed to open his eyes, he asked Shen Jin, "Can Little Jin still hold on? If you can, I'll hunt something tonight to fill your stomach. For now, let's set off. We need to reach the cave where we hid the letter before nightfall."

This last part was addressed to the others.

Upon hearing this, Shen Jin froze, overwhelmed by joy, fear, and disbelief. His lips trembled, "Brother, are you taking us with you?"

Chen Dashan chuckled. This child bore no resemblance to Shen San or Li Shi. In fact, he resembled Shen Lie and his siblings more.

Indeed, before Shen Lie went to war, he had been responsible for raising and guiding the older children in the family.

Shen Lie also raised an eyebrow. He looked at the makeshift shelter, "If you're not coming with me, do you plan to stay here with Little Yin and Little Tie? Can you handle encountering refugees?"

Once upon a time, he dared to keep people because Shen San and Li Shi were still around. Now that both of them were gone, what use was it to trap mountain birds and rabbits, or have a sanctuary? They couldn't hide in it for their entire lives.

With refugees and bandits rampant, at that time, these three children would be lambs to the slaughter in others' eyes. No special skills were needed; any grown adult could easily subdue them.

Shen Jin finally realized the situation and shook his head repeatedly. He knelt down and pleaded, "We can't handle it. I beg Elder Brother and Sister-in-law to take care of us for a few years, save Little Silver and Little Iron. After they recover, we don't need your grain. I'll hunt, dig wild vegetables, and gather grass seeds. I can support them. All we need is a safe place to settle down."

With both hands on the ground, he bowed his body and knocked his head down again and again.

Watching this reaction, Shen Lie was deeply pained in his heart.

This reaction of Shen Jin actually revealed that the children hadn't dared to hope he would agree to take them along.

Indeed, I've abandoned them once before.

Sweet Yam had passed away. Since Shen Lie had only seen Shen Jin and his two brothers leave the village, he had already anticipated this. Their silent journey was not without the reason of his own inability to face the truth.

Until now, he dares not ask himself if he has any regrets.

Yet, Shen Lie was well aware that even if time were to flow backward repeatedly to several months prior, allowing him to make countless choices, as long as he lacked the memory and couldn't foresee the soldiers rounding up the villagers into the city, couldn't anticipate today's tragedy, his decision would remain the same.

Or perhaps, deep down where even he himself couldn't reach, he had never truly refrained from holding the triplets accountable for Shen San and Li's actions.

True forgiveness, treating them as his siblings, was like how he treated An and Ning. If he could, he wouldn't dare expose them to any danger.

But his leniency towards Shen Jin and the others stemmed solely from their past connection, from the fact that he had raised them, taught them skills, plotted for them, and done his utmost to help. He couldn't bring himself to repay evil with kindness by taking on the responsibility of raising Shen San and Li's children.

He said Shen Jin wouldn't want to leave his parents, but how could he willingly allow Shen San and Li to bind him with affection, only to be exploited by them again?

Yes, it was all due to his unwillingness.

It was only now that he realized his true feelings – he was unwilling.

So, he planned for Shen Jin and his siblings, entrusted them to Manager Xu's care, and kept an eye on them whenever possible. All these arrangements stemmed from a hidden corner of his heart, a place he himself hadn't acknowledged, revealing that he knew deep down that Shen Jin and his siblings were not truly safe.

In this instant, Shen Lie finally saw the truth, the true depths of his heart.

He had been about to help Shen Jin up, but in that moment, he was utterly humiliated. His hand, halfway raised, folded back to cover his face, hiding the furrowed brows and dampened hands, a result of the sudden realization that hit him.

Shen Jin continued thudding his head against the ground. Shen Lie didn't have time to recompose himself. He hastily wiped his face and reached out to pull Shen Jin up.

Avoiding Shen Jin's gaze, he turned his back and hastily picked up the basket and weapons lying on the ground. "It's getting late, let's all gather our things and leave."

He proceeded forward, brushing past Chen Dashan. Noticing something in Chen Dashan's expression, he patted Shen Lie on the shoulder. Turning his head, he saw Shen Jin standing rooted to the spot, staring blankly at Shen Lie's departing figure. He walked over, picked up his own weapon, ruffled Shen Jin's hair, and said, "Foolish? Come on, your big brother never had any intention of leaving you behind."

Indeed, the sole purpose was to save Shopkeeper Xu. How could anyone have stayed for so many days in that refuge and still be unwilling to leave?

If Shen San and Li were still alive, Shen Lie might not have intervened so much, perhaps merely sending them back to Shili Village or sequestering them in some remote cave in the mountains. But with Shen San and Li gone, given Shen Lie's nature, how could he abandon his cousins without concern?

Shen Jin's reaction at that moment, or rather, the combination of Sweet Ya's death and Shen Jin's subsequent reaction, is likely to weigh heavily on Shen Lie's heart.

Chen Dashan patted Shen Jin and then went to greet the Xu family.

With tears still rolling down his cheeks, Shen Jin finally allowed himself to cry aloud.

"Thank you, Big Brother."

Shen Lie had left so swiftly that Shen Jin didn't get the chance to express his gratitude. He could only repeat the phrase in his heart, sobbing all the while.