Asianovel

"Moving out?"

Su Yu almost bit his tongue.

Lin Shuicheng smiled. "Yeah, I've already arranged it. Come over for dinner tomorrow after I've settled everything." He glanced at the coconut chicken on the plate. The dish from the Third Courtyard cafeteria was made with mass-produced coconut water and frozen chicken, resulting in a rather dry texture and an odd fishy smell.

However, Su Yu genuinely seemed to enjoy it, as he was almost done with his second helping and still looked eager for more.

Startled, Su Yu nearly dropped his plate. "Sister-in-law, you're leaving right away?"

"Mm-hmm. We've separated. I'm not sure if he's told you," Lin Shuicheng said softly. "It wouldn't be appropriate for me to stay there any longer. I found a new place beforehand, but I need another day to move and settle in. It might not be convenient for you to visit, but that'll change soon. You can let me know what you'd like to eat in advance, or would you prefer the coconut chicken?"

Su Yu was stunned.

All he could recall was Fu Luoyin telling him over the phone that Lin Shuicheng wanted to break up, but he had no idea that Lin Shuicheng would leave so decisively. In just a short while, Lin Shuicheng had apparently already planned out his future.

He nervously asked, "Sis... Sister-in-law, is it because of Xia Ran that you're breaking up with him?"

Lin Shuicheng froze for a moment. "Who?"

Su Yu: "… Don't you know who he is, Sister? He's the minus two ex-boyfriend I mentioned before… But Sister, do you think it would be better to wait until Minus Two comes back before deciding to break up? He told me he was serious."

Lin Shuicheng fell silent for a while. "It's not because of this or anything else. I just don't want to be with him anymore. I hope to return to my original life."

Su Yu was stunned. "Then, Sister, you're breaking up too abruptly. You should at least talk it out with Minus Two and come to an agreement. If you just leave without saying anything in a relationship, it can really hurt the other person…"

"Me and him aren't in a relationship. We both understand that," Lin Shuicheng said.

Su Yu was dumbfounded again. "Huh? Sister, you're not… You didn't fall in love with Minus Two at first sight… No, what I mean is, weren't things going well between you two?"

He had met Lin Shuicheng once a year ago when he hadn't resigned from the forensic system yet. He went to Fu Luoyin to submit Chu Shihan's special autopsy report and coincidentally caught Fu Luoyin visiting Lin Shuicheng at Star University. The three of them ended up having dinner together.

Back then, he truly believed that Fu Luoyin had moved on from his feelings for Xia Ran, and he was genuinely happy for him.

There was a glow in Lin Shuicheng's eyes when he looked at Fu Luoyin, and that kind of expression couldn't be faked.

And Fu Luoyin cared more about Lin Shuicheng than others. Su Yu still remembered the time Fu Luoyin called him in the middle of the night, asking him to pick someone up from Unit Seven. Fu Luoyin never begged anyone, but today he had threatened him by complaining to Yan Zi and even called him 'Little Fish' to entice him.

Lin Shuicheng pursed his lips. "It's not a romantic relationship. I wanted to say this earlier, but you might have misunderstood. He and I are just..." After some thought, Lin Shuicheng chose his words carefully. "Sexual partners."

Su Yu: "..................."

At that moment, Su Yu didn't even know how to help Fu Luoyin comfort Lin Shuicheng. He even wished Fu Luoyin wouldn't come back, hoping he would be so busy with meetings outside that he would forget about the breakup altogether. Su Yu couldn't bear to imagine the consequences of Fu Luoyin hearing those words!

The world was going to end! He couldn't handle it!

Lin Shuicheng had more than ten boxes. Eighty percent of them were filled with books and documents, each weighing several dozen kilograms, making them difficult to move.

Despite this, Su Yu still went over the next day, unsure why he was doing so. Was he planning to tell Fu Luoyin that he helped by assisting Lin Shuicheng to move out?

Just the thought of it made Su Yu's scalp tingle.

Lin Shuicheng was on the phone with a shipping company. He sat on the sofa with Chief curled up on his lap, snoring softly. The cat's fur was soft and smooth.

"Is that not allowed? My cat has vaccination and health certificates. It's only two years old and never scratches people." – except for occasionally swatting at the annoying Fu Luoyin.

Lin Shuicheng continued, "And my documents are just ordinary academic materials. I've organized them in order. It's impossible to take out tens of thousands of items and disrupt their sequence."

The person on the other end spoke politely, "I'm sorry, but that's the current regulation. There's a strict investigation across the entire alliance, and all registered goods, equipment, and documents need to be inspected before we can accept the order. Furthermore, no animals are allowed for transportation. You could send over all the other items first and then personally take a taxi to bring the cat."

Lin Shuicheng frowned. "Regarding document inspections, does your privacy policy include this? What if they're confidential business documents?"

"The authorization was just issued today, so theoretically, all commercial projects need to pass safety clearance. If there's a security clearance for confidential documents, we can transport them directly." The person apologized repeatedly, "I'm really very sorry about this..."

Lin Shuicheng replied, "I understand."

He hung up the call.

Su Yu asked, "Sister-in-law, why not just forget about moving? Or wait a few days until my dad comes back and returns the car to me, then I can help you drive the items over."

His mind was already calculating how he could stretch one day into several days, and perhaps even years. In essence, he would then be able to attend Fu Luoyin and Lin Shuicheng's wedding!

Lin Shuicheng glanced at him. Su Yu felt exposed but still maintained his position with a thick skin, gazing at him sincerely.

Seeing that Lin Shuicheng didn't move or respond, just engrossed in his phone, Su Yu asked, "Sister-in-law, what do you think of my suggestion?"

Lin Shuicheng didn't give a direct answer. Instead, he said, "Let's watch some TV."

He turned on a movie and went to the kitchen to fry some chips, fries, and phoenix tails. He brought them back for Su Yu to enjoy.

Su Yu didn't dare move, obediently eating while sitting upright to watch the film. The Chief, being friendly to this newcomer, took one of the phoenix tails from his hand and playfully placed its furry paw on his palm.

After a while, Lin Shuicheng received a call and stood up, saying, "Come on, I'll need your help driving."

Seeing him grab a folding trolley, load four boxes, and head for the elevator, pressing the button for the "long-term freight elevator" special access, then returning to carry more boxes, Su Yu asked, "Have you found a car, Sister-in-law?"

"No, given the current situation, it's inconvenient to hire a freight company. So I bought a car," Lin Shuicheng replied. "My grandfather mentioned how troublesome it was to buy a car in their time, but when I looked into it today, all the procedures can be outsourced to the seller, and it can be registered and delivered within hours. It's parked downstairs right now."

"???" Su Yu was stunned. "Buy a car? Do you know how to drive, Sister-in-law?"

"No, that's why it's fortunate you're here," Lin Shuicheng said, picking up the Chief and placing it in a cat carrier, stuffing a punctured calming snack stick inside. With a glance, he signaled for Su Yu to follow him down.

Su Yu's perception of Lin Shuicheng was overturned once again—wasn't Fu Luoyin supposed to have said that Lin Shuicheng's family was very poor?

He had always imagined Lin Shuicheng as someone who lived frugally, but clearly, that wasn't the case.

Lin Shuicheng purchased an affordable car, an old yet reputable brand with excellent value for money and an attractive appearance.

Su Yu examined the vehicle and commented, "Sister-in-law has great taste. This car is really nice."

"Is that so?" Lin Shuicheng smiled. "My father used to have a car just like this one."

With numerous boxes to carry, Lin Shuicheng and Su Yu made two trips to fill the trunk and backseat to the brim. Surprisingly, they managed to fit everything in despite the tight space.

At Star University, Su Yu held the cat carrier while assisting Lin Shuicheng. He made way for Lin Shuicheng as they entered the new place.

Upon arrival, Su Yu was impressed with Lin Shuicheng's organized manner. First, he arranged the boxes systematically, cleaned the living room, and invited Su Yu to sit down. Then, he released the Chief to acquaint itself with the surroundings.

The nervous dairy cat clung closely to Lin Shuicheng, following him around in its new environment. Fortunately, although the apartment was old, it was still very clean. Lin Shuicheng had already taken the time to tidy up previously, making the current cleaning process swift.

Seeing that there was still plenty of time, Lin Shuicheng even ventured to the nearby fresh market to buy green coconuts and a freshly slaughtered free-range chicken. He planned to cook coconut chicken for Su Yu.

Throughout the day, Su Yu had been too embarrassed to comment but had diligently helped with cleaning and organizing. However, upon seeing the mouthwatering coconut chicken served on the table, Su Yu mustered the courage to speak: "Sister-in-law, this time, you really...

After some contemplation, he closed his mouth and softly asked, "Can I still come over to play with you in the future? I mean... if you and Number Two really break up."

Su Yu was well aware that this question held little weight. Their circle and someone like Lin Shuicheng didn't have much overlap to begin with, and ordinary friends tended to drift apart when they no longer shared the same social circles.

Not to mention the awkwardness of a breakup.

Lin Shuicheng smiled. "Of course. You're Fu Luoyin's friend, but also Dr. Yan and Nian Nian's benefactor. If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know."

That day, Su Yu devoured a pot of coconut chicken, leaving not a single drop of broth behind. Lin Shuicheng packed the remaining coconut flesh and juice into sterile bottles for him. Before the meal, Su Yu had taken pictures—the clear and fragrant coconut chicken, accompanied by stir-fried oil lettuce, garlic pork, and fish-flavored shredded meat.

Yet this time, he didn't dare to send it to Fu Luoyin.

Lin Shuicheng ate swiftly. As Su Yu was eating, he turned back to search through the box for something.

The Chief remained glued to his side.

Lin Shuicheng pulled an envelope out of the file folder, inadvertently bringing out a crumpled pink memo pad. He wondered why it was there.

He picked it up and found a scribbled message on it: "Remember to eat your meal, little lazy cat."

Flipping the card over, there was a sketch of a cat's head on the back, specifically a tabby cat, drawn to resemble Chief Fu with black ears.

Lin Shuicheng studied it for a moment before carefully placing it back into the envelope. Then, he stood up and handed a letter to Su Yu. "In a few days, I'll be rather busy. If Fu Luoyin returns, please give this to him."

Without thinking, Su Yu asked, "What is it?"

"Ah... It's the money I owe him," Lin Shuicheng replied, then suddenly inquired, "By the way, how much is an appropriate amount for a breakup fee?"

Su Yu had thought he had accepted the reality that Lin Shuicheng was determined to break up with Fu Luoyin. However, the situation still felt surreal to him.

"Brother... Sister-in-law, you're giving Second Bro a breakup fee..." He stammered, confused.

"Mm, initially, I just wanted to settle our debts, but I still owe him some favors that can't be repaid," Lin Shuicheng explained, his gaze lowered, his tone somewhat distant. "It seems like... he has developed feelings for me."

Chapter 77: An Incident (3000+)

Luo Le ignored the people behind him and pulled open the door, ready to follow in.

Suddenly, his hand was grasped by a slightly cool hand. He tilted his head slightly and saw Huo Lanjing's forlorn gaze.

This time, Luo Le didn't tangle with him. With a layer of gloom hidden in his lowered eyes, he said, "Huo Lanjing, don't push me."

Upon hearing this, Huo Lanjing paused, then released his hand.

With no constraint, Luo Le entered the room and shut the door firmly.

Staring at the closed door, Huo Lanjing was slightly dazed, still maintaining his previous posture.

Wind City, watching the person who had entered, tilted his head to glance outside and asked, "He's still out there?"

Luo Le bent down to change his shoes. "Who cares about him?"

Wind City's eyes narrowed slightly. "Indeed."

Today, they picked up Chen Chen together, as Wind City was already familiar with the school Chen Chen attended.

The next morning, Luo Le dressed Chen Chen neatly and asked Wind City to take him to school.

He leisurely sipped half a pot of tea before strolling out.

Upon arriving at the research institute, he swiped his card as usual.

Identification error.

Luo Le paused, then swiped again several times, but the result remained the same.

A smartly dressed attendant by the entrance smiled warmly, "Is there a problem? Do you need assistance?"

Every day, a different person manned the gate, and Luo Le had never seen this particular attendant before.

He waved his hand, stepped aside to the left, allowing others to enter first.

After creating some distance, he intended to inquire about the issue, only to find that his AI device couldn't access the building.

Gu Zhiwei's identity was issued by Wind City previously. Could it have an expiration date?

Wind City didn't mention anything about it.

Given the shady origins of the identity, Luo Le didn't feel right asking at the main hall.

Luo Le retraced his steps and returned home to find Wind City putting on shoes, seemingly ready to leave.

Seeing him, Wind City looked up and asked, "Brother Le, why are you back?"

Luo Le stepped in and said, "Is there a time limit on Gu Zhiwei's ID?"

Wind City looked puzzled. "No, no one has ever reported such an issue."

Luo Le frowned. "I can't access the Mind Network now."

Wind City was taken aback. "Hold on, let me check."

He immediately contacted the person who had processed the ID.

The moment the message was sent, a reply swiftly arrived.

However, when Wind City saw the message, his expression became rather nuanced.

Luo Le inquired, "What's wrong?"

Wind City didn't respond verbally. Instead, he illuminated his screen, which displayed a single sentence: Come find me.

The identity of 'he' in that message was self-evident.

"From Wind City, Cheng: 'Brother Le, do you know him?'"

Luo Le shakes his head; he has no idea who this person is.

No, Gu Heting has also changed several identities, and he even took on an identity before and asked him if he wanted it.

Luo Le inquired, "Have you seen this person before?"

"Wind City shook his head. 'I've only seen a vague profile picture of him.'"

He said, tapping on the photograph to enlarge it.

Although the image was somewhat blurry, Luo Le recognized him at a glance after living with Gu Heting for several months. It was him.

What should be done?

Luo Le was somewhat troubled. Now that this identity was gone, the house purchased under this name would likely be seized soon.

Something suddenly occurred to him, and he hastily asked, "Will Chen Chen's identity be in jeopardy?"

Wind City furrowed his brows slightly. "Was Chen Chen born in a hospital?"

"Mm-hmm."

"In that case, there shouldn't be any issues. Logically speaking, this house should be registered under Chen Chen's name. It's just that..."

Luo Le asked, "What is it?"

Wind City pressed his lips together, looking troubled. "Your relationship... You gave birth to him using Gu Zhiwei's identity. If you were to change your identity, you would then have to adopt him legally..."

An adopted son turns out to be a biological one.

Luo Le smiled bitterly, thinking he could only wait for his mentor's return and ask if there was any solution.

"Maybe Huo Lanjing has an idea. Should we ask him?"

After saying this, Wind City studied Luo Le. Seeing that he remained silent, he continued, "What he did was truly inhumane. We can't just let him bully us without consequence. Consider it his atonement. Besides, if not for him, you wouldn't have had to fake your death."

Luo Le lowered his head in deep thought.

Wind City sighed. "It's alright, no rush. Take your time to think. But for now, try not to go out. I'll take care of Chen Chen."

Luo Le nodded, acknowledging that this was their only option.

"Are you going out?"

"Yes, I have some matters to attend to. I'll pick up Chen Chen tonight."

"Then I'll trouble you."

Actually, Luo Le wasn't one to burden others. If it were just him, he wouldn't mind. But he couldn't bear to see Chen Chen suffer in any way.

Since initiating the divorce with Huo Lanjing, I have been troubling my mentor, troubling Wind City, and troubling... Gu Heting.

How could he possibly repay all these favors owed to so many people?

Luo Le sighed and shook his head.

Seeing this, Wind City pursed his lips and said, "Don't overthink it. Just get some rest."

Luo Le pressed his lips together. "Alright, go quickly."

The door closed gently, the lock clicking into place.

Sitting on the small sofa by the entrance where one would change shoes, Luo Le gazed at the potted orchids in the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, lost in thought.

Suddenly, Wind City received a message: Qin Chen wanted him to pick him up.

He was reluctant to go and simply stated that his resignation application had already been submitted.

Yet Qin Chen refused to approve it.

His application had been held up with Qin Chen for a day, making him nothing more than Qin Chen's personal assistant.

Feng Cheng couldn't accept this injustice, but he had no choice but to come.

He planned on arguing with Qin Chen about why the request was denied.

If Qin Chen insisted, Feng Cheng would write a complaint letter. If that didn't work, he'd break the rules.

In any case, he was determined to quit the military.

After waiting for two hours, Feng Cheng still hadn't seen anyone and hadn't received a single message.

Qin Chen was playing him again!

"Wind City."

Huo Lanjing stood behind Feng Cheng, accompanied by two subordinates, each carrying two oversized suitcases.

A foreboding sensation suddenly gripped Wind City's heart.

"I wasn't expecting to find you here." The tone was sharp.

He just couldn't seem to warm up to Huo Lanjing.

"I'm here to pick someone up."

Huo Lanjing's voice betrayed no particular emotion; he turned and gestured at the luggage behind him.

"He wants you to bring those items to him."

Upon seeing the four suitcases behind him, Wind City suddenly had a realization.

"Are you trying to get me out of Brother Le's way?"

Being unjustly suspected would irritate anyone.

Huo Lanjing's pupils constricted, and his pheromones involuntarily leaked out.

A chill fragrance tinged with peril wafted, akin to the ominous black clouds preceding a storm.

Wind City instantly felt the pressure, beads of cold sweat breaking out on his back.

But this time, he wasn't as disheveled as before.

Huo Lanting couldn't help intensifying his dominance, his icy gaze assessing, "I'm not that bored."

He turned and left, with the two behind him also picking up their luggage and following.

With the pheromones dissipating, Wind City heaved a sigh of relief.

Gazing at Huo Lanjing's departing figure, he found it somewhat perplexing.

He seemed genuinely here just to convey a message.

Their figures vanished around the corner.

Wind City sensed something amiss, turning to glare at the suitcase by his side, filled with murderous intent.

With four enormous suitcases, how was he supposed to manage them back home?

No address was provided either.

As Wind City was pondering, the location was suddenly sent to his mind-computer.

Eyeing the string of addresses, Wind City approached and kicked one of the suitcases in irritation.

The suitcase glided across the floor, coming to a stop only after colliding with another one.

*

After Huo Lanjing left, he sent a message to Qin Chen.

"Master, where are we heading next?" Uncle Wang inquired from the co-pilot seat about their destination.

Huo Lanjing glanced up at the sign on the building. "Back home."

"Yes," Uncle Wang acknowledged.

Uncle Wang understood that he was referring to the Huo residence and silently tapped on the location.

Ever since their young master returned yesterday, his expression had been rather grim.

In the past, he would always leave early and return late, constantly visiting Madam. But today, he hadn't.

Something must have happened between the young master and Madam.

It wasn't appropriate for him to inquire too much into his master's personal affairs.

After returning home last night, Huo Lanjing's mind was filled with Luo Le's words:

-Don't force me.

He genuinely only wanted to protect Luo Le.

That was all...

If this had happened in the past, Huo Lanjing would have kept the child and forcibly taken them back home.

When the paternity test between him and the child was confirmed, he had entertained the idea of using the child to bind Luo Le to him.

That notion flickered through his mind only for a brief moment.

Perhaps Luo Le could be tied down by the child, but he wouldn't be happy about it.

However, after his conversation with Huo Fei, he gained a lot of clarity.

Since then, Huo Lanjing rarely displayed his emotions openly.

When provoked, he wouldn't engage in pointless arguments; he would simply ensure that person never crossed his path again.

Few individuals were capable of genuinely enraging Huo Lanjing.

But Luo Le was different; he seemed to have a unique trigger mechanism.

Huo Lanjing found himself easily angered by Luo Le, yet he had never considered using the same tactics against him that he employed with others.

In the past, he had always attributed this to the arranged marriage between their families.

But that was not the case.

As Luo Le had pointed out, they had fulfilled the commitment of their arranged marriage from the previous generation.

In truth, Huo Lanjing still didn't understand what love was. In the past, he wanted to find Luo Le; now, all he desired was to protect her.

Even if Luo Le still despised him.

Huo Lanjing suddenly spoke up, changing their destination.

Moments later, the black luxury car came to a stop not far from the school entrance.

Upon seeing the five-digit, solitary number on the license plate, everyone instinctively kept their distance.

Wind City intended to deliver Qin Chen's luggage and discuss some matters afterward. Presumably, it would be Luo Le who came to pick up Chen Chen.

Huo Lanjing waited for a long time. The once bustling entrance gradually emptied.

He didn't spot the familiar car either.

At the entrance, only a handful of people remained, and Chen Chen was among them.

After a while, Huo Lanjing, after much internal struggle, stepped out of his car.

Just as he was about to reach the destination, a low-cost van suddenly appeared in front of him, the kind that could accommodate around eight passengers.

Huo Lanjing felt an inexplicable sense of unease wash over him.

"Someone, catch them!"

The voice was panicked.

Huo Lanjing froze for a moment as the van sped away. He looked towards the entrance and noticed that Chen Chen was no longer there.

Another familiar car rushed past him.

He caught sight of Luo Le behind the wheel.

Huo Lanjing cursed inwardly when he suddenly heard someone call his name from the right.

"Master, get in the car."

He slid into the driver's seat, unlocked the vehicle, and took control manually.

In no time, his car was side by side with Luo Le's.

There was only Luo Le in the other car. He wanted to make him stop, but the window was already rolled up.

Even if he called out, Luo Le wouldn't be able to hear him.

Huo Lanjing's car was more high-end than Luo Le's, but Luo Le's speed was just as impressive.

The road was narrow. Luo Le executed a stunning turn, overtaking him in the process.

Huo Lanjing's heart skipped a beat. It was easy to flip on such a curve – was he risking his life?

Little did he know, Luo Le had taken this turn a hundred times or more.

Huo Lanjing accelerated to keep up.

In no time, they caught up and split apart to surround the vehicle.

Chapter 125: The Answer Sheet

Shen Xingzhuo wandered alone on the street.

Ever since Shen Xingran left that day, Shen Xingzhuo had also departed from the Shen family's villa.

He didn't return to his apartment.

Nor did he bother with his now chaotic studio.

Life seemed to have suddenly become extremely disordered, pressing down upon him without any rhyme or reason.

Shen Xingzhuo disliked this feeling.

When faced with such chaos, he instinctively wanted to escape, finding an isolated place where he could relax by himself.

Once all the turmoil gradually subsided, he would go back as if nothing had happened.

But this time, despite having fled far away, his mind remained in a jumbled mess.

Without closing his eyes, Shen Xingzhuo's mind echoed with Shen Xingran's words.

"You're the worst of the entire Shen family."

"You can't compete with Shen Xingyu in any other aspect, so you can only strive to surpass him as a brother!"

Each of these phrases caused Shen Xingzhuo's steps to pause.

He struggled and pondered, seeking something to prove that he wasn't as inadequate as those words suggested.

Something to confirm that he was genuinely trying to be a good older brother.

But Shen Xingran's words were razor-sharp. Despite Shen Xingzhuo's efforts to find counterarguments, reality seemed to consistently validate them.

Whenever Shen Xingran sought his help, he inevitably mentioned Shen Xingyu.

Upon hearing Shen Xingyu's name, he lost his cool. Without considering what Shen Xingran was asking for, he agreed to it all.

He couldn't bear to see Lu Ran working outside and being subservient to others.

Was it genuine concern for Lu Ran's plight, or simply the unwillingness to witness his own brother, Shen Xingzhuo, bowing and scraping to others?

If it was out of concern for Lu Ran, then why hadn't he truly altered Lu Ran's circumstances?

He could have easily funded Lu Ran's university education.

He could have arranged accommodations for him.

And he had more than enough capability to ensure Lu Ran lived like a regular college student.

So why hadn't he done any of that?

Each time, he would merely get angry upon seeing Lu Ran at work, but never took any action to change the situation.

He had done nothing.

Yet, he secretly grumbled in his heart why Lu Ran refused to call him 'brother.'

Shen Xingzhuo halted in front of a fast-food restaurant.

He stood there for a while, gazing through the glass door at the figure behind the counter.

Eventually, he slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"Welcome," the staff greeted with a glance upward.

But it wasn't the young man Shen Xingzhuo remembered.

Shen Xingzhuo purchased a strawberry-flavored ice cream cone.

He hadn't eaten much in a day or two, so he devoured the cone swiftly.

The tangy sweetness of strawberries seemed to evoke a taste buried in his memories.

Shen Xingzhuo continued to wander aimlessly along the streets.

Gradually, he approached a fenced lawn.

A familiar yellow figure caught his eye.

The aging puppy was calmly sniffing the grass.

Shen Xingzhuo's eyes lit up.

The gloom of recent times faded away, and in that instant of seeing the puppy, a ray of hope for life seemed to shine through again.

Shen Xingzhuo squatted down, clapping his hands at the puppy on the lawn, calling out, "Big Yellow!"

Upon hearing the sound, the puppy looked at him through the fence.

It seemed to recognize him as a familiar presence.

The little dog wagged its tail and slowly ran towards him.

The fur around its mouth had already turned white.

Yet, it was in excellent health.

However, it moved rather slowly.

That was because one of the puppy's hind legs was lame.

With its injured leg dragging behind, it hobbled towards Shen Xingzhuo, who was crouching outside the fence.

The excitement and hope that had lit up Shen Xingzhuo's face gradually froze and dissipated as he watched the puppy's limp leg bounce with each step.

On the other side of the lawn, an old butler noticed the puppy's movement and called out, "Big Yellow, come back."

The puppy paused, casting a distant glance at Shen Xingzhuo before finally turning around slowly.

It hobbled back, still limping on three legs.

Shen Xingzhuo's outstretched hand hung suspended in mid-air.

Perhaps it was due to having crouched for too long, or maybe it was because he hadn't had a proper meal in a while.

Shen Xingzhuo felt a mild dizziness.

He couldn't recall how he managed to stand up or walk into the middle of the road.

It was the screeching of brakes and the driver's alarmed cry that snapped him back to reality: "Are you alright? Is there a problem?"

Sitting on the ground, Shen Xingzhuo's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Looking up at the car's front wheel not far away, an inappropriate thought crossed his mind:

This is what it feels like to be in a car accident.

The court had sent people to seize Shen Hongyuan's assets.

Not even the villa they were currently living in was spared, as they were ordered to vacate it.

Madam Shen never imagined that one day, she would be forced out of this very villa.

Ordinarily, Madam Shen would never have tolerated such a situation; she would have fiercely contested the authorities with logical arguments and made a scene.

But this time, it seemed as if all her vitality had been drained.

When the court officials arrived, she was alone in the villa.

The servants had already left.

Shen Xingzhuo and Shen Xingyu had yet to return.

Upon hearing the notice, Madam Shen merely nodded, then turned to pack her belongings.

Out of habit, she first went to gather her jewelry.

But upon entering, she realized that these items would be auctioned off to settle Hongyuan's debts.

Suddenly, Madam Shen was unsure of what else to pack.

She rummaged through the drawers aimlessly, eventually uncovering some old keepsakes at the bottom.

She opened the chest and found a photo frame placed face down on top.

Madam Shen picked up the frame, revealing a photograph within.

To be precise, it was a family portrait.

The backdrop seemed to be an amusement park, with a colossal Ferris wheel in the background.

At that time, she was still young, radiating vitality and grace, while her figure was impeccable.

Shen Hongyuan also appeared different from his current self. With his arm around her waist, he beamed at the camera.

They stood behind, while three boys of varying ages were positioned in front.

The eldest, around twelve or thirteen, wore a shirt and trousers, his expression stern as if posing for an ID photo, giving off an "approach with caution" vibe.

The younger boy, perhaps six or seven years old, was at that mischievous age. He wore a baseball cap backward, and sand speckled his pants, suggesting he'd been actively playing.

The youngest one, still a plump three- or four-year-old, was fair and tender.

He was the happiest, tugging on Madam Shen's dress with one hand while pointing at the camera lens ahead with the other.

His face beamed with an enormous smile.

Judging by their attire, it seemed to be summer.

All five family members held an ice cream cone in their hands.

Hers and Hongyuan's were vanilla-flavored, white and creamy.

The eldest, Shen Xingyu, held up a lemon-yellow wafer cone.

Shen Xingzhuo didn't look at the camera but was instead focused on licking a pink strawberry ice cream.

The child in front had his ice cream out of the frame, so its flavor was indistinguishable.

What surprised Madam Shen even more was that everyone in the photo appeared genuinely relaxed.

At least in this moment captured in the photograph, everyone was genuinely happy.

Mrs. Shen held the frame and sat down on the bed edge.

She tried her best to recall, vaguely remembering that it might have been during a summer vacation.

During that period, they had picked up their youngest son, who had been living with Grandpa Shen.

The family was finally reunited.

They went to an amusement park and had a great time with the children.

By then, Grandpa Shen's health wasn't in the best condition.

As a result, Shen Hongyuan was very busy.

This was a rare moment of relaxation for them.

The two younger ones played wildly.

There were moments of crawling around in the sandpit and nearly bouncing oneself sick on the trampoline. Even Shen Xingyu, who acted like a little adult, couldn't resist shooting balloons with a gun for a long time.

Madam Shen still remembered when she and Shen Hongyuan grew tired and sat aside to rest. Hongyuan wrapped his arm around her shoulders and suggested that they should consider buying a piece of land to build an amusement park, so the children could play however they wished.

This was one of the few cherished memories of "happiness" within the family.

But soon, such opportunities would no longer be available.

Grandpa Shen's health took a sharp downturn, with his blood sugar levels fluctuating wildly, causing multiple fainting spells. During that period, Shen Hongyuan became increasingly anxious.

Later, it was said that due to Grandpa's declining health, they sent the youngest son back home.

Yet, after just one day, the child was taken away once more.

After some time, Shen Hongyuan suddenly found himself with idle hours on his hands.

However, his temper only grew more volatile, leading to frequent arguments with his wife.

In his younger days, after an unprovoked outburst, Shen Hongyuan would feel guilt for a period of time.

As such, to make amends and seek solace, he suggested a vacation at their mountain villa.

But on the way there, they had another argument.

It was during that dispute that their youngest son went missing.

Madam Shen still vividly recalled those exceptionally gloomy days.

Summer was a rainy season.

The skies were perpetually overcast, weighing down on one's spirits with an oppressive humidity.

The journey to the villa was long, so for comfort and leisure, they prepared several motorhomes to form a convoy.

However, Madam Shen was far from pleased at that time.

It was supposed to be Shen Hongyuan's attempt to cheer her up by going on this vacation together.

But most of the time, Shen Hongyuan secluded himself in his own vehicle, occupied with unknown affairs.

Occasionally when he did come out, their conversations were distracted and lacked sincerity.

Madam Shen was infuriated by this behavior and, feeling stifled during the journey, she reprimanded Shen Hongyuan on the spot.

In response, Shen Hongyuan erupted in anger as well.

Madam Shen, in a fit of anger, locked herself inside the motorhome and wept.

Their youngest son came to console her but was pushed away by Madam Shen.

Despite this, Madam Shen was not overly worried.

The convoy consisted of three luxury RVs, and Shen Hongyuan had prepared an additional SUV for himself.

With the eldest son's heavy academic workload, he occupied one RV alone.

The second and youngest sons, due to their constant bickering, were assigned to another, under the watchful eye of an auntie.

In addition to these, there were drivers in each vehicle.

Ironically, it wasn't until they arrived at the mountain villa that everyone, stepping out of their respective cars, realized the youngest son was missing.

Mrs. Shen was instantly paralyzed with fear and promptly arranged for a search party.

However, the mountain roads were treacherous, and soon, a heavy downpour inundated the area.

A minor landslide occurred at the foot of the mountain, trapping them all atop it.

Madam Shen believed that was the darkest moment of her life.

Until they descended the mountain and returned to the Shen residence.

The news of their youngest son's disappearance could not be concealed, and her acquaintances came to inquire about it.

But something peculiar occurred.

Despite the many people who had been on vacation, each one, upon learning of the situation, would look at her with a blend of regretful reproach and ask,

"How could you have lost a child, being as grown-up as you are?"

"Isn't a mother supposed to be more attentive? Or do you expect the father to take care of the child?"

"You hired an nanny? What use is a nanny when she didn't give birth to him?"

"How could you leave such a young child alone?"

Criticisms flooded in like an unstoppable tide.

It was as if, with her presence as the mother, everyone else could fade into the background.

She had become the root of all evil.

This one incident made all of Madam Shen's actions seem wrong.

Everyone, from every angle, tried to prove that she was an incompetent mother.

The label weighed down upon her suddenly.

Madam Shen became disoriented.

Since marrying, her only identity had been "Madam Shen."

The virtuous wife and good mother of the Shen family.

When she went out, her conversations with others revolved around clothing, shoes, her husband, and her son.

Suddenly, this sole title shattered.

Until one day, Shen Hongyuan brought home a boy.

This boy was even younger than her youngest son by a few months.

He had grown up in an orphanage, frail and uncultivated, never having known the warmth of genuine love.

Madam Shen gazed at the boy.

She didn't see any resemblance to her youngest son in him.

But she saw a blank slate, an opportunity to be a "mother."

She intended to fill that slate with all her love, every meticulous care, and unconditional protection.

No one could interfere with her journey of "answering" this life's question, neither Shen Hongyuan nor her other two sons.

When Madam Shen first introduced her adopted son to society's stage, upon hearing the first praise from those around her, she smiled in satisfaction.

Through this newfound "Shen Xingran."

Madam Shen finally reclaimed her identity as the "devoted wife and loving mother."

With a creak, the door opened.

Madam Shen was abruptly pulled back from her thoughts. She turned her head to see that it was Shen Xingyu who had returned.

"You... You went to find... Lu Ran. What did he say?"

Madam Shen asked hastily.

Shen Xingyu didn't respond immediately but said, "My property has also been seized. A friend has offered us temporary accommodation, so we can move there for now."

As he spoke, he approached and noticed the photo frame in Madam Shen's hand.

Shen Xingyu paused for a moment before taking the frame to take a look.

He gently placed it back.

Addressing Madam Shen, he said, "These aren't heavy. Take them all."

The two were in the midst of packing when Shen Xingyu received a call – it was from the hospital.

They informed him that Shen Xingzhuo had been in a car accident.

Chapter 63: Who Did This Seat See!

In those war-torn days, Linan City was littered with blood and ruins. The suburban fields were withered under the poisonous haze of malevolent spirits, and all the trees stood barren.

Before Mo Ran could fully regain his composure, he heard an eerie sound. He looked up to see a set of freshly plucked intestines hanging from the broken branch of a nearby old locust tree. A dozen crows were pecking at them, causing blood and flesh to splatter continuously.

Underneath the tree lay the corpse of a middle-aged man, his abdomen torn open by sharp claws. His entrails and blood had spilled across the ground. No one could tell whether he had died with his eyes open or closed; they had already been pecked out.

Mo Ran was no stranger to such a scene.

In his previous life, he had once ravaged the world, slaughtering all seventy-two cities of the Confucian Wind Sect. Back then, blood flowed like rivers, and corpses littered the ground, just as they did now.

But for some reason, the sight of that bloodshed in his past had thrilled him, every fiber of his being howling with delight. Yet seeing such a similar scene again now, a chill crept into his heart, and a sliver of compassion emerged... Could it be that he had pretended to be obedient for so long that his nature had quietly changed without him realizing?

As he pondered this, he heard the sound of galloping hooves, and a cloud of dust rose up ahead.

In these chaotic times, anyone who could still ride their horse at full speed was likely no ordinary person.

Mo Ran immediately pulled Chu Wanning behind him. But the surroundings on Lanning Old Road were wide open, offering no place to hide. In the blink of an eye, a group of lightly armed riders appeared amidst the billowing dust. Upon closer inspection, the horses were not robust; a few were so emaciated that their ribs were visible. Ten people sat on their backs, holding onto the reins.

Those individuals were clad in uniformly tailored white garments with crimson borders, their heads adorned with headdresses featuring red and white plumes, and their foreheads encircled by twin dragon-twined diadems. Though their attire was not spotless, it was impeccably neat. Despite their unusually gaunt faces, they exuded remarkable vitality. Most impressively, each one of them carried a powerful bow, with quivers full of arrows slung across their backs.

In a world ravaged by war and chaos, two commodities hold the greatest value: food and weapons.

They were evidently not ordinary people.

Mo Ran was uncertain whether the approaching figure was benevolent or malevolent, ally or adversary. Yet amidst his uncertainty, he heard a heart-wrenching cry from one of the youths, approximately fourteen or fifteen years of age, exclaiming, "Father! Papa!"

With a thud, the youth tumbled from his horse's back, landing awkwardly in the dirt. He scrambled up, reeling as he dashed towards the base of a tree, collapsing onto the body of the middle-aged man who lay there lifeless. Overwhelmed with grief, he wailed, "Father! Father!"

Others also wore expressions of pity, but having witnessed too much life and death, they seemed somewhat desensitized. Apart from the young man weeping over the corpse, no one else dismounted to console him.

Someone noticed Mo Ran and Chu Wanning not far away, pausing in surprise before asking in a heavily Lin'an dialect, "You aren't locals, are you?"

Mo Ran replied, "Yes, we're... from Shu Province."

"So far away?" The man was astonished. "In these times, nights are filled with malevolent spirits. How did you manage to survive?"

"I know some spells," Mo Ran said, aware that he should be cautious with his words. Seeing that these people didn't seem malicious, he pulled Chu Wanning forward to change the subject. "This is my younger brother. We were passing through here and can't walk any further. We'd like to rest for a while."

Upon seeing Chu Wanning among the riders, a few of them seemed to be slightly taken aback, with two of them even whispering a brief exchange to each other.

Mo Ran's senses sharpened as he queried, "What is it?"

"Nothing much," the leading youth replied. "Let's get down to business. You should seek shelter in the city. Although there seem to be no monsters around here at the moment, come nightfall, ghosts would be lurking everywhere. Xiaoman's foster father went out to find food during the day, but due to yesterday's heavy rain, he couldn't make it back before dark. As you can see, that's what happened..." He let out a deep sigh and fell silent.

So it turned out that Xiaoman was the weeping youth, and the one who had passed away under the tree was his foster father. In chaotic times, such tragedies were not uncommon – a family member would set out to find food, leaving in the morning as healthy as could be, only to never return by nightfall.

Though he knew full well that this was an event that had transpired two centuries ago, the sight of the young man weeping with heartrending sobs, verging on shedding blood-tears, still stirred a faint bitterness in Mo Ran's chest.

Yet, after that slight bitterness, a sudden jolt of alarm surged within him.

In his previous life, he had killed without spilling a drop of blood. Why had he grown so soft now?

He immediately took Chu Wanning's hand and bid farewell to the group of young riders.

The leader spoke, "Once you enter Linan City, find a place to settle first. The city is about to relocate entirely to Putuo, where the spiritual energy is abundant and has yet to be tainted by ghostly influences. Since you two are alone, it would be better to join us on our journey."

"Entire city relocation?"

"Yes." The man's eyes shone with intensity as he spoke, his face radiating a gentle light. "Thanks to Young Master Chu's brilliant plan, the entire city was saved. Enough talk, enough talk. We still have to search the outskirts before nightfall to see if there are any survivors we can bring back into the city—oh, Xiaoman, come on, let's go."

He called out to Xiaoman, but Xiaoman remained weeping over his foster father's body, not turning to look back.

Mo Ran sighed and tugged at Chu Wanning, whispering, "Let's go. We should enter the city first."

Chu Wanning nodded and suddenly asked, "Did their plan to evacuate the entire city actually succeed?"

Mo Ran took his cold, delicate hand and said, "Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"Of course, I want to hear the truth."

"It's better for kids to hear lies."

Chu Wanning replied, "They didn't manage to leave."

"That's right," Mo Ran said. "Look, you already know what the truth is, yet you insist on asking me, as if repeating the question will change the outcome."

Chu Wanning ignored him and continued, "Do you know why they didn't manage to leave?"

"You're asking me again. I'm not some two-hundred-year-old monster, how would I know?"

Chu Wanning fell silent for a moment before he said gloomily, "Almost everyone in Linan City from two hundred years ago is long gone."

Mo Ran: "…"

Chu Wanning continued, "Very few managed to escape."

"Not that, Junior Brother, but why do you know all of this despite your young age?"

Chu Wanning shot him a disdainful look. "Elder Yu Heng has mentioned it more than once in the old history lessons. You didn't listen in class, yet you come to ask me why I know so much. How infuriating."

Mo Ran was speechless. He thought to himself, Master hasn't even scolded me for daydreaming during his lectures, so why are you scolding me? But then he decided not to stoop down to a child's level and let him have his fun.

As they talked, they passed through the city gates and entered the main part of Linan City. The ancient city, standing tall by the Qiantang River, had been fortified and cleared of any potential threats. Exorcism fortifications were set up along its walls and edges.

Countless corpses lay outside the city, all bearing the marks of evil spirits. If left unchecked, these corpses would rise at night.

The Taoist priests took advantage of the noon sunlight to sprinkle incense ash over them. For those with particularly deep curses, they dipped brushes into red ink and wine to draw charms to dispel the malevolent presence.

Two guards stood before the city gate's barriers, dressed identically to the group of youths they had encountered outside: white garments trimmed with red, double dragon headbands with intertwined patterns, and bows slung over their arms with quivers full of arrows on their backs.

"Halt, who goes there?"

Mo Ran repeated his previous explanation. The guards weren't trying to prevent them from entering but rather were conducting registration. After recording their details, they allowed the pair to pass.

Before leaving, Mo Ran recalled the mention of "Young Master Chu" by the horse-riding youth. As that person had said, it was due to "Young Master Chu's" brilliant idea that Lin'an City had been evacuated. Thus, the key to deciphering the illusory array likely lay with this Young Master Chu.

"Excuse me, I'd like to inquire about someone," Mo Ran said.

The guard lifted his gaze. "You come from Shu, and you know someone here?"

Mo Ran smiled. "Not exactly. We met a few military officers on the way who mentioned a young master named Chu. They said he plans to lead the entire population to Putuo in two days. I wonder who this Young Master Chu is. I have some knowledge of magic, and if there's any way I can assist, I'd be willing to lend a hand."

The guard appraised him for a moment, perhaps concluding that Mo Ran's ability to arrive safely with a young child over such a great distance suggested genuine skill. He replied, "Young Master Chu is the eldest son of the governor. A month ago, the Ghost King descended, and unfortunately, the governor lost his life. Since then, it's been Young Master who has led us in defending against our enemy."

"The governor's son?" Mo Ran exchanged a glance with Chu Wanning. He turned back to the guard and asked, "How strange. Does the governor's son also practice magic?"

"What's so strange about that?!" The guard shot Mo Ran a withering look. "Are only major sects allowed to cultivate, not mortal cultivators?"

...

There were indeed wandering cultivators, but they never amounted to anything significant.

Mo Ran wondered if this Young Master Chu was an inexperienced and ignorant person who had given reckless advice, endangering the lives of all citizens in Linan City.

But as he followed the guards' directions and headed for the Governor's mansion, Mo Ran quickly realized he had been mistaken. This nobleman, coincidentally sharing the same surname as his master, clearly wasn't some amateurish fighter.

Because he saw the Upper Clear Barrier.

The Upper Clear Barrier was a very powerful purification barrier that could repel all malicious auras within its range. As long as it was active, not only ordinary ghosts but even vengeful spirits with a thousand-year history would find it difficult to enter.

However, the protective range of such a barrier required the caster's presence as the focal point of the formation. And the area it covered was extremely limited; even a grandmaster like Chu Wanning could only envelop half of the Summit of Life and Death with it.

Yet, at this very moment, this two-hundred-year-old Young Master Chu had created an Upper Clear Barrier covering a radius of ten miles around the Governor's mansion. Although it was far from Chu Wanning's, it was still something extraordinary that an average person couldn't match.

As the two approached the entrance of the Governor's mansion, Mo Ran initially thought of trying his luck by asking the guards to announce their arrival, saying that there was a cultivator offering assistance, to see if the Governor's son would be willing to grant them an audience.

Unexpectedly, upon turning a corner, they saw three long queues in front of the Governor's office. Six female attendants dressed similarly to the guard cavalry were standing with large wooden barrels, while hundreds of malnourished, weak, and elderly people gathered in front of the office, receiving charitable servings of porridge one by one.

Those who had received their porridge then gathered beneath a flowering crabapple tree in front of the residence. Under the tree stood a man dressed in white, his long, ink-black hair loosely tied into a single bundle. He was distributing sheets of talismans to the crowd, meticulously instructing them on how to use them.

His back was turned to Mo Ran, so his appearance could not be seen clearly.

But those who received the talismans thanked him gratefully, repeating, "Thank you, Young Master Chu, for your great kindness, thank you, Young Master Chu, for your great kindness..." as they dispersed.

So this was the Prefect's son?

Mo Ran felt a spark of curiosity and tugged his junior brother over for a closer look.

At first glance, Mo Ran's eyes widened in astonishment, as if struck by five bolts of lightning—

This... wasn't this Chu Wanning??

Not only was Mo Ran stunned, but even Chu Wanning himself was taken aback. From the end of the line, he observed that the Prefect's son had a delicate face, arched brows, phoenix-like eyes, a gentle nose bridge, and even wore a white robe that resembled his own to an astonishing degree!

Chu Wanning: "...."

Mo Ran: "...."

For a long while, Mo Ran stammered, "Junior Brother."

"Mm."

"Have you noticed... that Young Master Chu looks incredibly similar to someone?"

Chu Wanning replied dryly, "He resembles Elder Yu Heng."

Mo Ran slapped his thigh. "That's exactly what I thought! What's going on? Who is this person? What's his connection with our Master?"

"How would I know if you're asking me?"

"But aren't you always attentive in class?" Mo Ran was anxious.

"This isn't something they'd teach in class," Chu Wanning said, exasperated.

The two fell silent again, standing in line and moving forward slowly, both of them staring intently at Young Master Chu.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that there were differences between Chu Wanning and this young master. This gentleman had a more refined and scholarly appearance, with less-slanted eyes and a warmer gaze. His eyes were gentler than Chu Wanning's.

Mo Ran, as he gazed, suddenly exclaimed, "Huh?" and lowered his head to look at his little junior brother once more.

"I want to have a good look."

"What...?" Chu Wanning couldn't help but feel guilty and turned his face away.

Seeing him evade, Mo Ran became even more persistent, reaching out to pinch his cheek, forcing him to turn back. After observing for a while, he suddenly realized something and murmured, "Oh."

Chu Wanning tried to remain calm. "W-what is it?"

Mo Ran narrowed his eyes. "No wonder back outside the city, those people whispered when they saw you. I've just realized that you bear a resemblance to Master too."

".................."

Chu Wanning hurriedly broke free from him, his ears turning red. "Nonsense."

"But it's so strange. Why could those guards recognize it at first glance, but it took me so long to figure it out?"

Chu Wanning: "..............."

Pondering deeply, a crisp sound suddenly echoed, followed by a childish voice crying out, "Father."

"Mr. Fu... Mr. Fu?"

Zhou Heng noticed that Fu Luoyin had fallen silent after receiving a text message, as if he was in a daze.

Zhou Heng watched as the driver assigned to take him to He Muya's place called. He softly urged, "...Mr. Fu? The driver's here."

"Wait a moment. I'll be down in a while. Take my luggage over first. I need to make a call," Fu Luoyin said.

He immediately dialed Lin Shuicheng's number.

Lin Shuicheng was still in the third hospital's cafeteria.

He hadn't really eaten much; after a few bites, he put his food down. After sending the text message, he kept holding onto his phone.

The digits on the caller ID seemed to have imprinted themselves into his memory. After a quick glance, Lin Shuicheng exhaled softly and pressed the green button to answer the call.

His fingers trembled slightly, taking two attempts to press the correct button.

Fu Luoyin's deep voice sounded through the phone.

His voice was highly distinctive, often referred to as a "low-pitched bass," even recognizable to Su Yu across the table. He knew Lin Shuicheng was likely on a call with Fu Luoyin and inwardly criticized Fu's shamelessness for checking up on him as casually as drinking water. Without waiting for Lin Shuicheng to stand up and leave, he got up himself, holding his tray and grinning at Lin Shuicheng. "Sis, I'll get another plate of food. I wasn't quite full just now."

Lin Shuicheng nodded slightly in response.

It was nearing lunch break, so there weren't many people dining in the staff cafeteria. No one else was nearby, and the bright sunlight streaming through the clean windows lent the space a cool, luminous atmosphere.

Lin Shuicheng remained seated, softly saying, "Hello."

Despite the distance created by the phone, it felt as if he could sense the intangible pressure and authority that emanated from Fu Luoyin. It was strange, but Fu Luoyin was gentle with him, even indulgent at times. This indulgence, however, was a controlled and restrained dominance, bordering on casualness.

Because Fu Luoyin had everything under control, his demeanor was always nonchalant.

After a moment of silence, Fu Luoyin lazily asked, "What are you doing, little kitten?"

Lin Shuicheng replied, "… I'm at the hospital with Didi."

"Have you eaten yet?" Fu Luoyin continued. "The food at Third Hospital isn't great, right? Su Yu, that glutton, wouldn't know good food if it hit him, so he took you to the hospital canteen. Should you find something to eat when you get back, or should I order takeout for you?"

His tone was as usual, so normal that Lin Shuicheng began to doubt whether Fu had actually seen the text message.

Lin Shuicheng interrupted him, "There's no need. Did you read the text message?"

"I did," Fu Luoyin replied nonchalantly. "I'm in a meeting. We can discuss it when I get back in a few days. Su Yu's mother's birthday is coming up, and he should have mentioned it to you. We'll go together to celebrate her birthday then. Start thinking about what gift we should give. It doesn't have to be expensive; it's the thought that counts. Auntie isn't picky."

Taking a deep breath, Lin Shuicheng said, "Let's talk about this now. I don't want to continue this relationship anymore, Fu... Fu Luoyin. Let's break up."

"I don't want to discuss this now, Lin Shuicheng," Fu Luoyin's voice turned slightly cold, carrying an air of command. "I don't know why you're thinking this way. Didn't I tell you to stay at home and not overthink things?"

Lin Shuicheng fell silent.

On the other end, Zhou Heng was planning to move Fu Luoyin's belongings down in batches. As the elevator climbed, Zhou Heng's scalp tingled when Fu Luoyin suddenly spoke those words.

It was rare for Fu Luoyin to use such a tone. Usually, when he spoke like that, it meant he was already angry.

Fu Luoyin was typically composed and restrained, rarely experiencing extreme emotions. He believed that emotions were useless and could only interfere with work.

Zhou Heng realized that Lin Shuicheng was on the phone and couldn't help but click his tongue. His assessment of Lin Shuicheng had been correct – he was a stubborn and oblivious person who didn't know how to appreciate kindness. Fu Luoyin was one of the most patient bosses Zhou Heng had worked for, and he treated his lover exceptionally well – always catering to his every need and entertaining him when he was free. What on earth could Lin Shuicheng have done to make Fu Luoyin so furious?

Despite his intimidating expression that warned others to keep their distance, Fu Luoyin's voice remained calm, even attempting to sound gentle. "Is it still because of the photos? The last time, or the time before that?"

Lin Shuicheng had no idea what he was talking about. He merely stated with certainty, "No, I just want to end this relationship. Let's part ways."

He calmly repeated the word "part" over and over again, causing Fu Luoyin's temples to throb. "What about Su Yu? Ask Su Yu to answer the phone."

Lin Shuicheng was taken aback.

Su Yu happened to walk over at that moment, carrying a second plate of food ready to eat.

Hesitantly, Lin Shuicheng passed him the phone. "He... wants to talk to you."

Confused, Su Yu took it. "Hello, minus two?"

Without beating around the bush, Fu Luoyin asked, "What did you say to Lin Shuicheng?"

Su Yu glanced at Lin Shuicheng sitting across from him. Lin Shuicheng lowered his gaze, quietly sipping on his soon-to-be-cold egg drop soup.

Su Yu got up and walked outside. "Minus two, what's gotten into you?"

"Why would Lin Shuicheng suddenly want to break up if you didn't say anything to him?" Fu Luoyin inquired. "You have a loose tongue. Did you mention something about Xia... Xia Ran to him?"

"Damn it! Do you take me for a fool?"

Just as Su Yu was about to swear he had never mentioned Xia Ran to Lin Shuicheng, he couldn't help but shiver as the words left his lips.

Su Yu suddenly recalled that he had indeed mentioned Xia Ran to Lin Shuicheng before. It wasn't an explicit mention, but the first time he'd eaten a meal cooked by Lin Shuicheng, he had warned Lin Shuicheng about Fu Luoyin's ex-boyfriend. Later, while gaming together, he had also explained the situation when he noticed that Lin Shuicheng was being targeted by Bai Yiyi.

After a long pause, Su Yu finally caught on to the crux of Fu Luoyin's message: "You're saying your girlfriend wants to break up with you?"

He was momentarily at a loss on how to react. From Lin Shuicheng's perspective, he believed that it would be better for him and Fu Luoyin to split up – everyone knew about the passionate campus romance between Fu Luoyin and Xia Ran, so he felt that Lin Shuicheng was not suitable to be a substitute. However, did Lin Shuicheng even know he was a substitute?

With this in mind, Su Yu cautiously asked, "Does your girlfriend know that she's just a substitute for...?"

"F*ck off, he doesn't know. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tell Auntie, and you'll have to eat at home forever," Fu Luoyin warned him, his tone softening slightly. "He saw a picture of Xia Ran in my wallet and is probably feeling jealous right now. I'm busy and can't come back immediately, so you'll have to comfort her for me."

"I said minus two," Su Yu replied. "So, what's the current situation between you and your girlfriend? If you still see her as a substitute and don't plan on taking the relationship seriously, then let her go sooner rather than later. It's better for all of us. Dragging things out won't do anyone any favors. I won't help with this, I don't want to get involved. You dare threaten me with eating at home forever? Let me tell you, if that happens, I'll show up at your girlfriend's place every day asking her to cook for me. You know your girlfriend – she's beautiful and talented, with plenty of suitors. If you don't like her, why should she cling to you like a... well, not exactly a crooked tree, but more like a straight, sturdy poplar. But why should she cling to you alone?"

Contrary to his expectations, Fu Luoyin didn't respond for quite some time.

Su Yu secretly rejoiced – he suddenly felt that he could create more trouble than Dong Shuoye.

Fu Luoyin had seen his way through the parade of lovers, and Lin Shuicheng was his favorite and most respected one. Su Yu didn't hide his favoritism at all.

After a long while, Fu Luoyin whispered, "He's my partner, Su Yu. I'm taking this seriously. What happened in the past stays in the past. It's okay if he throws a tantrum or gets jealous, but we can't break up – he was the one who approached me first, and I wasn't serious about it at first. But when I saw that he genuinely liked me, I didn't let him down. I planned on making things work. You don't know his temperament. He's strong-willed, has a student-like innocence, and sticks to his principles. I don't know how he's feeling now since I can't get back to him right away. Su Yu, Little Fish, please... please help me out. Keep him company for me, and I'll be back in a few days."

Without waiting for Su Yu's response, Fu Luoyin hung up.

Downstairs, the driver had been waiting for quite some time. He Muya wasn't in Star City recently; instead, he was at the Old European Branch Space Station. Fu Luoyin's trip to the Space Defense Bureau would take at least two or three days.

He didn't know why this sudden surge of anxiety came over him, along with a subtle sense of tension.

It wasn't until speaking with Su Yu that he realized this. When talking to Lin Shuicheng, he answered purely out of instinct, not noticing any change in his emotions.

He could tell that Lin Shuicheng's calm, composed, and slightly impatient demeanor was similar to when he was presenting an academic report with ease.

In a blink, Fu Luoyin recalled how Lin Shuicheng had been during the famous painting case – completely independent and relentless in achieving his goal.

In his twenty-five years of life, he had never known the meaning of "anxious." Throughout the years, from struggling in District 8 to climbing the ranks of Department 7, from childhood to adulthood, the most out-of-character moment he'd ever had was that summer after graduating from military school when Xia Ran wanted to break up with him.

Without any explanation, only a vague "I'm not worthy of you," he had been joyfully preparing a Valentine's Day gift for Xia Ran the day before, only to discover the next day that all means of communication had been severed. Xia Ran had flown straight to the old North American branch without so much as a notice.

This was something beyond his comprehension, causing him a mix of anxiety and anger—how dare Lin Shuicheng leave him in such a state?

He repeatedly reminded himself: Don't be angry, don't act impulsively, or I'll scare off this little kitten called Lin Shuicheng.

Cats were creatures that softened with kindness but hardened with force.

In his competition with Lin Shuicheng, he had always held the upper hand. He accepted Lin Shuicheng's quietness, even his solitude, as well as his occasional moodiness and capriciousness. However, Lin Shuicheng abruptly bringing up a breakup without any discussion or asking for his thoughts was a major taboo.

Dark clouds gathered in Fu Luoyin's eyes as the knuckles on his phone turned pale.

Striding out, he instructed Zhou Heng, "Book me a flight for three days from now, the fastest one available. I'll head straight back to the house I share with Lin Shuicheng."

—Lin Shuicheng wants to break up with him?

Impossible.

On the other side, Su Yu, with trembling hands, handed back Lin Shuicheng's phone after seeing the call ended.

Su Yu found even the taste of his chicken leg fading—after much internal debate, he mustered up the courage to look up at Lin Shuicheng and ask, "Uh, Sister-in-law, have you been busy lately? Can I come over to your place for meals these few days?"

Lin Shuicheng was taken aback before responding, "Sure."

Su Yu breathed a sigh of relief—at least Lin Shuicheng's attitude towards him remained unchanged, which probably meant that the conflict with Fu Luoyin wasn't that severe?

Then, Lin Shuicheng added, "Any day except tomorrow would be fine. I'll be moving house then and might not have the time. Let me give you my new address."

Madam Jin sacrificed her own life to save her daughter.

If she knew that her daughter would also meet a tragic end after her death, she would likely die with an unfulfilled heart.

Later, Rong Shu had also asked Gu Changjin if he believed Xue Li'er's death was justified.

At that time, Gu Changjin was sitting on a couch reading a book. Upon hearing her question, he lifted his gaze from the book and replied calmly, "Xue Li'er shouldn't have died."

Her question was clearly not about whether Xue Li'er deserved to die or wanted to die, yet Gu Changjin's answer was irrelevant to the topic.

However, Rong Shu understood Gu Changjin's intention.

Xue Li'er was the one who suffered, and regardless of how others perceived her or what benefits could be gained from her death, she should have lived a good life.

For herself, for Madam Jin.

A jolt of the carriage caused the half-open window to slam shut with a "pat."

Rong Shu snapped back to reality, realizing that the young man across from her had somehow turned his head, now resting it against the chair back, gazing at her with half-lidded eyes.

He possessed an elegant appearance with finely arched brows and captivating eyes; when he gazed downward at someone, it seemed to add a touch of flirtatious charm.

Yet his gaze was indeed too intense, erasing any hint of that flirtatious demeanor.

This wasn't the first time he had looked at her like this. Whenever he did, Rong Shu felt as if she were caught red-handed for some misdeed she didn't commit.

In the study room last time, she had openly asked him why he stared at her like that.

His response was simply, "You've gained weight."

Therefore, she wouldn't dare to inquire again this time. She was well aware that Yingyue had been making steamed custard for her every day, causing her to put on a little more flesh.

With Gu Changjin's sharp eyes, there was no need for her to invite humiliation upon herself. After all, she hadn't done anything wrong. No matter how long he stared, she could hold her head high without regret.

Upon reaching the courtyard of the inn, Rong Shu draped a cloak over herself, ready to alight from the carriage. However, Gu Changjin raised his hand, signaling her not to get out.

Reluctantly, Rong Shu sat back down.

The man stepped down from the carriage and stood motionless outside the coach, maintaining a composed demeanor.

This relay station on the outskirts of the capital was the last stop before entering the city. Both imperial officials returning from missions and regional officers coming to pay their respects to the emperor would freshen up here first.

As a result, the place was usually bustling with noise and excitement. But today, the suburban inn was unusually quiet.

Gu Changjin exchanged a knowing nod with Chang Ji, who then strode away promptly.

After Chang Ji left, Gu Changjin waited a while before approaching the carriage and saying to Rong Shu, "Step down."

Rong Shu alighted from the carriage using the footstool.

No sooner had they entered the inn than an official from the station approached them for inquiries.

Gu Changjin explained their purpose, and the official responded by clasping his hands together, "Empress Dowager Qi originally sent two palace matrons to accompany Miss Xu to the station. However, Miss Xu mentioned that she wished to be alone tonight, so I arranged for her to stay in the East Courtyard. I'm not sure if she's resting yet. Would it be alright for Lord Gu and Lady Gu to allow me to check on her first?"

From granting permission for Jin Shi to rest in Daci'en Temple to sending palace matrons along the journey, Empress Dowager Qi's concern for Xu Li'er was evident.

The station officer dared not take any risks and thus had prepared the station in advance, clearing out the best East Courtyard for her.

Gu Changjin acknowledged his efforts with a bow, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."

The official personally delivered the message to the East Courtyard. Upon hearing this, Xu Li'er startled and rose to her feet. "Lord Gu is Li'er's savior. How dare I not see him?"

As soon as the official left, she rushed to the window, peering outside with a hint of fear in her eyes. When she heard the voices and footsteps of the officials from the relay station echoing in the corridor, she bit her lip, steeled her heart, and closed the window.

Following closely behind Gu Changjin, Rong Shu's heart pounded nervously, an inexplicable tension gripping her. In her previous life, Xu Li'er had died on this very night. She didn't know if her intervention would alter Xu Li'er's fate.

If she couldn't change it, would she also be unable to escape death three years later?

Unconsciously, Rong Shu pinched the brim of her cloak's hood.

Gu Changjin glanced at her sideways. Seeing the young lady's delicate fingers fidgeting again, he slightly furrowed his brow.

Just as he was pondering, the door creaked open.

Xu Li'er, dressed in mourning clothes with a white flower in her hair, bowed gracefully before them. "This humble maiden greets Lord Gu and Lady Gu."

Gu Changjin glanced behind him at Rong Shu and said, "My wife heard about your mother's situation and was deeply saddened. She wanted to come to the relay station to offer some comfort to Miss Xu. Thus, I brought her here. Please forgive us for our sudden visit."

Xu Li'er quickly waved her hand. "How dare I take offense? Sir and Madam, please come in."

The conditions of the relay station were modest, but it was clear that the room in the eastern courtyard had been specially tidied up.

A vase in the corner still held a few white chrysanthemums, while a tall altar by the window held a incense burner with half-burnt sticks of incense. In front of the burner, there were several plates of fresh fruit.

Rong Shu found it peculiar.

The incense burner faced the window, and with the wind blowing, the ashes would be scattered everywhere. Judging from the ashes on the floor, they must have been blown down by the wind.

Why would anyone place an incense altar by a window?

"Miss Xu, is that incense burner dedicated to your mother?"

Xu Li'er was taken aback. "Yes, it is."

Rong Shu felt even more perplexed.

Li'er had just returned from the funeral home, and Jin's family was set to host a memorial service at Great Mercy Temple the next day. Why would she choose to burn incense and pay respects here and now, at an inn of all places?

One could only assume that she knew she wouldn't be able to attend the ceremony at the temple tomorrow.

Or perhaps, Li'er truly intended to end her life tonight.

But if she were truly bent on suicide, she wouldn't have met with Gu Changjin. The moment they arrived at the inn to see her, she took her own life.

With malicious intent, Gu Changjin might be implicated in this tragedy.

The gratitude Li'er felt towards Gu Changjin was genuine, evident in the way she looked at him.

She had no intention of harming Gu Changjin.

Rong Shu gazed at Li'er. The girl's face was pale, her eyes rimmed with red, indicating she had wept bitterly. Indeed, who could remain unmoved by such a tragic incident?

Chapter 110: Station 23: Fifty

Fifty promptly tilted the gourd, pouring out its contents.

The fluid resembled thin porridge, viscous as it dripped, yet it flowed swiftly. It shimmered with a translucent cherry red hue, closer to blood but lighter, tinged with a subtle pinkness.

Everyone watched in disbelief as the deep throat wound, which had exposed flesh, gradually healed back to its original state.

Fifty put away the gourd and tapped Si Shuhao's forehead playfully with his fingertip, saying,

"Remember to pay extra, all that good medicine was used on you!"

Si Shuhao stretched out her hands in disbelief, interlacing them to cover her slender neck, then began coughing violently.

"It's alright, just cough up the blood that went down the wrong way. It's a normal reaction. But, darling, don't trust others so easily in the future. I did warn you,"

The red-haired man, with Yao Kunrui's face, wore an enigmatic smile,

"That woman deliberately gave me her student number trait. At that time, I had already made two mistakes, and another would've sealed my fate. Besides, I had already accepted that the Wujian Sect Leader intended to take my life."

"So, she knew I was the most desperate to find a scapegoat. Otherwise, why would she come specifically to tell me instead of sharing the news with others? Isn't it for this exact reason?"

Suo Bo shook her head repeatedly, tears welling up in her eyes.

"No, I swear there's nothing like that. It was just a casual remark. How could I guarantee that you would tear someone else's number? Am I some kind of fortune-teller?"

"Oh, but that remark didn't really harm you in any way."

Wu Ling appeared relaxed and composed.

"As long as I take action, the issue with the numbers will be resolved. Whoever dies won't be the one who has already obtained the number, which is you. If I don't act, you can tear my number or someone else's and pin it on me... Who would suspect a girl who looks as innocent as a white flower?"

"However, arguing about these matters with you is pointless."

He retrieved the bloodstained knife from her sleeve and slowly circled around her.

"Your current situation is probably similar to Yu Kui's, wouldn't you say?"

Suo Bo lifted her chin, half-closing her eyes to avoid his gaze.

"I don't understand what you're saying," the girl replied, her voice trembling.

Fifty didn't waste any more words. Gripping the blade firmly, he swiftly stabbed it into the nape of Sù Bó!

The young girl let out a piercing scream, and the others were stunned by this sudden turn of events.

Diao Qingchang never imagined that he would witness another murder scene:

"She was indeed wrong to kill someone, but... Are you planning to avenge that by killing her too? That doesn't seem right."

"I'm not killing her. I just want to confirm something."

Fifty moved the tip of the blade around and indeed felt something hard.

Ignoring the girl's stiff, tearful cries, he focused on his task at hand.

"Aha, there it is."

He exclaimed, then pulled out the knife with a 'pfft'. Replacing the blade with two of his fingers, he reached into the open wound!

Everyone watched his actions in a mix of unease and astonishment.

Zero's icy fingers penetrated the wound slowly but resolutely, accompanied by a shrill, piercing scream that barely sounded human anymore.

Through her tear-blurred vision, she looked at Si Shuhao standing amidst the crowd, but only received a cold and guarded stare in return.

The two fingers digging into the wound were like sharp surgical knives, sinking deeply into her spine and clamping down on something inside, before suddenly exerting force.

"Aaaah!"

Amidst the girl's screams, a thumb-sized centipede larva was forcefully pulled out from the wound in her spine!

As it was exposed to the air, it wriggled desperately, trying to return to the warmth of flesh and blood. Its mouth secreted a honey-colored liquid continuously.

Zero casually flicked the liquid aside and said,

"This is called Honeybrew, a venom containing a paralytic agent. It keeps the host unaware of the infestation until death. The wound will heal, encapsulating the worm within the newly regrown flesh."

"It seems you've consumed that Old Lady Bai's worm eggs."

Sù Bó was enraged and screamed with a hoarse voice, "That's a Blood Pill, not some insect egg!"

Wǔ Líng scoffed, "Face it. It's an egg, a huge cluster of them under that old woman's neck. Disgusting... Hey, do you want to live forever by eating such things?"

Sù Bó quickly turned his head to hide the expression on his face, "I just want to protect myself, to get out of here alive."

"Live? Forget it."

Wǔ Lí crushed the struggling worm and then took out a handkerchief, wiping the suspicious fluid that oozed from the worm onto the moon-white cloth, "As long as you carry it, once you board the train, it'll awaken. Then, within a minute, it'll spread throughout your body, devouring you entirely. Before even reaching the destination, you'll feel bloated, and your belly will burst right there, giving birth to a moth."

"That moth feeds on flesh when it's born. At that time, not only you, but everyone else on the train will be attacked by the moths. There'll be nowhere to escape."

His explanation was clearly chilling in retrospect, and the way people looked at Su Bo changed abruptly.

With a hint of doubt on her face, Wu Ling pointed at her forehead and said,

"But you, it seems like you never had any intention of leaving, right?"

Su Bo's body stiffened.

"What are you talking about? It's so terrifying here, how could I not want to leave?!"

Wu Ling chuckled and leaned in to study her expression.

"After all, if you stay, in the Bai family, you'd be the genuine Miss Bai. Though you'd become a monster, in this world, you'd be second only to Old Madam Bai. You could live as freely as that good-for-nothing Young Master Bai does in this broken world."

Su Bo looked at it with fear.

"...I, I never thought of that..."

"What you think is none of my concern. I'm merely proposing a possibility because otherwise, there's no explanation for why you killed that girl, Yue Pengpeng."

"Oh, it wouldn't be considered killing either, considering your preferred method is to manipulate others into doing the dirty work for you."

Zero Fifty lost interest in taunting her but didn't untie her either.

"Alright, just stand here obediently and don't dwell on the promises made by the Unseen Master – like how many lives you take will earn you corresponding glory. This world has been operating for over a century; surely you don't believe you're the only one who's made such a deal in all that time?"

"In fact, there have likely been many who followed through, and some might have even wiped out their entire groups. Now, can you guess why the Bai family's two ladies can only be outsiders?"

"...Because the betrayal of an outsider was part of the plan," Liao Xinya's cold voice interrupted Zero Fifty's monologue.

Her gaze was calm, and her expression exuded a unique rationality.

"Our task now is not to judge Sù Bó. Haven't you noticed something off about these servants?"

Indeed, since Xi Yi's beheading, the servants had shown no reaction; they seemed oblivious, continuing their tasks with tranquility.

Sima Guang, accompanied by Diao Qingchang, hurried over in a rush.

Ever since Wu Gong started his lengthy discourse after exposing the centipede, Sima Guang had quietly asked Diao Qingchang what he had been doing earlier.

After Diao Qingchang truthfully disclosed his actions, Sima Guang was struck with an idea:

"Do you still remember that woman we encountered at the graves, the one without shoes... Wasn't she searching for her footwear?!"

They exchanged glances, and Diao Qingchang gave Sima Guang a thumbs up, exclaiming,

"Well done, buddy!"

The pair then hastily found an excuse to retrieve the red shoes from outside the courtyard.

However, before they could share this delightful news with everyone, a terrifying shriek echoed from within the Shou An Hall, intertwined with a voice that seemed both masculine and feminine, as if it were the primordial creature splitting heaven and earth:

"Someone! Rip them apart!!"

In that instant, all the servants around them froze in their tracks, akin to automatons with a pause button pressed.

Their animated expressions turned blank in an instant, and they began to rush crazily towards Ming Yiyang and the others with a newfound consciousness!

Ming Yiyang looked at the closed door of Shouan Hall and dashed out with Si Shuhao on his back.

The tail ring still remained icy cold, showing no sign of heating up.

Yet, the servants around them had gone utterly mad.

"Damn it, is this a zombie apocalypse? This is terrifying!"

Diao Qingchang, who had slapped a Swift Wind Talisman onto himself, carried Shi Wenguang along as they sprinted away.

Si Shuhao, on Ming Yiyang's shoulder, exclaimed, "Handsome guy, how do you have all kinds of talismans! Ming Yiyang, why don't you have any?"

As Diao Qingchang ran alongside her, he chuckled and somehow found the leisure to explain, "These are all Yin Talismans that can only be used in the Netherworld. They'd be worthless outside. As for Brother Ming, with his physical prowess, it doesn't matter if he has talismans or not. He's way stronger than me. Here, take one!"

He placed a Light Body Talisman on Si Shuhao's back, and immediately, Ming Yiyang felt a significant reduction in the weight on his shoulders. Si Shuhao was also surprised.

"I'd probably scare everyone to death if I stepped on a scale now..."

She said this with a cheerful expression, showing no trace of the agony she had just endured from the life-threatening crisis and betrayal by her friend.

Perhaps it wasn't that she didn't want to talk about it, but simply felt that there was no need to constantly exhibit her despair, causing others to suffer along with her.

Diao Qingchang distributed two sets of talismans to each person, significantly increasing their escape speed. They were almost about to leave the servants trailing behind them—

Suddenly, the ground shook violently!

Si Shuhao looked back in horror and yelled,

"Help! The houses are growing!"

Her cry made everyone turn their heads! They witnessed a scene that they had only seen in movies before.

The entire backyard of the Bai family resembled a roll of paper lifted up, with the houses lined up closely and intricately, like a delicate, undulating painting.

Just like an impending tsunami that has just been unleashed, it crashes toward them with overwhelming force!!!

Chapter 76: Concern

When Luo Le stepped out, he found the entrance deserted, with no sign of Huo Lanjing.

But in the next second, he received a message from Huo Lanjing, saying he was waiting at the door.

Luo Le asked Qin Runzhi to drop him off at his car, expressed his gratitude, and then headed home.

From afar, Luo Le spotted the familiar license plate.

He parked beside it.

As he got out of the car, he saw Chen Chen push away Huo Lanjing's hand and rush over.

Luo Le bent down to scoop him up.

With his arms around his father's neck, Chen Chen thought about what the uncle had said on the way and lowered his head to apologize, "Daddy, I'm sorry."

How could Luo Le blame Chen Chen? Even if he had resisted, what difference would it have made?

He blamed himself for his failure to discern people's true nature, wishing he had taken precautions earlier.

However, Luo Le did not understand why Gu Heting insisted on involving him in the matter.

He lacked both connections and social standing.

Surely it couldn't be because of loneliness.

Observing Luo Le in deep thought, Huo Lanjing approached her. "Le Le, should I recall the person?"

His voice was hushed.

Luo Le snapped back to reality and glanced at him, then said after some thought, "Thanks for today."

Huo Lanjing sensed the distance and paused, "It's alright."

"You don't have to worry. Those people aren't watching you or reporting your recent activities to me. They're simply there to protect you."

Luo Le replied, "There's no need to bother. I'll handle this matter myself."

That was someone from Huo Lanjing's camp; who knew if he could trust them or not.

"The day is fading, it's best for you to return early."

I was about to forbid him from coming again in the future, but after all, he did resolve today's crisis.

Luo Le cast him a sidelong glance before turning to leave.

Upon arriving home, Luo Le urged Chen Chen to cease all contact with Gu Heting.

Without questioning, Chen Chen simply nodded his head.

On their way back, he had overheard the uncle mentioning that Uncle would hurt Papa.

Now, Papa was telling him not to contact Uncle. Thus, he wouldn't.

He disliked anyone who harmed Papa, even if it was Uncle.

Perhaps it had been an exhausting day. As Luo Le gave Chen Chen a bath, the boy dozed off right in the bathtub.

Having dried Chen Chen and tucked him into bed, Luo Le sat motionless on the sofa in the living room, not bothering to turn on the lights.

He had once believed that he was finally going to have a family.

At this thought, Luo Le smiled bitterly. How could he possibly have a family?

He was not destined for such fortune.

But at least, he still had Chen Chen.

What should I do next?

Gu Heting will certainly not let things rest, the mentor has not yet returned from the no-man's land.

As for Qin Runzhi, he was an enigma to him.

Excluding these individuals, there was not a single person left.

After a moment of hesitation, Luo Le wondered if she should still seek out Huo Lanjing?

He didn't want to, but it seemed there truly was no one else...

Luo Le sat through the entire night, unwavering.

Huo Lanjing, outside the door, also spent the night in his car.

He utilized the power of the Huo family to investigate Gu Heting.

This individual had been dormant on the Second Planet for a considerable time, abruptly deleting their ID three years ago. Any events subsequent to that point have proven untraceable.

The enterprises formerly belonging to the Gu family, now under the Gu Corporation, were operated using various aliases. They had transferred their assets to an ID.

This ID was spotless, without any issues.

However, he couldn't locate the actual identity of the person behind it.

To delve deeper into the investigation, he would need authorization from the palace.

They had stipulated that the permission could be granted, but on one condition: he must return to the First Army.

He feared that once he left, Gu Heting might pose a threat to Luo Le.

Besides, with Luo Le here, he had no intention of leaving.

Huo Lanjing lowered his gaze, lost in thought.

The sky gradually revealed its pale, fishbelly white.

Huo Lanjing rolls down the car window, allowing the cigarette smoke inside to dissipate.

Checking the time, he set off for the designated location.

In the following days, Huo Lanjing accompanied Luo Le. After seeing Chen Chen enter school, he would drive along with Luo Le to the research institute.

Chen Chen's teacher had already been entrusted to keep an eye on him.

Huo Lanjing would wait in the car, following Luo Le until she finished work, picked up Chen Chen, and returned home.

Early on the third day.

Luo Le requested an extra breakfast from the teacher, determined to rouse Chen Chen, who was still sound asleep in bed.

Swiftly, he helped Chen Chen freshen up, dress, and head out with his schoolbag in hand.

The previous night, he had thought about someone for hours on end.

Wind City.

By this time, Wind City should also be on holiday. There truly wasn't anyone else.

After much deliberation, he sent a message to the person across from him.

Before, he had been afraid that Huo Lanjing might trace Wind City to find him, so he hadn't dared to contact him.

Yet, fearing that Wind City would be upset, he had sent festival greetings through a public smart brain ever since Chen Chen's birth.

Within just a few minutes of sending the message, Wind City replied.

The response was concise, merely asking for his address.

The spacecraft from Wind City was scheduled to arrive at eight this morning.

Luo Le still decided to go pick him up.

After not being in touch for so long, he knew that Wind City would be upset. Given that he was already imposing on the man, it was only right for him to go and receive him.

Huo Lanjing followed Luo Le from a distance. Seeing him drop off Chen Chen at school, Luo Le then headed in the opposite direction of the research institute.

Curiosity piqued, Huo Lanjing followed.

Upon discovering Luo Le's destination, Huo Lanjing's heart raced with panic. But then he reminded himself that Chen Chen was still here; there was no way Luo Le would leave.

Luo Le stood at the entrance with a sign in hand, raised high from his car.

As soon as the towering figure of Wind City emerged, Luo Le spotted him and waved the sign around.

Wind City caught sight of him too, waving back as he dragged his luggage towards Luo Le.

"Brother Le! Long time no see, I've missed you so much!"

He bent down to embrace Luo Le.

Luo Le still wasn't accustomed to such warmth and gently pushed him away without leaving a trace.

"Let's go."

Wind City nodded and followed him into the car.

What was meant to come could not be avoided.

Throughout the journey, Wind City continued to scold Luo Le.

Feeling guilty, Luo Le took it all in stride.

"Oh right, how's my godson?" Wind City took the water bottle from Luo Le and drank eagerly.

Luo Le gave him a quick once-over. "He's still at school. You seem a bit more muscular and tanned."

Wind City used to be very fair, tall, and slender, with thin arms and legs. Calling him a pretty boy wouldn't have been an exaggeration.

Wind City sighed, "Sheesh, following that damn idiot leader through the jungles of Wormstar every day, it's no wonder I'm getting dark. But this time, I don't plan on going back. My application has already been submitted."

Luo Le asked, "Why?"

Didn't Wind City always want to advance in the military and serve until retirement?

"I just find it uninteresting now, rather dull. Freedom is better," Wind City said with a wistful expression.

"That's fine too. You can stay at my place for now, the room is ready."

Suddenly, Wind City leaped to the front passenger seat and disabled the autonomous driving mode.

"What's going on?" Luo Le asked, puzzled.

With a serious look, Wind City replied, "Someone has been tailing us, Brother Le. Buckle up and hold tight, I'm going to shake them off."

Luo Le grabbed the nearby handle. "Alright."

Wind City leaned back, and the hovercar shot forward with a whoosh.

With great speed, the car navigated through several turns, soaring high and diving low in quick succession.

Huo Lanjing followed for a while. Upon realizing that he had been noticed, he decelerated and pulled over to the roadside.

His mood was gloomy, and his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.

He retrieved a cigarette from the compartment, held it between his fingers, lit it, and leaned back against the seat, inhaling deeply.

The turmoil within him seemed to have no outlet.

Luo Le preferred to trouble Wind City to come all the way instead of accepting his help.

Huo Lanjing roughly ran his fingers through his hair, pulling out a dozen strands in the process.

It was as if he was punishing himself.

"Sir, you can't park here. Violation fine: 1000 yuan."

A traffic officer in uniform approached and tapped on the car window.

Huo Lanjing was already annoyed and, without a word, reached into the compartment to retrieve a card and handed it over.

The traffic officer's lips twitched when he saw the card.

It was an idea thought up by someone in their team. For a normal parking violation that would normally cost one thousand, this card entitled the holder to four thousand for each instance.

As long as it didn't cause significant disruption, one could park for an additional four hours.

It was equivalent to having a VIP pass.

When the officer swiped the card, he noticed several records from the past few days.

In recent days, Huo Lanjing, following Luo Le around, often found himself parking illegally. There was one instance where he was stopped, nearly causing him to lose track of Luo Le.

After that incident, he had obtained this card.

The traffic officer sighed; this person was truly something else. He didn't know what to say.

"You must move your car within two hours."

In two hours, the road would become congested; before leaving, Huo Lanjing issued a warning.

After smoking another two cigarettes and somewhat alleviating his vexation, he drove away.

That evening, Luo Le and Wind City went to pick up Chen Chen.

Wind City didn't have much belongings; he had finished packing in the afternoon.

Luo Le found a private kitchen to host a welcome dinner for him.

Originally, they should have eaten at home, but Luo Le was well aware of her cooking skills.

Eventually, she decided on a safer option – the private kitchen.

At first, Chen Chen was very shy, hiding in Luo Le's embrace and refusing to come out despite Wind City's teasing.

On their way back home after dinner, Wind City couldn't help but chuckle at the matured little adult.

Playfully, he lifted Chen Chen onto his shoulder with one hand.

Chen Chen initially struggled, but the moment he experienced a different perspective, he gave up resistance.

Ever since Luo Le's injury, his back had been sensitive, and for safety reasons, he had never allowed Chen Chen to do this before.

Chen Chen had only seen other children doing this before. Now that it was his turn, he was ecstatic.

He held Wind City's head, "Left!"

Wind City chuckled, "Turning left, then."

"Right!"

With a solemn expression, Wind City replied, "Acknowledged, sir. Executing right turn command."

Chen Chen nodded seriously, "Accelerate forward."

Without looking, Wind City knew Chen Chen's expression must be hilarious. "As you wish, sir."

He picked up the pace slightly.

In an instant, they left Luo Le behind.

Luo Le, carrying Chen Chen's backpack and jacket, hurried after them, "Take it easy."

They looked like the perfect family of three.

This scene fell into Huo Lanjing's eyes in the car, causing his gaze to darken.

The position of Wind City should have been his.

Yet, he had no right to intervene.

All of this was a consequence of his own doing...

Wind City ran ahead with Chen Chen on his back, maintaining a swift yet steady pace.

Just as they were about to arrive, he noticed a figure standing in a dark corner.

Instantly, he became vigilant.

"Who?" Wind City gently set Chen Chen down, adopting a defensive stance.

Luo Le stepped forward, watching as the figure in the shadows emerged into view.

"Huo Lanjing, why are you here?"

Huo Lanjing replied, "And why is he here?"

Luo Le chuckled. Was this his way of accusing her?

"It has nothing to do with you, Huo Lanjing. You used to accuse me of being irrational, but it seems you're the one being unreasonable now."

Huo Lanjing paused, "I was worried about you."

Luo Le scoffed, "Really? What right do you have to say that?"

"He's all alone. No matter how skilled he is, there will be times when he slips up. If you don't want to use my people, there are still mercenary groups available," Huo Lanjing offered another option.

Luo Le had no intention of engaging in conversation and simply walked to the door to open it, saying to Wind City, "Let's go."

Under normal circumstances, Wind City would have eagerly grabbed the microphone and started chatting.

But with Chen Chen around, he didn't want to corrupt the child's mind.

He quietly carried Chen Chen into the kitchen to wash their hands.

Chapter 124 - Inheritance

Madam Shen was stunned by Shen Xingran's words.

Shen Xingran didn't linger and left the villa with his suitcase in a grand manner.

He got into Jin Linuo's car.

With Shen Xingran's outburst, the already oppressive atmosphere in the Shen family became even more gloomy.

Madam Shen seemed to have lost her soul that day. She locked herself in her bedroom without eating anything.

Shen Xingzhuo stood in the vast living room for a long time.

Finally, he snapped back to reality. Without daring to look at anyone or caring about the media waiting outside, he left the Shen family villa.

Shen Xingyu sat quietly on the sofa for a while before getting up to continue making calls for help from his connections in the study.

The most energetic one might be Shen Hongyuan, who was lying on a hospital bed.

Ever since learning that the news was leaked to the media by Shen Xingran, Shen Hongyuan had been consumed by an extreme rage.

He couldn't fathom why Shen Xingran would betray the Shen family.

Shen Hongyuan had considered the possibility that it was Lu Ran's retaliation.

He also suspected that it might be Shen Xingzhuo, the prodigal son, harboring resentment from his previous scolding and intentionally causing trouble for him.

He even entertained the idea that it could be Shen Xingyu.

As sons grew older, dangerous thoughts tended to multiply.

Shen Hongyuan had suspected all three of his biological sons, except for Shen Xingran.

In his eyes, blood ties were the strongest support.

Shen Xingyu and Shen Xingzhuo, bound to him by unbreakable blood, felt invincible and dared to act recklessly. But what right did Shen Xingran have?

He was merely an orphan with no one to rely on, growing up solely due to the affection he showered upon him.

It was Shen Hongyuan who had personally propelled Shen Xingran to his current position. In Shen Hongyuan's eyes, without him, Shen Xingran was nothing.

That was why he would only cling tightly to the Shen family; how could he possibly betray them?

It was precisely because he trusted Shen Xingran the most that Shen Hongyuan had placed him in a significant role by his side.

Yet, Shen Hongyuan never imagined that the one who would ultimately betray him would be this helpless orphan.

In the afternoon, Shen Xingyu arrived at the hospital room accompanied by the investigation team.

Shen Hongyuan's anger had caused his blood pressure to soar, and the machines beside his bed beeped incessantly.

The investigators asked some questions, but Shen Hongyuan refused to cooperate, keeping silent.

However, the evidence had already been gathered, so Shen Hongyuan's confession was no longer crucial.

Upon completion of the interview, the investigation team stood up and said,

"Mr. Shen Hongyuan, upon our investigation, we have reason to believe that you are involved in the illegal appropriation of personal assets, amounting to over a hundred million..."

However, upon hearing this, Shen Hongyuan, who had been relatively composed, blinked, his pupils constricting as he lifted his gaze towards the investigators.

Shen Xingyu's expression darkened slightly.

Shen Hongyuan started to speak, his words slurring, "A-Appropriation of personal assets? That's my company!"

The investigators glanced at him and explained in an official tone,

"Someone has reported that you illegally altered your father's will fourteen years ago. The situation has now been largely verified, and the involved lawyer has turned himself in."

"The ownership of the Shen Corporation is still under further investigation."

"Currently, all assets under your name will be frozen, pending the court's decision."

Lying on the hospital bed, Shen Hongyuan's complexion was ashen.

The investigation team soon departed.

Upon hearing about Shen Hongyuan's illegal tampering with the will, Shen Xingyu wasn't surprised nor did he press for more information.

For when he took on the role of CEO at the Shen Corporation, he already knew that Grandfather Shen had bequeathed almost all his assets to his youngest grandson, Shen Xingran.

Secrets, eventually, find their way to the surface.

The Chairman of the Shen Corporation, after illegally appropriating company assets, was now embroiled in a scandal involving the manipulation of his own father's will.

Altering a will is pure catnip for the media.

The news about the Shen family was at the height of its popularity.

This story quickly made it to the front page, thoroughly satiating the public's gossip cravings for the so-called elite families.

Ji Min received the information even earlier.

Before the media broke the story, he disclosed this bombshell while driving Lu Ran back home:

"Mr. Shen left all his inheritance to Shen Xingran."

Lu Ran encountered some issues with his experiment.

Bent over a tedious statistical table, he rolled his eyes upon hearing Ji Min's remark.

"Irksome," he said with a sigh. "There's no need to share such gloomy news with me."

It was one thing that his own parents and brother were smitten with Shen Xingran, but even the stern old man in the photograph had bequeathed his entire fortune to him, which was quite astounding.

Yet, just as Lu Ran finished speaking, Ji Min playfully tapped his head.

"Ow," Lu Ran winced, putting his hands to his head.

Ji Min took the experiment booklet from his grasp and set it aside.

Frustrated, he said, "Do you have any backbone at all? It's uncertain if Shen Xingran was even adopted when your grandfather passed away."

"You're the one your grandpa left all his inheritance to."

Lu Ran was genuinely taken aback.

He had always kept a clear distinction between himself and the name "Shen Xingran," so hearing this didn't evoke any personal feelings.

When Lu Ran heard about the failure of the Shen family's contract, he wasn't shocked.

Upon learning that it was Shen Xingran who betrayed them, his reaction was also rather calm.

But now, he was genuinely surprised.

After news of Shen Hongyuan altering the will broke out, the Shen family company plunged into chaos.

What was initially just a financial mess now caused instability throughout the entire board of directors.

Among the board members were elders who had worked alongside Shen Hongyuan's father.

And there were the Gu family members.

All of them were equally astounded upon hearing this news.

No one knew better than they did what kind of person Elder Shen was.

Elder Shen had single-handedly built the Shen Corporation.

Even in his old age, when his eyesight was nearly gone, he remained actively involved in his work.

He was a tyrant with an immense appetite for power.

Yet, it was well-known that Elder Shen valued the Shen Corporation more than his own biological son.

No one could have imagined that he would leave all his assets to a four- or five-year-old child.

The shift in share ownership would inevitably cause tremendous upheaval within the company.

If this genuine will had been made public back then, everyone would have assumed that the will had been tampered with.

Soon, the mastermind behind this message was exposed.

After all, the one currently occupying "Shen Xingran's" identity was not Lu Ran.

The Lino and Shen families truly were sworn enemies.

Old Lino, somehow, found the lawyer who had assisted Shen Hongyuan in forging the will, thus discovering the true testament left by Elder Shen.

Old Lino had been holding onto this information for a while but had kept a low profile.

Now that he saw the Shen family declining, he struck ruthlessly.

Upon learning this, Lu Ran recalled Old Lino's previous attitude toward him and understood a little more.

Old Lino must have been well aware that no matter how confused Elder Shen was, he would never leave the entire Shen family to a newly adopted grandson.

That was why he had initially extended an olive branch to Lu Ran.

But Lu Ran had promptly kicked him into the toilet.

Perhaps sensing that Lu Ran was not easily controlled, he settled for the alternative, Shen Xingran.

The timing of the lawyer's presentation of this "authentic will" was impeccable.

It occurred right after Shen Hongyuan legally adopted Shen Xingran and registered him in the household records.

Furthermore, the wording of the will referred to "the youngest grandson."

Coincidentally, Shen Xingran was a few months younger than Lu Ran.

Over a decade had passed since the old Master Shen's demise.

For any department, verifying the identity of "Shen Xingran" mentioned in the will was a formidable task.

Soon, Ji Min's assistant handed him Shen Xingyu's call, informing Ji Min, "Mr. Shen has requested to meet Young Master Lu Ran."

Ji Min didn't immediately decline nor answer the call.

On the night Lu Ran learned about the disposition of the old Master Shen's estate, he stood by the window in a daze throughout the night.

Yet, the next day, he continued to delve into his research data as if nothing had happened.

It seemed that the inheritance didn't sway his determination in certain matters.

But he had no intention of giving everything away to Shen Xingran without a fight.

Taking some time off, he visited the orphanage and printed out some documents to hand over to his lawyer.

Ji Min didn't interfere with Lu Ran's decision.

Instead, he found an opportunity to meet with Lu Ran's therapist and inquire about Lu Ran's progress in therapy.

Despite the sessions, Lu Ran's phantom pain hadn't vanished.

The psychiatrist was also frustrated.

She said, "The patient has a strong mental barrier. Most of his cooperation is only on a behavioral level; he hasn't truly embraced the therapeutic process mentally."

Regarding the persistent hallucinatory pain in Lu Ran's mind, the doctor pondered before suggesting a perspective:

"He mentioned once that being pushed into an icy pool during winter might be a residual trauma from that incident."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Min furrowed his brows. He inquired carefully, "How did he put it? When did it happen, and who pushed him?"

In principle, a therapist should maintain confidentiality about their patient's information.

However, when signing the agreement, Lu Ran had no objections to Ji Min's right to know.

As such, the doctor saw no reason to hide anything.

Lu Ran wouldn't bring up these matters on his own initiative.

The doctor only mentioned it because she recalled the story Lu Ran had shared before.

A child who went missing, only to find upon reunion that his family favored the adoptive son who had taken his name and identity. He was constantly plagued by this impostor, even being shoved into an icy pool one winter day.

Despite witnessing everything, the family members remained steadfastly on the side of their adopted son.

The first time Lu Ran recounted this story, he didn't mention that it was his own.

But his background is no longer a secret and can be easily guessed.

Thus, the doctor inquired about the young man's experience of being pushed into the pool.

As Lu Ran answered the question, he was basking in the warm embrace of the sun's rays.

The youth turned his head to gaze out at the street scene, remaining silent for a long while before uttering just two words:

"It hurts a lot."

The pool water was icy cold, piercing to the bone.

Struggling to ascend time and again, only to be pushed down repeatedly.

One would gradually lose strength in the water, fostering an overwhelming sense of despair as if one could never climb out.

In the end, he even forgot to struggle.

Ji Min looked down at the medical records in his hand.

His mind, however, was pondering the timeline of the incident.

Lu Ran was only acknowledged by the Shen family after he started university.

But by the time winter vacation came around, he already knew Ji Min.

Seemingly... there wasn't any time left for this event to occur.

Soaking in cold water during winter was no trifling matter.

Back then, Big Yellow was already being fostered by Ji Min, and Lu Ran would come over every day. If there had been anything amiss, Ji Min would definitely have noticed.

Yet, Ji Min also recalled that Lu Ran often found himself lost in thought by the swimming pool.

The Ji family had a pool in their backyard.

Yet Lu Ran would never draw near.

Before Ji Min could ponder further, the doctor retrieved another sheet from the medical record in his hand.

On the paper was a sketch drawn hastily with simple strokes.

Ji Min looked at the physician, who then said,

"This is the patient's self-portrait in a psychological context."

Ji Min lowered his gaze to examine the sketch.

In the drawing, a tiny figure was trapped within a rectangular frame.

After a moment of careful observation, Ji Min realized that the rectangle was intended to represent a bed.

What evoked a sense of oppression, however, was that the figure on the bed wasn't depicted in a state of rest.

Below the neck of the miniature person, numerous dense black lines crisscrossed, filling the space.

These lines resembled brutal slashes, cutting through flesh, yet also acted as invisible chains that bound.

Exiting the psychotherapy room.

Perhaps due to the self-portrait, Ji Min felt an overwhelming sense of oppression.

This painting might be difficult for the average person to comprehend.

But Ji Min had been wheelchair-bound before.

In an instant upon seeing the artwork, he grasped Lu Ran's intention.

The figure in the painting was trapped in a hospital bed, possibly due to illness... or... disability.

As the car hit the road, the driver inquired about Ji Min's next destination.

Ji Min informed his assistant, who directed the driver to the location prearranged by Shen Xingyu.

En route, Ji Min couldn't help but reminisce about his interactions with Lu Ran prior to his surgery.

Back then, Ji Min's temperament was indeed peculiar.

Especially when it came to how others treated his injured leg.

Yet, Lu Ran was the exception.

Whether it was the young man racing him through the parking lot in a wheelchair or occasionally poking at his leg to gauge his reaction, Lu Ran stood out.

Or perhaps it was that initial encounter with Lu Ran, when he had blurted out:

"It's better to be dead than completely paralyzed and unable to move."

Surprisingly, Ji Min didn't harbor any aversion to these sentiments.

One cannot fully empathize with experiences they've never had themselves.

A healthy, athletic teenager could never truly comprehend the suffering of someone confined to a wheelchair.

Even if sympathy arises, it is mostly grounded in imagination.

Yet, the impression Lu Ran gave Ji Min was entirely distinct.

Ji Min recalled the time before his surgery.

The youth grinned, teasingly comforting him, "Why, I'm quite the expert at taking care of someone who's completely paralyzed, you know..."

The car pulled up in front of a discreet restaurant, hidden from plain sight.

Ji Min's thoughts paused.

He got out of the car, and the attendant waiting outside immediately approached him proactively.

The attendant led him to the private room where Shen Xingyu was.

"Click."

Upon hearing the sound of the private room door opening, Shen Xingyu instantly looked up.

Upon seeing Ji Min, his gaze didn't linger and continued to drift towards the compartment outside. However, after Ji Min entered, he closed the door behind him and said, "I'm the only one who came." Shen Xingyu retracted his gaze without any trace of disappointment on his face. He had been looking forward to Lu Ran's arrival, but he was also well aware that Lu Ran wouldn't come. "Senior, it's been a while," Shen Xingyu said. If they were to count carefully, this was their first formal meeting since Ji Min had fully recovered from his leg injury. Ji Min nodded and picked up the menu beside him. "How is he doing?" Shen Xingyu asked. "Not too well," Ji Min replied.

Shen Xingyu paused, ultimately suppressing the desire to ask further questions.

For he knew that there was no point in doing so.

After hearing Shen Xingran's words, Shen Xingzhuo was deeply affected and did not return to the Shen family for several days.

Madam Shen secluded herself in her room the whole time.

Yet, Shen Xingyu remained unaffected.

He was self-aware and didn't need to be harshly criticized by Shen Xingran to recognize his own shortcomings.

But Shen Xingyu realized that he was even more hopeless.

Unlike Shen Hongyuan, Madam Shen, and Shen Xingzhuo, who mostly followed their instincts and emotions, they lacked a clear understanding of their actions.

Thus, when confronted with Shen Xingran's relentless revelation, they were devastated and unable to accept the truth.

He could have tried to argue, shifting the blame onto someone else.

But Shen Xingyu was different.

He had always been acutely aware of his actions.

He had chosen his family over himself.

And even when faced with the choice between his family and that child who would secretly peek at him in the study, he still chose his family.

Thus, on the day Shen Hongyuan hosted a banquet for Fang Chen, despite knowing full well that Lu Ran wasn't the one who pushed, he still slapped Lu Ran to quickly quell the situation.

Shen Xingyu was well aware of what he had chosen and what it would cost him.

He wasn't surprised by Lu Ran's subsequent distance.

Lu Ran had smashed cake into his face and forced him to eat all sorts of nonsense, but Shen Xingyu wasn't angry.

This was simply the price he had to pay for his choices.

He was well aware of this.

Thus, for Shen Xingyu, there was no room for regret.

Just like now, knowing full well that Lu Ran wouldn't come, Shen Xingyu still persisted with effort.

Only occasionally would emotions suppressed by reason resurface.

Prompting him to ask meaningless questions.

Shen Xingran's criticism that he was both a hypocrite and a coward was not unfounded.

Shen Xingyu sighed subtly, suppressing his emotions, and rationally weighed the pros and cons:

"The Shen Corporation is a decades-old establishment. Though it has encountered issues recently, it still holds value."

"Lu Ran taking over the Shen Corporation is the best choice. However, it wouldn't be beneficial for either the Shen family or Lu Ran if he were to do so impulsively. If Lu Ran chooses to collaborate with his family and issues a letter of forgiveness..."

Ji Min didn't respond to that.

The man looked intently at the electronic menu in his hand, then casually lifted his head to glance at Shen Xingyu, saying,

"I'm genuinely surprised that you're still putting in so much effort even up to this point."

Shen Xingyu paused.

He replied, "Someone has to do what needs to be done."

He was about to elaborate on the pros and cons, laying out the conditions.

Ji Min finished ordering and looked up, stating firmly, "You've known about the inheritance issue all along, haven't you?"

"Yes," Shen Xingyu admitted.

There was no point in hiding it.

At that moment, a knock came from the door of the private room.

The waiter entered and served the items Ji Min had ordered.

The first to arrive was a lemon sundae.

The waiter held the cup, ready to place it in front of Ji Min.

But Ji Min lifted his chin across the table, saying, "He's the one who ordered it."

Shen Xingyu was slightly surprised.

However, that wasn't the main point he was focusing on.

He was preoccupied with how to efficiently persuade Ji Min.

Once the waiter left, tranquility returned to the private room.

"Are you in strong support of your father's action to alter the will?" Ji Min continued to inquire.

Shen Xingyu fell silent for a moment.

He didn't express his own opinion, but said, "Under the circumstances back then, it was the best choice for both the company and the family."

Ji Min smiled. "But you lost your brother."

The words were like an invisible sword piercing through the air.

Shen Xingyu froze for an instant before quickly regaining his composure. He continued,

"How much turmoil would it cause to a company if all the shares were left to a missing child? You're well aware of that."

Ji Min responded, "He really liked you."

Shen Xingyu's lips quivered ever so slightly, and he pressed his mouth into a firm line.

"I can sense that he treated you differently from everyone else in the Shen family," Ji Min said.

Shen Xingyu lowered his gaze to study the dishes on the table.

Yet, he didn't order anything else.

Aside from the drinks, the only thing on the table was Ji Min's lemon sundae.

"He remembered that you liked rabbits," Ji Min said.

Shen Xingyu maintained his composure. "That was a long time ago."

He lowered his head and took a bite of the dessert in front of him.

The delicate scent of lemon wafted around, the only sweet flavor he could tolerate.

At that moment, Ji Min spoke again, "He also remembers that you like lemon-flavored ice cream."

Shen Xingyu's actions froze.

His brows knitted deeply.

On his usually calm and rational face, resembling that of a robot, a faint trace of suppressed pain could barely be discerned.

Chapter 152: Power

Yang Shiming was so ecstatic that he was practically dancing with joy, resembling a blissful two-hundred-pound dog. It was too much for Wen Ying to bear, so she flew away to look for Boreas.

Not knowing how long they would stay in the human realm, Boreas conserved his puppet's magic power and was waiting patiently. The moment Wen Ying pulled him away, he had an unremarkable "as expected" thought without any ripples.

"Where are we going?"

Wen Ying turned her head. "You're not angry?"

Boreas was already numb and replied coldly, "Enjoy this month while it lasts."

Curious, Wen Ying looked at him. Weren't all Cerberus from the hellhound clan supposed to have short tempers? Well, it seemed like his temper had been worn down by Wen Ying, and it wasn't too difficult of a task.

"I feel like the academy will send out the return notice within the next day or two," said Wen Ying. "Anyway, there's nothing to do now, so let's just stroll around."

The two puppets flew high up in the sky, their bodies concealed by black fog, blending seamlessly with the dark clouds above at night.

From this height, Wen Ying overlooked the city where she grew up. From this perspective, the city below looked like a toy.

Wen Ying gazed down at the city illuminated by countless lights, a bold idea suddenly popping into his mind. If the Demon Realm and Human Realm were to truly connect in the future, he could expand his magic card business into the Human Realm.

Boros, standing beside him, watched as Wen Ying suddenly broke into an idiotic grin, a quirky smile that stirred an unexplained sense of alarm within him.

This guy probably wasn't thinking about anything good, considering Wen Ying had never been a decent person... except for when they first met, when Aruda's upbringing had confused Boros.

"Y-You like humans, don't you?" Boros blurted out.

Lost in envisioning his grand commercial empire, Wen Ying was startled by Boros' ambiguous question, responding with a mix of confusion and bewilderment, "Why would you ask that all of a sudden?"

Boros' voice was cold and detached, "I don't meddle in others' affairs, but I'm not stupid. Don't think I haven't noticed your recent actions."

Wen Ying blinked. To be honest, Boros sometimes reminded him of a Husky in his mind, a tireless creature that demolished everything in its path.

Boros was indifferent to most things that didn't concern him directly, but when it came to battles, his cold aura would be engulfed by a fiery passion, intense and fierce.

"This plan might seem detrimental to exorcists, but in reality, it equips more humans with the basic means to protect themselves," Boros paused, "You're preparing humans for a future where demons roam the Human Realm, accelerating their internal transformation."

Wen Ying was surprised that Boros delivered this statement without any trace of sarcasm. Boros' tone was one that simply stated the facts.

"Not of our kind, their hearts must differ," Beros said. "If you favor humans, I'll probably be the one to collect your remains in the future."

Wen Ying muttered softly, "You're exaggerating." Besides, he was a hybrid, not a pureblood.

Suddenly, Wen Ying's pupils constricted as his power within the Realm of Devils surged explosively. Countless demonic energies rushed into his main body, brutally pushing its strength to an absurd level.

However, the power surged too quickly, and his physical constitution couldn't keep up. Veins popped out, blood seeped from his seven orifices, and his originally fair skin now had visible red veins and cracks. Blood oozed out, making him appear as if he were soaked in blood.

Although only his consciousness resided in the puppet, it was still affected. Wen Ying curled up in discomfort. The sensation was like overeating and continuing to eat until his stomach felt like bursting. Even moving made him feel nauseous.

Beros noticed something was amiss with Wen Ying and flew over to grab his arm, preventing him from falling mid-air. "What did you consume? Why is your power increasing rapidly?"

This commotion was rather loud, and there was no guarantee that exorcists wouldn't detect it. Beros flew Wen Ying to the rooftop of a skyscraper and opened a barrier nearby.

Wen Ying curled up tightly, inwardly cursing. This power came from the Blood Tree. That guy must have consumed something he shouldn't have.

Wen Ying grumbled mentally but lacked the strength to speak. His mind was in chaos when a thought flashed through his head. The Blood Tree was a dark art, feeding solely on blood and flesh. For his power to surge so drastically, the Blood Tree must have consumed an astonishing amount of blood and flesh.

It couldn't hunt on its own, so the blood and flesh were likely provided by Aluda. However, even Aluda wouldn't recklessly kill a large number of devils. The source of this blood and flesh was most probably from the extremist faction that was eradicated in the Realm of Devils recently.

There is a kind of hunger called "Grandmama thinks you're hungry."

Wen Ying clutched himself in agony. Aluda was still feeding him, yet he was already overly full. Grandmama, can't you take a look at my true form before force-feeding me?

Silent, Wen Ying gave no clue as to why his power had surged and was still increasing rapidly.

In his daze of pain, Wen Ying caught sight of Poros's envious gaze. He couldn't hold his breath and fainted.

Poros: "?" Wen Ying's expression just now was peculiar.

As Wen Ying passed out, the uncontrolled magic within him gradually calmed down, slowing its growth. Within minutes, it settled.

Wen Ying woke up to find Poros staring intently at his face with a solemn expression, as if studying some secret martial arts manual.

Never had Wen Ying seen such a "passionate" gaze from Poros, which left him stunned into silence.

It was Poros who noticed his awakening and asked eagerly, "What did you do to make your power surge so quickly? I initially thought it was temporary, but this power has merged with you and hasn't vanished."

Wen Ying pushed away Poros's face, which was too close for comfort. He pressed his hand on the back of his neck, twisting his neck as he spoke, "I thought you were falling in love with me, judging by the way you looked like you wanted to merge with me just now."

Boros shuddered at the cheesiness and took a swift step back, creating distance between himself and Wen Ying.

Wen Ying raised an eyebrow. "Is it really that bad?"

In the end, the allure of power triumphed over the disgust of sentimentality. Boros drifted closer, albeit cautiously, ready to retreat at any moment. "How did you do it?"

"Not even a little concerned," Wen Ying sighed wistfully. "I suppose Aruda must have done something to my original form."

"Aruda?" Boros was momentarily taken aback. Had she created another new potion?

Wen Ying stood up and stretched, still haunted by the sensation of his body about to burst before he blacked out. Even the slightest touch now caused him phantom pain.

"I'm not entirely sure," Wen Ying said. "How long was I unconscious?"

Boros decided he would pay Aruda a visit after they returned. As he thought this, he casually replied, "Almost a day."

It was night outside, and he had been out for nearly a full day since last evening. Wen Ying hadn't expected to be out for so long.

"Has there been any news from the academy?"

"Not yet."

Yang Rixi pushed the door open and approached with an "Ah" sound. "You're awake?"

Wen Ying nodded and looked at his clothes. "Did you attend a party?"

Yang Rixi nodded. Behind him, Yang Shiming squeezed in, closed the door, and immediately began to chatter away. "We went to a gathering within our circle tonight. Man, those guys didn't even go to the Magic Academy; they went straight to the Exorcist School. A few of my arch-enemies were there, rubbing it in that once they graduate, they'll be on a whole different level than me. They warned me to watch out and not provoke them, otherwise they could squash me with just one finger."

"Tch, so what if it's the Exorcist School? What's so great about it?" Yang Shiming said sourly. "Not everyone who graduates from a prestigious school is elite. There are those who earn only three or four thousand too."

Wen Ying opened his mouth, wanting to say that Yang Shiming's envy was practically overflowing.

"Was that girl there that day?"

Yang Shiming was puzzled. "Which day, which girl?" It was the first time the silver-haired demon had shown interest in a human girl for some reason.

"The one who broke up with her cheating boyfriend on her own initiative."

Yang Shiming suddenly understood. "You mean Wen Xinxin? She also attends the Exorcist School. I've heard that she has a high aptitude for magic."

A demon hybrid attending an exorcist academy — Wen Ying's mood suddenly turned peculiar. His mother should have informed Wen Xinxin about their family's hybrid status, so why would Wen Xinxin choose to go to an exorcist academy?

The image of Wen Dingjue learning the truth and immediately fleeing to an uninhabited island in the dead of night flashed through Wen Ying's mind, making him chuckle.

"Mr. Demon, what are you laughing about?" Yang Shiming replayed his previous words in his head but found nothing amusing.

Wen Ying shook his head. "Nothing, just remembered something."

Wen Xinxin had always been strong-willed and brave, so it wasn't entirely unacceptable for her to still attend the exorcist academy despite knowing the truth.

His aunt had given birth to twins. The elder sister took her mother's surname, becoming Wen Xinxin, while the younger brother took his father's surname, Yan Jieming. The sister studied at Mu City University, while the brother attended a university elsewhere.

Wen Xinxin was daring, whereas Yan Jieming was timid, the complete opposite. When they visited haunted houses together in the past, Yan Jieming had cried from fear multiple times. Wen Ying hadn't entered because his body couldn't handle the stimulation; he had watched them play instead.

Recalling this, Wen Ying belatedly realized that he could now enjoy thrilling rides at amusement parks. However, he then remembered that he was now a puppet and still unable to participate. His spirits, which had just been lifted, sank again, and his expression became listless.

A mass of black fog flew in through the balcony, instantly putting Yang Shiming and Yang Rixi on high alert. Their magical energy stirred within them, ready to cast a defensive spell at any moment.

"Don't worry," Wen Ying raised his hand, and the black fog drifted into his upward-facing palm. "There's no danger."

Within the dark mist was an envelope, and there was one for Beros as well. He simply reached out and grabbed it.

Wen Ying opened the envelope to reveal a letter bearing the academy's seal.

It was impossible to forge a magical realm's seal, for it carried the aura of its owner's magic.

"We should leave now," Wen Ying said after reading it. Fire ignited in his palm, burning the letter to ashes.

Yang Rixi and Yang Shiming were surprised. Yang Rixi sounded reluctant as he asked, "So soon?"

He rather liked this silver-haired demon. Compared to calling him a demon, he felt that angel was a more fitting name. An angel who had saved his life.

Yang Shiming couldn't quite describe his feelings. He had been longing for the departure of that cold and terrifying black-haired demon, but now that he was about to leave, he felt a sense of loss.

If he were to be honest, it was probably the thrill. It was something that others didn't have, but he did – a little secret that made his heart race.

"Can I contact you in the future?"

Wen Ying was taken aback. "Huo Jue would love nothing more than to send my companion away forever, yet you want to keep in touch with me."

Yang Rixi smiled and said, "I think you're a good demon."

Wen Ying touched his nose. "I think so too, even though you're the first person to call me that."

Beros: "..." Go tell that to Lan Jiaying and the others.

After bidding them farewell, Wen Ying returned home once more to inform his parents about his journey back to the Demon Realm. As his consciousness gradually withdrew from the avatar puppet, he felt as if he had been on a long journey, disoriented and nauseous upon waking up.

Wen Ying sat up slowly, only to realize that something was amiss with his body. He felt unwell, but in an unusually robust way. Wen Ying sensed an abundance of strength within him, and his body felt incredibly light.

Looking at his clenched fist, he inexplicably felt that one punch could shatter the ground. He picked up a decorative item from the bedside table and effortlessly broke it in half with a gentle twist, his eyes widening in shock.

Exiting his room, he hurriedly sought out Aluda. After searching for him inside the castle without success, Wen Ying ran outside to the garden, where he found Aruda. Little Bai rushed towards him, and upon contact, Wen Ying noticed that the pup had grown significantly, yet the impact felt less intense than before.

"Not that Little Bai's impact has decreased, but his strength has increased," Wen Ying said as he carried Little Bai over to the matriarch. "Grandmatriarch, what did you feed the Blood Tree? I almost felt like I was going to burst."

Aluda held a watering can and turned around, examining Wen Ying before chuckling. "Not bad, your strength has grown significantly."

Wen Ying ventured a question. "Grandmatriarch, did you feed the Blood Tree with the corpses of those extremist party members?"

Aluda nodded. "Lennach led the operation this time and eradicated many of the extremists. I asked for some magic potions and requested him to bring back the corpses without mentioning the Blood Tree. To the public, I said it was for research purposes."

Wen Ying cautiously inquired, "How many did you feed?"

Aluda chuckled. "Not many, just around a hundred corpses."

Wen Ying almost leaned back tactically. He wiped the imaginary sweat from his forehead and forced a smile. "A hundred seems like quite a lot."

"There were actually quite a number more, but I only asked Lennach to bring back the stronger ones. The weaker ones weren't needed."

No wonder his power had surged to the point of near-overload.

Wen Ying recalled the events from a few days ago and said solemnly, "Grandmother, is the barrier between the Human Realm and the Demon Realm really that fragile now? The Extremists were actually able to transport so many low-ranking demons into the Human Realm the other day."

"Before, it was still manageable, but after they opened the teleportation portal, it's weakened," Aruda replied. "Although the portal is closed now, it's affected the entire barrier. There are small cracks everywhere, and demonic energy from the Demon Realm keeps pouring into the Human Realm. Over time, these cracks will expand, and the current barrier won't last much longer."

"The more demonic energy there is in the Human Realm, the stronger exorcists as a whole become, and the rules won't mend the barrier's breaches."

Wen Ying was startled. He had initially thought it was just a one-time teleportation, but he hadn't expected there to be a subsequent plot with irreversible consequences.

"Grandmother, how are the Demon Lords dealing with this matter?"

Aruda continued watering the flowers. "For now, they're stepping up their efforts to capture the Extremists in the Demon Realm."

"Nothing else?" Wen Ying was perplexed. "Nothing to deal with the imminent openness of the Human Realm?"

The term "openness" was indeed fitting for the demons. To them, the Human Realm was like a playground.

"We'll see when the time comes. Anyway, we still have some time," Aruda said nonchalantly. "Humans would never dare to come to the Demon Realm anyway."

"Go take a look at the Blood Tree. It's looking very beautiful now," Aruda changed the subject to something more personal.

Wen Ying approached the location of the Blood Tree, and before his very eyes, he never imagined it would be so enchanting.

The Blood Tree had already grown into a towering giant, reaching about six or seven stories high. Its branches were silver-white, emitting a faint glow, and within them, one could discern tiny, silver-white fruits that seemed to blend seamlessly with the tree itself.

Wen Ying flew up and gently cupped one of the fruits in his hand for a closer inspection. The fruit resembled a tiny, humanoid ginseng, bearing the outline of a human form, brimming with magical energy.

The branches of the Blood Tree swayed softly, brushing against Wen Ying as if caressing him.

Following an intuitive sense, Wen Ying flew to a hidden fruit nestled deep within the tree. Perched on a thick trunk, he studied it intently.

Others might not perceive it, but Wen Ying knew this was another "him." It was the crucial link to his spirit's transference and resurrection after death.

He gently stroked the small fruit and whispered tenderly, "Grow well, my dear."

After spending some time observing the tree, Wen Ying went to the academy to retrieve his clone puppet replica.

On his way, he encountered several classmates, some who had just finished collecting theirs and others who were about to. Wen Ying greeted them warmly.

The distribution point was in their classroom. When Wen Ying entered, Feng Luo was surrounded by a few devils.

"Where were you teleported for your final exam, Wen Ying?" Scarlet turned to ask as he caught sight of him.

Wen Ying replied, "Mu City."

Scarlet's eyes widened instantly. "Mu City?!"

Confused, Wen Ying asked, "What's the matter? Why such a big reaction?"

With an envious gaze, Scarlet said, "You're so lucky. You could stumble upon several Extremists just wandering around Mu City, let alone after the teleportation magic activated. Finding Extremists in Mu City is as easy as picking vegetables in a market."

Wen Ying's eyebrows curved up, and he spoke with a hint of smugness, "Luck is also a part of one's strength."

"Are the two of you still interested in the puppet copies or not?" Feng Luo's deep, impatient voice came from ahead.

Upon seeing that all the other demons had taken theirs, Wen Ying hurried forward, extending his hands obediently.

Feng Luo placed a puppet identical to the avatar Wen Ying used in the Human Realm into his palms.

The academy provided them with a pair of puppets – one for use, and the other functioning like a USB drive, storing the experiences and sights of the other puppet.

The final exam had no proctors; instead, the students' grades were determined by the recorded memories within this replica doll. Upon returning, they needed to extract the memory fragments related to their scores and submit them as answers. The Academy's demonic classroom would then assess their grades.

Wen Ying took the doll back and spent three days extracting all the relevant memory fragments. With the memory beads in hand, she went to the academy to submit them to Feng Luo.

The moment the memory beads were handed in, the final exam was considered over.

Since the doll couldn't eat, Wen Ying hadn't truly eaten for several days. After submitting the beads, she rushed to a famous restaurant in the capital city for a hearty meal, coincidentally running into Wu Fei and Lilith, two demons.

In the restaurant, Lilith, with her finger resting on her fork and chin on her hand, watched the two male demons devour their food at lightning speed. Her eyes shimmered with allure, as if she could grace the cover of any fashion magazine, seemingly in a different world from the focused and ravenous Wen Ying and Wu Fei.

Lilith picked up a glass of red wine beside her and sipped it gently, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Are you very hungry?"

"We're not exactly starving, but after not eating for a few days in the human realm, everything looks appetizing now."

"Haven't you eaten since coming back to the demon realm?"

Wu Fei explained bashfully, "We were afraid we wouldn't make it in time to submit the memory beads, so we didn't eat much."

Ordinary humans might collapse after three days without food, but demons wouldn't.

Wen Ying adhered to the habit of three meals a day, even after becoming a demon, he never skipped them – if not three, then at least two.

Wu Fei was no different.

"So that's how it is," Lilith leaned slightly, her body turned sideways, exuding an alluring aura of leisure. "Wen Ying, did you know that several gambling games have opened up in the capital lately, all about you?"

Wen Ying paused in his eating, lifting his gaze in surprise. "What could they possibly be betting on? When I'll be killed by Berossus or when I'll catch up to him?"

With a teasing tone, Wen Ying spoke. But his smile vanished the next second as Lilith chuckled and teased him. "They're betting on whether you can maintain your first place in the ranking matches. If not, how many more rounds can you endure?"

Wu Fei suddenly recalled, voicing his concern. "Wen Ying, there are still four days left until the end of this semester's ranking matches."

Four days – the smile disappeared from Wen Ying's face, only to appear on Lilith's instead.

Lilith suggested, "Lord Wu Fei, I advise you to give it a try as well."

Wu Fei hastily shook his head. "I'm definitely not up for it. With no limit on one demon challenge per day during these last few days, I dread the thought of a marathon battle."

Lilith narrowed her eyes slightly. "Lord Wu Fei, as a prince of the Demon Realm, you shouldn't easily utter the word 'fear.'"

Wu Fei shrunk back. "I forgot again."

"Wen Ying patted his shoulder. "You've been through a lot too."

Lilith observed him. "How can you be smiling now?"

Wen Ying continued to eat while speaking. "I just remembered something I had forgotten, and that's why I'm smiling."

"What was it?" Wu Fei was full of curiosity.

Wen Ying held up his index finger to his lips. "A secret."

Lilith propped her chin on her hand. "Boys do love their secrets, don't they?"

The deadline for the memory beads was within three days. The next morning, on the second day after Wen Ying submitted his, the scores were released, and Wen Ying ranked first.

Along with the announcement of the scores, the Lucifer Demon Academy disclosed the final exam content for Class One. Unlike other classes, which would have their exams in the Demon Realm, Class One's would take place in the Human Realm.

The students of the Lucifer Demon Academy were surprised by this result. Wen Ying had come in second during midterms, yet he took first in finals? Rumor had it that Muershi, Beros, and the others were also in Mu City—how did Wen Ying manage to secure the top spot?

It was truly astonishing, no matter how one thought about it.

Each devil's memory bead was stored in the archive room. Many devil students flocked to the archive to examine Wen Ying's memory bead. Upon watching it, they fell silent.

If Wen Ying had ranked second in the mid-term exam due to his and Muershi's provocative actions that stirred up the devils' excitement, then this final exam could only be attributed to... pure luck?

From beginning to end, Wen Ying's journey had been smooth sailing. Whenever he felt tired, someone would bring him a pillow for support. Disregarding everything else, just the fact that he closed the teleportation portal by simply breaking an object had greatly boosted his score.

For Wen Ying, luck could be said to be a part of his fortune, but it could also be considered as a display of his ability. Among the two, luck seemed to have played a more significant role.

"I refuse to believe that this guy, Wen Ying, can still rank first in the ranking match!" a student declared firmly.

"If he ranks first again, I... I'll... Anyone who calls the Mirror Devil trash, I'll beat them up!"