Asianovel

Chapter 91: Gu Zhi

The sound was incredibly crisp.

The slap was delivered with such decisiveness and expertise that it left the businesspeople, whose minds were usually filled with intrigues, momentarily stunned.

The young brat was also dazed by the slap.

It was probably the first time in his life that he had been slapped.

After recovering from the shock, the teenager, despite his age, opened his mouth wide and wailed loudly.

As he cried, he searched for Ji Yue, "Mom! He hit me!"

However, his wailing annoyed Lu Ran.

Reaching out, Lu Ran grabbed a paper basket filled with pastries from the table and stuffed it into the boy's mouth.

Silence ensued.

Only then did Ji Yue realize the situation.

Seeing her precious son being struck, she immediately lost all composure.

"You are who? How dare you hit my son? Do you know I'm Ji Min's aunt? You have no right to speak in the Ji family..."

As she spoke, she raised her hand to retaliate.

However, Lu Ran grabbed her wrist and asked, "Aunt? The aunt who delayed someone's birthday by a day?"

Ji Yue was taken aback by the question.

In the next second, the teenager reached out his hand.

With a loud "slap," he struck her as well. "Get lost!"

This slap left everyone utterly stunned.

That's... Ji Min's very own aunt!

The eldest miss of the Ji family!

Ji Yue staggered back several steps with her head tilted, covering her face and unable to react for a while.

Over there, Ji Yue's husband finally came over when he saw his wife and son being assaulted.

"What are you doing, kid!"

This man was burly, reaching out to grab Lu Ran's neck.

Lu Ran slapped him again, "Scram, you freeloader."

After all, he was a grown man and not so easily defeated.

"He!" He covered his face and charged forward again.

Lu Ran directly grabbed his head and slammed it into the creamy soup on the table with a loud "bang."

In an instant, the table shook, and soup splattered everywhere.

After a while, Lu Ran lifted his hand and asked, "Can I leave now?"

Ji Yue's husband lifted his head.

He wiped his face in confusion and turned around, leaving silently.

Three strikes!

All the guests seated at Ji Min's table were stunned.

Upon realization, all eyes were fixed on Ji Min, awaiting his reaction with bated breath.

The man, who had previously worn a cold expression, slowly furrowed his brows at this moment.

Under the gaze of all present, he gently extended his hand to retrieve the young man's wrist, which had been splattered with rich soup.

Taking another tissue, he meticulously wiped away any traces of soup that had splattered onto Lu Ran's wrist and fingers.

After ensuring that no one had been burned, he gradually released his grip.

He then instructed the waiter beside him, "The table is dirty, clean it up. Remove the soup and replace it with dessert."

It was only at this moment that Ji Yue, who had been dazed by the incident, suddenly let out a shrill scream.

She stood up, pointing at Lu Ran and then at Ji Min. "H-He hit me! Ji Min, I'm your aunt; are you going to let him get away with hitting me?"

Ji Min frowned and glanced at her before sighing,

"He's only nineteen, a child who can't control his temper. Why are you even messing around with him?"

Ji Yue almost choked on her own breath.

Nineteen years old?

What did he mean by 'only' nineteen?

Was a person of nineteen still supposed to see a pediatrician?!

The onlookers absorbed the entire scene in silence, suppressing the astonishment they felt deep down.

One by one, they lowered their eyes, no longer casting glances in Lu Ran's direction.

In reality, Ji Min was also somewhat stunned.

Initially, he had been worried that Lu Ran might sympathize with the Li family and be frightened by his tactics.

But now, after Lu Ran's forceful actions, Ji Min had already forgotten his original plan.

Especially the child sitting next to him, who, after taking a few bites, seemed to have just woken up from a dream and said,

"Wow, so many people! Is your birthday party starting now?"

"What else would it be?" Ji Min shot him an annoyed glance.

Lu Ran immediately leaned in and whispered, "But I haven't had the chance to leave love bites yet. What should I do?"

Ji Min: "..."

"Thank you, but it's not necessary. Your pinch worked wonders," he said.

Lu Ran continued to eat in silence for a while.

Then, with his dark, glistening eyes scanning the surroundings, he asked again,

"Well... Boss, did I accidentally hit someone important just now?"

"Accidentally?" Ji Min raised an eyebrow.

Lu Ran stabbed his steak with the chopsticks and whispered, "I accidentally did it on purpose..."

Ji Min felt a sudden urge to laugh.

Suppressing his smile, he inquired, "What if I said yes?"

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment.

He put down his chopsticks and clasped his hands together, apologizing to Ji Min, "I'm sorry, Boss. Please, have mercy and don't deduct my salary!"

Pausing for a moment, he added, "If you need it, Boss, I can apologize to them."

For some reason, Ji Min suddenly felt an overwhelming pang of empathy upon hearing this.

This kid had always been unruly, indulging in all sorts of reckless antics.

As if he never considered the consequences.

Yet now, he was offering to apologize.

"Indulge in yours," he said with a hint of playfulness.

Ji Min picked up a piece of cake to plug his mouth.

Observing the youth nibble away like an adorable hamster, he softly murmured, "No one needs your apology."

The banquet, after a long bout of chaos, gradually returned to tranquility.

Among those present were all astute individuals, no one dared to bring up the matter concerning the Li family.

Yet, every now and then, he would glance unobtrusively at the young man sitting beside Ji Min, who was engrossed in eating.

Striving to etch the young man's appearance in memory, to ensure he would never be that mindless creature who offends the wrong person.

The meal had already lasted for nearly two hours.

By all accounts, it should have reached its conclusion by now.

However, as soon as Lu Ran took his seat, a steady stream of dishes started to be served.

Ji Min finally picked up his chopsticks and started to eat something.

As long as the person of honor didn't move, everyone else remained glued to their seats.

On one hand, they found the banquet excruciatingly long, yet on the other hand, they felt like they had witnessed quite the spectacle, which was rather entertaining.

It wasn't until almost four in the afternoon that the guests began to depart.

When Gu Zhi left, he made a deliberate detour to come around.

Lu Ran didn't know him, so he turned to look at Ji Min.

Ji Min frowned and glanced at Gu Zhi, saying first, "He's from the Gu family, so by the family hierarchy, you should call him Uncle."

Upon saying this, he seemed to have thought of something and paused, adding,

"He's not someone important, so there's no need for you to remember him."

Gu Zhi: "..."

"Hey, I'm still standing here. Is it okay for you to talk about me like that?" he said.

Ji Min replied, "Then why don't you move a bit further away?"

Gu Zhi grumbled inwardly.

But he still gave Lu Ran a double thumbs-up and whispered, "You really hit well just now."

It was the first time Lu Ran had received praise, so he looked up at Gu Zhi.

Gu Zhi was gazed at intently for a moment.

Suddenly, he smacked his forehead and exclaimed, "You're from the Shen family, aren't you?"

Lu Ran remained silent, merely staring back at him.

Those eyes were too familiar. Gu Zhi recalled instantly, "It's me, Ran Ran!"

"Ran Ran, don't you remember me? I'm your Uncle Gu!"

At this moment, Gu Zhi even forgot about Ji Min. He immediately leaned closer to the person.

Ji Min interjected, "Now, he goes by Lu Ran."

"Oh, just a minor detail," Gu Zhi waved it off, then animatedly gestured towards Lu Ran. "Did you forget? When we were kids, I even took you to catch cicadas!"

"You weren't much of a talker back then, but you had immense courage and loved playing with insects!"

Gu Zhi's demeanor was exceptionally enthusiastic.

It was the first time Lu Ran had encountered someone so excitedly discussing his past, and he couldn't help but feel curious.

"I still enjoy playing games now," he said.

As he spoke, he couldn't resist taking a step forward, wanting to take a closer look at Gu Zhi's appearance, to see if he had any recollection of him.

But as Lu Ran leaned slightly forward, he felt his wrist being held by someone.

He turned his head and saw Ji Min.

"What's up, boss?" Lu Ran asked.

"Hey! He's just being jealous, ignore him!" Gu Zhi approached, reaching out to pull Lu Ran aside for a chat.

Lu Ran glanced at him but then turned back to look at Ji Min.

Ji Min pursed his lips slightly and frowned at Gu Zhi. "Why haven't you left yet?"

"I spend my days idling away. There's nothing much for me to do back home," Gu Zhi said with a clear conscience.

Ji Min, however, countered, "Grandfather called me yesterday asking about your situation at the company."

Gu Zhi: "..."

Alright, Ji Min was indeed ruthless.

He took two steps back and bowed towards Ji Min.

Then, he waved at Lu Ran, "Let's chat another day then!"

As he spoke, something came to mind, and he turned back to ask Lu Ran,

"Oh right, on the day you returned to the Shen family, my father even specially sent a gift for you and invited you to visit the Gu family when you're free. Why didn't you reply?"

"Gift?"

Lu Ran's eyebrows lifted slightly in curiosity.

Soon enough, he realized that Shen Hongyuan must have kept it from him.

He smiled at Gu Zhi, "I'll ask you properly when I get home."

Upon seeing his smile, Gu Zhi couldn't help but shiver.

This child looked no different from the adorable little dumpling he used to be.

But why was his smile so chilling now?

Gu Zhi bowed once more towards him and Ji Min, "I'm really leaving this time! Remember to come over to my place for a visit!"

When Gu Zhi's figure had vanished entirely.

It was only then that Ji Min realized he was still holding the youth's wrist.

He suddenly released his grip, turning his head aside to cough softly.

Thinking of the way the child had looked at Gu Zhi just now, they pressed their lips together and said:

"I have Gu Zhi's contact information, I'll share it with you later. As for meeting Elder Gu, I can take you there."

Lu Ran gazed at the man for a moment before shaking his head:

"Never mind, I don't even remember what he said anyway. But I should still meet Elder Gu."

Only then did Ji Min realize that the boy's "never mind" referred to adding Gu Zhi's contact.

Most of the people in the courtyard had already left.

Ji Min and Lu Ran walked together towards the inner courtyard.

Big Yellow came running out, circling around Lu Ran's legs.

Lu Ran bent down to pick up Big Yellow.

He suddenly said, "Don't worry, Boss, I remember that I'm your 'ex-boyfriend' now, so I won't just add anyone's WeChat randomly."

When he said this, his tone was still the same as before.

Eagerly, he moved about like an industrious little office worker, but his eyes never left Big Yellow as he meticulously picked grass blades from the yellow-haired dog's fur.

Ji Min also averted his gaze.

"Mm, alright," he replied softly, as if his previous intervention was genuinely just for the sake of "work."

When the two entered the living room, they found that someone was still there.

The Li father and son had long left in a huff, but Ji Yue was, after all, a member of the Ji family. At that moment, he sat solemnly on the sofa in the living room.

Upon seeing Lu Ran enter, Ji Yue's face tensed up, and he opened his mouth to speak.

But Ji Min beat him to it. "Come to the tea room."

Ji Yue paused, still fuming, and pointed at Lu Ran, "He slapped me, and he hit your brother too. Yet you're still defending him?"

Lu Ran couldn't help but retort, "I've already shown great restraint."

"Restraint?" Ji Yue nearly laughed out of anger.

Slapping her was considered restraint?

However, when Ji Min heard Lu Ran's words, he fell into an odd silence for a moment.

Then, he nodded in deep agreement, "Yes, he has shown remarkable restraint."

Chapter 89: Stop 23: Jujube

Ming Yiyang was in a terrible mood, and his tone reflected his agitation:

"Where's Mai Zeyu?"

Diao Qingchang took a deep breath before delivering the grim news:

"He's... gone."

In the brief silence that followed, Ming Yiyang instinctively reached for his inner pocket but, remembering Yan Qiling was still beside him, he withdrew his hand and composed himself before asking:

"How did it happen?"

Diao Qingchang placed his hand on the blue Udumbara flower tattoo around his neck, averting his gaze:

"Yesterday, I took them to the Wen family. When we passed by the wilderness, we burned ghost money as a precaution. I used the excuse of checking on the health of Young Master Wen for the Bai family, so they entertained everyone who came with me and even arranged rooms. Yu Kui and Mai Zeyu shared a room."

He turned around, seemingly expecting Yu Kui to provide a more detailed account.

Yet, this man was huddled in the corner, curled up tightly with his head lowered stubbornly, refusing to speak as if he had been utterly frightened.

Diao Qingchang couldn't bring himself to scold someone in such a state. He could only continue relaying the story:

"Anyway, Yu Kui said that in the middle of the night, he heard a cat meowing and immediately turned off the light to go out. Mai Zeyu was sleeping more soundly and got up a step too late; he ended up being locked inside."

Upon hearing this, Yu Kui, who was huddled in the corner, reacted strongly and repeated in panic:

"It wasn't me... I didn't close the door... I didn't..."

Feeling Yan Qiling's gaze sweeping over, the previously silent Lin Yongjian softly explained:

"Ever since we found him this morning, he's been like this... a bit disoriented."

Yan Qiling nodded slightly and continued listening to Diao Qingchang:

"Well, when we went to open the door later, it was already locked on its own. It had nothing to do with Yu Kui. Yu Kui claims he tried to pull the door open, but for some reason, Mai Zeyu just couldn't get out."

"The noise he made was quite loud, and all of us who were arranged around the area were awakened. The three of us, big guys that we are, went over to push the door, but it was as tight as an oyster; we couldn't budge it."

The door was eventually opened by Wen family's butler, Yi Xi, though in the dim blue light, only two crimson shadows dangled in the center of the illuminated room.

Upon closer inspection, they realized they were two embroidered shoes barely hanging on their owner's feet.

Following the shoes upward, they saw Mai Zeyu, resplendent in phoenix crown and brocade wedding gown.

His face was painted with the traditional red bridal makeup, his large copper eyes bloodshot, nostrils flared, and his complexion had turned a dusky purple from asphyxiation. His lips, stained with vermillion, were wide open, revealing a tongue that hung down to his chin.

The saliva on the tongue had congealed into a translucent, egg-white-like liquid, yet the bright red "Jujube" character inked on it remained undisturbed.

Beneath the brocade gown, one of his right arms was nowhere to be seen.

It seemed to have been violently torn away, leaving a pool of blood beneath the stool.

"Diao Qingchang sighed once more, concluding his narrative. "That's why the final clue he left behind was the character 'Jujube,' referring to the fruit."

"Jujube," echoed Diao Qingchang.

Ming Yiyang pondered the word, savoring its meaning:

"This character wasn't left by Mai Zeyu himself, but rather it comes from the Master of the Void, or... the rules of the Master of the Void."

Yan Qiling, beside him, took out the red slip of paper once more. With his slender fingers, he unfolded it and examined it meticulously.

As his eyes quickly scanned the rule that read, "Leave the room immediately when you hear a cat's meow, even at night," his fingers, which were about to turn the page, paused slightly.

After a moment of deliberation, he said,

"The rules on the red slip have changed."

Everyone's expressions shifted, and they gathered around in a flurry, all looking at the red slip.

On it, the original rule that read, "Leave the room promptly when you hear a cat's meow, even at night," had been hastily crossed out with what seemed like a charcoal pen.

Following the crossed-out text, tiny, meticulous script added a new clause: "If tapped on the shoulder at the fifth watch of the night, immediately exit the room. If unable to leave, remember to mimic a cat's meow."

After reading, Lin Yongjian concluded with a complicated expression,

"It seems that as long as one person dies, the rule will be updated. Perhaps it will persist until all of us are gone."

Yi Hongda's usually smiling face was now tinged with gravity,

"In fact, there's one more thing... We just found out this morning. Didn't they say that Wen Family's young master was severely ill? But this morning... he seems to have passed away. Do you think this marriage can be called off now?"

Ming Yiyang sneered, looking coldly at these people who were oblivious to the sinister aspects of life. A hint of mockery curled on the corners of his lips,

"Who says the dead cannot be married? Now, the Wen and Bai families will likely push through with the wedding even more."

Yi Hongda's face fell,

"...So you share Diao Qingchang's opinion, thinking that this marriage might turn into a ghost wedding?!"

"In fact, I was thinking before that it might not just be a ghost wedding..."

Lin Yongjian slowly shared his thoughts, his gaze subtly sweeping past Yan Qiling beside him.

"Madam Old Bai no longer cares about the brides' lives; as long as their bodies remain intact... they hold value to the Bai family," the translator rendered.

Yi Hongda found it hard to believe. "The 'people' in this world seem quite reasonable. Would they really treat them like that?"

"Diao Qingchang reminds you not to forget that this world was crafted by the Master of the Boundless Realm," came the prompt response. "Reasonableness is but an illusion created by the Master. It could be used to silently eliminate them. Lowering your guard is the worst thing you can do."

"And Mai Zeyu has already paid the price. Still, you think this world makes sense? My friend, such hasty assumptions are irrational. Take responsibility for your own life."

Yi Hongda fell silent. He wasn't entirely naive, but the realization that everything he'd experienced thus far was leading to a dead end was difficult to accept.

Yu Kui trembled throughout, unable to participate in the decision-making process. Mentally, he seemed half incapacitated.

Shiwenguang, who had been listening like a mere prop in the background, finally shared the tale of the "Women on the Graves."

"Actually, when we passed by the graves last night on our way to the Wens... I felt like there was someone sitting beside me. But since I scattered money and had Mr. Diao's talisman with me, that person never got too close..."

"After it left me, I could see more clearly... It seemed to be a woman, sitting barefoot on a grave, muttering about not having shoes or something..."

He looked a little fearful as he continued, "Thankfully, I didn't engage in conversation with it, or I might have been taken."

Upon hearing his description, Yan Qiling turned his gaze toward him, silently observing without any visible reaction. Then, he suddenly asked, "Did it ask you for shoes?"

Shi Wenguang was startled at first, then shook his head frantically. "I didn't dare talk to it. Anyway, I ignored it completely. It kept singing beside me, but I couldn't make out a single word."

"I see," Yan Qiling nodded, his expression indicating understanding.

"It's wise to ignore it. After all, in this world of endless chaos, anything can happen."

By rights, they could have conversed further on the matter of the barefoot woman.

Yet, before they could delve deeper into the conversation, Ming Yiyang had already warily leaned against the wall.

"Someone is approaching,"

He turned to meet Yan Qiling's gaze.

Upon receiving the subtle cue from Ming Yiyang, he promptly climbed over the wall and left. Lin Yongjian cast a glance back at Yan Qiling before following Ming Yiyang to escape in the same manner.

One by one, the others departed, leaving only Shiwen Guang and Yan Qiling behind. As they were both originally accountants, it was quite natural for them to stay together.

The intruder turned out to be the clean-shaven Xi Yi butler.

Yan Qiling suddenly recalled that the butler of the Wen family seemed to be called Yi Xi.

Xi Yi had arrived with an intimidating presence, but when he saw that there were only the two of them, his arrogance immediately subsided, replaced by a awkwardness akin to a commoner unsure of how to behave around nobility.

He maintained his composure, forcing a smile as he asked,

"May I ask, gentlemen, why are you here? Have the accounting matters been settled?"

"Not quite,"

Yan Qiling replied effortlessly, as if it was his birthright to stand there.

"I merely recalled some errors in Miss's dowry records. Hence, I sought Mr. Shi's assistance to check the storeroom. Little did we expect that the Bai family's grand architecture would lead us astray."

Xi Yi's fake smile was pasted stiffly on his face,

"Oh, I see. Why didn't Mr. Yan ask a servant to guide you? Perhaps our servants' inadequate service has left you with an unfavorable impression?"

Undeterred, Yan Qiling's impeccable smile remained unwavering,

"Nonsense. Financial matters are inherently confidential, especially when they involve the details of two families' accounts. It wouldn't be appropriate for too many to know. That's why Mr. Shi and I decided to venture out alone."

"Who could have guessed that the Bai family's estate is so vast, with its circular moon gates causing confusion. If only we had known, we should have requested a servant to accompany us from the start."

In the brief exchange, Xi Yi quickly realized that the other party was also a master at evading questions, and continuing this roundabout conversation would likely lead nowhere.

So he shifted his focus to Shi Wen Guang beside him:

"I've heard that Mr. Shi accompanied Mr. Diao back from the Wen family this morning. I wonder what your thoughts are on the two families' accounts?"

Shi Wen Guang hadn't expected Xi Yi to direct this question at him.

After all, when Diao Qingchang had brought them back, only a servant had let them in through the back door. Logically speaking, it was unlikely for anyone else to know about their mid-journey departure... Even if someone did know, they should be asking Diao Qingchang, not him. What was the point of asking him?

Unconsciously pushing up his glasses, Shi Wen Guang whispered,

"I... don't have any opinions. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with these accounts."

As soon as he finished speaking, he realized that his words contradicted Yan Qiling's previous excuse. His eyes darted around anxiously, and he hurriedly tried to rectify the situation:

"Umm, but since Mr. Yan said there are issues with the accounts, we should still check the numbers in the storeroom."

Xi Yi spoke with a meaningful tone:

"Oh... I see. Then it seems Mr. Yan has some concerns with the accounts, isn't that right? If Mr. Yan feels it necessary, Madam is always available to 'discuss' the detailed records with you, wouldn't you agree?"

Yan Qiling smiled subtly, his lips carrying a gentle breeze of the forest:

"There's no need to bother Madam with such trivial matters, it's just a minor discrepancy. However, I'm diligent and reluctant to see any disagreement arise between our two families due to a small mistake. Oh, by the way, I believe Madam would recall the account regarding Young Master Bai from yesterday..."

Xi Yi's expression shifted slightly.

This time, it was Yan Qiling's turn to convey a profound meaning:

"It seems that Madam hasn't mentioned this matter to you? After our heartfelt conversation yesterday, Madam promised not to interfere with anything I do in the Bai family. So, is Madam planning to renege on that agreement?"

Xi Yi sensed an inexplicable sense of threat, instinctively taking two steps back. The fake smile on his face began to falter, and for once, it appeared more genuine:

"I see... I see that Mr. Yan has such an arrangement with Madam. My apologies for my intrusion; I'll immediately report back to Madam and no longer disturb the two of you."

He glanced aside, and a quick-witted servant promptly stepped forward, bowing respectfully to them.

Xi Yi forced a smile:

The child is rather clever. Let him escort the two gentlemen to the storage room for an audit.

Yan Qiling's willowy phoenix eyes narrowed into a charming smile as he said warmly,

"In that case, many thanks to Steward Xi Yi."

-

Since early morning, the four trapped in the embroidery room had sensed something amiss.

The Bai family hadn't sent them any food or water since dawn.

At first, they could endure, but as time passed, Yue Pengpeng's stomach began to grumble, and she couldn't hold out any longer. She wanted to go out in search of food but was stopped by the guards at the door.

The guards claimed that breakfast was still being prepared and refused to let them leave.

Su Shuhao tried to bribe one with her golden hairpin, but to her surprise, the guard remained steadfast.

Breakfast seemed to be "in preparation" until noon without any sign of it appearing. Not only that, when Yue Pengpeng opened the door again, she found there was now an additional guard posted outside!

Si Shuhao attempted to contact Ming Yiyang through the back window, but as soon as she opened it, she was met with another guard's expressionless face!

It seemed the Bai family was determined to trap them inside the house.

Closing the window, the four of them discussed in the inner chamber.

Liao Xinya, gazing at the empty teacup, suddenly spoke amidst the chatter of the other three:

"I believe there might have been some unforeseen incident with the Wen family."

The room fell silent for a moment.

The cool and rational voice of the young girl echoed on the floor, soothing yet unsettling:

"Yesterday, the Bai family's willingness to provide us with food and drink indicates that they see value in keeping us alive. Although Old Lady Bai torments Si Shuhao, she doesn't dare damage her face."

"According to Yan Qiling, this is because the Bai family places great importance on the alliance with the Wen family. They're afraid the Wens might find an excuse to call off the marriage, so while they torment Si Shuhao, Old Lady Bai is clear about what she wants."

"But today is different."

Yue Pengpeng grew anxious under her words, licking her dry lips as she asked eagerly:

"So what should we do now? Could it be that the Wen family has decided against the alliance with the Bai family? That's why the Bai family plans to starve us to death?"

Su Bo shook her head gently, exchanging glances with Si Shuhao. Both saw the answer in each other's eyes.

Liao Xinya continued her analysis undeterred:

"No, if the Wen family doesn't want an alliance with the Bai family, Old Madam Bai wouldn't keep the two young misses in the embroidery room. She would have already sent us all to the Wen family, even if it meant causing a scandal, just to have them accept the two young misses."

"The current situation... there's only one possibility. The marriage will still take place, but... they no longer need living young misses."

Yue Pengpeng sat with wide-eyed confusion, while Si Shuhao calmly revealed the truth:

"I reckon the one from the Wen family is... dead."

Su Bo let out a shallow sigh:

"Yes, the Bai family might be planning a ghost marriage."

Yue Pengpeng shot up from her chair in disbelief, grabbing her own cheeks in distress:

"Does that ghost marriage… the maid, she will also be…?"

The other three looked at her calmly. Though no words were spoken, the messages conveyed through their six eyes left her with a clear understanding of the answer.

They were all in the same boat, and none of them could escape.

Yue Pengpeng felt a chill run through her veins.

Chapter 90: Hesitation

Ji Min made his way towards Lu Ran's bedroom.

Upon entering, he discovered that the boy had only taken off his shoes.

Still clad in his clothes, he was sprawled asleep on the bed, face buried in the covers. His heavy breathing indicated a less than comfortable sleep.

He was clearly exhausted, sleeping soundly and unaware that someone had entered the room.

Ji Min let out a sigh, reaching for a lightweight blanket nearby. He unfurled it and gently draped it over Lu Ran.

As he bent down, his gaze lingered on the collar of Lu Ran's shirt.

The marks from the grip two days ago had already faded significantly.

"Those vanished rather quickly," Ji Min murmured, his voice tinged with contemplation.

"Shouldn't we wake him up?" asked Housekeeper Chen.

Ji Min hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "He's so exhausted. Let him sleep. There will be plenty of chaos today, and it might be better for him not to be involved."

As he spoke, he instructed Housekeeper Chen, "Close off the inner courtyard later so no one can barge in and disturb him."

Housekeeper Chen acknowledged.

Today was Ji Min's twenty-ninth birthday.

Ordinarily, he didn't pay much attention to birthdays and wasn't fond of grand celebrations, treating it merely as an ordinary workday.

But for the rest of the business circle in Jing City, it was a rare significant event.

Just being able to attend and make a few acquaintances would be considered advantageous, let alone overhearing some valuable information.

However, Ji Min had issued very few invitations, with only one per person, making it difficult for anyone to sneak in.

The main gate of the Ji family compound swung open.

Outside the courtyard, it was not particularly bustling.

Compared to the usual grandiose scenes of the Shen family's banquets, this could be described as "quieter than usual."

Everyone approached with respect and presented their invitations and gifts solemnly before silently entering the yard.

It seemed as if, once they stepped into the Ji family's threshold, even their conversations with those beside them were conducted in hushed tones and with restraint.

The atmosphere didn't resemble attending a birthday party at all.

It felt more like a meeting relocated to a different venue.

Gu Zhi was very unaccustomed to such an ambiance.

Upon entering, he couldn't help but tremble uncontrollably, feeling that if he didn't move, his entire body would stiffen.

However, taking advantage of his familiarity with Ji Min, he complained while shivering, "I didn't want to come in the first place. How can you have an elder like me congratulate a junior like you?"

Ji Min lifted his gaze to glance at him briefly.

His eyes clearly conveyed, "If you don't want to be here, you can leave."

Gu Zhi found it a bit peculiar.

He shook his head and sighed. "Your temper seems to have improved lately, huh?"

In the past, he would have already told Gu Zhi to get lost.

Ji Min fell silent for a moment.

Wondering if his tolerance threshold had risen due to someone's provocation.

"Saying that, it's not usually me," Gu Zhi sighed. "My family patriarch takes your matters quite seriously. He originally planned to send Ningqi over."

"But that kid, for some reason, refused to come here no matter what when he heard about it."

Upon hearing the name Gu Ningqi, Ji Min couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

Now he understood why the heir of the Gu family was reluctant to come.

Probably because he was afraid of encountering Lu Ran.

If Lu Ran were to repeat his absurd remark about "golden needle mushrooms" again, this young Master Gu might get so angry that he'd jump off the building on the spot.

At Ji Min's smile, Gu Zhi gave him another curious glance.

This time, he noticed something remarkable.

"Wow!"

Gu Zhi couldn't hold back and raised his voice.

Pointing at the marks on Ji Min's neck, he asked, "Your... your neck! That's way too intense, isn't it?"

The courtyard was relatively quiet.

When Gu Zhi shouted, all those who were chatting nearby, walking by, or had just entered, turned their heads in unison to look at Ji Min.

Upon casual observation, it was still manageable. However, now that Gu Zhi had pointed it out explicitly, everyone's attention was drawn to it.

They all noticed a dark mark on Ji Min's neck, close to the collar of his shirt.

Upon realizing what it was, many people's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Ji Min: "..."

Indeed.

This was still the mark Lu Ran had left that day.

Despite the mess on the child's neck from being choked, it vanished quickly after applying medicine and a good night's sleep.

In contrast, the mark on Ji Min's neck was particularly resilient.

Though it had now transformed from red to a purplish-brown, the hue clearly conveyed to everyone: this was a love bite.

It was so fake that it seemed more real than the real thing.

It was purely coincidental that the mark left by the child was in a spot that couldn't be concealed by the collar.

Ji Min had noticed it in the morning but didn't bother with it, nor did he have the means to do anything about it.

He had thought it was nothing significant.

Little did he expect it to be exposed by Gu Zhi's outburst.

After Gu Zhi finished shouting, he belatedly realized his mistake and clamped his mouth shut.

Yet, his heart was still turbulent with emotions.

His gaze fixated on Ji Min was filled with envy!

He had initially assumed that Ji Min's little lover was just a fabrication!

During this period, the person hadn't set foot in the company at all, leading him to believe that they had already parted ways.

How surprising!

The other guests were also in various states of astonishment.

Those invited to this banquet weren't necessarily of the highest status, but they had all had long-term collaborations with Ji Min.

Many people, upon their initial contact with Ji Min, couldn't help but project their own desires onto him.

They assumed that the more unavailable Ji Min seemed, the more he would be desired.

As a result, they found ways to push candidates at Ji Min.

But these attempts always ended up making awkward scenes.

Now, those who remained were all well-acquainted with Ji Min's habits and never engaged in such petty maneuvers.

Thus, nobody could have imagined that one day, they would witness such evidence on Ji Min.

After the initial shock subsided, the curiosity in the courtyard couldn't be contained.

Someone whispered, "Is it... from the Shen family?"

"Shh! Don't go spreading rumors!"

"Director Ji made it clear—it's just a junior!"

After this was said, the gossiping paused for a few minutes.

But only for a few minutes.

Someone couldn't help but ask, "I heard... he moved in, didn't he?"

"But why haven't we seen him?"

Or perhaps...

Had Ji Min been replaced?

Everyone present couldn't help but speculate.

Ji Min found it irritating.

As the appointed time approached, he waved to the attendant to begin preparations.

Unlike the current trend among the high society to host dinner parties that lasted until midnight, Ji Min still adhered to the older generation's custom.

The event started in the afternoon and concluded before dinner. He preferred guests to leave promptly, as he disliked having people in his home during the evenings.

Guests began to take their seats one after another. A sharp-eyed observer noticed that there was an empty seat beside Ji Min.

All the dishes had been served, but that particular spot remained unoccupied. It was the seat of honor on the right.

Someone couldn't help but murmur, "Is there someone notable who hasn't arrived yet?"

An informed guest remarked, "It's President Ji's aunt and her family who haven't arrived yet."

The questioner nodded in understanding.

In truth, Ji Min's aunt was likely the only close relative he had.

But at this birthday banquet, this sole family member of Ji Min's was tardy.

Not until several rounds of dishes were served did harmonious voices of a family of three echo from the entrance.

First came the voice of a seemingly assertive woman, "We're finally here. The traffic jam was terrible."

As she spoke, she apparently saw something that displeased her, and she complained, "Who trimmed this pine tree? It looks awful."

Then, the voice of a discontented teenager around fourteen or fifteen years old interjected, "Mom, when are we leaving?"

These voices intruded unapologetically, instantly transforming the previously tranquil courtyard into a bustling scene.

The woman continued with her remarks.

The youth then grew quiet.

Upon hearing the voice, the people around them started whispering to one another.

Yet Ji Min remained unperturbed, his expression calm, only the depth of his eyes revealing a subtle change.

It had been years since he last saw his aunt, Ji Yue.

Ji Yue was pampered and indulged by Elder Ji since childhood.

Amidst the turmoil in the Ji family, she had already relocated overseas alongside the Li family.

When the incident involving Ji Min occurred, Ji Yue did return for a while.

However, she didn't stay long before departing once more.

Abroad, the Li family consistently acted under the banner of the Ji family.

Both Ji Yue's father and elder brother were no longer around.

Out of affection for so many years, Ji Min had turned a blind eye to such matters, considering it as support for his aunt who had married far away.

But this year, Ji Yue and her husband had engaged in numerous reckless deeds, casting blame solely onto the Ji family.

Ji Min never did anything without a purpose.

Upon learning that the Li family would be attending his birthday banquet, he harbored intentions to give them a warning.

The scene that was about to unfold likely wouldn't be a pleasant one.

Yet now... Ji Min suddenly regretted his arrangement.

He lifted his head and discreetly glanced upstairs.

The windows upstairs were eerily silent.

After a moment's thought, Ji Min turned to Manager Chen and said,

"Go upstairs and check if he's awake. If he is, ask the kitchen to send whatever he fancies. Don't let him come down and see these unpleasant sights, or he might feel troubled again."

This time, Butler Chen didn't immediately agree.

Instead, he looked at Ji Min and asked, "Are you sure?"

Ji Min was taken aback by the question.

But he quickly recovered and sighed, saying, "Forget it. It depends on his mood."

He had initially stopped Lu Ran from coming down to prevent the child from being troubled.

Lu Ran was always obedient. If he said so, the teenager would stay quietly in his room.

However, it was inevitable for him to recall the treatment he received while at the Shen family's.

After all...

In the Shen family, he might have been repeatedly asked not to go out or participate in their social events.

"Then... instruct the kitchen to prepare more desserts," Ji Min said.

He recalled that Lu Ran had quite a fondness for cakes.

As he spoke, he lifted his gaze to glance at the Li family's trio who had just entered, his brows furrowing even more.

His temper was obviously rising but being held back.

Unbeknownst to himself, there was a subtle trace of concealed tension hidden between his brows.

Butler Chen smiled, his aged eyes seeming to see through everything.

He whispered,

"You're overthinking it, Young Master Lu Ran hasn't reached the stage of meeting your parents yet. Miss Ji Yue's family's inappropriate behavior won't affect his impression of you."

Ji Min: "...."

The corners of his eyes twitched as he tried to forcefully explain, "I wasn't thinking about that, I just didn't want the situation to become too awkward."

Butler Chen almost rolled his eyes on the spot.

You don't usually pay attention to this sort of thing.

"Go instruct the kitchen right away," Ji Min urged him again.

After Butler Chen left, Ji Min barely touched his utensils.

He realized that he might indeed be a bit nervous.

To be precise, ever since Lu Ran learned about his family affairs from his assistant, he had become somewhat preoccupied.

It wasn't just because of what Butler Chen had said.

In large families, there was always a mess of troublesome issues.

The Ji family wasn't much better off than the Shen family.

With such extensive holdings, their disputes could sometimes turn rather brutal.

He was in a wheelchair.

His illegitimate younger brother was sent to prison by him.

Not to mention the messy affairs from the previous generation.

Now, the only remaining aunt had come, seemingly carrying her own turmoil.

It was as if all the chaos and darkness hidden behind Ji Min was being exposed.

Living in such a family and becoming the ultimate winner, he couldn't possibly be the reliable elder or fantastically good boss that Lu Ran imagined.

On that day, the child asked him, "Did they bully you?"

Ji Min didn't give a direct answer.

Because...

Lu Ran might not understand that with his tactics, Ji Min was now the one doing the bullying.

Ji Min closed his eyes briefly.

For the first time, he hesitated about a decision he had already made.

Given that Lu Ran grew up in a family like the Shens, he must attach great importance to familial bonds.

Would he think Ji Min was similar to Shen Xingyu if he saw how he treated the Lis?

Though...

Perhaps Ji Min was far more ruthless than Shen Xingyu.

After a moment of hesitation, Ji Min eventually sighed.

Forget it, he'd talk about it another day.

As long as the Lis didn't overstep today, they could just have a peaceful meal together.

Ji Min's gaze remained subdued.

He heard the chair beside him being pulled out.

Turning his head, he saw that it was his aunt.

Ji Yue apologized to him, "Sorry, Xiao Min, we're a bit late."

Ji Min nodded, not holding it against her.

Ji Yue turned to pull her son over.

"Come and meet your cousin. Didn't you always call him 'cousin' when you were little?"

In front of Ji Min, the teenager finally managed to force a smile, saying, "Hello, Cousin."

However, his ability to hide his emotions was clearly lacking, as his gaze swept over Ji Min's wheelchair while speaking.

Ji Min had little patience for children other than Lu Ran, so he only responded indifferently.

At this moment, Ji Yue pulled out the chair and urged her son to sit down, "Come, sit next to your cousin."

Saying this, he even educated his son, "Your cousin has some physical limitations, so you should take good care of him."

Upon hearing this, the young man clearly appeared displeased.

Ji Min was equally unhappy.

He glanced at the chair beside him, his eyebrows twitching as he said, "Your seats are elsewhere."

At his words, everyone present, including Ji Yue, was taken aback.

Seats elsewhere.

That meant this seat wasn't reserved for them?

This...

Was there someone else whose position held more significance than Ji Yue's?

Ji Yue furrowed his brow.

Yet, she said, "You and your brother haven't seen each other in so many years. What's the problem with him sitting here?"

As she spoke, she tried to force her son to sit down.

Ji Min's dark eyes gazed over.

His gaze was intensely imposing, causing Ji Yue's smile to freeze instantly.

Her son didn't dare to sit either.

In the end, mother and son returned to their seats.

After retaking their places, Ji Yue's expression softened a bit.

She thought to herself that the rumors she had heard on the way seemed to be true.

Her wheelchair-bound nephew indeed seemed to have someone in his life.

Ji Yue found this somewhat intriguing.

She vaguely recalled that her nephew had never been an easy child to deal with when he was young.

By the time Ji Min was in his teens, in the eyes of their family, he was already considered settled.

Back then, there were eligible individuals from comparable backgrounds who persistently approached Old Master Ji, expressing their desire to stay at the Ji residence for a few days.

It was evident that they had taken a liking to Ji Min.

Yet, upon arrival, they didn't even catch a glimpse of him.

Whenever they occasionally spotted him, they would doggedly trail behind.

However, these attempts only served to infuriate Ji Min.

With a cold expression, he confronted the person, "Why do you keep staying at my house? Don't you have a home of your own?"

His words left the person in tears.

The following day, that person hurriedly left.

Later on, when something happened to Ji Min, his demeanor became even colder.

Given his condition, no one dared approach him anymore.

Now, it was unknown... who had the capability to do so.

Ji Min barely touched his chopsticks over there.

The brief disturbance caused by the arrival of the Li family trio quickly subsided, and the banquet proceeded as usual.

Midway through the meal, Ji Yue's son inexplicably flew into a rage, throwing down his chopsticks:

"I said I'm not eating!"

Ji Yue frowned and pulled her son aside, whispering, "Have you forgotten what Mother taught you before we came?"

Upon hearing this, her son suddenly erupted:

"Enough already! If it weren't for you saying that everything from the Ji family would be mine after he was gone, I wouldn't be here!"

The nascent baritone of the young man carried exceptionally well.

Upon hearing this, the initially tranquil banquet atmosphere turned awkward all at once.

Some couldn't resist casting glances at Ji Min.

There he was, leaning back on his wheelchair with his fingers caressing the remote control on the armrest. Upon hearing such malicious words, a slight upward curve formed on the corner of his lips.

Ji Yue felt slightly embarrassed too.

She muttered to herself that this child had been spoiled rotten by his father.

Though it was the truth—since Ji Min was now disabled and wouldn't have any offspring, nor did he have any other relatives, everything would eventually fall into their hands after a hundred years—how could one say such things out loud?

She didn't apply much force, but still pinched her son's ear and scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting? Go apologize to your cousin right now!"

Ji Yue carried her son to stand before Ji Min, reprimanding him with a measured tone:

"He's only fifteen, children can't always express themselves well. Xiao Min, don't be like him."

"Mfifteen?" Ji Min picked up the glass of water on the table and sipped it.

He lifted his gaze to look at Ji Yue and asked, "Do you remember what I was doing when I was fifteen?"

But as soon as he said that, something seemed to cross his mind, causing him to lower his eyes and say,

"Never mind, just take care of your son."

For Ji Min to utter such words was already an extraordinary display of tolerance.

Ji Yue thought to herself, indeed, after one becomes disabled, familial bonds become more cherished.

Seeing this, she pressed on, nudging her son again and saying, "Quickly, offer your cousin a glass of wine as an apology."

To her surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, her son slapped away her hand and cursed:

"I refuse to apologize to this cripple!"

The statement hung in the air, casting an absolute silence across the courtyard.

Only Ji Yue's son continued to protest, "Did I say anything wrong?"

Pointing at Ji Min, he added, "Dad told me you'll be good for nothing your entire life! You'll have to rely on me when you're old!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Min found it rather amusing. He even smiled and said, "You're right. Carry on."

Ji Yue couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine upon seeing Ji Min's reaction. But he quickly regained his composure.

He was now Ji Min's only family.

She is well-aware of her own worth.

Ji Min was just about to say something.

Suddenly, the door to the balcony near the inner courtyard swung open.

A tousled-haired youth, rubbing sleep from his eyes, emerged from the sunroom.

His sudden appearance captured the attention of everyone, unable to resist turning their gazes in his direction.

There he was, wearing a slightly loose sweater and slippers on his feet.

His face still wore an appearance of being half-asleep.

This tender and vulnerable appearance was somewhat incongruous with the entire elite banquet, not to mention the serious atmosphere of the Ji residence.

Yet, in that instant, it softened the icy, menacing aura of the man sitting in the wheelchair.

Thus it was that the assembly heard Ji Min, who but moments ago had been coldly laughing as though ready to slay, now addressing the young man in a none-too-pleasant tone.

"Are you finally awake? Don't you know the time?"

The tone was scolding, yet it tingled with affection.

"Mm..."

Lu Ran acknowledged with a murmur, slowly descending the stairs.

Upon seeing this, everyone understood the situation.

No wonder they hadn't seen this person...

It turns out... they overslept?

Ji Min reached out to pull a chair aside and waved her hand, wanting Ji Yue to take her bear-like son away quickly.

But the moment the child caught sight of Lu Ran, he perked up.

He walked straight over and blurted out, "You're that cripple..."

He spoke only a single word.

There, before him stood the youth not much older than himself, who only moments ago had been rubbing his eyes with an expression of tender softness, now suddenly fixing his gaze upon him.

The very next moment, the youth seized his hair and delivered a resounding slap across his face.

Finishing his strike, he couldn't help but yawn and say, "Scram."

Chapter 172 - Harvest

In the valley, the group of young boys, inspired by Shen Jin's hunting expeditions, after their customary morning reading, rushed home to retrieve their bows and arrows, gathering in a small clearing on the inner side of the valley to engage in lively play.

With Xu Wenqing and Xu Wenhong joining in, Wang Yunzheng and his companions, who normally studied together for an additional hour each day, also accompanied them to practice archery.

Sang Luo, with nothing better to do, practiced calligraphy at home using stone slabs. Xu Wenying and Shen Ning joined her, much to Wei Lingzhen's delight. She didn't disturb them and instead shared with Grandma Xu, "Having a good neighbor is truly invaluable. Wenying has never been so focused at home before."

Grandma Xu laughed, replying, "You haven't seen Yunzheng and Xiao An; they're just as competitive. Even Wenbo feels embarrassed to slack off with them around."

In this valley, all the children read books, but the most diligent were actually her two children and Shen An, along with Ah Xi, the son of Lu Erlang. He was always eager to follow Shen An and his friends, reading under trees and then joining them at their homes or the Shen family's for more. Despite his young age and slower progress, he didn't question the meaning, simply following along with the readings.

Hearing that her son was making progress, Wei Lingzhen's eyes crinkled with a smile, saying, "Improvement is great, but unfortunately, neither Wenqing nor Wenhong have their hearts in it."

Grandma Xu took it in stride, responding, "It's alright if their hearts aren't in it. As long as they can read, write, and handle accounts, learning business from their father is the same. Back then, Yuan Chang didn't have the time to teach them, but now he does. Let them study solidly here in the mountains. If they learn well, they won't worry about prospects when the world outside becomes peaceful. Apart from Yunzheng, who might have some hope, for families like ours, there's not much else to aspire to."

In this era, one could strive from poverty to modest wealth, but truly transcending social classes was extremely challenging. Entry into certain strata required consideration of one's background and origins. Merely reading and hoping to rise? How easy was that? Generations upon generations had followed this pattern, and the old lady didn't harbor unrealistic expectations. She merely wanted her children to read to understand their nature, broaden their knowledge, and develop their abilities. Beyond that, there was no need to indulge in vain hopes.

Wei Lingzhen nodded, then remembered something, adding, "I've noticed that Yunzheng seems much more cheerful now, often smiling and chatting."

Mrs. Xu chuckled. "We brought this child along for a reason. Although life in the valley is humble, the people here are sincere and warm-hearted. They also teach their children well. He interacts with such folks every day. How could he not be happy? Isn't this much better than being surrounded by those cunning and deceitful people?"

Wei Lingzhen felt reassured. "If he stays here for a few years, he'll have the ability to protect himself when he leaves. If your little sister knew, she would rest in peace."

Speaking of the Wang family, she couldn't help but worry about her own parents and their former master's safety. However, it was all just futile worrying since they were far away, and there was nothing they could do. As Mrs. Xu put it, "Everyone has their own destiny. Eldest Master Wang is resourceful; he might be able to protect his family. It's you girls who have truly been fortunate to escape with your lives."

Indeed, they had been fortunate.

It was all due to the characters of Shen Lie and Chen Dashan.

...

The mist in the valley lingered until late in the morning, even in the height of summer. It was only after the third hour of the day that sunlight finally broke through. Sensing the shift in light, Sangluo turned her head and her brows relaxed. She put down her brush and called out to Shen Ning, "Anning, come help me move the drying racks. We need to spread out half a bag of grain to dry."

Xu Wenying also caught on, "I'll go tell my mother and grandmother to do the same with our grains."

Grains stored in the mountain caves were prone to dampness. Since they had introduced bamboo to weave baskets and construct drying racks, every family would take advantage of sunny days to air out their grains.

While the families in Cloud Valley were busy drying their grains, Shen Lie, accompanied by Shen Jin, was setting traps, picking wild vegetables, and foraging for mushrooms outside. On a few occasions, they spotted flocks of wild chickens. Everyone immediately reached for their bows and arrows, but Shen Jin, being young and still transitioning from slingshots to archery, wasn't quite skilled enough. As a result, Shen Lie, Chen Dashan, Lu ErLang, and Lu SanLang all made successful catches, while Shi Da and Shi Er, as well as Shen Jin, came back empty-handed.

Shi Da was unable to use a bow, and Shi Er's archery skills were inferior to Lu Sanlang's. Their occasional successes came from traps, and if they happened upon a wild animal in close combat, they would also share in the spoils. The brothers had a very relaxed attitude, watching with smiles as Shen Lie and the others retrieved the pheasants.

Each bamboo arrow had a distinctive mark, making it clear who had shot it.

Around mid-morning, as they walked along, Shen Lie raised his hand to signal for them to stop and listened attentively.

Chen Dashan was well familiar with this reaction and followed suit, listening carefully. After a while, he realized, "Water?"

Shen Lie chuckled and gestured to the group, "Let's go."

Both humans and animals need water. Finding a water source was the easiest way to track animals. As they proceeded slowly, they examined the ground closely for signs.

It was a mountain stream. Shen Lie spotted chewed grass and disturbed soil not far from it, and after noticing several hoof prints, he confirmed, "Wild boars, quite a few of them."

He halted and said, "Withdraw. Don't leave any traces here. We'll come back in the afternoon."

Shen Jin was somewhat perplexed, but Shen Lie was willing to teach him, "Wild boars are more active in the evenings. It's unlikely we'll encounter them now. If we stay too long, our scent and tracks will give us away. It's better to return later and set up an ambush."

The group quickly retreated from the area, taking a detour that led them to catch a few rabbits. Of course, Shen Lie was most delighted to find the torchwort that Sang Luo desired.

This item was essential for every household. Apart from using it as wicks for lamps and stuffing for pillows, it was also great for weaving mats. Even Shen Jin, who was still a young lad, knew this well. He had been slicing away vigorously, and each of the adults carried a large bundle on their shoulders.

There was no need to linger any longer. The baskets were half-filled, and with so much rush grass to carry, they couldn't take anything else from the forest. After Shen Lie and the others set a few more traps in suitable locations, they began their return journey.

Shen Jin appeared somewhat dispirited; he hadn't made any catches during this trip.

However, he understood that this was normal. It had always been like this before. A trap might not yield any results on the same day it was set. Thankfully, there were still wild vegetables to collect.

Shen Jin's harvested rush grass was taken over by Shen Lie, so he continued gathering wild vegetables along the way. He even picked grass that could feed chickens and ducks. Occasionally, when he spotted raspberries, he would carefully wrap them in leaves and fill his basket to the brim.

Chen Dashan and the others looked on with smiles in their eyes.

Among the group, only Shen Jin, Shi Er, and Lu San seemed oblivious to the fact that although Shen Lie had ventured into a new area, he had actually deliberately chosen a region without any fierce beasts based on the tracks he found. In essence, he was looking out for Shen Jin.

The skinny child, although slightly stronger than his two younger brothers, was still limited in his abilities. However, due to the awkward situation involving Shen San and Li Shi, the three siblings were in a difficult position, especially the more mature Shen Jin. Didn't he beam with joy when he learned they could leave the valley that morning, clutching his bow and arrows?

For Shen Jin, being able to support himself and his younger brothers was something he desperately wanted to prove.

Thus, Chen Dashan and the others were more than happy to accompany him. When Shen Lie taught Shen Jin, he didn't hold back. Liu Sanlang and Shi Erlang could learn from the lessons, and even Shi Dalang and Lu Erlang occasionally benefited.

The return journey took nearly two hours. Fortunately, it seemed that this area was truly secluded, with its dense forest uninhabited by humans. Both large and small animals didn't exhibit much wariness towards people, let alone traps. Out of the dozen or so traps they had set in the morning, three had successfully ensnared wild fowl, one of which belonged to Shen Jin.

Upon seeing the wild chicken, he was overjoyed to the point of almost pouncing on it.

By the end of noon, they returned to Yun Valley. Sang Luo had just woken up from her nap. Hearing the soft whispers of the children, she opened her eyes, refreshed her senses, and then remembered it was already midday. She sat halfway up, lifting the curtain. Shen Lie had just reached the platform, preparing to place his weapons on the rack. Their eyes met at that very moment.

"Did we wake you up?"

Sang Luo shook her head. "I should be up anyway. You've just come back?"

She got up to fold the bedding and soon came downstairs. Sitting on the edge of the dais, she put on her shoes. Seeing several large bundles of rush lights placed by the entrance of the cave, her eyes brightened. "You really found this?"

Cattail grass, also known as Scirpus grass, is exceptionally fine for weaving mats. The bed she and Shen Ning now sleep in is slightly smaller than their previous one, hence the original mat no longer fits it well.

Shen Lie chuckled. "I found it, but I haven't picked the wormwood yet. The patch where I previously harvested fresh wormwood is too close to our valley. I don't want to leave any traces around the area, so I didn't go there to cut it. I'll search for another spot tomorrow."

Sangluo had no objections. She put on her shoes and walked out. Before she could reach the entrance of the cave, Shen Jin came in with a bamboo basket in his arms. Upon seeing that Sangluo was up, his eyes lit up.

"Sister-in-law, I picked some raspberries. They're incredibly sweet. Would you like to try some?" As she spoke, she lifted the bamboo basket slightly, revealing about two or three handfuls of freshly washed berries.

Sang Luo plucked one and tasted it - sour yet sweet, invigorating her senses. She smiled and picked two more before saying, "They're quite sweet. I'll have a few, and the rest you kids can enjoy."

Seeing her eat, Shen Jin was delighted but refrained from asking for more. Instead, he took a bowl to gather the raspberries, filling it halfway, then placed it on the table, saying, "If Big Sister wants more, just take them."

Shen Lie glanced at the scene, chuckled, and carried the rushes outside to the empty cave where Shen Jin and his brothers lived. The rushes needed to be dried for seven days before weaving mats. Since the outdoor drying racks were occupied with grain, it would be more convenient to dry them near the entrance of the upper cave.

Outside, Shen An, Shen Ning, Shen Yin, and Shen Tie were sorting items from the baskets. When Sang Luo approached, Shen Ning joked, "Big Sister, Little Jin gathered lots of wild vegetables and even harvested half a basket of grass to feed our chickens and ducks."

Their valley had been cultivated with vegetables wherever possible, leaving only a space for everyone's activities. Initially, they had cleared the grass due to snake concerns, but later transplanted some for the poultry. However, it was insufficient. Thus, Shen Ning, who oversaw the chickens and ducks daily, was genuinely pleased to see the half basket of grass.

Shen An, on the other hand, was envious. "Little Jin caught a pheasant."

Sang Luo examined it closely. "It's still alive? Then trim its wings and build a small coop. We can enjoy mountain eggs in the future."

Upon hearing this, Shen Jin said, "Big Sister, I've set many traps. Today, Big Brother shot three pheasants. They weren't alive, so we couldn't keep them. This one, we'll raise until the others are consumed. If I catch more, I'll continue to rear them."

Sang Luo looked at him, understanding his intention to repay their help. She then observed the grass for the poultry and the large basket of wild vegetables, a smile tugging at her lips. Seeing that Shen Jin wasn't forcing himself, she remarked, "Your brother is skilled in hunting, so we don't lack food. Your thoughtfulness is enough. However, your idea is good. Here's a suggestion: Keep the chicken first. After a few days, when you have five, give one to each grandparent, uncle, and aunt who have helped you. You don't need to send them every time you hunt, but since we all support each other in this valley, sharing your first hunting catch with everyone shows your gratitude."

"Today, we don't have enough pheasants. Later, you take Little Silver and Little Iron to deliver two bundles of wild vegetables to a family. It's the thought that counts, not the gift itself."

Children had it tough, and if Sang Luo hadn't been willing to push the matter, she might not have said anything. However, since Shen Jin himself was mindful, she was more than happy to guide him.

Shen Jin took her words to heart. He remembered saying to Madam Xu on the day he was rescued by the Xu family that he would catch mountain chickens in the future so everyone could enjoy chicken soup.

Although he had been promptly picked up by his elder brother and Big Mountain upon escaping and didn't get the chance to catch any mountain chickens himself, Shen Jin still remembered his promise. Hearing Sang Luo's suggestion, he nodded eagerly. "Alright, I'll prepare the wild vegetables and bring Little Silver and Little Iron along."

Jin An and Jin Ning chuckled nearby and offered their help, sorting through the vegetables and binding them into neat bundles with grass ropes.

Since there wasn't much to do, Sang Luo didn't join in. Instead, she went outside to inspect the grain and examined the three wild chickens that Shen Lie had brought back. She called Jin Ning to heat water, preparing to clean and process the birds later. One would be preserved as smoked chicken, while the other two would be cooked for immediate consumption.

With seven people, and Shen Lie having quite an appetite, Sang Luo decided to remove the chicken breasts and legs to make fried chicken cutlets. Since they would be focusing more on meat-based meals, experimenting with chicken and pork cutlets seemed like a good idea.

However, looking at the clay pot at home, she knew it wouldn't last long if used frequently for frying various meat cuts.

When Shen Lie came down from the small cave above, Sang Luo called out to him, "Would you accompany me on a trip outside?"

Of course, 'going outside' referred to leaving the valley.

Without inquiring about the specifics, Shen Lie agreed readily and then asked, "Are you looking for something?"

Sang Luo nodded. "I want to search the mountain stream we visited before to see if there are any hard, heat-resistant stones suitable for roasting meat without cracking."

This area was abundant with towering peaks and beautiful rocks, so there was no shortage of various types of stones. Sang Luo had seen plenty of granite in the valleys, but they were quite large. She couldn't possibly carve one out on the spot. Previously, when she went out with Shen Lie, they encountered mountain streams. Therefore, she decided to look for suitable stones there.

Upon hearing 'roast meat,' Shen Lie understood. Although he didn't comprehend why one would need a stone for roasting meat when skewering it on branches would suffice, there was nothing to argue about since Sang Luo wanted to go out.

"So, we leave now?"

Sang Luo nodded. Entrusting the chicken butchering task to Shen An and Shen Ning, she fetched an empty basket and prepared to head out.

Shen Lie fetched his weapons and ropes, took the basket from her, and watched as she securely fastened the rope around herself. After ensuring that everything was in order, he led the other end of the rope into the cave first, allowing her to follow.

Sang Luo had accompanied Shen Lie on many trips out of the mountains. Now, climbing up no longer made her legs tremble. Shen Lie's rope was merely a precautionary measure. However, as they reached the last two steps, the steepness of the peak caused Shen Lie to instinctively reach out and pull Sang Luo up.

Sang Luo didn't overthink it. Those final steps were indeed challenging. As for Shen Lie, he almost pulled her into an embrace. Fortunately, he retreated quickly enough, but not before experiencing a tingling sensation in his fingertips and a racing heartbeat.

Chapter 126: Complicated

The puppet inhabited by Wen Ying was taken away by the devil from the academy. His physical body walked to the bed and laid down.

This feeling was truly magical. When he saw the scene before his eyes, another image appeared in his mind simultaneously, yet they didn't conflict with each other. He could control both entities at his will.

Aluda found it amusing to see Wen Ying's eyes still wide open and said, "Go to sleep quickly. Otherwise, you'll suffer twice during spatial transfer."

Wen Ying: "!" His physical body instantly closed its eyes, preparing to fall asleep.

On the other side, the part of Wen Ying's consciousness in the doll tried to move its hands. This cotton doll's body was very light, but moving it required more effort than his physical body.

As Wen Ying attempted to move this avatar, he soon saw many cotton dolls that resembled his classmates. They gathered together, creating a rather... comical scene.

Lai Yehua placed these cotton dolls in a room with a magic array drawn on the floor. The corners of the room reeked of a strong scent of blood, as several powerful devils were bleeding. Their blood was absorbed by the magic array on the ground, turning the entire pattern bloody.

Many magic stones filled with rich mana were also placed in the room, almost making the space burst with mana.

Mysterious and enchanting chanting sounded in his ears. Wen Ying felt his "body" so light that he almost floated up. He was indeed suspended in the air. Before he could figure out what was happening, he was suddenly thrown into a spinning washing machine, colliding fiercely, making him nauseous and unable to think straight.

Regaining consciousness, Wen Ying struggled to open his eyes, only to see a vast blue sky and familiar skyscrapers nearby. Attempting to sit up, he discovered that his body was completely unresponsive, as if paralyzed, with only his brain functioning.

Wen Ying was startled but quickly realized the situation. He needed to find a human to form a karma contract with him in order to move freely. Sensing the power within his body, he empathized with Beros' frustration, for his strength had significantly diminished.

Unable to move, speak, or even turn his head, Wen Ying was unsure of his current location in this lifeless doll-like form.

After a long wait, Wen Ying began to ponder a question:

Could the Demon King be playing a trick on them?

How could they attract humans and convince them to form a karma contract when they couldn't move or speak? Wen Ying felt deceived by the Demon King.

As night fell, Wen Ying still lay alone on the ground, contemplating if there had been an issue during his teleportation to the human world.

Suddenly, he sensed an unfamiliar mental vibration. Jerking alert, he extended his own mental energy to investigate this unexpected presence.

He finally understood the method of attracting humans. Those with innate abilities emit mental vibrations. Now, his task was to seduce this human to take him back... It was a bitter pill to swallow.

Soon, the face of a young man appeared in Wen Ying's line of sight. Despite his youth, his eyes held a weathered look, devoid of any naive foolishness.

"Young man, I can grant you one wish."

Yang Rixi, who had stumbled upon this spot in a daze, was startled by the pleasant male voice. It was late at night, and there was nobody around him!

A ghost? ! Yang Rixi took off running.

Wen Ying: "…"

"Come back! I'm not a ghost! I'm a demon! I can grant your wish!"

Yang Rixi ran even faster.

Wen Ying: "…"

Wen Ying suddenly felt troubled. Could it be that he had become the unlucky soul they joked about earlier? He had heard stories of Aladdin's magic lamp before, but never expected to play the role of the genie himself. What if the person he encountered thought he was an evil spirit lurking inside a bottle?

After a while, Wen Ying encountered another talented human. He cautiously tried to lure the person closer, only for them to scream and flee once again.

Given how easy it was to be mistaken for a ghost at night, Wen Ying decided to wait until morning to attempt any further interaction. However, much to his surprise, the first person who had fled in panic returned in the dead of night.

He was lifted by the person's hand, whose eyes were red-rimmed and tear-stained, indicating recent weeping.

Wen Ying felt a spark of excitement, thinking there was potential here. He spoke in a very gentle tone, "Hello friend, I'm an intern demon, freshly graduated from Demon School."

"I mean no harm. As a new graduate, I'm just an intern demon without significant power, so nobody wants me. I have no contractor, and without a source of magic, I'm starving."

Wen Ying noticed that when the young man mentioned "no significant power," his grip on his hand tightened abruptly. After a moment of contemplation, he altered his intended words.

"I can grant you one wish, but being weak, my capabilities are limited."

The young man spoke slowly, his voice still a bit choked from his recent crying, "I want the people around me to like me."

As a Magic Mirror Demon, this wish was a bit tricky for him to fulfill. He would be more suitable as a contractor for Essence.

"Too many people won't work. Is there a specific target?"

"There is," anticipation laced the young boy's voice, tinged with fear, "I want my biological parents and adoptive parents to like me... If possible, I also want my biological brother and my non-blood-related brother to like me."

Wen Ying: "???" This teenager's family dynamics seemed complicated. Hopefully, it wasn't what he was imagining.

Chapter 89: Applying Medicine

Ji Min glanced again at the red mark on Lu Ran's neck.

With a questioning tone, he uttered, "Pinched?"

"Exactly!"

As Lu Ran confirmed, he pulled down his collar to show Ji Min.

With his movement, a small patch of creamy-white skin on his neck became exposed.

Ji Min hurriedly averted his head.

The youth leaned in so close that he could almost discern the warmth emanating from that small patch of skin.

The man instinctively retreated, distancing himself slightly.

But behind him was the backrest of the wheelchair, offering no escape.

Before him, the young man still furrowed his brow, his face a portrait of consternation as he said, "I've watched online tutorials, but this is quite challenging. If it's not done properly, it'll be obvious at a glance that it's fake."

Saying this, a hint of pride surfaced on his face.

He raised his chin and said, "But I'm very clever. I started practicing from the bottom up. That way, when I look up, all that's visible will be perfect results!"

From his tone, it seemed as if he wasn't pretending to have any love bites.

He was, in fact, diligently conducting experiments in the laboratory.

It seemed to stem from a mixture of triumphant delight and the eagerness to impress their superior.

He moved even closer, tilting his neck up for Ji Min to see.

Yet, the man in the wheelchair seemed to have his gaze glued to the patterns on the soft-glowing floor tiles.

His back was also firmly pressed against the wheelchair.

Only upon catching the scent of citrus-infused bath gel on the youth did his Adam's apple subtly quiver in restraint.

Lu Ran continued, "Boss, do you want me to add a few more for you?"

Ji Min replied, "..."

He thought to himself, Those are love bites, not chickenpox. Why would he need a few more...

Seeing that Ji Min didn't respond, Lu Ran quickly explained, "Don't worry, I've become quite skilled at it now. I won't hurt your skin."

Upon hearing this, Ji Min's brow subtly knitted together.

He turned his head, and at last, with the corner of his gaze, bestowed upon the youth beside him a fleeting glance that barely scratched the surface.

Lu Ran had already released his grip on the collar.

Yet, the collar of the round-neck sweater had not fully retreated, leaving a small patch of skin around his collarbone exposed.

Upon that small patch of skin, there were still some slightly swollen love bites concealed beneath the collar.

Ji Min's gaze flickered slightly, dispersing all those inappropriate thoughts that had occupied his mind.

He furrowed his brow and leaned in closer, his fingertips delicately pinching the collar of the youth's garment, gently tugging it apart.

Visible beneath the collar were even more signs of "practicing."

Some were merely swollen, or bore obvious nail marks.

Some of them even had broken skin.

Presumably, it was from getting water on the wound during his morning bath, and the scab hadn't even formed yet.

It was rather startling against the previously healthy and unblemished skin.

Ji Min's brows were knitted tightly together.

He glanced at the child, his tone somewhat sharp, "Why did you do this?"

"Huh?"

Confused by Ji Min's anger, Lu Ran straightened his collar and tried to clarify innocently, "Isn't it your birthday soon?"

His reasoning was sound:

"There will be many people coming on your birthday. Think about it, since I'm currently living with you, I should put on a show, right?"

Ji Min: "..."

He was speechless, suddenly feeling a mix of irritation and frustration.

The one who was angered was not Lu Ran.

But rather, it was the version of himself who could only retain the youth by resorting to such a pretense of "work."

The collar slipped back, rubbing against the wound.

Unable to resist, Lu Ran tugged again.

Ji Min reaches out to help him adjust it properly.

He gazed intently at the wounds on the youth's body, his voice weighted with concern, "That still doesn't warrant your doing something like this."

There was a tiny wound, adhered to the fabric of his clothing due to the exuded tissue fluid.

Ji Min extended a fingertip, yearning to make contact.

But in the very instant when his fingertip was poised to touch the youth's skin, he drew it back.

The man's eyebrows were deeply furrowed.

His expression was deadly serious, as if the marks on Lu Ran's body were not bruises but horrifying knife wounds.

Lu Ran found it rather peculiar.

He tilted his head to observe for a while and, unable to resist, leaned in closer to inspect Ji Min's eyes.

"What are you looking at?" Ji Min retorted irritably.

Once again, he extended his finger, gently pressing against the youth's brow, before softly guiding him back.

Lu Ran chuckled at him and said, "Boss, it doesn't hurt."

Ji Min had no intention of listening to his nonsense and turned to seek out Manager Chen instead.

Upon turning back, I found Manager Chen was unexpectedly nowhere to be seen.

"Trust me, it doesn't hurt at all," Lu Ran assured.

Ji Min ignored him, frowning as he called out, "Uncle Chen, bring the first-aid kit."

"I dare you to try it," Lu Ran challenged.

As he spoke, he reached out and pinched the man's neck as well.

"..."

Ji Min, who was turning his head to call for help, was caught off guard and received a direct pinch.

It wasn't particularly painful.

However, the area where he was pinched soon turned red.

Ji Min's skin was even fairer.

It was a paleness that came from being shielded from sunlight all year round.

Even the color of his blood seemed a shade darker than normal people's.

Yet, this made the red mark on Ji Min's neck stand out even more prominently.

After Lu Ran finished pinching, he exclaimed, "Woah."

Unable to resist, he leaned in for a closer look. "Boss, this mark on your neck is so perfect!"

As he spoke, he took out his phone and used its camera as a mirror to show Ji Min.

CEO Ji, who now had an inexplicable love bite on his neck, "..."]

He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, saying, "Behave yourself."

The butler Chen, who had rushed over with the first-aid kit, was speechless.

He had only just stepped away for a moment before returning to find a love bite on his employer's neck.

And then he heard Ji Min snarling at Lu Ran to behave himself.

Well, well.

It seemed that his decision to step aside earlier had been a wise one.

Ji Min was furious.

He slammed the first-aid kit onto the table and pointed at the butler, "You go and apply the medicine for him."

Butler Chen hesitantly approached and opened the kit.

Sure enough, Ji Min spoke up again, "Let him do it himself."

Butler Chen smiled as he prepared the iodine and cotton swabs, placing them in front of Lu Ran before stepping aside and standing obediently like a mural.

Lu Ran thought to himself that the rich really were particular.

He picked up a cotton swab and, looking into the mirror, carefully applied the medicine to his wound.

Not wanting to soil his shirt collar, he was meticulous with his movements.

Ji Min watched for a while before he couldn't bear to look anymore.

He exhaled slowly. "Forget it, come here. I'll apply it for you."

Lu Ran handed him the cotton swab, not forgetting to instruct, "Remember to apply it in a circular motion from the inside out."

Ji Min remained silent, not uttering a single word.

With a cotton swab soaked in medicine between his fingers, he cautiously approached Lu Ran's wound.

For fear of soiling his clothes, the youth tugged his collar open quite wide.

Everything that should and shouldn't be revealed was exposed.

Ji Min pressed his lips together.

The moment the cotton swab touched Lu Ran's skin, his usually steady hand trembled, causing him to suddenly withdraw it.

The man's anger was inexplicable.

He crumpled the cotton swab in his hand and threw it into the trash can, his ears turning red with frustration.

Perhaps it wasn't anger.

He gazed out the window for a long moment, then his gaze began to roam around the room.

Ji Min's gaze swept across Butler Chen.

Butler Chen maintained an air of nonchalance, pretending that I was completely invisible.

After surveying the scene for a moment, Ji Min's gaze returned to the young man by the table, who remained utterly perplexed.

After a long pause, he said, "Apply it under my guidance."

In an instant, Ji Min found himself on the receiving end of Lu Ran's quizzical gaze.

Lu Ran gave him a withering glare.

He simply shrugged off his sweater, dipped two or three cotton swabs into iodine, and casually swiped them over the wound.

"Alright, it's settled."

Finished with the task, Lu Ran slipped on his clothes.

When he emerged from the collar of his shirt, he found that the man who had been sitting across from him had vanished.

He turned around, searching for him, and eventually discovered that the man had, at some point, moved outside to the corridor.

He was bent over, seemingly engrossed in the lawn within the research institute's grounds.

Lu Ran stuffed two more steamed buns into his mouth before approaching.

At that moment, Ji Min's assistant entered.

He bowed slightly towards Ji Min and then greeted Lu Ran.

Just as he was about to speak, he caught sight of something on Ji Min's neck, causing his jaw to twitch uncontrollably.

"Mr. Ji, Mr. Ji, Mr. Jiii..."

"What's wrong with me?" Ji Min interrupted him impatiently.

Despite himself, he reached up to adjust his collar.

The assistant chuckled awkwardly before continuing, "I've informed all the guests on the list. However, Mrs. Li from the Li family said they might be late and asked if it would be possible to postpone the banquet..."

Lu Ran was somewhat surprised by this.

He couldn't resist asking, "Isn't a birthday only one day? How can you postpone it?"

The assistant felt a bit embarrassed too.

If anyone else had inquired about this, he wouldn't have mentioned it to Ji Min.

But Madam Li was Ji Min's own aunt.

She was also the late Mr. Ji's most beloved daughter from his later years.

Upon careful consideration, although the Ji family was vast and prosperous, most of them were distant relatives.

Now, the only person in the Ji family who shared a blood tie with Ji Min was this aunt.

Ji Min remained composed and said, "Inform the Li family that they don't need to come if they can't make it."

The assistant acknowledged.

After a moment's thought, he added, "The individual in prison has requested another call with you."

This time, Ji Min smiled slightly but didn't comment.

The assistant understood his unspoken meaning.

The assistant merely conveyed, "A few days ago, the prison guards contacted me, saying that his leg is broken. He probably wants to get in touch with you because of this."

Ji Min replied nonchalantly, "There's no need to make a fuss about it. Everything will follow the proper procedure."

His tone was so calm that it dispelled the playful thoughts that had arisen in the assistant's mind when they saw the love bite earlier.

Back when the Ji family seized power, it had caused a bloodbath.

Ji Min had been betrayed and ended up in a wheelchair at a young age.

Yù——xī——zhèng——lì——

But after that incident, Ji Min had only sent his illegitimate younger brother, who had tampered with his car, to prison.

For all these years, there hadn't been any additional hardships imposed on him.

However, who could have known that years later, the man would suddenly break his leg while inside.

The assistant assumed it must have been an accident while operating a sewing machine.

Ji Min arranged a few more matters, and his assistant subsequently left.

Lu Ran, listening by the side, was utterly confused.

However, he was sharp in certain areas, so he turned to Ji Min and asked, "Don't you have a good relationship with your aunt?"

"It's okay," Ji Min replied.

Lu Ran pondered for a moment before phrasing his question differently.

He bent down to examine Ji Min's eyes closely and asked, "Did they bully you?"

Ji Min was taken aback, then found the situation rather amusing.

"No one bullied me," he turned his head to look at the young man, "But there is someone who frustrates me to no end every day."

"Who's that?" Lu Ran inquired.

His question was posed with an unsettling openness.

So composed that Ji Min was left speechless for quite some time.

Well, it seemed the boy genuinely had no idea how irritating he could be.

Ji Min's birthday party arrived quickly.

The day before, Lu Ran was eagerly preparing to seize the opportunity to make a big move and further his "work."

But on Ji Min's birthday, he overslept.

The courtyard was already decorated.

After breakfast, Ji Min waited a long while for Lu Ran to come downstairs, but to no avail.

He went upstairs and rolled his wheelchair toward Lu Ran's room with the remote control.

Lu Ran had been living there for a while.

However, apart from the one time he called Doctor Kemler over, Ji Min hadn't visited again.

They lived on the same floor but resided on opposite sides.

An elevator shaft and stairwell acted as a dividing line, akin to the Chu-Han Contention in history, or perhaps a boundary that one man had drawn in his heart, a line he never dared to cross.

At least, not at night.

Now, Ji Min maneuvered his wheelchair forward with a remote control.

The corridor was slightly dim, so he instructed the butler Chen to draw back all the curtains.

As large swaths of sunlight flooded in, eradicating any trace of darkness, Ji Min made his way toward Lu Ran's room.

Ji Min asked the butler by his side, "What time did he return last night?"

"Somewhere around two in the morning," the butler Chen replied.

Ji Min furrowed his brow. "What's going on with their school? How can they allow someone to stay in a lab for so long?"

As they spoke, they arrived at Lu Ran's door.

Without hesitation, Ji Min knocked on it.

However, as he did, the door creaked open slightly.

The man standing outside was momentarily stunned.

After a moment, he turned to the butler and asked, "Does he sleep with the door unlocked?"

Butler Chen shrugged in response.

And so, Ji Min paused just outside the door.

He raised a hand to massage his forehead before voicing his grievance to Chen, "How can he not close the door?"

"Perhaps I was too exhausted from last night's return," Butler Chen replied nonchalantly.

Thinking to myself, only you would be so concerned about whether or not someone else's child has locked their door at night.

"The door to his inner bedroom is surely locked," Ji Min said.

Only to find upon entering that the door to the inner bedroom was wide open.

Even from a distance, one could discern the figure of the youth reclining on the bed.

Ji Min: "..."

He took a deep breath, suddenly feeling a sense of discontent.

How could this kid be so insensitive?

Did he really treat him as an elder?

Chapter 88: Station 23: Opium

Ming Yiyang almost believed that Yan Qiling was basking not in the cold moonlight but under a warm midday sun on his lounge chair.

However, looking at him like this stirred up a strange, overwhelming, and indigestible emotion within him.

It was akin to the feeling he had when his father, upon his stepmother's suggestion, left him to be raised by the local chieftain, creating a tiny unreachable and intangible shadow in the depths of his heart.

Yet, this sensation was different.

Its source came from the outside world.

It was a shadow grown for another person.

Ming Yiyang wished to take the cigarette resting on the blue tiles, unusually thin and swaying gently in the breeze.

But with just a word from Yan Qiling, he lost the strength to reach out, instead focusing intently on the cold words that spilled from the man's lips.

The words flowed calmly, as if they had been smoothed out by a paperweight:

"My mother is an innocent woman. Born into a wealthy family, she never had to lift a finger her entire life. After marrying my father, she didn't experience any significant hardships."

"My father is cautious and perceptive. Under his stewardship, our family's business flourished like never before. Thus, my mother never had to worry about finances. Moreover, due to his integrity, he never took a concubine within the inner courtyard. Therefore, when it came to matters of affection, my mother never had to compete with anyone else."

He paused in his narration, his tone detached as if annotating a passage in a book:

"In the eyes of outsiders, they devoted themselves to loving each other wholeheartedly. Such a relationship would still be enviable even in today's world."

"There are gossipers who believe it was my mother's beauty that ensnared my father. They curse her for captivating him with her looks, expecting their bond to be fleeting. Or they secretly mock my father for his shortsightedness, lured as he was by mere external beauty and willing to forsake the world outside."

"I was one of the few closest to them."

With a nostalgic hint of a genuine smile, he continued:

"Though simple, my mother was not foolish. Her foresight was something even my father admired. In those times, however, women often remained in the background, no matter their capabilities. Thus, while she strategized behind the scenes, it was my father's decisions that the world saw."

"She had a grand demeanor and an immense capacity for tolerance. Whenever Father lost his temper and sought to engage in petty squabbles, it was she who held him back, using her own reason to secure greater gains for our family."

"Her thoughts were delicate, and together with Father, they always complemented each other perfectly."

The warmth in her blue eyes faded first, turning into shards of icy detachment:

"Before I went abroad, she was still that gentle and rational woman, taking my marriage very philosophically. Her love for Father remained as deep as ever. But when I returned, everything had changed beyond recognition."

Yan Qiling couldn't recall the exact date of his return; he had even forgotten how he reached home.

Perhaps he took a rickshaw, or maybe some of his cousins came to fetch him in the family carriage.

Regardless, after several weeks of traveling, he finally arrived.

He saw his father at the entrance, but not the graceful and gentle figure he was accustomed to.

He asked about his mother, but the relatives around him looked uneasy, even his father fell silent, only urging him to freshen up and meet his mother later.

From this point on, his memory became vivid.

Suspecting that his mother might be suffering from a severe illness, he secretly visited her in the house, unbeknownst to anyone else.

Before even entering the room, a pungent white smoke, tinged with the scent of urine, wafted out, so thick that it was impossible to ignore.

His mother, once a beauty with delicate features, now looked haggard. She leaned against a long couch in the main chamber, puffing on a specially crafted jade opium pipe, lost in a cloud of smoke.

Upon seeing him, she immediately greeted him with a gentle smile.

She spoke to him in that familiar, sweet voice, as if no time had passed since their last conversation.

But within her intoxicating, dazed state, Yan Qiling could sense that his mother was not in a lucid frame of mind.

Rather than expressing joy at his return, it seemed as if she had stumbled upon her son by chance while lost in a dream-like realm, warmly acknowledging an illusory vision of him.

Throughout their encounter, she didn't budge from her spot, lying there and gazing at him with her captivating eyes, repeatedly calling out "my child," remarking that he seemed both plumper and thinner.

Later, he learned that it wasn't because his mother didn't want to touch him.

Instead, the effects of the opium had relaxed her muscles, leaving her limbs weak, desiring only to lie there and prolong the blissful sensation.

She was inflicted with an incurable illness.

An addiction that could no longer be cured.

After a brief silence, Ming Yiyang struggled to find the words he wanted to say.

Even the thought of retrieving his cigarette vanished, leaving him only to clench the metal ring on his pinky finger.

Yan Qiling's voice was so soft it was barely audible:

"I had advocated for her to quit smoking, but Father refused."

"He said that Mother didn't just pick up the habit momentarily; she started soon after I left. By the time he discovered it, quitting had become almost impossible. Fortunately, our family's wealth allowed her to indulge until her fifties without much harm."

He let out a low laugh, tinged with a rare hint of self-deprecation:

"I couldn't believe those were the words that came from my father's mouth. Yet, he did say them and acted accordingly. Until this day, I can't comprehend why his love for Mother took such a form."

All while the woman he loved most pursued her downward freedom.

Rather than trying to intervene, Father resorted to using his resources to hasten her self-destruction.

It was as if she had submitted to her fate, severing herself from the pain of womanhood and, in turn, cutting off all hope for survival.

"The family's servant boy went out to make purchases, and I caught a glimpse. The opium was wrapped like gold bars, engraved with the characters 'Fu Shou Gao.' But once you're hooked on this, there can be no immortal longevity or eternal youth."

The man's voice rang like the chiming of precious metals—icy, rational, impervious to external influences:

"Our family's wealth could indeed sustain her for a hundred years, but her opium addiction would never allow her to reach that age."

"As time passed, she wasted away, her mind clouded. All day long, she could do nothing but lie in bed craving another hit, unable even to dress herself. Any fabric brushing against her skin became torment. She could only be covered by a silk blanket to shield her body."

Yan Qiling suddenly turned to the silent young man at his side and asked,

"Are you interested in hearing these stories?"

Ming Yiyang met his gaze, his snowy eyelashes drooping slightly,

"I want to hear. You've shared so many stories with me; it's only fair that I learn something about you too. Please continue."

"...In short, her addiction to smoking grew stronger each day. If her cravings weren't met, she would scream in agony, completely losing her human form."

The man lifted his pale face to meet the blue moonlight, his well-proportioned nose and jawline forming a handsome profile.

"She was beautiful and charming when I was young, like a white magnolia. She often said that a gentleman should live in this world with no shame before heaven, ancestors, or temples, cultivating virtue and practicing self-restraint for the benefit of future generations. I once took her words as my guiding principle, but she herself forgot them."

"On the day she left, in her final moments of vitality, unable to get anyone's attention, she got out of bed to smoke. Just as she lit it and took a puff, she choked on the smoke and suffocated to death."

Ming Yiyang lost all interest in smoking.

The young man lifted his gaze, tracing the seemingly unemotional contours of the person beside him.

With the sound of tiles whispering, his body reacted instinctively, his arm wrapped around the man's back like a scorching chain, allowing him to gently pull the person into his embrace.

But this sudden action was fleeting. After holding the other person briefly, he quickly released them.

Ming Yiyang didn't bother explaining the motive behind the hug. Instead, he reached out to brush away the strands of hair falling across the person's forehead and whispered, "I'm sorry."

He wasn't sure what he was apologizing for.

Yet the man sitting in front of him seemed to have interpreted the apology in his own way:

"No need to apologize. I just can't stand seeing people smoke. It's rather domineering of me, but I can't help it."

Ming Yiyang was about to respond when a sudden "meow" echoed extremely close by!

The alluring feline's voice was so near that it sent shivers down his spine. Without hesitation, his hand reflexively pulled out the wooden chip from his neck, revealing a sharp long blade!

However, the cat seemed to be merely conducting some mysterious observation. Its bright green, round eyes stared at them for a while before dashing towards the courtyard, vanishing without a trace.

Just then, Yan Qiling suddenly gasped, clutching his chest.

Ming Yiyang swiftly scooped him into his arms and, remembering the rules, two purple flames ignited in his eyes.

Hearing the unusual sound, the guards at the door were about to open the embroidery room when the four girls inside hurriedly rushed out.

After they left, a stone flew through the window, extinguishing the candles within the house.

Closing the back window silently, Ming Yiyang knew he couldn't stay here any longer to guard Si Shuhao and the others. He could only follow Yan Qiling back to the accounting room for now.

There were only the two of them in the accounting room; Shi Wen Guang and the others had clearly gone to the Wen family with Diao Qingchang.

Ming Yiyang didn't understand the mechanism behind Yan Qiling's heartache and wanted to examine him:

"Did you injure yourself?"

Yan Qiling held onto his collar button, declining the offer:

"It's nothing, just a sudden stab of pain in my heart."

The young man looked at him skeptically, his purple eyes flickering in the candlelight like a little fox that had suddenly wandered into human society, expressing its tentative affection with half-belief.

Yan Qiling felt an inexplicable tenderness towards his current appearance and reached out to gently stroke the angular side of his face, softening his voice:

"Really, it's nothing. If you're tired, take a rest here for a while. There's a small bamboo bed by the window; you can sleep there."

Ming Yiyang hadn't initially planned on sleeping.

Even when he was lying on the bamboo bed, he thought he would only doze off for a short while.

Yet Yan Qiling sat beside him, flipping through accounts. The herbal scent emanating from this person, mixed with the smell of ink, somehow lured him into a deep, dreamless sleep.

When he woke up again, it was already broad daylight.

Ming Yiyang: ... Damn.

Yan Qiling must have given him some sleeping pills. How could he have slept like a log without even dreaming?!

Feeling bewildered and fearful, he quickly slapped himself hard.

Thus, with a clear handprint on his face, he grumpily accompanied Yan Qiling to the secluded courtyard where they had briefly reunited the day before, waiting for Diao Qingchang and the others to arrive and share information about the Wen family.

Unexpectedly,

Diao Qingchang's group looked even more grim.

Not only that.

One person is missing.

Mai Zeyu, he's nowhere to be found.

Chapter 125: Consciousness

Not all classmates were present, and among the demons who had come, only powerful ones like Lan Jiaying and Wu Shaluo dared to express their anger, while those weaker in strength kept their resentment to themselves.

Despite their outward appearances, these demons were inwardly restless.

After a night of "work," only Muershi, Wen Ying, and Essence had truly been engaged; the other three demons felt as if they had spent the entire night playing.

Muershi stretched with a contented sigh. "We should be done now. Although it was amusing to watch their reactions, it's still a bit tiring."

Phaeros sneered. "You find playing tiring?"

Wen Ying chuckled. "We weren't playing."

Wei Er was puzzled. "Weren't you playing?"

Beros instinctively knew that Muershi and Wen Ying wouldn't engage in something boring. With the final exams tomorrow, these two demons wouldn't be idle enough to seek out classmates to trick. One or two might be for amusement, but spending an entire night doing so hinted at a scheme.

Muershi looked at Wen Ying, who said, "We were applying negative debuffs to our competitors in advance. What we did tonight has a high chance of delaying their success in finding a human willing to host them."

The three demons were no fools; they quickly grasped the situation, their expressions a mix of astonishment and oddity.

"Your move there..." Phileas blinked, searching for an appropriate adjective in his mind, "was rather cunning, don't you think?"

Muershi commented, "You seemed quite pleased just now."

Phileas fell silent, choosing to keep quiet.

Beros felt that this devious plan must have come from Muershi and Wen Ying's minds. It wasn't just about pleasure, but also served a great purpose. Their irritable classmates would likely be unable to approach any suitable humans with a friendly demeanor for at least one day, thus causing the humans to either flee or reject them.

The more Beros pondered over it, the more he realized how ingeniously harmless this strategy was. Fortunately, Wen Ying hadn't been so ruthless as to involve him too... As Beros was lost in thought, his emotions turned peculiar.

Wen Ying yawned. He sensed Beros' glare once again. Sleepy tears welled up in the corners of his eyes as he mumbled, "It's late. Let's head back to our respective homes. We might need to wake up early tomorrow, and who knows when the demon responsible for delivering the dolls will arrive."

Essence agreed, "Mmhmm, goodbye... See you in the Human Realm?" A reunion was indeed highly likely to happen in the Human Realm.

Wei Er added, "The Human Realm is vast; we may not necessarily meet each other."

Phileas chimed in, "We won't be going in our true forms but possessing humans instead, making it difficult to identify one another."

"Essence, by then we'll be rivals," Muershi chuckled. "We might even end up fighting when we meet."

Boros hadn't considered that possibility until Muershi mentioned it. He realized now that they could indeed send their competitors straight back to the Realm of Devils.

A moment of silence fell, the atmosphere turning peculiar. Muershi laughed it off. "I was just joking. Don't hit me when we meet; we can cooperate."

Phaeros commented, "Are you trying to lower your own score by working with you?" His resolve was firm. If he found Muershi in the Human Realm, he would eliminate him first to prevent any potential trouble from Muershi.

Muershi looked innocent.

Wen Ying patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. If I see you in the Human Realm and there's no danger, I won't attack you."

Boros chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "So you're saying that if you think Muershi is a threat, you'll beat him and send him back to the Realm of Devils?"

Muershi mumbled softly, "Who sends whom back to the Realm of Devils remains to be seen."

"I'm leaving first," Wen Ying turned and waved. "I'm exhausted."

After returning to the castle, Wen Ying went to check on the Blood Tree. It was thriving, likely due to Aruda's care. Many new branches had sprouted, and it had grown to a height of about ten feet, its growth rate astonishing.

Wen Ying gazed down at his shadow, where faint ripples of blood-red hues seemed to be swirling within.

True to its nature as an evil spell, the boost in power was undeniable. Satisfied, Wen Ying flew through his window, entering his room with a sense of joy. He carefully examined all the cards he had retrieved from his spatial bracelet and platinum tail ring.

These cards were likely impossible for the puppet doppelganger to carry away, as it could only transport a portion of his consciousness. Wen Ying sighed, knowing that he would have to expend magical energy to create magical cards later on.

Wen Ying was no longer the inexperienced rookie he once was when he first arrived in the Realm of Magic. Even without magical cards, he wouldn't be easily defeated. However, he felt somewhat incomplete and uneasy without them.

After much contemplation, he found no viable solution and decided to simply go to sleep.

The next day, Wen Ying woke up early, feeling like a child eagerly awaiting a school spring trip. His spirits were high, and he woke up with enthusiasm.

At eight o'clock, the academy demon responsible for delivering the puppet doppelganger arrived. As Wen Ying observed the puppet, he noticed a striking resemblance, nearly a third of his own features.

The doll was stuffed with cotton, giving it a quality appearance rather than looking cheap.

The demon delivering the doll instructed Wen Ying on how to proceed. Following the instructions, Wen Ying soon felt himself floating before splitting into two distinct entities. When he opened his eyes, he "saw" himself.

Through the doll's perspective, he saw himself, while from his own eyes, he saw the doll.

It was an odd sensation, and Wen Ying suddenly found himself grasping the intricacies of a split-shape technique. He would have to try using the Magic Mirror to create a sentient clone sometime.

Chapter 88: Restraint

The scene in the private room was momentarily breathtaking.

Probably because Shen Hongyuan's sincere promotion of his son just now had been too convincing.

Although the wine had an unusual taste, Old Linno still took a large sip without hesitation.

And the result was...

That jet of peculiar-tasting liquid shot out from his mouth.

It flew a long distance.

It soared over the dining table in front of him, bypassed Shen Hongyuan with eyes popping out, and directly splashed onto Shen Xingran, who was sitting across the round table.

Though his two sons hadn't drunk much, their conditions weren't much better either.

Upon impact, it scattered like a divine goddess scattering flowers, splashing everywhere.

Old Linuo was a ranged attacker, and he just indiscriminately hurled his attacks everywhere.

It was impressive that Jin Huan still remembered his flirtatious persona and tried his best to maintain his elegance without bursting out in laughter.

Yet, this scent was something no one could resist.

And so, this "wine" silently trickled down from the corners of his mouth and chin.

A trail of moisture stained the lapel of his robe.

Shen Hongyuan was dumbfounded.

He glanced at Shen Xingran and then at the Lino family, hurriedly standing up to ask, "What's going on?"

Old Lino thumped his chest and stomped his feet, pointing at Shen Xingran across from him, unable to utter a single word.

He and his two sons scrambled to grab the water cups on the table.

He hastily gulped down the water, unsure whether he should spit it out or swallow it, causing him to rush around the table in a panic.

Just as he managed to slightly suppress the taste in his mouth, he immediately pointed at Shen Hongyuan and then at Shen Xingran, angrily exclaiming, "What did you give us to drink? Toilet water?!"

Yang chimed in with agreement, "Exactly, what have we done to offend you? Look at this mess you've served us!"

Shen Xingran was also dumbfounded.

The smugness in his eyes hadn't faded when he immediately tried to defend himself: "No, I didn't..."

Shen Hongyuan also chimed in, "Is there some misunderstanding? My son has always been very reliable in his actions..."

"Misunderstanding?" Old Lino was enraged.

He raised his hand and splashed the remaining half of the "wine" onto Shen Hongyuan's face. "Experience the misunderstanding for yourself!"

A loud splash echoed.

Shen Hongyuan reached out to wipe his face, falling silent.

After the silence, he pointed at Shen Xingran and unleashed a torrent of abuse. "Disgraceful child, what kind of drink is this? Who told you to bring such a disgusting thing here?"

Seeing even Shen Hongyuan was scolding him, Shen Xingran panicked instantly.

He hadn't done anything!

He hadn't tampered with anything; he had merely brought over the wine that Lu Ran had prepared!

Recalling that when he went to fetch the wine, Lu Ran was in the restroom, Shen Xingran suddenly fell quiet.

He looked down at the "wine stains" on his clothes and cautiously lifted them to his nose for a sniff. His face paled immediately.

Gazing at the furious Lino trio and Shen Hongyuan, Shen Xingran couldn't afford to care about anything else now.

He hurriedly confessed the truth. "I'm sorry, Uncle, and two elder brothers, I didn't pour this wine—it was actually my brother, Lu Ran, who poured it. I just brought it over…"

"Bullshit!" Old Linaro pointed at him and scolded. "You clearly said you poured it yourself just now."

"I, I..."

Usually, it was Shen Xingran who slandered others. When had he ever been in a situation where he couldn't defend himself?

Shen Xingran could only grit his teeth and admit his mistake. "I was wrong. I lied at first."

But no matter what he said, the others only thought he was trying to shift the blame, not believing a word of his explanation.

Jin even sneered at him coldly, "You're saying it was your brother who poured it? I've drunk from your brother's cups countless times without issue, so why would something go wrong just because you're here?"

"Yeah!" Yang said angrily, "Can the urine you poured compare to the fine wine that Lu Ran serves?"

Shen Xingran stomped his foot in frustration, "But this is the wine Lu Ran poured!"

The Lino trio didn't believe a word of it:

"Hah, we've all had wine poured by your brother before. It has a unique, slightly bitter aroma. How could it be anything like this stuff that seems to have been scooped straight out of a toilet?"

Over there, Lu Ran emerged from the restroom and noticed that his tray, left aside, had vanished.

For a moment, he felt a twinge of anxiety.

Hopefully, it hadn't been taken by someone unaware and consumed.

But after pondering for a while, Lu Ran quickly guessed who was behind the prank.

He stealthily returned to the private room.

Cracking the door open just enough, he caught the scene of Old Leon spewing out the drink.

Lu Ran's concerns eased slightly.

The right person had consumed the appropriate beverage – that was only reasonable.

He stood outside the room, quietly observing for a while.

Until Shen Xingran began desperately trying to prove his innocence, did Lu Ran push the door open and enter.

As soon as Lu Ran entered, he waved his hand in disgust, "Ew... Why does it smell like a toilet?"

The sight of him made Shen Xingran lose his mind.

Pointing at Lu Ran, he exclaimed, "How can you say that? Didn't you spill the wine?"

Lu Ran looked at him in surprise.

Confusion and disbelief flickered in his eyes before he finally sighed, adopting a hurt tone that anyone could hear, "If you and Father insist on believing that, then I'll take the blame."

Shen Xingran was overwhelmed by this obvious act of 'serving tea' and was utterly dumbfounded.

This was the first time in his life that he had been 'served tea' by someone else!

Sure enough, Jin Heyang, sitting across the round table, immediately spoke up indignantly, "Shen Xingran, how dare you accuse him!"

Old Leonardo could no longer remain seated.

He stood up and pointed at Shen Hongyuan, yelling, "Look at the fine son you've raised! You want an alliance with our Leonardo family? Think again!"

"In this project competition, the Lino family won't hold back at all!"

With that, he swept his hand and swiftly left the private room with his two sons in tow.

Seeing the situation turn sour, Shen Hongyuan hastily followed them out.

Before exiting, he didn't forget to give Shen Xingran a resounding slap. "Look at the mess you've caused!"

Shen Xingran took the blow without dodging.

Soon, the once bustling private room was left with only Lu Ran and Shen Xingran.

Covering his cheek, Shen Xingran glared at Lu Ran with resentment.

Lu Ran's gaze was clear. "You anticipated that I'd retrieve the drink you poured, so you deliberately set me up!"

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment.

Then, he spoke sincerely, "This time, it wasn't planned."

But Shen Xingran, of course, didn't believe that. He was convinced that Lu Ran had planned this all along.

When Lu Ran left the restaurant, he saw Ji Min's car waiting outside.

He got into the car and said in surprise, "Boss, why are you here?"

Ji Min glanced at him and replied, "I was passing by."

Chen Butler, sitting in the front passenger seat: "…"

Your "passing by" sure is quite a roundabout way to put it.

Lu Ran didn't pay attention to such nuances.

As soon as he got in the car, he couldn't resist leaning over the backrest of Ji Min's wheelchair and eagerly recounted the incident of feeding Shen Xingran the "Original Liquid" to the Lino family members.

After finishing his story, he sighed with a hint of regret, "How did those drinks end up in his hands?"

"Are you unhappy about it?" Ji Min asked.

"Certainly, it's more satisfying to feed them personally!" Lu Ran declared.

Ji Min, who had hurried over in a rush, fearing that someone might be at a disadvantage, was speechless.

Well, he had worried unnecessarily.

Given the current situation, offending the Linos would likely keep Shen Hongyuan and Shen Xingyu preoccupied with troubles for a while.

Shen Hongyuan hadn't bothered Lu Ran for several days.

However, another topic had recently arisen in the upper echelons of Beijing's social circles – Ji Min's twenty-ninth birthday.

Families associated with the Jis and companies that had business ties with the Ji Corporation were already in the midst of preparations.

But not everyone could attend Ji Min's birthday soirée.

Unusually, the Ji residence had become bustling with activity lately.

A professional team was in charge of planning the banquet decorations.

However, Lu Ran had been busy lately, constantly rushing around to the point where he was hardly seen.

There were even two instances when he unusually forgot to walk Big Yellow, leaving the task to Butler Chen.

By Saturday morning, Ji Min could no longer hold back his curiosity.

After finishing his breakfast, he glanced upstairs and asked Butler Chen, "What has he been up to lately? Was he out very late last night?"

Butler Chen simply smiled without responding.

Ji Min lowered his gaze, sipping his tea with furrowed brows. "How can a child stay out so late?"

"Perhaps he's preparing a birthday gift for you," Butler Chen suggested.

Ji Min was taken aback.

moments later, Lu Ran descended the stairs, yawning widely.

He had returned in the wee hours of the morning, and his hair was now tousled from sleep.

When he descended to the dining room, his voice still carried the roughness of just waking up.

"Good morning, Master," Lu Ran rubbed his eyes.

Recalling what Butler Chen had just mentioned, Ji Min hurriedly averted his gaze.

Clearing his throat softly, he asked, "Why have you been busy until such late hours lately?"

The voice carried a barely perceptible hint of anticipation.

Yet the youth beside the table merely lifted his head to take a sip of water, his words indistinct as he murmured, "Mm... There's been something on my mind lately."

Glimmering at the corner of Ji Min's eye, his gaze inadvertently froze.

The youth raised his head to drink, extending his fair neck, revealing a tiny scarlet mark nestled beneath the collar of his garment at the nape.

Not just one.

Glimpses of faint, indistinct markings could be discerned nestled within the collar's crevices.

A vivid scarlet mark, layered upon the milky-white, youthful health of the boy's skin, was strikingly conspicuous.

Ji Min stood frozen for a moment, then hastily averted his gaze to look out the window.

Unconsciously, he wondered if there were any mosquitoes around lately.

Is it possible that the bedding or the fabric of the clothing is causing an allergic reaction in the youth?

While such scenarios might unfold elsewhere, they were absolutely forbidden within Ji Min's residence.

Eliminating these possibilities, coupled with Lu Ran's recent late nights, another explanation began to dawn on them.

Ji Min's fingers, holding the glass of water, unconsciously clenched tighter.

Upon realizing this, he deliberately relaxed his grip.

Still, an uneasiness lingered, prompting him to lift the glass and place it back onto the dining table.

In this moment, Ji Min's emotions were a complex entanglement.

An indescribable emotion welled up, tugging at his heart within his chest.

Another surge of anger.

Anger towards the person who could have inflicted these marks upon the young man.

Yet, amidst this intense tug, he couldn't help but think that Lu Ran was already nineteen years old.

Though... he always regarded Lu Ran as a child, legally, he was an adult.

Children from their kind of family tended to grow up quickly.

There were plenty who got into trouble in their teens.

Lu Ran was already considered late by comparison.

His heart continued to be torn apart.

Ji Min's fingers trembled slightly, and he couldn't resist doing something.

For instance, pulling the young man into his embrace.

Fingertips gently press against the mark on the side of his neck.

Conceal these traces with something even more substantial.

Yet, Ji Min was also deeply grateful.

Thankful that Lu Ran was seated farther away, and grateful for the wheelchair that restrained his actions, Ji Min prevented himself from truly succumbing to those horrifying impulses.

He pondered again, realizing that he had always positioned himself as Lu Ran's elder.

He had consistently treated Lu Ran like a child.

So, as an elder, what should he say in this situation?

Admonish the young man to pay attention to his physical well-being?

Feeling that he had to say something, Ji Min spoke up.

One had to suppress the impulse within the bones, muscles, and nerves with words.

"You..."

Ji Min heard his own voice crack as he asked, "Have you recently found a girlfriend... or a boyfriend?"

"Hmm?" Lu Ran, with a shrimp ball halfway to his mouth, lifted his head.

Struggling to maintain his usual composure, Ji Min said with effort, "Be mindful of the boundaries."

Saying this, he swiftly maneuvered his wheelchair to leave.

Before he could even turn around, he caught sight of the youth by the dining table, whose eyes suddenly lit up.

Laying down his chopsticks, he slid his chair across the floor, drawing himself closer to Ji Min until both he and the chair were nestled beside him.

Ji Min wished to retreat.

He wanted to say, don't get so close to him at a moment like this.

Should he lose control...

But the youth, with his bright, sparkling eyes wide open, suddenly tugged at his collar and leaned in close, asking:

"Boss, did you see this!"

In the next instant, the warm, milk-white skin drew even closer to Ji Min's eyes.

He could discern the pulsing blue veins beneath the surface.

And the subtle tremors in the skin as the carotid artery throbbed beneath.

Ji Min's jaw muscles bulged momentarily. He turned his head away awkwardly, biting down on his itchy gums in restraint.

At that moment, the child before him said with an air of triumph, "Look, Boss! Doesn't my grip look realistic?"

Ji Min: "?"

Chapter 171 - Envy

With Xu's family settled, Wei Lingzhen used the available ingredients at home to steam two steaming pots of sticky rice cakes. Old Lady Xu portioned them out and placed them in a basket before leading her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson to visit their neighbors, both to familiarize themselves with the area and its people.

Their first stop was the Shen residence. Wei Lingzhen had heard much about Shen Lie and Sang Luo since her mother-in-law had taken her children, brother, and nephew into the mountains for safety. She was perpetually grateful for their kindness.

After the chaotic reunion, they finally made a proper visit to express their gratitude. Wei Lingzhen was genuinely delighted by the encounter. Besides being well-educated, kind, and generous, as her family had described, Sang Luo exuded an extraordinary sense of ease, cleanliness, and tranquility that was soothing to be around.

A top servant in a grand household who could have her servitude annulled, receive a dowry, and be arranged a good marriage must possess exceptional interpersonal skills. Her words were pleasant, and she warmly embraced Sang Luo while praising Shen An and Shen Ning. Before leaving, she thanked Sang Luo for looking after her family and chatted for a while. Looking at the time, she realized there were still more households to visit, so she bid farewell to the Shens and proceeded to the next house.

They visited the Chen, Shi, Zhou, and finally, the Lu families.

As Wei Lingzhen had seen, each family's cave dwellings and furniture were indeed novel. But she also witnessed something no one had mentioned – small caves with fences and locks inside the larger ones, inhabited by idle women who stared at them intently upon hearing the commotion. Wei Lingzhen handled the situation with tact, merely glancing at the scene without dwelling on it, maintaining her composure as she conversed with the Lu family and offered them her homemade desserts.

It wasn't until the Lu family escorted them out that Old Lady Lu said, "We have a troublesome one at home. Please don't mind her."

Wei Lingzhen didn't probe further, and Old Lady Xu skillfully changed the subject. After exchanging some casual conversation, they mentioned the late hour and the need to prepare dinner before bidding the Lus goodbye.

On the return journey, she mentioned to Wei Lingzhen, "That was the Lu family's eldest daughter-in-law just now. I forgot to mention her to you."

Wang Chunniang hadn't ventured out for a long time. It was said that she only strolled around the large cave at specific times each day, accompanied by someone from the first family. Hence, Madam Xu truly had forgotten about this person.

As the two women conversed, Wang Chunniang, taking advantage of the fact that both Lu and Feng were outside seeing off their guests, eagerly clutched the wooden fence and called out, "Daughter, come here! Who were those people just now? Were they from the Xu family?"

She still recognized Madam Xu.

Something seemed amiss in the valley today. After Lu Er returned, the whole family rushed out, and even the elders carried food with them when they came back.

Wang Chunniang had been curious for a while, but alas, the cave was always occupied, either by the second family or by Lu Sanlang. She didn't have the chance to inquire with her children.

Now that people had come to their doorstep, it was evident that strangers had entered the valley, and there were quite a few of them!

Could Wang Chunniang resist asking?

The moment Lu and Feng left, she softly called out to her daughter, Lu Dazhuang.

In truth, Lu Dazhuang had never ventured outside. If her parents needed to leave, she and her elder and second brothers usually stayed in the cave, keeping watch over their mother.

However, Huizi and the others had left, and she knew a little about it. She only knew that people had entered the valley and that there seemed to be bandits outside. She didn't know anything else.

Now, when Wang Chunniang called her over for questioning, she told the truth: "That was Madam Xu from Shopkeeper Xu's family. She's Wenbo and Wenying's mother. The other two should be their older brothers."

Wang Chunniang held onto the wooden fence. "The whole Xu family has entered the valley? How many of them came?"

Lu Daniu felt a bit flustered under her mother's gaze and lowered her head, honestly saying, "Shopkeeper Xu, his wife, and Wenying's two older brothers. I think there was also an uncle or something. I heard that the bandits from outside have arrived."

Wang Chunniang's breathing grew heavier.

Five!

Five plus five made ten. Just the Xu family alone had ten people entering the valley.

She asked Lu Daniu, "Then who were your grandparents bringing the grain out for today? The Xu family is so wealthy; they wouldn't need our kind of family to help them, would they?"

For some reason, Lu Daniu felt nervous whenever her mother spoke. She stuttered, "No, it's Little Jin, Little Yin, and Little Tie, the three brothers who've also entered the valley."

Wang Chunniang let out a soft scoff through her nose.

Back then, she was separated from her family just for revealing a bit too much to her maternal home. Not only did they make her fetch supplies in the mountains, but they also bound her for days. Now look, the Xu family can still take in more people. Didn't Shen Lie bring in Shen Jin and the others? They've cut ties, so aren't they considered outsiders?

So it's just because they have a problem with her, right?

These rules only apply to her, don't they?

With a dark expression, Lu Dazhu scared the wits out of Lu Datou when she looked up. The girl anxiously glanced back at the entrance of the cave, relieved to see that Grandma Lu and Second Aunt Feng hadn't returned yet. She quickly whispered, "Mother, you shouldn't say anything rash again. Many must have died outside. Shen Jin's parents and sister are gone."

Wang Chunniang's brow twitched as she heard footsteps outside the cave. Realizing that Mother Lu and Feng Liu had returned with the Xu family, she immediately turned around and lay back down on the bed.

...

No one knew about the conversation between the Lu mother and daughter. As evening approached, smoke rose from the chimneys of each household in the valley.

Since they were still sharing meals, dinner was still porridge, but with added minced meat and finely chopped green vegetables and scallions, making it a savory meat porridge.

As Shen Ning ladled the porridge, she filled only half a bowl, hesitating with the spoon. Sang Luo took the spoon from her and topped off the bowl, whispering, "Being frugal isn't the issue here. Porridge can be easily made by adding more water and more ingredients. If all of you skimp on food, do you think Little Jin and the others would dare to eat more these few days?"

Shen Ning understood and nodded. After filling each bowl to the brim, she carried them out.

Upon seeing the full bowls of porridge, Shen Jin and his brothers didn't dare to touch them. Shen Jin rushed to fetch three bowls from his basket, and the trio shared one bowl among themselves. After dividing it, Shen Jin held his bowl and gazed at Sang Luo, saying, "Sister-in-law, we've been hungry for so long that our appetites aren't big."

Indeed, they had been famished for a while. Sang Luo nodded in agreement. "It's good to eat smaller portions frequently. If you're hungry again, help yourselves."

Shen Tie had consumed two servings of sweetened egg-flower porridge in the afternoon and was surrounded by familiar children. He appeared much livelier now. He could even sit on the bench with a backrest on his own.

It was only then that the family noticed how desperately hungry Shen Tie was. From the moment the small bowl of porridge was placed before him, his eyes were fixed on it, making sure it belonged to him. Despite being weak, he ate as if he hadn't eaten in days, completely ignoring whether it was hot or not. His only focus was to fill his mouth.

He had been terrified of being hungry.

Shen Jin quickly pressed his hand down, urging, "Eat slowly."

With his hand held down, Shen Tie looked up at Shen Jin, his eyes pleading. "I'm so hungry."

The whole family fell silent.

This wasn't just physical hunger; they were scared of being hungry, feeling it deeply within their hearts.

In truth, Sang Luo couldn't quite imagine what it felt like to eat mud cakes for days on end, or to be limited to only one or two bites of it each day.

Upon her initial transmigration, she was also famished, feeling as if she would collapse from hunger. Yet during the original owner's actual period of near-starvation that lasted for over ten days, there were still occasions when they could boil wild vegetables with a few grains of rice. However, the continuous ordeal of fleeing famine had weakened her constitution, exacerbated by food shortages and constant fear, which eventually led to her falling ill. In her delirious state, even the meager soup of wild vegetables and rice cooked by her two younger siblings barely registered on her appetite. Amidst this confusion, she had taken over the body.

Arriving only because she had awoken famished, Shen Ning then fed her a few wild fruits under the moonlight. Soon after, Chen couple brought along salted sugar water and rice. Perhaps it was also due to the healing influence of the transmigrator's spiritual essence on her body; in any case, she didn't suffer too much. Nourished by rice porridge and fish soup for a few days, she gradually recovered her strength.

Hence, whether it was the original owner's memories or her own experiences, she could not fathom Shen Tie's sensation of being ravenously hungry despite having just eaten, nor did she know how to address this situation.

Shen Jin pressed down on Shen Tie's hand and said, "There will be no more hunger, not now, not ever. We've left the county town; Big Brother and Uncle Xu have brought us out. Look, there are mountains all around. Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncles, and Aunties have all given us food. Big Brother will take me hunting too, truly, never again shall we go hungry. Eat slowly now."

Noticing that Shen Tie still held the spoon, Shen Jin pointed to the other two bowls of porridge. "Look, there's more food if you're hungry."

Sang Luo nudged the plate of glutinous rice cakes, sent by the Xu family and placed in the center of the table, closer to Jin Tie. "Go ahead and have some. You can eat a piece, but they're made of glutinous rice flour, so they might be a bit hard to digest. Start with just one."

Observing the hearty servings in everyone's bowls on the table, Shen Tie swallowed his saliva, and the overwhelming fear of hunger subsided slightly. However, after Shen Jin released his grip, despite his best efforts to restrain himself, he still devoured his food voraciously. Yet, amidst this haste, there was an inherent sense of restraint. He didn't touch much beyond what was designated for him to eat.

At six years old, I didn't know the phrase "living under someone else's roof," but I already vaguely grasped its meaning.

San Luo didn't say anything more. It wasn't something that could heal in a day or two; it could only be left to time for a gradual recovery.

As a professional fiction translator, I will provide an elegant and contextually coherent English translation for each line. Please provide the lines you would like me to translate.

After the meal, water was boiled and tempered to a warm temperature. Upon returning from outside, everyone took turns to bathe. The brothers took care of washing their own clothes.

With a damp cloth, Shen Ning wiped the bed, mat, and pillow that Shen Tie had slept on during the day. Sang Luo measured some beans to soak in water for the next morning's meal.

On this particular evening, the siblings, Shen An and Shen Ning, unusually set aside their books. Engaged in casual conversation, they lingered until late before extinguishing the lights and retiring to sleep.

The following morning, Shen Lie rose early and diligently ground the beans soaked overnight in the kitchen hearth. By the time Sang Luo arose from her slumber, a pot of freshly brewed soy milk was already simmering on the stove.

She accepted the hand with a smile, awaiting the boiling of the soy milk. Once ready, she filled a large soup bowl to the brim with it. Next, she fetched the prepared brine and deftly curdled the mixture. As the curds formed, she ladled out another generous helping into a second large soup bowl. The remainder was carefully poured into the small tofu frames custom-made by Shen Lie, layered with cheesecloth, and weighted down with wooden boards and stones. In this manner, each frame yielded four neat blocks of tofu.

One portion was for their own consumption, while the other three were for the Chen family, Shi family, and Xu family, who had all inquired a few days prior about when Sangluo would make tofu. They had delivered soybeans or grain beforehand to secure their share. In the valley, vegetables were scarce, but Sangluo could occasionally provide tofu, fermented bean curd, or vegetarian mock abalone. Each household would exchange for these treats.

Shen Ning had also finished her grooming and joined them. Upon learning that they would be making tofu residue pancakes, she promptly chopped up some leftover vegetables from the previous day, measured a small spoonful of flour, cracked an egg, and began preparing the meal. She also brought out the condiments for the salty tofu flower.

For breakfast, there was soy milk, tofu, golden fried tofu residue pancakes, sticky rice cakes from the Xu family, and half a bowl of congee left by Shen Jin and his brothers, which Shen Ning reheated.

As the table was set, the eldest branch was accustomed to such meals, but Shen Jin and his two brothers stood dumbfounded, unsure of where to start eating.

Seeing the trio standing in a daze, Shen Ning placed the bowls and chopsticks on the table. Addressing them, she said, "Stop staring, help yourselves to whatever you want. Since it's made from beans, I'll make sure to bring you a share next time we make it at home."

"Beans, you say?"

The three brothers couldn't discern any similarity to beans at all.

Promptly recalling what his mother had earlier asked him to investigate, Shen Jin refrained from inquiring further. He expressed his gratitude to his sister-in-law, then, along with Shen Yin and Shen Tie, he helped himself to some soy milk and began his breakfast with a steamed bun.

It had been nearly a month since Shen Lie and Chen Dashan had left. Lu Erlang, Lu Sanlang, Shi Dalang, and Shi Erlang had been suppressing their impatience for a long time. Today, they finished their breakfast early and hurried over to the Chen and Shen households.

With antivenom powder sprinkled on his shoes and leggings, Shen Jin eagerly slung a bamboo basket over his back and fetched his slingshot and kitchen knife.

Shen Lie observed this and exchanged his ax for a machete, also swapping the bow and arrows that Shen An used for Shen Jin's use.

Although the children in the valley would occasionally practice archery, they rarely ventured out. Apart from the initial grain transportation, there weren't many opportunities for them to showcase their skills.

A group of adolescents, including Shen An, gathered around to watch the spectacle, looking up at Shen Jin with envy.

They longed to go out too, but they understood that the inner and outer regions were different, as were hunting and merely entering the mountains. When in the mountains, they could avoid wild beasts by choosing alternative routes. If they did encounter one, their trained abilities allowed them to swiftly climb trees for hiding, offering occasional assistance.

But hunting required venturing into places where beasts were known to reside. The likelihood of them becoming liabilities was higher, leaving them with nothing but admiration for Shen Jin's opportunity.

Xu Wenqing, standing nearby, was envious. Which young man didn't like swords and arrows? Shopkeeper Xu found it amusing. He had seen the teenagers in Ten Mile Village, all of them with their bows and arrows. So he said, "Later, you can borrow a bow and arrow from Little An and practice. Let Little An teach you. After you've got the skills, you can follow your Elder Brother Lie and Elder Brother Shan on their trips."

Shen An, overhearing this, turned to Xu Wenqing and smiled, agreeing wholeheartedly. Then he pulled Shen Jin aside. "Don't be scared, Little Jin. Learn well. Once you master these skills, you'll become formidable. Maybe even when I go into the mountains, I'll have to rely on you to guide me."

Shen Jin's first smile since entering Cloud Valley appeared. "I'm not scared."

With his elder brother by his side, he wasn't afraid at all.

A smile also appeared in Shen Lie's eyes. He patted Shen Jin's head and said, "You haven't forgotten how to climb trees, right? This time, we're going to places where there might be wild beasts. Set traps, catch some small prey. If a big guy comes along, remember to climb a tree. Be careful of insects and snakes up there."

Shen Jin held onto the bow tightly, nodding repeatedly. "Got it."

Shen Lie smiled and looked towards the cave.

San Luo had filled two bamboo tubes with water. He walked over to take them and, after placing them in the basket, asked San Luo, "Are we leaving then?"

San Luo nodded with a smile. "Be safe."