Asianovel

Su Yu regretted not having studied sprinting seriously back in school. He was determined to fetch Lin Shuicheng before Xia Ran could reach the apartment.

Unfortunately, his sports performance had always hovered near the passing grade. Back then, when Fu Luoyin led others to lock their PE teacher in the gym locker room, Su Yu could only act as a lookout.

As Su Yu found himself lagging behind, he chased after Fu Luoyin downstairs. Just a few steps down, he bumped into Yan Zi, who was engaged in conversation with the CEO of a pharmaceutical company. Behind Yan Zi were Bai Yiyi and Xia Ran.

Su Yu cried out, "Excuse me, excuse me!"

Before he could squeeze past, Yan Zi grabbed him by the arm. "Where are you rushing off to? Come over here and meet this person. This is Mr. Lu, the Executive President of Runsheng Pharmaceuticals, whom I've mentioned to you before. Mr. Lu, this is my wayward son."

"Su Yu, I know him!" Lu Shengwen smiled warmly at him, taking a moment to appraise him. "You look quite lively, young man!"

With Su Yu detained, Fu Luoyin continued downward.

Bai Yiyi and Xia Ran followed closely behind. Bai Yiyi called out, "Auntie."

Yan Zi turned around. Bai Yiyi gestured for Xia Ran to present the gift while flashing a polite smile.

Spotting the incoming guests, Yan Zi apologized to Lu Shengwen with a smile. "Could you wait just a little, Mr. Lu? Let Su Yu show you to a seat first. You can have some tea and snacks; I'll be with you shortly."

"No problem at all." Lu Shengwen turned to Su Yu and began showing his concern. "How old are you? Are you dating anyone? I have a niece..." Lu Shengwen started scanning the crowd. "My niece is here too!"

Su Yu braced himself, answering as he walked back. "I don't have a partner right now, but..."

"That's great! You should meet her then!" Lu Shengwen warmly waved in the distance. A short-haired girl in an evening gown approached, looking obedient and demure. "Come, come, let's find a place to sit."

Lu Shengwen's original seat was inside, while Su Yu had been sitting with Fu Luoyin and Dong Shuoye by the outer edge. As Su Yu reluctantly entertained Lu Shengwen's enthusiasm, Dong Shuoye suddenly stood up, looking at the girl beside him and saying politely with a smile, "Miss Lu? I didn't expect to run into you here. What a coincidence that this spot is empty. Why don't we all sit here? Su Yu, you should be more considerate since she's wearing high heels."

Su Yu was stunned. "Huh?"

The girl was also confused. "I don't know you... And my surname isn't Lu either..."

Lu Shengwen was puzzled but added, "Xixi is my niece, but she doesn't share the same surname. Still, she's like a real niece to me!"

Dong Shuoye remained calm. "Oh, perhaps I made a mistake. It's alright, though. Let's just sit here; it's more convenient."

Su Yu was dumbfounded. Who would believe that Dong Shuoye, with his photographic memory, could make a mistake?

In all his life, he had never seen Dong Shuoye get anything wrong!

He glared at Dong Shuoye, but Dong Shuoye completely ignored him, instead engaging Lu Shengwen in a casual conversation.

In another stairwell, Bai Yiyi was chatting with Yan Zi with a smile on her face. Xia Ran, not being very familiar with the Su family, followed cautiously, listening attentively.

Fu Luoyin was descending from the opposite side.

Xia Ran lifted his gaze to meet his.

They hadn't seen each other for many years. Even with photographs, the changes that could be perceived with the naked eye were something that pictures couldn't fully convey.

Fu Luoyin looks exceptionally handsome in his formal attire, exuding an air of straight-backed composure. He is no longer the reticent youth etched in memory, but a veritable man. The lines of his suit elegantly contour his chiseled, robust musculature and his tall, statuesque frame. His features increasingly resemble those of his father—starkly masculine and brimming with rugged charm, imbued with an uncommon sharpness and handsomeness.

There's also a subtle hint of mint fragrance.

He drew closer and closer, causing Xia Ran to gradually come to a halt.

As Fu Luoyin brushed past him, Xia Ran felt his heart skip a beat. Before he could react, he gently tugged on Fu's sleeve and called out his name.

"...Fu Luoyin."

Fu Luoyin turned his head slightly to glance at him, his expression slightly startled. However, he quickly looked out and broke free from his hand without saying anything, rushing outside directly.

Xia Ran was also taken aback. Then, he gritted his teeth and gave a self-deprecating smile.

He continued accompanying Bai Yiyi and Yan Zi up the stairs.

On the other side, Su Yu found an excuse to leave and went down, claiming he would help Yan Zi carry her belongings.

He followed in the direction Fu Luoyin had gone.

When Lin Shuicheng entered slowly, most others were already seated. The registration and gift tables had been removed, leaving only the magnificent cake tower and champagne fountain. The remaining attendants were serving the buffet.

Fu Xue was almost in front of Lin Shuicheng. Her enthusiasm finally caught his attention, causing him to stop.

With a smile, Fu Xue said, "Hello, Mr. Lin. I'm from Yangfeng Nanotechnology. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Without stopping, Lin Shuicheng politely replied, "I'm sorry, but I've just arrived and need to meet the birthday celebrant. Also, I'm not currently taking on new projects. Thank you."

Fu Xue hadn't expected such a straightforward response, nor that he was about to bypass her and head towards the back.

In that instant, she found it utterly unbelievable – Lin Shuicheng didn't recognize her, and he showed no reaction to Yangfeng Nanotech at all?

She had, after all, met him at least once during that academic seminar. Yet, Lin Shuicheng was displaying such indifference!

Heaven only knew how much damage Lin Shuicheng's presentation had caused their company. Professor Yu Fan was someone she had recommended, but the scandal involving fake data in the report not only indirectly implicated their company, even though there wasn't a direct connection. From He Muya's perspective, it was undeniable that Yangfeng Nanotech had provided Yu Fan with equipment for free. As a result, their company suffered numerous hidden setbacks during the subsequent academic purification campaign. Just thinking about it made Fu Xue grit her teeth in anger.

Footsteps grew louder from behind them.

Just as Lin Shuicheng lifted his gaze from his phone, he nearly collided with Fu Luoyin, who was walking hastily and unable to stop in time. Lin Shuicheng, not paying attention to who was in front of him, stumbled as well.

"Sorry," Lin Shuicheng apologized instinctively. When he didn't hear a response, he realized it was Fu Luoyin standing before him.

Taking two steps back, Fu Luoyin quietly observed him, an unconscious smile appearing in his eyes. His chest still rose and fell gently due to his recent rush down the stairs.

He looked at Lin Shuicheng.

He had never seen Lin Shuicheng in a suit before – only in casual clothes or a lab coat. Even then, Lin Shuicheng looked handsome and slightly attractive, with an air of abstention.

Fu Luoyin thought to himself, I wonder how many more people will fall for this look.

Fu Luoyin whispered, "You're here. Let me take you up. Did you drive?"

Lin Shuicheng didn't respond. Fu Luoyin made a move as if to hold his hand but restrained himself.

He said, "I forgot you don't drive. The autonomous driving system is such a hassle. Why not stay here, and I'll pick you up whenever we need to go out?"

"No need," Lin Shuicheng replied.

Fu Luoyin seemed not to have heard him, turning around to signal Lin Shuicheng to follow him upstairs. They walked in silence.

Fu Xue hesitated for a long time whether to join them or not, but eventually caught up, calling tentatively, "Minus Two."

Completely unprepared for her presence, Fu Luoyin turned his head, furrowing his brow as a hint of impatience shadowed his eyes. "—What did you just call me?"

Fu Xue immediately fell silent, her face flushed with embarrassment as she followed them awkwardly.

The nickname "Minus Two" was something she had only heard from Xia Ran. Although her relationship with the main Fu family was distant, it had become customary within their social circle to address each other informally like this.

She had no idea how much Fu Luoyin despised being called by that name by anyone outside his inner circle.

Despite their age difference and distant familial relationship, Fu Luoyin should have addressed her as elder sister. However, she had a slight fear towards Fu Luoyin and the entire Fu family.

The Fu Military Technology Company had always been a family business, but restricted to the direct line of the Fu family. Fu Luoyin's grandfather, Fu Qingsong, was a scientist who kept to himself, never quite fitting in with his siblings, and thus was somewhat ostracized at home. He had struck out on his own, even removing his name from the family registry.

Over time, although they shared the same surname, the other branches of the Fu family grew increasingly distant, each generation less connected than the last. Fu Qingsong and Fu Kai's family never placed much importance on their familial ties.

Lowering his voice, Fu Luoyin asked Lin Shuicheng, "What did she want to talk to you about?"

Lin Shuicheng glanced at Fu Luoyin. "Work."

"Fengfeng Nanotechnology's technology is outdated, and it's not related to your majors. What could she possibly need from you?" Fu Luoyin continued. "If you're interested, I can introd...?"

Lin Shuicheng interrupted him. "Not interested, thanks."

This was the first time Fu Luoyin had been so bluntly dismissed. He held back his frustration and fell silent.

He found that he disliked how politely Lin Shuicheng spoke to him, which stirred an inexplicable irritation within him, as if something beyond his control was about to unfold, like sand slipping through his fingers.

Deciding to change the subject, Fu Luoyin asked, "Do you still like the flowers I sent you?"

Lin Shuicheng looked at him once more. "…Don't send me off next time."

Fu Luoyin was left speechless again.

Just then, Su Yu came downstairs and saw Fu Luoyin and Lin Shuicheng standing together. He heaved a huge sigh of relief. He went over to greet Lin Shuicheng, "Sister-in-law, you're here! Was the journey smooth?"

"Other than a slight delay, it went well," Lin Shuicheng nodded at Su Yu and asked, "Is Doctor Yan available to accept gifts now?"

"Come on, come on. Mom's upstairs," Su Yu grinned as he linked his arm with Lin Shuicheng's, which the latter accepted quite naturally.

Fu Luoyin's eyes slightly widened in muted indignation beside him, yet he dared not utter a word, merely following along in silence.

Yan Zi was still engaged in conversation with Bai Yiyi and Xia Ran at the stairway entrance.

Lin Shuicheng approached and called out, "Doctor Yan."

Yan Zi expressed a touch of delight, "Oh my, Little Lin, you've come too! Quickly, go up and sit! Let's all head upstairs, or we'll block the stairway and others might think it odd. Hurry now, children, up we go."

Lin Shuicheng gazed at Yan Zi, while Xia Ran and Bai Yiyi fixed their eyes on Fu Luoyin. Su Yu, on the other hand, was looking at his mother.

With so many pairs of eyes gathered together, the atmosphere was strangely awkward.

Lin Shuicheng was oblivious to this.

Bai Yiyi held onto Xia Ran, slowing their pace, falling a few steps behind the others, walking alongside Fu Luoyin.

Su Yu noticed this situation and began to regret insisting on holding onto Lin Shuicheng. To make amends, he also slowed down with Lin Shuicheng, resulting in nearly five people walking abreast on a single step.

The air was still quiet, so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing.

Fu Luoyin broke the silence first: "Shuicheng, come here."

His tone was commanding, but there was a hint of urgency in his voice, and a subtle tremble that was almost imperceptible.

He quickened his pace, stepping out from the crowded stairway, then turned back to extend his hand to Lin Shuicheng. Su Yu immediately let go of Lin Shuicheng upon seeing this.

Lin Shuicheng, with his hands in his pockets, tilted his head and looked at Fu Luoyin.

In that fleeting moment, Fu Luoyin felt his heart almost stop—nearly losing himself in the gaze.

When he regained his composure, Lin Shuicheng had already taken a seat next to Su Yu at the table.

Bai Yiyi and Xia Ran also found their places – at the same table.

Lin Shuicheng sat beside Su Yu, with Fu Luoyin squeezing in beside him on the right. Across from them was Xia Ran, while on the other side, Dong Shuoye was engaged in conversation with Lu Shengwen, strolling around as they spoke, clearly oblivious to the situation at hand. Next to them, Su Yu's mother was eagerly unwrapping presents.

Bai Yiyi gracefully sat down, lowering her head slightly to greet Fu Luoyin with a "Hi."

She held onto Xia Ran's hand beneath the table, urging him to keep his composure and not panic.

Their opening move had been a failure, as Fu Luoyin had bypassed them to greet Lin Shuicheng, something that had caught everyone off guard.

Only now, seated, did Bai Yiyi truly see what Lin Shuicheng looked like – the person who had silently killed her more than twenty times in the game, causing her gaming prowess to crumble right before her eyes.

Lin Shuicheng was strikingly handsome. Up close, his features could be breathtaking, with every angle of his face perfect. The red mole added a touch of allure to his appearance, giving him a nearly effeminate quality, but his demeanor was so cold and indifferent that he seemed untouchable.

Even someone like her, who had initially harbored animosity towards him, couldn't help being mesmerized by his presence.

As Fu Luoyin was about to approach Lin Shuicheng, Bai Yiyi interrupted him. Raising an eyebrow, she looked at her with folded arms, saying nothing but conveying a chilliness in his eyes: "Who are you?"

"Bai Yiyi." Noticing his displeasure, Bai Yiyi felt even more awkward.

Xia Ran added, "She's my friend."

Upon hearing this, Fu Luoyin scoffed involuntarily.

Xia Ran's face paled, and Bai Yiyi perceived the disdain in that scoff, her own complexion fluctuating between red and white.

The atmosphere grew even more awkward.

Yan Zi finally seemed to catch on. She lifted her gaze to Fu Luoyin, observing him sitting beside Lin Shuicheng with a thoughtful expression.

She suddenly recalled, "Oh, Little Fu, you went to see Lin Deng with Little Lin before, right? I remember you said you were friends. So you two know each other?"

Almost losing control of his expression, Fu Luoyin remembered—this had been a long time ago when he took Lin Shuicheng to the hospital to visit Lin Deng.

Yan Zi was previously aware of his relationship with Xia Ran. He had told her in front of her that Lin Shuicheng was just a friend.

Fu Luoyin corrected himself, "Boyfriend."

Lin Shuicheng contradicted, "No."

The smile in Fu Luoyin's eyes froze once more.

Su Yu remained silent, "..."

Su Yu began to feel a tingling sensation on his scalp.

Author's Note:

From a comment section - No Choice But to Be Cowardly: In the night, Shuicheng returned home. Despite not seeing him for many days, Fu Luoyin's body was still mature and alluring. With a hint of amusement and helplessness in his eyes, he gazed at the brown irises and sighed, "Fu Luoyin, how can there be a chubby little kitten like you in this world?"

At the mere thought of Rong Shu, his heart would race wildly.

Fortunately, he had grown accustomed to this peculiar sensation; even with Rong Shu standing before him, he could maintain his composure.

The Ministry of Punishments had already reported the assassination attempt on Xu Li'er to the inner court, and Emperor Jia You flew into a rage, slamming his dragon table in fury and ordering a thorough investigation.

However, Gu Changjin knew that the truth behind the incident would never be uncovered.

Since Liu Yuan dared to convey the message, he obviously wasn't afraid of the Ministry's investigation. Even if they traced it back to him, he would merely be a scapegoat. There was someone behind Liu Yuan, whose identity Gu Changjin didn't know, but he was aware that this person, like Liu Yuan, wanted Yang Xu dead.

Gu Changjin also desired Yang Xu's demise.

In times of critical need, the enemy of one's enemy could become an ally.

Thus, Gu Changjin wouldn't oppose Liu Yuan.

Moreover, by offering Xu Li'er's life to him, wasn't Liu Yuan extending a favor?

The person who fought him at the inn that day had no intention of harming him. If not for protecting Rong Shu, that knife shouldn't have pierced his arm.

Yet, he himself was brimming with deadly intentions everywhere.

Even though he knew this person shouldn't be killed and couldn't be killed, he still couldn't suppress the overwhelming urge to kill in his heart.

He shouldn't be such an impetuous person.

But the moment she was injured, his reason gave way.

Gu Changjin sat cross-legged on the couch, focusing his mind and calming his heart. When his heartbeat gradually returned to normal, he got up, drank half a pot of cold tea from the belly warmer, and then stared out the window at the sparse shadows of the parasol trees.

His brows and eyes gradually turned cold.

In the Songsi Courtyard.

Ying Que had already conveyed Chang Ji's message to Rong Shu early in the morning.

"Chang Ji said that the Empress has agreed to let Miss Xu serve her mother's spirit at the Great Mercy Temple for a hundred days, and then allow her to become a female historian at the Music Bureau!"

Who could have imagined that the girl who was panic-stricken just a couple of days ago would soon enter the palace as a court lady?

Ying Que's eyes shimmered with excitement. In the Great Yin, becoming a palace maid was no easy feat; it was even more challenging than young men vying to become scholars.

Rong Shu truly felt happy for Miss Xu, who had such fortune.

Upon hearing Ying Que mention Empress Qi, Rong Shu's eyelids twitched, involuntarily recalling her previous life and Nanny Zhu, along with the cup of poisonous wine she had delivered.

The endless pain that the wine had inflicted still haunted her to this day.

She held a deep sense of caution towards Empress Qi in the central palace.

This Empress from the Kunning Palace hailed from the Qi family, a renowned military clan. Her father, Qi Zhang, had been the Grand Commander during the Jiande era, wielding the power of tens of thousands of soldiers and controlling the court. Yet, on his deathbed, he voluntarily relinquished his military authority.

Later, when Prince Qiyuan fell under the sway of an evil cult and was poisoned by a palace attendant, feudal lords across the land invaded the capital in the name of ridding the emperor's court of malign influences.

It was Empress Qi's brother, Qi Heng, who rallied their father's former troops, assisting Emperor Jiayou in launching a rebellion from Taiyuan Prefecture, defeating the other feudal lords one by one.

In the end, Emperor Jiayou became the ruler of the Forbidden City, and the Qi family was hailed as the greatest contributor. As a result, Empress Qi enjoyed great favor from the emperor.

Empress Qi was renowned for her virtue in Taiyuan Prefecture, where she established numerous free schools and medical clinics for the impoverished populace.

In Taiyuan Prefecture, there still stands a Temple of the Empress, built by the local people in gratitude to Empress Qi, and it is incredibly bustling with incense burners.

Now, there were far more female officials in the imperial harem than during the Jiande era. It was Empress Qi, after she ascended to the throne in the Kunning Palace, who vigorously promoted the education of women and their pursuit of official positions.

In this capital city, whether it be noble ladies or ordinary girls from common households, all held great respect for the Empress within the palace.

If Rong Shu had not met her demise at her own hands, she would likely have revered and admired Ying Que with an earnest heart, just as others do.

Thankfully, in this lifetime, she and this Empress shall never again cross paths.

Rong Shu let out a gentle sigh and said to Ying Que, "When I was married, I brought along a chest of books. Go find them for me. I'll select a few to send to the Great Compassion Temple."

Being a court lady is more arduous than one might imagine outside the palace walls. The women who manage to enter the imperial court as officials are subjected to rigorous examinations, not only for their literacy and understanding of propriety but also for their grace and talent.

The Music Bureau falls under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Etiquette Bureau, overseeing the rehearsal of musicians and the arrangement of musical ensembles, as well as managing the timing of their performance and retreat.

Xu Li'er has had an innate talent for music since childhood. She learned the pipa in the Music Pavilion and her voice is as melodious as a lark's first song, truly deserving the phrase "gifted by heaven." However, her family circumstances when she was young didn't allow her to attend a private school for scholarly studies. Although she can read a few characters, she still lacks proficiency in literary matters.

Rong Shu swiftly compiled a thick stack of books, which she entrusted to Chang Ji the next day to send via the embassy to Daci'en Temple.

Chang Ji took the books and had just stepped out the door when he saw a guard galloping towards them in a hurry. Upon reaching the entrance of Gu's residence, he began pounding on the gate loudly.

He rushed forward and asked, "Who are you?"

The guard paused his knocking, his face filled with urgency. "I am Danqing, a close attendant of Duke Cheng'an. Our Lady is gravely ill, and His Grace has specially instructed me to urgently summon Miss back to the Duke's residence."

With that said, he dared not speak any further.

Chang Ji's expression turned grim as he hurried back to the Songsi Courtyard to deliver the message.

Upon hearing Chang Ji's words, Rong Shu nearly lost her balance, stumbling over the threshold and hitting her head hard against the door frame.

"Miss!"

Ying Que quickly caught her, assisting her with concern.

Rong Shu pinched her fingertips forcefully, taking a deep breath before declaring, "We must return to the Duke's residence immediately."

Only a few days prior, she had returned to the Marquis's mansion, where Lady Shen was then in perfectly good health. Even so, she steadfastly refused to allow her to spend the night at Qingheng Courtyard, insisting that Gu Changjin had not fully recovered from his illness, and thus had her escorted back to Wutong Lane.

Why would she suddenly fall ill?

The carriage sped away from Phoenix-Wood Lane, and Rong Shu pondered over the events of her past life all the while.

In her previous life, due to the assassination attempt on Changan Avenue, she did not return home. It was only after Gu Changjin's wounds had significantly improved that she eventually returned to the Marquisate. By then, Madam Shen had already suffered a severe illness. When Rong Shu came back, although she was frail, her health was gradually improving day by day.

At that time, when my mother was ill, no one came to Wutong Alley to inform us. Now, the Marquis's residence has sent someone in a hurry...

Rong Shu dared not dwell on the thought any further.

Qingheng Courtyard.

Lord Cheng'an, Rong Xun, paced anxiously outside the main chamber. The physician had been inside for half an hour and had yet to emerge. In contrast, Nurse Zhou and a few maidservants were constantly shuttling in and out, carrying basin after basin of bloody water.

Chapter 84: An Old Acquaintance (3100+)

Three years later, within the Huo family's grand residence.

"Uncle, here you go."

Chen Chen handed over a small toy car, and Huo Lanjing reached out to take it, his gaze wandering.

Two years prior, Huo Lanjing had brought Chen Chen back for his education.

He enrolled Chen Chen in a prestigious school and, without pressuring him, exposed him to the unique education of the Huo family whenever possible.

Whenever he had spare time, he would take Chen Chen to the place where Luo Le had vanished.

Huo Lanjing had once sent a laboratory mouse, implanted with a biological microchip, into a black hole. Both its location and vital signs had subsequently disappeared.

Everyone was saying that Luo Le was dead and could never return.

Huo Lanjing neither refuted nor commented on these claims; he merely continued doing what he had been doing.

Before returning, he had arranged for someone to stay there, carrying out the same routine daily.

Yet, the outcomes were always similar.

Chen Chen stared at her uncle in a daze, reaching out to wave his hand. "Uncle, what are we doing back here today, Uncle?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Lanjing crouched down and tidied up the collar of Chen Chen's disheveled little gown.

"We're meeting someone."

Huo Lanjing had never corrected Chen Chen's way of addressing him nor allowed anyone to gossip about it in front of the child.

The reason was simple: Luo Le had never acknowledged Chen Chen as his child.

Whenever someone asked, he would say that Chen Chen was a friend's child, and he was merely helping to look after them while the friend was away.

Huo Fei couldn't comprehend. If Luo Le was already dead, did Huo Lanjing intend to keep Chen Chen by his side with this false identity?

Huo Lanjing maintained his usual expression, simply stating that Luo Le wasn't dead.

Huo Fei had no choice but to let him be.

Chen Chen asked, "Who are you meeting?"

Huo Lanjing snapped back to reality and was about to respond when Uncle Wang entered from outside, saying, "Young Master, Mr. Chen is here."

Huo Lanjing pulled Chen Chen down to sit and didn't even lift his head as he instructed, "Bring him in."

After a while, Chen Wuxing appeared at the door with Uncle Wang.

He smiled at Huo Lanjing and said, "General, it's been a long time."

Huo Lanjing gestured to a seat beside him.

Understanding, Chen Wuxing sat down and noticed the child staring at him with wide eyes. He couldn't help but inquire, "Who's this child?"

The kid didn't seem to be afraid of the General, and there was even a resemblance between them.

Could that be the child of the Admiral?

Huo Lanjing replied, "A friend's child."

Seeing that Huo Lanjing didn't seem keen on discussing the matter further, Chen Wuxing tactfully changed the subject. "Admiral, have you found the person yet?"

Huo Lanjing nodded and handed over a credential that could only be delivered in person.

Chen Wuxing took it and said, "Thank you, Admiral."

Huo Lanjing asked, "Have you set a time?"

Chen Wuxing answered, "Yes, tomorrow at ten in the morning."

After some more small talk, Chen Wuxing left.

Once he was gone, Chen Chen curiously asked, "Uncle, who was that brother?"

Huo Lanjing didn't want Chen Chen to get too close to him, considering Luo Le's previous dislike for Chen Wuxing.

"A comrade-in-arms of Uncle."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen lost interest.

Huo Lanjing said, "Let's go home."

Chen Chen nodded and held his hand. The two of them, one big and one small, left like that.

Huo Lanjing was referring to the house where Luo Le and Chen Chen used to live.

They had been living there for the past three years.

On the way back, as Chen Chen gazed at the fleeting scenery outside the car window, he suddenly spoke up, "Uncle, is my daddy dead?"

Taken aback by the question, Huo Lanjing gripped his shoulder and asked with a frown, "Who told you that?"

Despite the warnings, someone still couldn't keep their mouth shut?

Chen Chen shook his head. "No, Chen Chen guessed it on my own."

Then, he widened his eyes and asked, "Uncle, isn't it?"

Huo Lanjing inquired, "Do you know what death is?"

Chen Chen replied, "I do. Grandpa He told me that death means disappearing, never being able to see someone again." As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes.

Looking at those eyes that resembled Luo Le's, Huo Lanjing's gaze softened unconsciously. "I don't care who told you that, but it's not true. Luo Le is alive and well. You'll be able to meet him when you grow up."

Chen Chen wiped away his tears. "Really?"

Huo Lanjing affirmed, "Really."

Chen Chen extended his pinky finger, and Huo Lanjing reached out to hook it with his own. "I promise."

For some reason, he found this uncle's words particularly reassuring, and he couldn't help but believe them.

*

Inside the moving spaceship.

"Boss, isn't the Empire incredibly luxurious? Like gold is everywhere?"

Er Qing leaned closer, grinning as he asked his question.

Qing Yi pushed away Er Qing's intrusive presence, "Stay away from me, are you obsessed with money?"

Feeling wronged, Er Qing turned to San Qing who was standing by, "Can we enter without any proof?"

San Qing replied, "The host has already made arrangements."

Er Qing then addressed the person by the floor-to-ceiling window, "Si Qing, aren't you from the Empire? What's interesting there?"

The one called Si Qing glanced back at Er Qing, "I don't recall."

With that, he returned to his room.

Seeing this, Er Qing tried to follow, "Hey, Si Qing, don't be so heartless, just tell us."

San Qing, standing nearby, held back Er Qing's hand, "That's enough, don't hassle him."

"But he obviously remembers," Er Qing protested.

After Er Qing said this, he suddenly smiled and added, "Forget it. Anyway, this mission seems quite easy. We just have to protect two grooms, and it's within the Empire. Wow, we can enjoy the banquet and complete the mission at the same time. It's awesome!"

San Qing, seeing this, commented, "You're overthinking it. The reward for this job is two hundred million. How could it be that simple? Can't you change your habits a bit? This is a mission. If you act like that, I swear I won't hold back."

The next morning, after sending Chen Chen to school, Huo Lanjing went straight to the address Chen Wuxing had sent him.

Huo Lanjing's car was easily recognizable, and as soon as he arrived at the entrance, the security guard opened the gate for him.

He drove all the way up to the main gate and, upon stepping out of the car, spotted Chen Wuxing who had been waiting there for some time, accompanied by another person.

Chen Wuxing smiled and said, "General, you're here."

A male omega beside Chen Wuxing looped an arm around his.

This person, Huo Lanjing, had once met at a banquet. He is the most favored young master of the Xu family, named Xu Ming.

Xu Ming said with a smile, "Thank you, General, for helping us to support the scene for our Star."

Huo Lanjing waved it off. "It's alright."

Noticing the unease in the person beside him, Chen Wuxing soothingly patted his hand and gazed at him, his expression conveying the unspoken question: The general is here to assist us, why are you acting up?

Xu Ming glared at him.

Xu Ming was previously the regimental doctor of the First Army. Chen Wuxing often got injured, and he would always come to him for treatment.

Gradually, the two became acquainted.

Later, as they blossomed into adolescence, they secretly harbored affection for one another.

Rumors about Chen Wuxing and Admiral Huo's alleged affair spread like wildfire through the First Military Circuit.

In the ranks of warriors, the mightiest Alpha and the most potent Omega, a union unparalleled, inspire envy in all who witness it.

Xu Ming also had a dispute with Chen Wuxing for a while because of this. Later, after Chen Wuxing confessed his feelings and they got together, he realized that he had misunderstood.

Xu Ming, who had been doted upon since childhood, could not bear such grievances, and thus he began to harbor resentment towards Huo Lanjing.

Chen Wuxing stepped forward and said, "Admiral, let's go in. Xiao Ming's father and papa are waiting for us."

Huo Lanjing replied, "Mercenary."

Chen Wuxing understood the implication and replied, "I'll be there right away."

The trio ascended the stairs, stepping steadily upward.

Upon entering, Xu Ming's father approached and extended his hand, saying, "General Huo, I've heard so much about you for a long time."

Huo Lanjing extended his hand in return, "Nice to meet you."

He is not one for polite small talk, but fortunately, Xu Ming's father doesn't mind.

After a while of cordial conversation, the butler suddenly entered from outside to announce, "They've arrived."

Xu Ming's father: "Why don't you come in?"

The servant acknowledged and turned to lead the person inside.

With keen interest, Qing Er scanned their surroundings, only to be met with a harsh kick from Qing San.

Qing Yi strides ahead, relying on his composed demeanor, while Qing Si trails behind, his figure accentuated by the black garb. His face is concealed beneath a mask and cap, leaving no hint of his identity.

Huo Lanjing, initially disinterestedly studying the tea in his hand, lifted his gaze to see Qing Si.

Xu Ming also noticed and whispered to Chen Wuxing, "Isn't it hot today? Doesn't this person feel hot wearing so much?"

Chen Wuxing wished he could cover the man's mouth, but given the current situation, he could only hush him with a chuckle.

Qing Yi approached and said, "Hello, may I ask which of you are Chen Wuxing and Xu Ming?"

Chen Wuxing agreed and introduced Xu Ming.

"Very well, from now on, we'll be attending to your personal protection. If I may ask, do you have a date set for your wedding?"

Chen Wuxing had a look of inexpressible concern. Since Xu Ming's parents hadn't fully agreed yet, he didn't feel it was appropriate for him to speak up prematurely.

Chen Wuxing brought Huo Lanjing along, not to exert pressure on Xu Ming's father and grandfather, but simply to add a touch of elegance to the occasion.

Chen Wuxing was an orphan from birth, nurtured by an elderly scavenger even before he was weaned.

When he was eight, the old man passed away, and he began foraging for food in garbage heaps. When others bullied him, he fought back on his own.

As he grew older, he sustained himself by collecting protection fees and providing support to others in their endeavors.

However, on that backward planet, while it may not be considered a respectable profession, it is not illegal.

Thus, he had no criminal record.

Later on, he was taken in by a mercenary group, and after a few years as a mercenary, he found himself on the Fifth Planet.

Through a series of serendipitous events, he found himself enlisted in the First Army.

As time passed by, Xu Ming noticed that his father remained silent, so he gave his father a meaningful look.

His father instantly understood and nudged the person beside him.

Xu Ming's father smiled and said, "I'm sorry, I was just calculating the dates, and it seems that next month's today is a good day. How about we set the date for that day?"

No one voiced any objection.

And so the day was set.

Huo Lanjing remained silent throughout, while Qing Si, during their conversation, barely spared them a glance, lost in his own world as he gazed out the window.

Chen Wuxing was making assurances to Xu Ming's father and offering some words.

With that, I bid them farewell.

Huo Lanjing led the way at the forefront, followed by Chen Wuxing, Xu Ming, and the mercenary group.

As they were on the verge of parting, Huo Lanjing unexpectedly approached the mercenary group.

Confusion spread across their faces, but Qing Si quietly stepped back, hiding behind Qing San.

Qing Yi watched as Huo Lanjing drew near and asked, "Is there something you need?"

Huo Lanjing ignored him, brushing past and swiftly removing Qing Si's mask.

Qing Si's hat fell off, revealing his entire face.

Qing Er: "What the hell are you doing?"

As he spoke, Qing San stepped in and held him back.

Qing Yi approached, his expression somewhat grim. "Admiral, what are you doing? This isn't appropriate, is it?"

Huo Lanjing didn't respond, a faint flicker of emotion crossing his eyes as his hand tightened subtly.

Chen Wuxing also noticed, approaching step by step with his lips slightly parted. "Luo Le?"

Chapter 158: Distortion

Wu Shaluo pretended not to hear the sarcasm in Muershi's words and casually addressed Berros beside him, "I thought with your personality, you would disdain using a battle of attrition against your opponent." The underlying meaning was that he expected Berros to jump in first.

Berros glanced at him coldly, "Are you implying that I'm physically strong but mentally weak?"

If he hadn't witnessed Wen Ying's power surge, he might have had a chance to jump in directly, but it was only a possibility. Any sensible being knew to wait until the last day.

Berros was quite concerned about Wen Ying's abnormal power display that day. He had intended to observe at what level Wen Ying's power currently was, but in these matches, Wen Ying had resorted to cunning tactics, making it impossible for him to deduce anything.

In this round against Huiguo, he could catch a glimpse of something.

The arena, swaying with silver-white branches, resembled a dreamlike silver sea, unlike the thorns that usually conveyed a sense of danger to demons.

Huiguo's lightning spells kept raining down, while Wen Ying merely evaded and defended. Suddenly, Huiguo felt an immense weight on his body, as if a boulder had crashed down onto his shoulders.

From a distance, Huiguo appeared to be plummeting vertically. The silver-white branches beneath him seemed to come alive, surging wildly, causing some of the demonic spectators to feel their scalps tingle.

As some disobedient branches wrapped around Huiguo's body, they secretly "sucked" a mouthful or two of blood. A touch of red mixed into the silver sea, though it wasn't particularly noticeable.

Despite being a demon, Huiguo could sense his power draining from his body through his blood, but he didn't have the luxury to ponder over it. Just now, his body had been so heavy that when he fell among the branches, he discovered that the tournament platform was enchanted with gravity magic. Wen Ying, that maniac, had evenly placed his cursed magic cards here without his notice.

A single gravity spell couldn't make him plummet straight down, but Wen Ying had stacked at least ten of them! The residual magic fluctuations distorted Huiguo's features in anger.

Now that the gravity spell had dissipated, his black wings and body were entangled by countless branches, bound layer upon layer. Lightning magic couldn't deal significant damage to these plant-like creatures, so Huiguo condensed metal arrows to slash away the branches constraining him.

Initially, he thought that cutting off these branches would do the trick, but he hadn't expected the speed at which he condensed the metal arrows to sever the branches to be slower than the rate at which new ones replenished!

He was about to unleash a powerful move when the vines simply threw him off the platform.

As he landed outside the arena, sitting on the cold tiles, Huiguo was momentarily stunned.

Wen Ying said nonchalantly, "There's still one slot left for morning challenges."

Though the round-robin matches were somewhat unfair, they still showed a semblance of humanity or demonic nature? There was no mandatory requirement for the first-place winner to accept challenges around the clock. Instead, specific challenge hours were set: 9 am to 11 am and 3 pm to 6 pm. Participants also got a half-hour break after each match.

In an instant, Huiguo unleashed a barrage of profanities, his eyes ablaze. A stream of "elegant" words continuously poured out of his mouth.

Muershi looked slightly surprised. "Wu Shaluo, I had no idea your cousin had such a way with curses."

Wu Shaluo's eyelids twitched uncontrollably, veins pulsing on his forehead. He raised his hand to press against the throbbing vein, pretending to be calm and composed. "Meeting Wen Ying, I would have cursed even if I didn't want to."

The fifth opponent was another devil from their class. Wen Ying sent him down with the branch as usual.

The devilish audience found it ridiculous; it was like watching nothing at all. As they left, most of them criticized Wen Ying for lacking the ferocity of a devil. If not for the ranking match rules, Wen Ying would have lost long ago.

Wen Ying flew off the arena and saw Beros sitting in the front row, looking at him. He flew over and said, "Am I cool?"

Beros replied with certainty, "You're holding back."

Wen Ying was taken aback. He casually changed the subject, "Holding back? How much do you want me to let loose?" As he spoke, Wen Ying wrapped his arms around Beros' well-built biceps.

Beros instinctively jerked away, "Stay away from me."

"Didn't you say I should let loose?" Wen Ying shrugged, his expression and demeanor implying, "It's your idea, now you're being unreasonable."

(Commentary)

The author wishes to add:

Boros, free from any further discussion with Wen Ying about his recent "awkwardness," left hastily as if being pursued by ghosts.

Each time Wen Ying touched him, an uncontrollable shiver ran through his body, like an electric current shooting up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

Essence approached from the side, marveling, "Even Boros has moments of flight. Wen Ying, you're quite skilled. Would you like me to teach you more of the succubus' magic?"

The term "succubus' magic" sounded quite unserious when spoken by Essence, and his expression was highly ambiguous, his voice as playful as the curl at the tip of his tail.

Wen Ying, having seen it all before, responded, "Your succubus magic is indeed quite effective."

With one sentence, Wen Ying dispelled the sultry atmosphere that Essence's words had created.

Essence's lips curved downward, his smile fading.

"I'll go eat first."

Muershi was waiting for him at the door, engaging in small talk as they walked to the cafeteria. Once there, Muershi asked, "Did you hold back when you hit Huiguo? Why didn't you take the opportunity to strike harder?"

Thinking to himself that he might have to pay medical bills if he overdid it, Wen Ying knew that he still couldn't control his strength well. He feared incurring a hefty compensation for excessive force.

——

Chapter 204: Rivals

The next morning during the weighted runs, Shen Lie called Wang Yunzheng to his side and said a few words. Hence, the chant for the day's run changed from the familiar Thousand-Character Classic that all disciples knew to The Analects of Confucius, which Wang Yunzheng and Shen An enjoyed.

Song Luo nearly laughed out loud when she recalled the teasing remark made the previous night before bed.

On the other hand, Qin Fangniang, who had stayed outside the valley the day before, heard them from afar and was dumbfounded. She turned to Chen Youtian and asked, "Do they read books while running every day?"

Chen Youtian's dark face was filled with a smile. "Yes, not only do they read while running, but they also write during their breaks from martial arts practice. Ah Lie requested this, and Qinghe regularly assesses their progress. That's why it's good for Ershan to stay here. His skills have improved, and he can now recognize and write many characters."

He continued to Qin Fangniang, "Actually, it's not just our valley. If you follow behind, you'll see that young boys and men living nearby run a distance behind them. They just don't dare to come near where we're staying. They even secretly learn the staff techniques."

Qin Fangniang clicked her tongue in amazement. After not being out for a while, she felt like the world had changed.

In the cave, Chen Dashan had tasted the pleasures of love the previous night and was now entangled with Zhou Ge. The cave door was tightly sealed, so he could still convince Zhou Ge earlier that it was not yet dawn. However, with the loud reading voices outside, how could he continue to persuade her that it was still dark? He was mortified and refused to give in. Zhou Ge quickly got up to pay respects to her in-laws by serving them tea.

However, Zhou Ge had only met her mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and grandparents-in-law on the first few days. The day after her third day visit, when she woke up early again, only Chen Youtian and Chen Ershan were left in the wooden house.

She looked at Chen Dashan doubtfully. He explained, "My grandparents, mother, and younger sister live elsewhere and have already returned. Now that you've married into the family, I won't hide this from you. When there's an opportunity in the future, I'll take you there."

Zhou Ge's eyes widened slightly, and without hesitation, she shook her head. "No, I'll stay here. You don't have to tell me about it for now."

She had indeed sensed something was off. Among the families that had left together, they had only seen Zhou Dalang to Zhou Siliang from the Zhou family, but not Zhou Cunzheng, the womenfolk, or the two youngest children. The Shi family was missing Shi Erlang's wife and a few kids, while the Lu family consisted only of Lu Erlang and Lu Sanlang.

Initially, she thought they might be in the caves or their houses, unwilling to join the festivities. But after two days, they still hadn't shown up. It would be strange if adults went hunting or gathering, but also took the young children with them.

However, Zhou Ge remembered her mother's words when they first entered the inner circle. She didn't feel curious, and only now, with the absence of her elders that morning, did she start to feel puzzled.

Seeing her shake her head so quickly, Chen Dashan, overwhelmed with affection, found her even more endearing. He smiled and said, "There's no need to go there now, and I wouldn't want you to anyway. But when you return home, don't mention anything about what we discussed. Even though I think your parents might have an inkling."

How could Chen Dashan not know that her uncles had only escorted her to the edge of the village before leaving?

In fact, both the Feng and Gan families maintained a certain distance from each other, while still offering mutual support.

Whether it was the Zhou family, the Feng family, or the Gan family, they might not know everything, but keeping a certain distance between small groups was an unspoken understanding in this world.

Hugging Zhou Ge, he continued, "That place is another hideout for our families, a fallback during chaotic times. Don't worry, if it ever gets so bad that we need to hide to avoid trouble, I won't abandon your parents. But those with real ambitions are causing trouble outside. Those who venture into the mountains are either seeking refuge or trying to avoid conflict. There may be truly wicked people among them, but they likely won't form significant forces. Both our villages are strengthening our defenses, so we should be able to protect ourselves."

Zhou Ge nodded, fully trusting her husband on this matter.

...

On the fourth day of Chen Dashan's wedding, Zhou Ge also joined the martial arts training. However, with no prior experience, she was placed at the back and taught separately by Chen Dashan. Most of the time, she practiced with Sang Luo.

With his wife now learning martial arts, would Chen Dashan slack off? Fortunately, Shen Lie was fully engrossed in his studies, gladly passing the responsibility to him.

When Zhou Ge trained with Sang Luo, Gan would occasionally join in when she had nothing else to do. From afar, she saw Shen Lie studying with Wei Qinghe, occasionally asking questions or writing on the sandboard for clarification. She then commented to Sang Luo, "Why does your Shen Lie seem more dedicated to reading than Yunzheng and Little An?"

Could Sang Luo admit that it was all due to her playful tease?

Due to the limitations of bamboo scrolls, a complete volume of "The Analects" contained only three chapters and around two thousand characters, many of which were not included in "A Thousand Character Classic." Yet, Shen Lie picked up the text rather swiftly.

Recalling how she had intentionally provoked him last night, resulting in him pinning her down on his lap, she noticed that despite his labored breathing, he refrained from doing anything but caressing her lips with his fingertips. He whispered almost against her ear, "Just wait, I only have two more chapters left to memorize."

That gaze, voice, and the warm, tantalizing breath against her ear made Sang Luo's heart race shamefully.

How many encounters had they shared thus far?

Shen Lie knew how to ignite her desire.

...

With food, shelter, martial arts, and books, life in the mountains was tranquil and peaceful. The simplicity of it all carried a hint of an idyllic, secluded existence, so much so that one could almost forget that the world beyond was still in turmoil.

But such an illusion was merely that – an illusion.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, snow began to fall in the mountains.

It was no longer just the peaks of the highest mountains; the snowflakes filled the sky, accumulating deeply. With each step, one's entire shoe would sink into the thick layer of snow.

Shen Lie simply discontinued his morning exercises, allowing everyone to huddle indoors for the winter. The fur coats that Sang Luo and Shen Ning had prepared earlier were finally worn by the whole family.

A gang of rambunctious lads wouldn't sit still for the winter; hunting pheasants in the snow was easier than before, so they'd set off in groups early each day to explore the nearby mountains. Each had their own means of self-preservation, and thus the adults didn't interfere.

In the second year of the transmigration, the weather was much colder than the first. The snow persisted until the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month before it ceased. Fortunately, while this mountain lacked everything else, it was abundant in firewood. Otherwise, Sang Luo would have been at a loss as to how those hiding in the mountains would endure such a frigid winter.

Life in the outer village was relatively comfortable. On this Laba Festival day, every household fittingly began to brew their Laba porridge, and even before the porridge had fully cooked, the sweet fragrance of simmering mixed beans already filled the air. It should have been a warm and cozy time for celebrating the festival, yet by the time the porridge was perfectly prepared, both Shen Jin and Shen An had not yet returned home.

A fire was lit in the cave during the day, and the door remained open. Sangluo and Shen Ning kept looking outside, unsure of how many times they had done so. They saw Erniu and Zhourang returning from afar. Zhourang went to another house, while Erniu headed straight for them, calling out "Master" from a distance.

Sang Luo's heart skipped a beat, and Shen Lie had already strode forward to greet them.

"Master, there are intruders entering the inner circle, about forty or fifty people. Xiao Jin seems to have recognized some of the enemies who harmed Tian Ya, and has followed them. They are heading towards the Zhou family's village. I was sent back to deliver this message."

Both Shen Lie and Sang Luo's expressions changed, but fortunately, Xu Wenqing, Xu Wenhong, Sanlang, Ershan, and Daniu were present. Though Xu Wenbo, Shen An, and Shen Jin were younger and less powerful, their months of martial arts training had not been in vain.

Shen Lie turned around and grabbed his knife and bow, instructing Sang Luo, "I'm going out with Uncle Lu and Uncle Lu. Gather the rest of the villagers in this house. It's unlikely that anyone would come this way, but it'll be safer if they stay together."

This is what keeps Chen Dashan and most of the able-bodied youth here.

Sang Luo considered the opposing group of forty or fifty people and frowned. She decided to grab her staff and bow, then called out to Shen Ning, "The door is locked. Let's go out together."

The entrance to the valley was usually well-concealed, and now, buried under the thick snow, there was no need to worry about it being discovered. There was no point in staying behind.

Families living even further away from Shen Lie's had also received the news. Not only the able-bodied men, but even Zhou Ge followed Chen Dashan out. Xu Wenying was also among the Xu family members.

Well, there was no need for further encouragement. Everyone swiftly armed themselves and locked their doors before hurriedly following Niú Èr and Zhou SiLang, who were leading the way.

Xu Wenqing and the others weren't concerned about lacking assistance, as the footprints left in the snow were too clear to miss.

It took over two hours to reach the vicinity of the Zhou family's village, where one would catch sight of human activity. But this group was accustomed to using morning weighted sprints as their warm-up; in less than fifteen minutes, they had already found someone.

Too conspicuous, a group of forty or fifty, with nearly forty being robust young men, had already confronted the leading youths of Feng Village.

No sooner had they locked eyes than Xu Wenqing, leading his group of junior disciples, had retreated into the bushes, ready to act opportunistically. However, Shen Lie and his companions arrived promptly. There was no point in hiding anymore; with a soft call to their master, they emerged one by one from behind the shrubs.

With his bow tightly clenched, Shen Jin was tense all over. Upon seeing Shen Lie, he felt a pang of sorrow and said, "Big Brother, the family that married Wang Meiniang is among them. All four brothers are there. It was at their place that my father carried Sweet Girl to and lost her."

When Wang Meimei's family was first married into the village, people were unaware of the circumstances. But once they learned what had happened to Sweet Girl, everyone connected the dots and realized it was the doing of those... beasts.

In an instant, the long sticks, hoes, and axes in Chen Youtian's group's hands tightened. Apart from seven or eight women, there wasn't a single elderly person or child among them; they were all strong, able-bodied men who were associated with those four brothers. Could they be up to any good?

Upon seeing such individuals entering the inner circle, everyone's expressions turned grim.

Shopkeeper Xu and Uncle Xu also looked worried. Glancing at the crowd ahead, they recognized only one of the four brothers, but with a sea of backs facing them, they couldn't tell which one it was.

Scanning the people in front, he noticed that some had also spotted Shen Lie and his companions. Men, women, and adolescents—each of them carried weapons, and bows and arrows were tucked in their backpacks. This setup was eerily similar to the armed villagers who had swarmed out when they first appeared in the previous village!

A gang accustomed to plundering others found themselves, upon entering the inner perimeter and just discovering signs of human activity, promptly surrounded. Upon counting the opposing group's formidable number of young and strong warriors, they realized they were significantly outnumbered. Their confidence wavered, and they turned sideways to retreat, forming an triangular formation with the two approaching parties, attempting to defend against both sides.

The leader had wiped the greed from his face at the sight of the vegetable fields, chicken coops, and houses, and now wore an appearance of wide-eyed innocence. "What's this all about? We're just passing through. Are you saying we can't traverse this land with our staffs and clubs?"

Several elderly gentlemen of the Feng clan, their gaze fixed upon this group, could discern no hint of benevolence. Just as they were about to speak, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan from behind had already advanced with their entourage, closing the distance further.

"Passing through is acceptable, but among you stands one who bears our enmity. Leave that person behind first." As he spoke, he nocked an arrow in his bow and addressed Shen Jin on the side, "Draw your bow and aim at any four you choose. If your strength falters, just point them out to me. Should your arrow miss its mark, my brother here will take care of it with another."

Addressing the group, he continued, "My younger brother's archery skills aren't yet refined. If he were to accidentally hit someone in his reckless rush, that would be your own misfortune. But if anyone tries to flee, I don't recognize any particular foe. Whoever runs will have our arrows in pursuit."

As he nocked his arrow, Chen Youtian and his companions, who could only wield hoes and axes, stood aside. However, his disciples uniformly notched their arrows, transforming the formation in an instant.

On the other side, Feng Dalang, Feng Erlang, and Gan Erlang were genuine disciples of Shen Lie. If their master said there was an enemy among them, there was no need for further discussion. They lined up in a row with a swooshing sound, also readying their arrows.

If these three were considered disciples, those young men who had learned from them could be deemed as unofficial grand-disciples. Without being instructed, they followed Feng Dalang's lead, and almost the entire village of young men moved in unison.

It had just been a probe, but within the brief exchange, they found themselves targeted by over seventy arrows. This group of outsiders, who had committed their fair share of misdeeds, broke into a cold sweat beneath their snowy surroundings. Instinctively, they retreated. Recalling Shen Lie's warning, they dared not make a move.

"What enemies? We've just entered!"

Several faces betrayed their anxiety; they were all too aware of their past deeds, yet they didn't recognize Shen Lie or the child beside him. They were furious and wanted to curse, demanding to know which one of them had provoked such a formidable enemy!

But this wasn't the time for internal strife. One of them urgently pleaded, "Don't shoot randomly! Identify the target and explain the conflict first."

Shen Lie, however, had no intention of wasting words. He personally taught Shen Jin archery, so he knew his son's skills well. "Load your arrows," he instructed.

Some of the women in the group screamed, "Don't shoot arrows randomly! Let us scatter!"

The crowd was clearly in chaos. Behind them was a vegetable garden enclosed by wooden fences; there was nowhere to retreat. They rushed to the sides, and Xu Wenqing and the others, who had already guessed the true nature of these people, wouldn't show mercy. As long as someone tried to escape, fearing accidental casualties, they aimed for their legs.

Piercing cries of pain echoed as arrows struck flesh. Shen Jin didn't spare a glance at anyone else, focusing solely on the four brothers who had finally recognized him. He chose one and shot an arrow at him.

From the moment Xu Wenqing fired the first arrow, the group fell into pandemonium. The leading men brandished their swords to block the arrows, angrily declaring, "We'll fight you!"

Their bravery lasted no more than three breaths before they howled in fear, hiding behind a tree with their heads tucked between their arms. The arrows were relentless, but some quickly realized that as long as they remained still, they wouldn't be attacked. They raised their hands and crouched down.

After Shen Jin released his first arrow, Shen Lie immediately followed up with another. Iron arrows were different from bamboo ones, and combined with Shen Lie's strength, even winter clothing couldn't withstand the impact.

To minimize collateral damage, Shen Lie mostly aimed for their legs.

When Shen Jin saw an enemy kneel, he trembled as he nocked a second arrow. The trio of brothers had already started fleeing in three separate directions.

This display caught everyone's attention. Shen Lie and Chen Dashan each shot two arrows, while Gan Erlang and Feng Dalang took one each. The trio of brothers were now too terrified to move their legs much, for Shen Lie and Chen Dashan's iron arrows had nearly pierced through their thighs.

Shen Lie then asked Shen Jin, "Are these the four?"

Shen Jin's grip on his bow tightened. "Yes."

...

After such enmity was forged, how could they really let this group escape? Shen Lie recounted the grudge they held against the four brothers. The faces of the Fengs, Zous, Gans, and Zhongs all changed. Those with bows and those with long rods narrowed the circle around them.

It was when they surrounded the group that Butcher Zheng, holding a cleaver in his left hand, and his sons from the Zheng family paled. One of the young women, whose leg had been hit by an arrow, seeing that she had been recognized by the Zhengs, began crying and begging for mercy. "In-laws, in-laws, I'm Big Girl's sister-in-law. Save me!"

"Save you?" Butcher Zheng's murderous intent flared up. With a sudden charge, he swung his cleaver down with his left hand.

The cleaver struck the woman's leg, but Zheng Dalang pulled his father back. Looking at the group, his gaze turned scrutinizing as he examined each person.

"Fiends, a pack of fiends, not one of you shall escape today."

Chapter 70: The Master Returns

How could Chu Wanning be someone who could be easily subdued? A flash of golden light appeared, and Mo Ran caught a glimpse of some weapon in his hand, but it was retrieved so swiftly that it instantly severed Xiaoman's wrists, leaving him writhing in pain.

Xiaoman stumbled backward, now crippled, having lost both his hands along with his leg.

The hand that had been holding Chu Wanning fell to the ground. Chu Wanning stood up, his face contorted with rage as he struggled to find words. His lips moved, but in the end, he was too furious to speak, turning away with a livid expression.

Mo Ran rushed over to lift him up. "Junior Brother, are you alright? Did you get hurt anywhere?"

Chu Wanning shook his head silently in his arms, unable to utter a word from the disgust he felt.

Regardless, Xiaoman was someone who had lived two hundred years ago, while this one before them was just a puppet manifestation. Chu Wanning wiped the blood from his face and whispered to Mo Ran, "You've seen for yourself. Staying here might not be safe for me. It's better if we go out together to fight. With my abilities, I won't be a burden to you."

Mo Ran had only heard about his junior brother's skills from Xue Meng, but had never witnessed them firsthand. The recent events had truly opened his eyes.

"You're impressive, but..."

Chu Wanning replied, "I'm well-versed in various weapons and can guide you in their usage."

"But..."

Chu Wanning lifted his gaze. "Just trust me this once."

"..."

"Senior Brother."

Chu Wanning had intended to emphasize his earnestness, but the child's crisp voice ended up sounding tender and endearing, as if he were pouting. Even Chu Wanning himself was slightly taken aback by the sound.

Mo Ran was also startled upon hearing this. He scratched his head in confusion, burying his face in his palms for a while before finally saying, "Well, it's just that... I'm afraid... you know... of that..."

Living two lifetimes, this was the first time he had been called with such a soft, affectionate tone by someone small. It made Mo Ran feel as if they shared a bond like siblings.

Lord Mo could hate someone with all his heart, but he was exceptionally gentle towards those he cherished. Thus, after scratching his head for a while, he squatted down to look at Chu Wanning. His ears turned red without him realizing it.

If only he had a younger brother, he wouldn't have felt so alone.

However, seeing Mo Ran's reaction, Chu Wanning hesitated for a moment before softly trying again, "Senior Brother."

Seniors and senior brothers are different; they are even more intimate.

Mo Ran held his forehead, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. "…"

Chu Wanning gave him a meaningful glance and understood this person's weakness. Anyway, he was currently in the form of a child, and Mo Ran didn't know his true identity, so he wouldn't feel ashamed. Thus, he called out again in a soft voice, "Big Brother."

"……………………"

"Big Brother."

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

"Big Brother Mo Ran."

"Aaaahhh!!! Alright, alright! I'll take you! I'll take you! Just stop screaming!" Mo Ran jumped up, rubbing the goosebumps on his arms, his face flushed as he said, "Come on, come with me. You're amazing, the most amazing. My goodness."

Chu Wanning stood with his hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly as he smiled faintly. "Let's go."

He strolled towards the door slowly, while Mo Ran mumbled softly behind him, "Where did you learn that trick? It's so mushy, oh my goodness..."

Initially, seeing Chu Xun's predicament, Chu Wanning was in a terrible mood. But now, he felt the gloom in his chest gradually dissipate. Suddenly, Mo Ran asked, "Hey, right, what did you want to tell me earlier, junior brother?"

Chu Wanning turned around and replied calmly, "Ah, that thing."

"Hmm?"

"I forgot."

"..."

"I'll tell Brother Mo Ran when I remember it later..."

"Aaaah, no! Don't call me that! Just call me senior brother! That's enough!" Mo Ran waved his hands frantically.

With eyes as deep as a pool and a faint smile on his lips, Chu Wanning said coolly, "Alright then. Senior brother, it's about time. This illusion is formed from the memories of the survivors. Since those people have already left Linan, I don't think this illusion can last much longer. The Ghost King should be coming out soon."

"Indeed... We'll be able to leave once we defeat him, right? Later, I'll definitely investigate who it was that materialized this illusion and tried to kill us!"

Chu Wanning nodded. "Fortunately, from the exchange between the Ghost King and Chu Xun, it seems that this Ghost King isn't particularly powerful. He might be the weakest among the Nine Great Ghost Kings. Although this place has been materialized, I believe our opponent truly regarded me as an ordinary six-year-old child. They didn't expect me to help resolve this illusion."

Mo Ran nodded repeatedly, saying, "You're right."

Chu Wanning replied, "Therefore, it's more accurate to say that the person behind this didn't plan on including me from the beginning. The one they truly wanted to harm was only Senior Brother you."

Mo Ran nodded even more vigorously, "What you said makes perfect sense."

"After we leave, you must clarify this matter with Xue Meng. There may be danger lurking within this Peach Blossom Land; we must stay vigilant. Alright, let's not dwell on this for now. I won't hold you back, Senior Brother. Please lead the way as we break free from this predicament."

As Chu Wanning had anticipated, it came to pass.

By the time it was the hour of the Tiger, the massacre in the city was nearing its end.

A bloody fissure suddenly ripped open at the edge of the sky, and a wisp of smoke drifted into the ruins, coalescing into a hunched figure.

The man's eyes were bloodshot, his skin pale, and half his body was still flesh and blood, while the other half was nothing but stark white bones. He dragged a large black cloak behind him as he trudged through the corpses littering the ancient city of Linan, absorbing the grievances and suffering of the freshly deceased along the way.

Mo Ran hid in the shadows, observing the man's appearance.

"Is it him?"

There was a hint of relief in the voice.

Chu Wanning understood the reason for this relief, but since he had no intention of revealing his identity at this moment, it wouldn't be appropriate for a six-year-old child to know too much.

So he pretended not to know and asked, "What?"

"You guessed correctly. Among the Nine Kings of the Ghost Realm, their powers differ greatly. The weakest should be this one." Mo Ran stood by the window, watching the figure draw closer. He whispered, "Our luck isn't bad."

"How much of a chance does Senior Brother have of winning?"

"Nine out of ten. One shouldn't speak too confidently."

Chu Wanning smiled.

Of course, he knew that there were nine Ghost Kings in the Ghost Realm, with "Skull King" being the weakest. However, strength was relative. With Mo Ran's age and experience, even with a divine weapon at his side, it would still be a stretch for him to face Skull King alone.

But the person who had plotted against Mo Ran had miscalculated. Despite all their calculations, they hadn't accounted for the fact that the child accompanying Mo Ran wasn't just any young disciple from Death's Peak, but Chu Wanning himself.

"Save me..."

Just as the two were about to burst through the door and catch their opponent off guard, they heard a faint groan coming from behind them.

"Ahh, he's still alive?" Mo Ran widened his eyes, turning to see Xiaoman curled up into a tiny ball.

"I don't want to die... Father... I don't want to..."

Chu Wanning gazed upon the youth who appeared as little more than a tattered bundle of rags, shaking his head as he said, "In truth, this person should have perished upon entering the dwelling. Yet within this illusory realm, the reason he still lives is likely due to our presence here, eliminating the zombies that pursued him and thereby altering certain events within the illusion."

Sigh... If he hadn't betrayed, do you think Chu Xun would have survived two hundred years ago? Lin'an might not have become a ruin either...

"Perhaps."

But both understood that what was past could not be undone, and the priority now was to defeat the Skeleton King and escape the illusory realm. With no time for hesitation, Mo Ran and Chu Wanning emerged from their hiding place, slaying their way through the illusions, neither showing any weakness.

Escaping the illusory realm proved easier than they had anticipated.

Mo Ran moved with purpose, swiftly engaging the Skeleton King in combat. However, as he watched the fierce battle unfold, Chu Wanning sensed a growing unease.

This unease did not stem from Mo Ran's disadvantage, for in truth, Mo Ran, guided by Chu Wanning, had maintained the upper hand. Yet, Chu Wanning increasingly perceived something –

The person lurking in the shadows had orchestrated this situation with extraordinary precision.

In other words, that individual had calculated that if only Mo Ran and another mediocre individual were trapped in this illusion, their chances of escape would be exceedingly slim. Yet, they hadn't employed more potent means to kill Mo Ran, clearly not wanting anyone to suspect foul play. Instead, they aimed to create the illusion that Mo Ran had perished due to an accident during his trial within the illusion.

Who could have meticulously planned such a scheme to take Mo Ran's life?

Was it really that fake Chen Gou from Jin Cheng Lake back then...

As Chu Wanning watched the intense battle between Mo Ran and the Ghost King, as time passed, Mo Ran had now gained the upper hand. Dawn was approaching, and the Ghost King's magical power was waning; he wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer. The outcome was all but decided.

But at that moment, Chu Wanning abruptly spotted a human face amidst the zombies sealed by Mo Ran's spells!

"WHO?!"

The person was far away, blending into the horde of corpses. They wore a hooded cloak, half of their face concealed in shadows, revealing only a sharp chin, sweetly hued lips, and a gently curved nose.

In just one glance, Chu Wanning sensed that this individual's demeanor was unlike the illusory figures from two hundred years ago—this person didn't exhibit any aggressive stance, merely lingering silently beneath their hood, facing Chu Wanning and Mo Ran. Upon noticing Chu Wanning's attention, they offered a faint smile before raising their hand to make a slicing motion across their neck, mimicking the act of killing.

Chu Wanning cursed inwardly and swiftly darted forward, intent on capturing this person.

Yet the figure still smiled, lips crimson beneath the hood, teeth gleaming white as they mouthed a word that seemed to be "farewell."

It vanished in a flash.

"Stop!"

It was futile. The sky was illuminated with rays of light, layers of fish belly white surging upwards.

The battle between Mo Ran and the Ghost King came to a brutal end with a final strike—when the Ghost King's head was severed by Mo Ran's Ghoul Slaying Sword, a gush of dark blood spewed out, and the scene before their eyes blurred into a rapid montage. Chu Wanning and Mo Ran were suddenly tossed into the air. The two-hundred-year-old sunrise in Lin'an, the shattered walls and ruins, all transformed into surreal, distorted shadows.

With a thud!

When Chu Wanning hit the ground again, he had returned to the Trial Cave.

Mo Ran was also back, landing beside him, his body stained with the spatters of blood from their battle. But despite that, he didn't seem to be severely injured. Lying on his side, he was clearly still too weak to get up. His dark eyes gazed at Chu Wanning beside him.

After a moment, he reached out and gently touched the tip of his finger to Chu Wanning's forehead.

"You're out."

Chu Wanning acknowledged with a soft hum, but his expression was far from pleasant. "… I just saw someone inside."

"What?"

"It was suspicious. It must have been the one who cast the spell."

Mo Ran shot up, his eyes wide. "You saw him? You actually saw him! Did you recognize who it was? What did he look like?"

Chu Wanning furrowed his brow and shook his head. "He was wearing a hood, so I couldn't see clearly. But judging by his figure, he seemed to be a young man, quite thin with a sharp chin..."

There was half a sentence left unsaid.

He felt a faint sense of familiarity from that half-faced silhouette, as if he had seen it somewhere before a long time ago. Yet, he also suspected it might just be his imagination, after all, it was only the lower half of the face. There were plenty of people who could share similarities, and he couldn't make a judgment at once.

Lost in thought, he suddenly felt Mo Ran patting his shoulder.

"Junior Brother."

"What's wrong?"

"...Look over there."

Mo Ran's voice was low and carried a hint of chill.

Chu Wanning lifted his head, following the direction he pointed.

It was Number Eighteen.

At the entrance of the Trial Cave, Number Eighteen's bulging eyes hung from the ceiling, her feet clad in silk embroidered shoes swaying mid-air.

She was already dead. There was no wind here, but judging from the extent of her body's sway, her killer had just left not too long ago.

What made Chu Wanning and Mo Ran's faces turn pale with shock, however, was the weapon tightly wrapped around her neck.

It was a willow vine.

Its leaves were like razor blades, shimmering with a fierce red glow. From time to time, flames would burst forth, scattering sparks and blood droplets together.

Damn it.

It turned out that the one who had strangled Number Eighteen and hung her from the cavern's ceiling was none other than the divine weapon, Ghost Seer!

Author's Note: Pseudonym: Eh? Didn't you rush to strip me off in the last chapter? Now, let me take it off for you...

Chu Wanning: There's no turning back; you'd better behave on me (with an indifferent expression).

Today, there's a preview on Weibo of Qiuqiu's first encounter with his Fish-Feeding Master under a gorgeous cherry blossom tree. Welcome to take a look!

Zhou Heng visited Fu Luoyin's place to help pack for his trip to the artificial island for the birthday celebration.

The holiday had been pre-approved, and Fu Luoyin had used part of his annual leave in preparation for the event.

Recently, Zhou Heng had been incredibly busy due to Fu Luoyin's increased reliance on him. Fu Luoyin had always been an easygoing boss, not being picky and assigning mostly important tasks to Zhou Heng, with little concern for minor details.

Lately, Zhou Heng was practically visiting daily. If he didn't remind Fu Luoyin, the boss would likely neglect even meals given his current state.

Upon arriving today, he found Fu Luoyin sleeping on the sofa, looking exhausted. This was the second time Zhou Heng had seen him like this in a week.

The reason for Fu Luoyin's change seemed to be... Lin Shuicheng.

Su Yu had called in the morning using the landline, which Zhou Heng answered – Fu Luoyin hadn't picked up his mobile phone, so Su Yu resorted to the landline.

Su Yu asked Zhou Heng about the situation, "How is he?"

Zhou Heng replied, "Mr. Su, I'm Assistant to Mr. Fu. The boss seems to be in a bad mood and isn't keen on taking calls."

Su Yu was taken aback, "Did he not manage to deliver the flowers?"

Zhou Heng scratched his head and asked, "What flower?" When he came over, he hadn't noticed any flowers in the room.

Su Yu didn't elaborate on what kind of flower it was. He just sighed. "Ah, forget it, forget it. You can't force these things. I did consider this possibility... but I really didn't expect Sister-in-law to be so decisive. Ah."

During breakfast, Fu Luoyin had no appetite. Even the delicious takeout lost its appeal to him. He forced himself to eat a few bites for the sake of his health, but halfway through, he felt unwell and ended up vomiting everything out. Eventually, he lay down on the sofa with his hand on his stomach.

Seeing that Fu Luoyin's overall condition wasn't good, Zhou Heng didn't dare make a sound as he carried out his tasks. He dragged Fu Luoyin's suitcase into the living room and was about to put Fu Luoyin's mint-flavored cigarettes inside when he heard the latter's hoarse voice from behind. "Don't pack them. Adjust my schedule, I'm not going. You can deliver the gift on my behalf."

Zhou Heng was taken aback. "... You're not going?"

"I don't want to go. I don't want to see Lin Shuicheng," Fu Luoyin said, lying on the sofa with one hand covering his eyes. He sounded exhausted and his voice was raspy. "But he might not go either. Just do as I say and apologize to Su Yu for me."

Zhou Heng felt awkward. Just as he was pondering over what to do next, Fu Luoyin's phone rang.

A notification beeped, indicating a text message.

Fu Luoyin picked up his phone and stared at it for a long moment.

Then, as if realizing something, he quickly opened the messaging app.

Lin Shuicheng: "I have the invitation now. Thank you for the flowers. I didn't see the message before."

Fu Luoyin instinctively typed and sent, "Were you at home yesterday? Why didn't you come to see me?"

Only after sending the message did Fu Luoyin realize that Lin Shuicheng was referring to not seeing the message. He quickly added, "It's okay, as long as you like it. When are you planning to leave? I can come pick you up?"

Lin Shuicheng was clearly on the other end and promptly replied, "No need, I have my own car. I'll drive there."

"Oh, you bought a car. That's great," Fu Luoyin finally said, not knowing what else to say. "So, see you tomorrow?"

There was no further response from Lin Shuicheng.

Nonetheless, Fu Luoyin felt a spark of hope rekindle within him, like embers reigniting.

It turned out that Lin Shuicheng hadn't intentionally avoided him; he simply hadn't seen the message.

The man upstairs might have only seen Lin Shuicheng collecting a delivery but not necessarily leaving the house. Perhaps Lin Shuicheng wasn't even at home yesterday afternoon or evening?

In that instant, Fu Luoyin felt like a fool, yet the inexplicable surge of emotion brought a sweetness that he savored.

It was the first time he had sent flowers to someone, and the recipient had accepted them.

And tomorrow, he would get to see Lin Shuicheng again.

Between sending and receiving a text message, Zhou Heng observed, amazed, the transformation in his boss: Fu Luoyin suddenly sat up from the sofa, then got up to rub his hair, telling him, "Never mind, I'll handle the packing myself. Go buy me some eternal flowers, cherry blossoms to be precise, with a rose inserted in them. Have them delivered to Lin Shuicheng's room beforehand."

His expression and demeanor were calm, but Zhou Heng could sense an uplifted tone in his voice.

Scratching his head, Zhou Heng followed his instructions.

Lin Shuicheng packed his luggage. Since he wouldn't be home for three days, it wasn't appropriate to bring his two cats along, so he posted a part-time job on the campus recruitment platform, quickly hiring a first-year female student to feed the cats at his place. With nothing in his rented room, he gave her a spare key directly.

Unable to drive, he programmed his autonomous vehicle to head for the artificial island. However, an issue arose mid-journey: The navigation system hadn't been updated in time, and the automatic route took him down a road with construction work, leaving him stranded halfway and requiring a new route to be set.

Due to this delay, he sent Su Yu a text to apologize in advance, "I might be a bit late. Sorry about that."

Su Yu promptly replied, "It's okay, don't worry about being late. The banquet lasts three days, and Sister, since you can't drive, please be cautious on the road."

He still referred to him as "Sister."

Since early morning, guests had been arriving steadily. Su Yu, dressed in formal attire, was assisting his mother in greeting them, looking handsome and vibrant.

The birthday party the Su family was throwing for Yan Zi rivaled the grandeur of a previous wedding banquet for the heir of a business empire. Prominent figures from various sectors were present. After settling into their rooms, the ladies donned their evening gowns, while the gentlemen were elegantly suited up. The geothermal system provided warmth throughout the event, turning the depths of winter into a late spring-like atmosphere.

All newspaper reporters were kept outside, with only the Su family's designated photographer allowed entry to capture the memories. Attendees included eighty percent of the Alliance's elite, all well aware that this was an excellent opportunity for socializing and exchanging resources. The Su family held a significant portion of medical resources, a status that wouldn't be altered by changes in their board structure. Everyone showed respect to the Su family accordingly.

Fu Luoyin arrived early and, upon seeing Su Yu, asked, "Where's Lin Shuicheng? Has he come?"

Su Yu rolled his eyes. "His wife just texted me, saying he might be late. You'll have to wait patiently. What happened, did you fail to deliver the flowers?"

Fu Luoyin remained composed. "I delivered them."

"Alright then, Brother Negative Two," Su Yu joked. "Aren't you going to give your Chief Love Advisor some benefits? Look at me, standing here alone, greeting guests in the biting wind..."

Su Yu expected Fu Luoyin to decline, perhaps suggesting he "drink more hot water." To his surprise, Fu Luoyin considered it and agreed. "Sure, I'll help you greet the guests."

"Oh no, oh no, Brother Negative Two. It's my mom's birthday, and if two single young men stand here, what will people think?" Su Yu almost laughed out loud. "You should go sit upstairs for now. And didn't you forget something? Don't you know who's coming today?"

Fu Luoyin was clearly taken aback. "Who's coming?"

Su Yu was exasperated. "Xia Ran!"

"…" Fu Luoyin was taken aback.

These past few days, he had been in a daze, with Lin Shuicheng occupying his mind entirely. He had actually forgotten about Xia Ran, and that Xia Ran would also attend Su Yu's mother's birthday party.

"You really didn't think of it, didn't you, Negative Two?" Su Yu understood from his reaction and didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. "I told you, you've already fallen for him! And yet you still haven't made your move. How could you be so obtuse?"

Fu Luoyin didn't respond. He grabbed a glass of champagne and started to head upstairs. Upon hearing Su Yu's words, his pace quickened as if he were feeling restless.

After a few steps, he noticed his seat and suddenly turned back to ask Su Yu, somewhat hesitant. "Xia Ran is sitting—"

"Don't worry. You're upstairs, and Xia Ran is downstairs. You won't cross paths," Su Yu said dryly. "Of course, if you want to rekindle your old flames, I'm sure even one floor wouldn't stop you. When the time comes, your wife will join me in—"

"Favoring Lin Shuicheng's arrival," Fu Luoyin interrupted him bluntly. After a moment, he added, "Forget it. I'll take a picture of my seat and send it to him. He'll know how to get here."

Su Yu watched his confident figure ascend the stairs and muttered silently, "...Your wife might not be willing to sit with you now, especially after receiving that bouquet. Where did your confidence come from?"

As more guests arrived, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Yan Zi descended the stairs fully dressed and made-up, greeting and conversing with various guests alongside Su Yu. Su Yu's father was in charge of orchestrating the entire banquet behind the scenes.

For Su Yu, today was a challenging endeavor. By mid-morning, his cheeks ached from smiling so much as he diligently memorized names and politely addressed everyone as uncle, aunt, elder brother, or sister, exchanging polite conversation.

Yan Zi expressed her satisfaction, "Not bad, you've matured quite a bit. Take a break later and go upstairs to play with your friends. I'll be opening gifts, and when there's an important guest, I'll call you down. Do you know who else is coming? The CEO of Runsheng Pharmaceutical! Their clinical trials are far superior to ours; they're industry veterans. I don't expect you to convince them to collaborate, but at least make an acquaintance. In the future, when your dad and I are older, they might lend you a hand out of respect."

Su Yu replied, "Alright, mom. I'll go upstairs for a drink first, and you should take a seat and rest."

Regardless of age, women always had an enthusiasm for gifts.

With most guests having arrived, Su Yu was about to ascend the stairs when he caught sight of Xia Ran and Dong Shuoye together. He pretended not to notice and quickly went to find Fu Luoyin. His father and a few protégés nurtured by his mother took over the task of welcoming the guests downstairs.

Dong Shuoye watched Su Yu's retreating figure, raising an eyebrow. Turning to Xia Ran, he said, "Well, that's it for now. I'll head up first. See you later."

Xia Ran also encountered acquaintances - Fu Xue and Bai Yiyi. Fu Xue had received an invitation on behalf of Yangfeng Nanotech, while Bai Yiyi's family was affiliated with another company connected to Yangfeng Tech, hence her presence.

Bai Yiyi whispered upon seeing Xia Ran, "Fu Luoyin is upstairs, Ranran."

Xia Ran froze, his fingers stiffening in surprise.

Bai Yiyi whispered, "Doctor Yan is currently upstairs talking to someone. Go give him the gift. Fu Luoyin will see you. Come on, I'll accompany you."

Bai Yiyi tugged Xia Ran along and hurried upstairs.

In the meantime, observant individuals had already noticed their movement.

Su Yu's eyes widened as she instinctively glanced back at Fu Luoyin—Fu Luoyin was oblivious, engrossed in his text messages, repeatedly refreshing the screen, awaiting Lin Shuicheng's response.

Dong Shuoye sat beside Fu Luoyin with an amused expression, silently observing the scene. He leisurely poured himself a cup of tea without uttering a word.

In the meantime, the revolving door at the entrance swirled open, and a slender figure rushed in.

Attired in a handsome and well-fitting suit, Lin Shuicheng nodded at the attendant to confirm his seating arrangement – on the second floor. Su Yu had deliberately seated Lin Shuicheng with a few of his university classmates with whom he was not particularly close, to ensure that Lin Shuicheng would feel at ease.

Observing Xia Ran about to ascend the stairs, Su Yu simply called out loudly, "Sister-in-law! This way, Sister-in-law!" His exclamation drew many curious glances their way.

Upon hearing his voice, Fu Luoyin rose to his feet and swiftly looked down.

At that very moment, Xia Ran and Lin Shuicheng were both heading towards the same stairwell, while Su Yu and Fu Luoyin rushed over in quick steps. Downstairs, Fu Xue recognized Lin Shuicheng at first sight. She apologized to the person beside her, "Excuse me, I'll be back in a moment," before hastening towards the door. From a distance, she stretched out her hand, eager to shake hands with Lin Shuicheng and desperately trying to stop him. "Mr. Lin! Mr. Lin!"

Yet, Lin Shuicheng remained oblivious, his gaze lowered as he leisurely typed a reply to Fu Luoyin: "No need, I've arrived. Thank you." Unperturbed, he continued walking.

The shop assistant was already acquainted with him and promptly poured a warm porridge, warmly greeting him, "Young Master, do you still want five donkey meat buns today?"

Chang Ji chuckled and said, "Make it ten this time. My brother will be joining us later."

The "brother" Chang Ji referred to was Heng Ping. Unfortunately, Heng Ping had no appetite for the donkey meat buns today. He had already had his breakfast on his way from Hejing Alley.

With dark circles under his eyes, Heng Ping pushed the plate of five donkey meat buns back towards Chang Ji and told him, "I'm not hungry. You can have them."

Chang Ji sipped his warm porridge and asked, "What's wrong? You've been devouring them as if you couldn't get enough, wanting to eat ten or even more in one go these past few days. Why aren't you eating now?"

"When I left Hejing Alley, Eunuch Liu sent over two boxes of freshly steamed pastries and fruits, saying that I've been working hard lately."

The 'Eunuch Liu' mentioned by Heng Ping was none other than Yang Xu's adopted son, Liu Yuan.

This Eunuch Liu currently served as the Left Junior Inspector of the Royal Horse Supervisor under the supervision of Chief Eunuch Gui Zhong at the Royal Horse Supervisor.

Like Yang Xu, Gui Zhong was also an adopted son of the Grand Eunuch Pei Shunnian of the Supervisor of Ceremonies. However, unlike Yang Xu, Gui Zhong was not favored by Pei Shunnian. When Yang Xu took charge of the Eastern Depot, Gui Zhong was assigned to the Royal Horse Supervisor.

Back then, the Royal Horse Supervisor was merely the Imperial Stables, responsible for the imperial horses without being part of the twelve imperial departments within the palace.

However, Gui Zhong's luck was good. The year he joined the Royal Horse Stable, Emperor Jia Yu promoted it to the Royal Horse Supervisor and selected strong soldiers from various regional garrisons to form two elite troops under its command, with the Royal Horse Supervisor in charge of their training.

As a result, the Royal Horse Supervisor gained military authority, becoming a "mini-Ministry of War" within the palace.

Of course, Gui Zhong's power couldn't compare to Yang Xu, who oversaw the Eastern Depot. Yet Yang Xu, always cautious, had transferred his trusted aide Liu Yuan from the Imperial Supplies Bureau to the Royal Horse Supervisor to keep a watchful eye on Gui Zhong at all times.

Liu Yuan owned a private residence in Hejing Alley, which Heng Ping had been monitoring these days.

Upon hearing Heng Ping's words, Chang Ji's eyes widened as he stared at the empty-handed man. "You actually ate the snacks and fruits that person gave you? Weren't you afraid of being poisoned?"

Heng Ping replied expressionlessly, "He wanted me to deliver a message to our master. How could he dare poison me?"

Chang Ji choked, his eyes rolling. Curious, he asked, "What kind of snacks and fruits were they? How did they taste?"

With disdain, Heng Ping glanced at Chang Ji. "I'm going back to take a nap."

Seeing the bloodshot veins in Heng Ping's eyes, Chang Ji waved him off. "Go, go. Master said you don't need to tail that person anymore starting today. Since he sent someone to give you snacks and fruits, he probably knows it's your last day on surveillance duty."

Biting fiercely into a roasted donkey meat bun, he narrowed his eyes. "He's quite a clever one."

...

Liu Yuan's message for Gu Changjin was concise yet poignant:

"Since Lord Gu desires Li'er's life, then I shall yield it to him."

That night, after Gu Changjin finished his duties, he listened to Heng Ping's report without showing any sign of surprise. He simply nodded calmly and said, "There's no need to keep an eye on Liu Yuan anymore. When the time is right, he will come to me."

Chang Ji, intrigued, inquired, "If Eunuch Liu knew that Heng Ping was watching him, why wasn't he angered at all? And besides, wasn't that assassin from his faction yesterday?"

Liu Yuan was originally the chief eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Agency, responsible for managing the emperor's personal items. Since Emperor Jiayou favored dragon's saliva incense, it was a small eunuch from the agency who delivered it daily to the Qianqing Palace.

Over time, these young eunuchs would inadvertently absorb a hint of the fragrance.

The master's instruction not to investigate households in the capital using dragon's saliva incense likely stemmed from the suspicion that the assassin was connected to the Imperial Household Agency.

At such a crucial moment, deliberately arranging for Xu Li'er's hanging and forging a bloody letter to stir up the people's hatred towards Yang Xu and the Eastern Depot – it all seemed to point to a deep-seated enmity with Yang Xu!

These eunuchs, who were all on their best behavior, calling Yang Xu "father" with such affection, were clearly not the benevolent sort.

"Right now, this man is Yang Xu's most favored adopted son. If Yang Xu can smoothly inherit the position of the Grand Secretary, leading the Supervisor of Ceremonies, he will naturally rise to prominence as well. Not to mention the Royal Horse Supervisor, even the position of the Eastern Depot's Director would be within reach. So why does he seem intent on destroying Yang Xu? Isn't that like tearing down one's own fortress?"

Chang Ji shook his head and tsked as he spoke.

Gu Changjin remained silent, tapping his long fingers on the desk. "Any news from Shiiun?"

"Not yet," Chang Ji replied. "After all, it's been over a decade. Many traces have likely been erased, making it difficult to uncover the truth of that time. Of course, given Shiiun's nature, the more challenging a task, the more determined he is to get to the bottom of it. I'd say in another ten days or so, we should have some leads."

Back then, among the five people closest to their master, Shiiun was the sharpest-minded. Otherwise, the master wouldn't have allowed Shiiun to fake his death and leave the Gu family.

Chang Ji considered himself an intelligent and resourceful person, but compared to Shiiun, who was full of cunning tricks, he still felt inadequate.

Well, that's what being a good-natured person gets you.

"Let's not rush this matter," Gu Changjin rubbed his forehead and said, "Go brew me a pot of cold tea, make it strong."

Again with the cold tea?

Chang Ji cast a glance at Gu Changjin and withdrew upon hearing his instructions. As he was leaving, Gu Changjin added, "Find an appropriate time tomorrow to visit the Songsi Courtyard and inform Yingyue and Ying Que. Xu Lier has already departed for Daci'en Temple after her interrogation at the Ministry of Punishments today. With imperial attendants accompanying her, there shouldn't be any further incidents."

Chang Ji was taken aback but quickly realized that these words were intended for the young madam.

Yingyue and Ying Que were merely servants; any news they obtained would ultimately be reported to the young madam.

Indeed, the young madam had personally gone to the post station to see Xu Lier yesterday and had spent half the night conversing with her, showing genuine concern. By informing the young madam, it would likely alleviate some of her worries.

Chapter 26

The pot of cold tea that Chang Ji had prepared went unused.

For Gu Changjin hadn't had a single dream throughout the night, and slept soundly.

Whenever he thought about not having had any dreams the previous night, his thoughts would naturally drift towards Rong Shu.

"Mrs. Yan usually enjoys flower tea, but Su Yu didn't specify which kind," Dong Shuoye said.

Xia Ran bowed his head to search for information online. "What about you? What are you planning to give?"

Dong Shuoye replied, "I'm thinking of a piece of hand-dyed fabric. I noticed Aunt Yan likes to wear clothes that are tailored by hand and have a slightly traditional style. She should appreciate receiving the raw material."

Xia Ran pondered for a moment. "As for tea, we're not sure what particular type Aunt Yan Zi prefers. Whatever she likes, she likely has in abundance already. A new batch might not suit her taste. I'll choose a tea set for her instead."

He glanced at the store information that appeared in his search. "There's an auction house for porcelain in Star City that occasionally sells individual pieces directly. We can go take a look."

At five o'clock in the morning, Lin Shuicheng opened his eyes and exhaled softly in the darkness.

One cat slept at the head of the bed, while the other slept at the foot. Chief slept soundly, but "Fu Luoyin" was startled awake by Lin Shuicheng's movements. The gray kitten stood up from its corrugated cardboard nest, its eyes glowing faintly in the dark.

The kitten's eyes were yellow-green, leaning more towards yellow, lacking the eerie greenish glow that Chief's eyes had when he glared. They were like two small lamps, evoking a sense of inexplicable comfort and protection. It simply observed him with mild curiosity.

Lately, Lin Shuicheng's sleep pattern had been completely disrupted, mainly due to his worsening sleep quality. Initially, he experienced vivid dreams and difficulty falling asleep, often waking up easily. Then, he found himself becoming increasingly immersed in his dreams. The clarity with which his dreams used to translate into reality after he woke up suddenly vanished – or rather, his perception of dreams became more realistic. It felt as if he would permanently be trapped within them, never able to awaken.

He couldn't recall the specifics of his dreams, but they couldn't have been pleasant, given that he always startled awake.

Lin Shuicheng rubbed his damp hair from the cold sweat and got out of bed to take a hot shower.

It took him half an hour just to get out of bed, and almost an hour to wash from hot to cold water.

Recently, he had become so lethargic that even completing such trivial tasks was a challenge. He could now lie idle for hours on end, barely playing games.

His phone pinged.

Lin Shuicheng hadn't touched his phone in a long time, but when it lit up this time, he paused, then unlocked it to read the full message.

It was a notification from the hospital: "Dear family member, the ICU visiting route has been upgraded. Visiting hours are now open 24/7, though the allowed visiting time remains unchanged at half an hour per day."

Compared to the first few years, Lin Deng's condition had stabilized. Originally, he could have been transferred out of the ICU, but because Lin Shuicheng had chosen the brain stimulation treatment at Third Hospital for Lin Deng, the equipment and monitoring required were only available in the ICU, so he remained there.

Only then did Lin Shuicheng realize that he hadn't visited Lin Deng in a while.

Thoughts of his brother slightly revived his spirits. He changed clothes and prepared to leave.

Scanning through the rest of his messages, he noticed an unfamiliar number had tried to contact him multiple times. The latest text read, "Your birthday invitation will be delivered by someone else. Please ensure your communication lines are open."

Lin Shuicheng couldn't recall whose birthday invitation this was, and he deleted the message along with it.

At the hospital, after visiting Lin Deng, he changed out of his sterile clothes and shoe covers. Just as he was leaving, he bumped into a nurse who was there to conduct sterilization checks.

The nurse recognized him and spoke casually about Lin Deng, "Dengdeng has grown up quite a bit now. His condition is pretty good. Doctor Yan Zi came over the other day to examine Dengdeng's neural synapse electrical responses. The electrical activity has significantly increased compared to before, so perhaps he'll wake up soon."

Lin Shuicheng replied, "Thank you."

Only at this moment did he suddenly remember something – he finally recalled what he had forgotten. Lin Shuicheng asked, "Is Doctor Yan's birthday coming up?"

"Yes, Master's birthday party is in two days," the nurse said with a smile. "You know Su Yu, Mr. Lin, right? You'll be going, won't you? It's a shame I can't attend because I'm going on a trip with my boyfriend."

Lin Shuicheng rubbed his temples and nodded. "Yes, yes, I'll be there – I haven't had time to pick a gift yet. Could you tell me if Doctor Yan has any particular preferences or hobbies that might help me choose?"

The nurse pondered for a moment. "Hmm... Director doesn't really have any extravagant needs. He's not short of money or things, but he does enjoy brewing and drinking floral teas. There are even two tea sets in Master's office, very delicate ones. We can sometimes sneak in a cup when we're not too busy."

Lin Shuicheng inquired, "Does Doctor Yan have a favorite type of tea? Do you recall any specific flavors?"

The nurse replied, "I'm not sure about that. I just remember it being tangy, sweet, and fragrant. Each time seems to be different."

Lin Shuicheng said, "Thank you."

The nurse replied, "It's okay, Mr. Lin. I'll head to the sterile area first."

In the ICU floor, the elevators were set for emergency use. As usual, Lin Shuicheng took the escalator down.

At the end of the escalator, the department directory was displayed as always. Above Lin Shuicheng's head, a green sign with an arrow pointed clearly to "Neurology."

The elevator descended slowly. Staring at the indicator, Lin Shuicheng paused in his steps.

At this hour, only doctors on night duty would still be seeing patients. After registering, Lin Shuicheng entered the consultation room and found a young female doctor sitting there. She smiled and nodded at him, saying, "Hello."

Beside her, an intern physician offered Lin Shuicheng a cup of hot water.

Lin Shuicheng returned the greeting and then asked, "Hello. Can you prescribe me some sleeping pills? I've been suffering from insomnia for a long time. I don't need a large dosage, just two or three pills would do. I haven't been able to sleep normally for about two weeks now."

"Take it easy. Explain slowly. We can't prescribe medication without due consideration. We have to be responsible for our patients," the female doctor said after listening to his description. She handed him a form, "First, go for a blood test, then get a CT scan, thyroid function test, and an EEG. Don't worry, we're just confirming the cause of your insomnia. These tests are covered by Star City's medical insurance. Bring the results back to us when you're done."

Lin Shuicheng hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent. After accepting the form, he left to take the tests, thanking her before he closed the door behind him.

After he left, the internist watched his departing figure and whispered to the female doctor, "That guy is really good-looking, but Teacher, usually we only check endocrine and brain function. Why did we also ask him for a blood test and thyroid screening?"

He had just arrived for a day or two and was a third-year student at Star City Medical University.

"The patient's insomnia is most likely due to depression," the doctor explained. "The other tests are to confirm it. I've seen many cases like this. One glance is enough to tell me their condition. They only mention insomnia but don't realize or don't want to admit their depression. Eighty percent of patients in psychology also shuttle back and forth to our department. In the actual diagnosis, interdisciplinary assessments are always involved. The human body is one of the most complex systems, and issues related to the brain, nervous system, and endocrine are the most challenging. You'll understand that soon. Also, did you notice how he emphasized 'not a large dosage'? That indicates he has an estimation of his condition in his subconscious. He fears we won't prescribe sleeping pills because of his depression. The more such tendencies, the less we should prescribe them. It's very risky. When he returns, we'll still give him antidepressants as usual."

The hospital was less crowded in the early hours. Lin Shuicheng received all his test results about half an hour later.

Sitting on a bench outside the lab, he went through each item one by one.

His major was chemistry, and he had collaborated with numerous pharmaceutical companies. The English abbreviations, units, and numerical ranges that seemed like gibberish to others were crystal clear to him.

A moment later, Lin Shuicheng stood up and walked out but not back to the neurology department. Instead, he headed for the escalator.

It was five o'clock in the morning when most city dwellers were still asleep.

Fu Luoyin was browsing a student forum near the university; Su Yu was sleeping with a pair of slippers hugged in his arms; the auction house was brightly lit and bustling with people. In the neurology department's on-duty office, the internist opened the door but didn't find the handsome young man.

As Lin Shuicheng walked, he folded the test report in his hand twice before gently tearing it into pieces. He threw them into the trash bin and left the hospital without looking back.

Six in the morning.

Lin Shuicheng hailed a taxi to arrive at the auction house, browsing through the scattered tea sets on sale.

This was the most reputable auction house he had found through his research. On the official website, Lin Shuicheng had seen pictures of several tea sets with relatively lower prices for individual pieces, ranging from thirty to fifty thousand yuan. He planned to inspect them in person.

After entering the store, Lin Shuicheng showed the saved images from the website to the staff member. He had his eye on a nine-piece Yōmei Zisha teapot set and hoped to purchase it.

The staff member excused himself for a moment, then returned with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, sir. This tea set has already been sold today. The information on our website hasn't been updated yet, so unfortunately, it's no longer available. Would you like to look at some other options?"

Lin Shuicheng didn't decline and, guided by the staff member, examined a few more tea sets, but none of them quite met his expectations.

Seemingly reading his thoughts, the staff member asked, "Among these, is there anything that catches your fancy, sir?"

Lin Shuicheng pointed at a celadon Ru kiln tea set. "This one is very beautiful, but I'm gifting it to an elder, and it doesn't seem quite appropriate."

The base of the Ru kiln cups featured delicate ripple patterns resembling water, forming the double happiness symbol, which was typically used as a wedding gift.

The manager, standing nearby, drew in a breath before smiling. "How coincidental. I feel like I've witnessed this scene before. The customer who just bought the nine-piece Yōmei set also pointed at this one, saying it was nice but not suitable for an elder's birthday. What a coincidence. I believe his surname was Xia? It seems both of you have similar tastes."

The clerk scratched his head. "Seems like it.

Lin Shuicheng eventually purchased the celadon tea set. He commented, "I can probably give it to my younger brother as a wedding gift in the future."

At precisely seven o'clock.

Fu Luoyin entered work, leaving breakfast on the dining table. Lin Shuicheng returned home, feeding both Chief and the little gray cat before administering medicine to the feline.

He placed his phone by the bedside, turned on the induction cooker to cook himself a bowl of instant noodles, then proceeded to freshen up before lying back in bed.

This time, he finally remembered snippets of his dream. In it, his home had turned gray, and the entire Dongtong City was shrouded in a gloomy haze, as if filtered with an indelible shade.

Lin Shuicheng opened the door to find his grandfather, father, and younger brother in the yard, all of them appearing gray as well. In a corner sat another person, also gray and silent—his name was Chu Shihan.

They all gazed at him tenderly without speaking, their faces tinged with sorrow.

He asked, "What are you doing?"

He took a step forward, but with each step, the people and events in the courtyard moved further away from him. The scene shifted, and these individuals went about their separate tasks.

Lin Wang wore his police uniform with a solemn expression, a sight that Lin Shuicheng had witnessed many times in his youth. He knew it meant his father was embarking on an urgent mission.

Lin Deng was engrossed in homework, while Chu Shihan sat at a desk reading a book.

Lin Shuicheng even saw his younger self.

In the yard, his grandfather lay in a rocking chair basking in the sun, his mouth moving as if reciting poetry loudly for him. Young Lin Shuicheng crouched before him, attentively listening with his little head in his hands.

His grandfather was a man of chivalry, a teacher who, apart from insisting they practice calligraphy, would jot down mediocre verses when idle. His sole regret was not nurturing Lin Shuicheng into a literary figure – it was clear that Lin Shuicheng was more suited to science and engineering. Thus, the elder then set his sights on Lin Deng.

Lin Shuicheng asked, "Why aren't you talking to me?"

Still, no one replied. In the dream, he looked up to see snow beginning to fall, fluttering down to transform into paper money upon hitting the ground. Dongtong City's funeral had commenced.

Awakening from this dream, Lin Shuicheng felt his heart pounding wildly. The oppressive atmosphere almost suffocated him.

It was 9:30 AM.

Fu Luoyin slowed his speech due to stomach pain, and the others in the conference room lifted their heads to listen attentively, creating an atmosphere of profound silence.

The leader, Chief, leaped into Lin Shuicheng's arms, gently licked his cheek, then hopped off the bed and slipped out through the pet door of the rental apartment, beginning its daily inspection of its subordinates.

Lin Shuicheng got up to make a call. "Hello, this is Lin Shuicheng."

The person on the other end clearly remembered him and promptly responded, "Oh oh oh, Mr. Lin, how have you been lately! Do you still have time to take on projects? We've been struggling to find someone these past few days..."

Each word was recognizable, even writable, but when strung together, they seemed to lose their meaning, as if a barrier had been placed over the world, turning all sounds but his own into a buzzing noise.

Lin Shuicheng's ears started ringing violently again. After taking a few deep breaths, he pressed the back of his ear, then, amid the subsequent dizziness, bit down hard on his fingertip to jolt himself back to consciousness with the pain.

"I was wondering if you could help me with something. Could you send me a few more boxes of the drug I synthesized for your company that's already on the market? I'd like to keep them as a memento. Unfortunately, I misplaced the samples during my recent move. This over-the-counter medication isn't available for purchase, and I'm truly sorry about it."

The caller immediately replied, "Of course, no problem at all. Are you in Star City? We'll deliver them right away!"

Lin Shuicheng provided his address and then settled into waiting.

Doing nothing, maintaining this position, just waiting.

Two hours later, a knock sounded on his door. Lin Shuicheng roused himself to answer, and the person handed him a brick-like package. "A delivery from a pharmaceutical company. Please sign for it."

After signing, Lin Shuicheng opened the box to find forty identical medication boxes, each containing pale green pills. The label read: Recommended dosage: Half a pill per day for adults.

He poured himself a glass of water and swallowed four pills before returning to bed, awaiting the next stretch of sleep.

His desire to sleep overpowered all rational thought.

In his dreams, he was acutely aware that the drug would affect the synthesis, transport, and effects of 5-HT1A, norepinephrine, GABA, and glutamate in his blood and nerves, areas beyond his perception. His corticosteroids, which inhibited neuron regeneration in his hippocampus, would temporarily reverse course – all for the sake of the two-week-long awaited peaceful sleep.

This antidepressant also came with severe side effects. It blocked several neurotransmitter receptors unrelated to its therapeutic effects. He would become even more drowsy, with low blood pressure. If he were lucky, he might even slip into an oblivious state and never wake up.

At two in the afternoon, Fu Luoyin emerged from a flower shop, inserting roses into a bouquet of pink cherry blossoms.

Half past two, he stood outside Lin Shuicheng's door.

"Lin Shuicheng."

Fu Luoyin knocked gently.

There was no response.

Fu Luoyin took a deep breath and said calmly, "I've come to deliver an invitation. If you're inside, please come out and take it. If you have the time, pack up your things. I drove here, so I can take you home. I didn't mean to disturb you, but you didn't answer my calls or reply to my messages."

"If you're not ready to go back yet, I won't force you. But don't contact that man with the surname Han anymore. He's not good for you. He's someone who's supposed to inherit the family business, but in his twenties, he hasn't accomplished anything significant. He's just a student council president engaged in petty squabbles, playing house. He's not suitable for you."

Still, there was no response.

"I'll wait for you until midnight tonight, Lin Shuicheng."

Fu Luoyin stood outside with the flowers in hand, staring at the door without moving.

He was handsome and poised, holding the bouquet upright, drawing the attention of many students. Despite the comings and goings of people, Fu Luoyin remained steadfast, standing as if he were in military posture, almost as if in a stubborn challenge.

From afternoon to dusk, and then from dusk to night.

On the first day Fu Luoyin entered District 8, he and the other twenty students in his class were punished to stand in military posture all night.

It had started when the drill instructor scolded them for marching "like donkeys." One student had retorted, "We haven't even started learning how to march properly," which only earned him a stricter rebuke, "Never learned how to march? Where did your middle and high school military training go? A bunch of good-for-nothings!"

On that full moonlit night, the instructor kept a watchful eye on them, prodding their hands pressed against their pants with his cane or kicking the back of their knees. If the cane went through or the knee bent, it meant they weren't exerting any force, and they'd be punished with twenty laps around the field.

Only Fu Luoyin truly persevered throughout the entire night, exerting all his strength.

The moment the instructor blew the whistle for a break, he fell to the ground, his trembling muscles barely able to support him as he tried to stand up.

It was 9:30 in the evening.

Lin Shuicheng still hadn't shown up, but Fu Luoyin spotted a familiar cat – the Chief, tail held high, strolled past him. After casting a glance back, the feline seemed taken aback for a moment before approaching to sniff his shoes.

A small gray kitten also slunk from behind the wall, mimicking the action, sniffing at his shoes.

Then, the two cats entered the pet door one after the other.

A middle-aged man, who lived on the same floor as the teachers, walked by and glanced back at him. "Waiting for someone, young man? I saw you standing here this afternoon."

Fu Luoyin managed a weak smile. "Yes, waiting for someone. Do you know if the person who lives here is home? I haven't been able to get in touch with them recently."

"Hmm, how could I not know? That boy has a red mole, right? Quite noticeable. Just before you arrived this afternoon, I saw him receive a delivery while opening the door. I was hanging laundry downstairs at the time." Before ascending the stairs, the man couldn't help but comment, "Truly young, still with time for these romantic pursuits. Back in my college days, I waited an entire night under a girl's window. As long as she became my wife, it was all worth it."

Fu Luoyin's smile became even more strained.

His grin was like a cheap mask. Even Fu Luoyin himself sensed that with the passage of time, he was gradually losing control over maintaining this expression. It was as if the pale wall paint was peeling off bit by bit, crumbling into fragments.

It was half past eleven at night, with half an hour left before midnight.

Finally, Fu Luoyin moved. He bent down and placed the flowers and invitation card in front of the door.

Moonlight poured down, casting a melancholic touch upon the exquisite gift box.

What he didn't want, he would never have sought anyway. Those eight hours were the most humbling, embarrassing, and abnormal hours of his life, something even Lin Shuicheng would never know about.

Turning around, Fu Luoyin walked towards the parking lot. As he did, he casually took out the anti-allergy medication he had on him and tossed it into the trash can.

He pressed his lips together tightly, his expression unchanged. He still clung to his cold exterior, though his eyes were gradually reddening.

At ten forty at night, the powerful effects of the medicine overwhelmed Lin Shuicheng. He felt breathless and in pain all over, yet he couldn't rouse himself from his sleep. He could only surrender to the depths of his dreams.

The commander climbed onto the bed, nestling close to him and gently licking his fingers. The little gray cat also jumped onto the bed but didn't approach Lin Shuicheng, only circling around his pillow.

Lin Shuicheng dreamed of his small courtyard again, but this time it wasn't a nightmare.

He dreamed of their family being normal. He saw Chu Shihan chatting with his grandfather in the yard, laughing happily—although this scene had never existed, it appeared harmonious in his dream.

He saw the teapot in his grandfather's hand steaming, and Lin Deng sitting nearby, crumpling a notebook, trying to gather the courage to ask him something. He could even hear his grandfather teaching him a poem, word by word: "In dreams, I forget that I am but a guest, indulging in fleeting joy."

His grandfather liked to emphasize each word with dramatic intonation. To this day, Lin Shuicheng still remembered the tone he used for every line, as well as the poem he always forgot.

"The flow of water, fallen flowers, spring departs—"

When Lin Shuicheng woke up, his face was streaked with tears.

He wiped his face roughly and got up, checking the date. It was time for him to prepare for Su Yu's mother's birthday party—the event would take place the next day, so all guests were expected to arrive at the artificial island a day earlier, meaning he needed to set off today.

He slowly got out of bed to wash up, splashing his face with cold water.

Outside, he heard the sound of cats playing. At the same time, someone knocked on his door, shouting, "Hey, your things have been taken away by a stray cat! Is anyone there? !"

Lin Shuicheng threw on a jacket and stepped outside to take a look.

In front of his door lay an exquisite gift box, its lid open, revealing an empty interior—petals were scattered within a radius of five meters, twirling gently in the breeze like the spirits of the wind. Thanks to the clean ground and lack of footprints, the scene possessed a peculiar beauty.

The Chief and the little gray cat carried a large bunch of flowers, dropping petals along the way as they scratched and bit at them wildly. When Lin Shuicheng looked up, he saw the kitten climbing a tree, the once-bunched cherry blossoms now scattered, with a touch of red on the verge of falling. He reached out gently and plucked it, discovering it was a rose.

Amidst the onlookers, Lin Shuicheng emerged from the winter chill in a thin shirt and jeans, approaching to lift the Chief down and retrieve the remains of the eternal flower from its mouth. He then clapped his hands, beckoning the little gray cat over.

The little gray cat hesitated but, after circling around, approached him and handed over the remaining flowers.

It was a bizarre scene: a winter morning shrouded in floral scent and pink petals, a handsome young man clad lightly, reaching out to pick a flower before tucking the remaining pink bouquet into his embrace. Two meowing kittens followed him, and a captivating teardrop mole adorned the corner of his eye.

Strange, yet breathtakingly charming.

Lin Shuicheng meticulously arranged the remaining flower stems and gathered every tiny petal he could find into a box, ensuring that all had been collected. Only then did he notice the invitation card pressed beneath the box.

He was familiar with the process of creating eternal flowers—the petals could be cleaned using glycerin.

This flower couldn't have come from Han Huang. Han Huang would occasionally send him fresh flowers, and there was no florist within Star University that sold eternal roses.

Lin Shuicheng reached out to pick up the rose, gently caressing its soft petals with his fingertips.

He let out a soft sigh.

Author's Note:

A'Dong declares Fu Luoyin the winner of this chapter!

Little Fu (Peacock spreading its feathers in all directions): Thank you all, thank you! Even though I didn't see it, my spouse felt it! Sending flowers is great! I'll do it again next time!

Little Lin pulled Little Fu away and lifted a small gray cat onto the stage: "It was this one, its performance was better than yours."

Chapter 131 - Rebirth

Shen Hongyuan had always believed he had executed his plans flawlessly.

Yet, his "trump card" had betrayed him utterly.

And then there was Shen Cheng and that female caregiver.

Until now, Shen Hongyuan remained consumed by resentment.

How had he failed to notice the existence of that female caregiver back then?

But the law did not afford him the luxury of resentment.

In no time, he was convicted on multiple counts and sentenced to life imprisonment due to his health condition. He was placed in a specialized care facility for inmates.

At present, Shen Hongyuan was an overly confident and highly self-respecting middle-aged man.

Bedridden and stripped of dignity, life had become intolerable for him.

Soon, the nursing staff at the care facility noticed his restless flailing with the only limb he could still move.

At times, as if seeing something invisible to others, he would mumble fierce warnings, "Stay away, stay away!"

Then he would weep and plead, "Father, I was wrong, Father. I'm your own flesh and blood..."

But in the next moment, his eyes would widen in rage as he shouted, "Old fool! You should have been dead long ago."

During the rare moments of calm, the nurse would catch him trying to loosen the restraints on his body, as if attempting to throw himself off the bed to end his life.

The most bizarre incident was when the nurse discovered him clamping down on the oxygen tube with his teeth.

By the time anyone realized, his lips had already turned purple from lack of oxygen.

Despite this, the nurse, acting diligently, contacted the care facility and had him revived.

Shen Hongyuan was fated to linger on, confined to his bed, tormented by his fears for a long time to come.

Madam Shen was not involved in Shen Hongyuan's criminal activities.

However, she had used her accounts to help Shen Hongyuan transfer substantial amounts of wealth, which landed her a few years in prison as well. When the police took her away, she still protested in confusion, "I didn't know, I really didn't. I never thought about it. He gave me money, so I accepted it. Who could say no to money..."

But the judge ruled that as an adult, she should have possessed basic judgment.

Shen Xingzhuo remained unaccounted for.

Shen Xingyu reported the case but made no progress. There was no activity in his account, leaving uncertainty as to whether he was dead or wandering somewhere like an orphan.

After investigations, Shen Xingyu was released.

Nonetheless, he had to resign from the Shen Corporation.

Before leaving, Shen Xingyu did his best to clean up the mess Shen Hongyuan had left behind in the company.

He knew that this company would now belong to Lu Ran.

The only person in the world who remembered his love for rabbits and his fondness for lemon-flavored ice cream.

Shen Xingyu shouldered the debts left behind by Shen Hongyuan.

He sold all of his personal assets to cover them.

After completing all the necessary procedures for his resignation, Shen Xingyu sat in the CEO's office of the Shen Corporation for a long time.

Staring at the bright window, he was lost in thought.

He wondered if that child would ever sit in this office.

He had heard that the young man would visit the company in the afternoon.

But Shen Xingyu was well aware that Lu Ran probably didn't wish to see him.

There came a knock on the office door.

"Enter," Shen Xingyu said, as usual.

The door opened, and it was Shen Xingyu's assistant who stepped in.

The assistant stood in the doorway with a bittersweet expression.

"Mr. Shen Jr.…" he said reflexively.

Shen Xingyu smiled and replied, "Not anymore."

He took out a document and said to his assistant, "One last favor from you, please."

The assistant took the file and found a share transfer agreement inside.

Shen Xingyu was transferring the five percent of shares he inherited from his grandfather to Lu Ran.

Shen Xingyu checked the time.

Seeing that it was almost afternoon, he gathered his personal belongings and left the office with them in his arms.

As the office door slammed shut, Shen Xingyu was swarmed with mixed emotions.

It was as if his lifelong goal had suddenly crumbled before him.

He carried the box, walking out under the scrutiny of various gazes.

In that moment, Shen Xingyu vaguely sensed a sense of relief.

As if along with the shattering of his goal, the chains binding him had also broken.

He had never felt so free in his entire life.

At that moment, a sudden commotion and gasps of surprise echoed from the stairwell entrance.

Without thinking, Shen Xingyu halted his steps, frowning as he looked over.

A bearded man with disheveled hair barged in.

It was the company's Chief Financial Officer.

Shen Hongyuan was the one who authorized the embezzlement.

"Where's Shen Hongyuan? Where is he!"

He searched frantically, screaming in despair, "Why me! It was all under his coercion; why should I take the blame? Why am I guilty too?"

He dashed around the floor like a madman.

The other employees promptly stepped away in alarm.

In the midst of the chaos, he caught sight of Shen Xingyu.

"All the Shens must die!"

Slam!

The box in Shen Xingyu's hand hit the ground.

Clutching his abdomen, he bent over as crimson blood seeped through his fingers.

Screams echoed around them.

Shen Xingyu clutched the financier's wrist tightly, refusing to let go.

That fleeting moment of freedom vanished like a dream.

At times, once a choice was made, there was no turning back.

The sensational scandal involving the Shen Corporation ultimately culminated in a bloody incident.

In the end, all dust settled.

With the summer break coming to an end, Lu Ran also returned to school.

On the first day without classes, the school was in a state of delightful chaos.

When Ji Min went to fetch Lu Ran, he found the youth seated atop a raised platform.

It was as if it was the night Lu Ran officially returned to the Shen family, when the young man sat on the trash can, silently gazing outward.

Now, Lu Ran wore the same expression.

Only that he sat at a higher vantage point, with a more exquisite view before his eyes.

In his hand, he held four ice cream cones - two vanilla, one lemon, and one strawberry.

The day was still warm, causing the ice cream to melt slowly.

The youth ate with an equal distribution of indulgence, bestowing a delicate bite upon each one in turn, and in quiet contemplation finished all four of the crisp cones.

Ji Min didn't urge him, simply standing on the steps and looking up.

The rapid decline of the Shen family also had his fingerprints all over it.

Occasionally, Ji Min catches glimpses of Lu Ran's indomitable presence.

To a solitary youth devoid of any support, the Shen family loomed like an immovable behemoth.

But the Shen family was not.

Ji Min recalled how, in the beginning, Shen Xingran had spread rumors outside that Lu Ran was Madam Shen's illegitimate child.

At that time, even he had misjudged Lu Ran's identity.

Lu Ran has heard even more gossip.

Yet, he didn't explain a single word, neither about his identity nor his misfortunes.

He merely responded with means that others would find unimaginable, at just the right moments.

Causing the "illegitimate child" to draw even more attention, the rumors intensified.

Until one day, the whispers reached Madam Shen's ears.

Snap.

The first crack appeared in the family's unity.

Once that crack emerged, it could not be mended and only continued to widen.

While at the Gu family's, Lu Ran was already aware of the internal embezzlement within the Shen Corporation.

Back then, the Shen and Linos families were still in fierce competition.

Yet, Lu Ran didn't leak any information to the media.

Ji Min knew then that he was waiting.

Waiting for Shen Xingran to make a move.

Ultimately, it had to be Shen Xingran who dealt the decisive blow for it to be truly satisfying.

At times, Ji Min found Lu Ran foolish.

But it couldn't be denied that the young man was also incredibly clever.

He knew each person's preferences within the family and was well-versed in their flaws.

Lu Ran was aware that Shen Hongyuan, despite his arrogance and grandiosity, was deeply insecure at heart.

It was also known that Madam Shen appeared to adore Shen Xingran immensely, but in reality, she was selfish and overly vain.

Shen Xingzhuo lacked responsibility, while Shen Xingyu seemed strong but was actually quite fragile.

And among them all, the one who shone brightest and was seemingly most favored, Shen Xingran,

was the one with the least sense of security within the family.

Ji Min had once pondered that Lu Ran must have genuinely cared for every single family member.

Only then can one witness these with their eyes, and etch them deeply into their heart.

Yet, these very things that were remembered out of love eventually became the sharpest of swords.

Upon the elevated platform sat a youth, who suddenly shuddered involuntarily.

Ji Min froze for a moment before hurriedly approaching to inquire, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Lu Ran clutched his stomach, shivering with chills.

"Consuming four ice creams in one go, it's excessively chilly, leaving me numb with cold."

Ji Min: "..."

"Be more careful next time," he said, reaching out to gently tap the young man's forehead.

With their hands entwined, Lu Ran leaped down from the elevated platform.

He suggested, "Shall we pay our respects to Grandfather at his grave?"

Ji Min drove to the cemetery where Elder Shen was laid to rest.

Elder Shen's grave was relatively clean.

Lu Ran wandered around the nearby shop and didn't buy any flowers; instead, he purchased a large pile of joss paper.

Faithfully reflecting his practical nature, he didn't opt for the flashy golden ingots but chose stack upon stack of plain yellow paper.

Arriving at the elder's gravesite, he promptly lit the paper using a lighter.

But the stack was too thick, and it didn't catch fire.

Ji Min fell silent for a moment before reminding him, "You should light a few first before continuing to release them."

"Hey, move aside, don't interrupt." Lu Ran gently pushed him aside.

Ji Min retreated to the car, lit a cigarette, and watched as the youth knelt by the grave, burning paper money.

It wasn't Qingming Festival, so the cemetery was quiet and nearly deserted.

The Shen family fell, but Shen himself managed to cling onto life.

It's just that the company's structure has undergone significant downsizing.

Looking at the tombstone, Lu Ran said:

"I've donated all my shares and the company's profits. You might think me reckless, but considering your will, I believe you were mentally prepared for something like this..."

Ji Min watched as the youth tended to the burning paper, all the while muttering softly to the gravestone.

Lost in thought, he couldn't help glancing at Manager Chen beside him and asking, "Do you think... Mr. Shen Senior..."

Ji Min's words trailed off.

He had a vague impression of the elder Shen, having also heard Grandpa Gu's recollections.

Considering it from the perspective of an aging tyrant or a profit-driven businessman,

it was possible that Mr. Shen Senior left his inheritance to Lu Ran simply because he sensed that Lu Ran had witnessed Shen Hongyuan's underhanded tactics.

Thus, the so-called inheritance seems to be nothing more than a strategic game between Shen Hanshan and his son, Shen Hongyuan.

Not out of love for his young grandson.

Ji Min paused, ultimately refraining from voicing these speculations.

He believed that with Lu Ran's sharp intellect, he wouldn't fail to consider this aspect.

But then, the wind carried the youth's voice once more.

The young man crouched before the towering tombstone looked up and said, "Old Man, don't worry either. Even though the company has been donated, I'll come and burn incense for you every year."

"You can rest assured, there'll be plenty of ghost money, so you won't be short of cash down there..."

A hint of a smile tugged at Ji Min's lips.

He was suddenly uncertain about his assumptions.

Perhaps, when Grandpa Shen first took in his youngest grandson, he simply wanted to mold a successor to his liking from scratch.

But gradually, this elder, who valued benefits and had an immense need for control, found something more precious amidst the repeated "Grandpa" from the child.

After returning from the cemetery, Lu Ran went to prison on the weekend.

He hadn't visited Shen Hongyuan even once after the latter fell ill.

Nor did he visit when Shen Xingyu was stabbed.

This time, Lu Ran wasn't visiting Mrs. Shen at the prison.

He had come to visit Shen Xingran.

After waiting for a while in the visiting room, Shen Xingran, clad in prison attire, was escorted over by a guard through the glass wall.

Shen Xingran's head was shaved, and he appeared much darker than before.

He sat down opposite Lu Ran.

The two faced each other across the glass, both remaining silent for a moment.

After a while, Shen Xingran spoke, "I didn't expect you to actually come."

Lu Ran smiled but remained silent.

It seemed that Shen Xingran had been holding back, so he continued, "I saw it on the news – you donated the Shen Corporation."

Even now, as he spoke those words, Shen Xingran was still filled with disbelief and astonishment.

"Why would you donate it? That's the Shen Corporation, isn't it? How could you be willing to give it away?"

He muttered to himself for quite a while.

The prison officer noticed his unusual state and gave him a closer look.

After mumbling for some time, Shen Xingran seemed to have come to a realization and suddenly fell silent.

Then, he laughed at himself mockingly.

"I assumed you were the one entangled with the Shen family indefinitely, unable to sever ties. Yet, you turned out to be much more lucid than I thought, cutting off all connections so cleanly."

"Otherwise, what? Keep it as a source of distress?" Lu Ran replied.

Shen Xingran lifted his gaze to look at Lu Ran.

He said, "It took me a long time being here before I suddenly came to realize this."

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow.

Shen Xingran asked, "At Shen Xingyu's birthday party, did you deliberately mention to him that you were going to join the Shen Corporation, knowing that I was eavesdropping?"

Lu Ran merely smiled but didn't respond.

Shen Xingran had always viewed Lu Ran as a competitor.

Now that there was nothing left to compete for, he felt something different.

Shen Xingran lowered his head and whispered softly,

"Sometimes, I wonder... if... it's possible... that we're the ones who resemble family the most."

Lu Ran lifted his gaze to meet Shen Xingran's.

Shen Xingran's words sounded rather unsettling, but Lu Ran surprisingly understood his meaning.

If "Shen Xingran" was a title,

then Lu Ran was the first incumbent, while Shen Xingran was the second.

Both of them were orphans.

Shen Xingran was the one who had stolen his identity.

At the same time, he was also someone who had never had a name of his own.

Yet, Lu Ran still found it peculiar that Shen Xingran could have the audacity to say such words to him.

With an indescribable sense of curiosity tinged with sarcasm, Lu Ran asked, "Do you know how cold the pool water in Beijing is during winter?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Xingran lifted his head, confused. "What?"

There was no pretense on Shen Xingran's face; it was genuine ignorance.

Lu Ran froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

He laughed loudly, leaning back and forth with mirth.

Shen Xingran, on the other side, was puzzled by his sudden laughter and jumped in surprise.

Lu Ran made no attempt to explain.

Instead, he wiped away the tears that had welled up in the corners of his eyes from laughter, suddenly realizing that the lingering pain in his memories belonged to a past life.

Lu Ran stepped out of the visiting room.

The early autumn sky was exceptionally clear.

The cerulean expanse seemed vast and boundless, stretching high above his head with only scattered cotton candy clouds floating about.

With unprecedented lightness in his stride, Lu Ran walked forward confidently.

A gentle breeze blew, causing the still lush trees lining the path to sway, their leaves rustling softly.

Before him lay a broad road, verdant and inviting.

Humming a tune, Lu Ran approached the prison gates.

They stood ajar, and Ji Min was seen chatting with the prison guard, his back turned to the entrance.

The prison guard, with a northeastern accent, asked, "What are you doing here?"

Ji Min replied, "Waiting for my partner."

A hint of sympathy and empathy instantly appeared on the guard's face.

"Waiting for your partner..." he inquired, "Is your partner being released, or...?"

He gestured as if someone was going in.

Ji Min was momentarily taken aback by the guard's exclusive alternatives.

Lu Ran quickly sprinted a few steps.

Jumping onto the man's back from behind, he answered with a grin, "His partner, they've escaped from prison!"

The guard was startled.

Upon recognizing Lu Ran, who had just entered, he sighed in relief, "You scared me. I really thought an escapee had shown up."

Amidst laughter, Ji Min walked forward with Lu Ran on his back, swaying gently.

"Why are you in such a good mood?" he asked.

"Just because!" Lu Ran replied, rubbing the nape of Ji Min's neck from behind.

The parking area was still quite a distance away.

After resting on Ji Min's back for a while, Lu Ran eventually found it too embarrassing and hopped down.

"Where do you want to play?" Ji Min inquired.

"I want some ice cream," Lu Ran said.

Ji Min didn't press for more details. He held Lu Ran's hand and led him in search of an ice cream shop.

Such establishments were scarce near the prison, so they had to walk quite far before finding one.

Lu Ran stepped in and frowned at the array of flavors on display.

"Hmm..." He pondered deeply.

The cashier asked, "What flavor would you gentlemen like?"

"Give me a moment, I'll figure it out soon," Lu Ran said.

Ji Min: "..."

Seeing the veins popping out of his forehead, Ji Min let out a sigh.

"Don't even think about it." He reached out, covering the youth's head with his hand, decisively selecting for him, "Chocolate."

Lu Ran lifted his gaze to look at him.

Resolving the dilemma, he said, "Then I'll have the sea salt flavor."

Each holding a waffle cone in hand, the two of them strolled out together.

Then, they took a bite from each other's ice cream, exchanging flavors in the process.

Lu Ran held his chocolate cone and finished it in two bites.

Ji Min savored his sea salt-flavored ice cream slowly.

As they passed by a university, Lu Ran suddenly remembered something. "In a couple of days, our school will be open for visitors, saying that parents can come in for a tour."

Ji Min asked, "What day is it? Maybe I can drop by then."

Lu Ran leaned closer, squinting at him. "Huh? They said only parents are allowed. What kind of parent are you?"

Ji Min held his hand and acted mischievously. "Anyone listed on the same household registration book can be considered a parent."

Unable to contain himself, Lu Ran clung to his shoulder and burst into laughter.

----- End of Chapter -----

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