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Rong Shu nodded, her eyes lowered in a graceful gesture.

She couldn't have cared less where her father spent the night; after all, when her mother awoke, she wouldn't wish to see him either.

Let him never set foot in the Qingheng Courtyard for the rest of his life.

"Ying Que, please deliver a message to Chang Ji in the outer court. Inform him that I'll be staying at the Marquis residence to tend to my mother. Tell him to return to Phoenix Lane first."

Ying Que promptly agreed and, as soon as she left, Rong Shu gently leaned her head against Madam Shen.

After a long while, she finally stood up and spoke to Ama Zhou with a calm expression, "Ama, during Mother's illness, Qingheng Courtyard will be under my supervision. From today onwards, Qiuyun Hall and Ho'an Hall's expenses will no longer be managed by us. If anyone comes from there, tell them to speak with me."

Chapter 27

When Sun Daoping had treated Shen for her ailment, Ama Zhou had divulged the entire backstory of Shen's "illness" to Rong Shu.

More than two months ago, Father had spent a night in Qingheng Courtyard after getting drunk.

On the day Rong Shu returned from her visit to her natal home, Shen's monthly cycle was delayed by a few days. Shen suspected that she was pregnant and wanted Ama Zhou to fetch medicine to terminate the child.

But she was dissuaded by Madam Zhou, who suggested that, given she had consumed contraceptive medicine, the exhaustion from organizing Rong Shu's wedding might have delayed her monthly cycle.

Madam Zhou spoke with an ulterior motive, having long hoped that Lady Shen would bear a son. Such an event would enable her to stand tall within the Marquisate.

In Nurse Zhou's estimation, the reason why the lady of Qiuyun Hall had won the favor of the matriarch and the marquis was most likely due to the fact that she had given birth to the only son in the third branch of the family.

Determined not to bear Rong Xun a second child, Madam Shen, upon noticing her delayed monthly cycle, left the estate to seek a doctor's consultation. After confirming her pregnancy, she promptly requested an abortion-inducing medication.

It so happened that on the day Rong Shu returned to the marquis manor, she had no choice but to discard the medicine. It was only when she revisited the Gu family ten days later that she instructed someone to brew the medicine anew.

After consuming the medicine, Madam Shen endured excruciating pain for several days, believing she had lost her child.

"Noble Lady, that child yearned to enter this world. Despite swallowing such a potent and toxic brew, it still refused to leave," Aunty Zhou wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes. "But Madam was determined to part with the child, compelling this old servant to prepare an even more potent medicine. Upon taking that, Madam suffered through a day and night of agony. The bleeding hasn't ceased since this morning."

When Madam Shen drank the second dose, she couldn't hold back her tears. Touching her small belly, she apologized silently.

Upon realizing the blood wouldn't stop, she told Aunty Zhou, "Let's just say the child couldn't bear to part from its mother and wants me to join it. Thankfully, Zhaozhao is already married, so I have no major regrets."

Recalling those moments now, Aunty Zhou felt immense regret.

She should never have tried to persuade her back then. If that child had been dealt with sooner, Lady likely wouldn't be in this predicament now.

She was prepared. If Lady didn't make it, she would not live either.

But before she died, she would definitely create a scene at Ho'an Hall and Qiuyun Hall. After all, the eldest miss had already married; she no longer needed to care about her reputation.

Upon hearing the entire story, Rong Shu's hatred for her father reached its peak.

When she left the marquis residence at four years old, her grandmother had broken her leg, blaming it on Rong Shu. Mother went to Qiuyun Hall to confront Father, only for the two of them to end up in a fierce argument.

Father was a filial son, but he was never a good husband or father.

After returning from Yangzhou, she realized how difficult Mother's days were in the marquis residence. Everyone in the household believed that Father's heart belonged solely to Concubine Pei, and that he had married Mother only due to Grandfather's command.

But if he didn't like her, why did he still touch Mother?

If he had been a good husband, Mother wouldn't have had to take two bowls of toxic medicine to terminate the pregnancy. If he could control himself when drunk, Mother wouldn't be facing this calamity today.

Gu Changjin disliked her, at least he didn't elevate a concubine to humiliate her, nor did he disdain her while also desiring her body.

Rong Shu thought to herself that should her mother truly befall some misfortune, she would ensure not a single day of peace for the inhabitants of this Marquisate Residence.

In the past, her mother had always yielded for her sake.

For the sake of her mother, she endured patiently in every situation.

Is this ultimately the fate that awaits me?

Lost in thought, she was abruptly interrupted by the gentle tapping of knuckles on her door.

Rong Shu pushed the door open and saw a woman draped in an autumn-scented cloak standing in the corridor, slightly out of breath as she urgently asked, "Zhaozhao, how is your mother? Your aunt paid a visit to the temple for a ceremony today, and upon her return, she heard that something had happened here. I hurried over to inquire."

This woman was Rong Shu's maternal aunt, Lady Zhu.

Since her father's elder brother passed away, her aunt had been living as a widow at home, solely tending to her eldest nephew's life. She rarely ventured outside, limiting her outings mostly to visits to temples for religious rites.

Although her aunt did not have frequent interactions with Rong Shu's mother, Rong Shu had a genuinely good relationship with her aunt and her eldest cousin.

When Rong Shu was three years old, she once got lost in the estate and unintentionally wandered into her aunt's residence, the Silent Moss Courtyard.

Back then, due to the influence of the old madam, everyone in the household considered her an ominous person. Despite her young age, she could sense others' affection or dislike towards her.

She accidentally wandered into her eldest aunt's courtyard, feeling anxious and afraid of being scolded by the elders.

But her eldest aunt took no offense at all. After a moment of surprise, she picked Rong Shu up gently and said, "Where did this lovely jade snowball come from?"

Then, she instructed a servant to bring snacks and fruits for Rong Shu and fetched a pair of sheep knuckles for her to play with.

When her eldest cousin Rong Ze returned from school, he was asked to accompany her in making snowballs outside in the snow.

"First Brother, this is your little sister Zhaozhao. It's rare for her to visit; please accompany her well for a while and don't spend all day buried in your study."

Eldest Cousin Rong Ze was an extremely gentle and filial person. Upon hearing this, he agreed and devoted his attention to playing with Rong Shu for the entire afternoon.

Despite the freezing cold, Rong Shu played until she was drenched in sweat. When Madam Shen came to pick her up, she clung tightly to an old apricot tree in Chen Yin Courtyard, refusing to let go, much to Madam Shen's amusement and exasperation.

On the day Rong Shu returned from Yangzhou, Ho'an Hall was packed with people.

Among that group of siblings, it was her eldest cousin who first approached her, smiling as he said, "Zhaozhao has finally come home."

Lin Shuicheng, with a gentle smile ever present on his lips, listened attentively as Lu Shengwen spoke to him, occasionally sipping on his wine.

Behind them, Lu Shengwen and Yan Zi were so engrossed in their conversation that they decided to draft a contract on the spot. Their secretaries and assistants hurriedly prepared the documents. Lu Shengwen's curiosity was thoroughly piqued. With Lin Shuicheng's verbal assurance, he was afraid that the path for Medical Essence might be completely blocked by the Su family. Even if it was a trap, he was willing to take the risk and forge ahead!

Partnering with the Su family is by no means a disadvantageous proposition. The reason he had been hesitant all along was merely because he was unwilling to forgo the possibility of assimilating the Su family's market share.

Fu Xue rose from his seat with a pale countenance, an evident air of distress etched on his face.

With both executives off to sign the contract, Su Yu finally let out a sigh of relief and began to enjoy his steak in a relaxed manner.

As he ate, he spoke to Lin Shuicheng, "Sister-in-law, you've done us a tremendous favor this time. That book can't be given to us for free. Our consultants' annual salaries start at two million, and there are three types of patent buyout contracts. My mother will definitely offer you a graduated profit-sharing contract, equivalent to your technological investment. I'll transfer you several million as a good faith deposit later. Really, Sister-in-law, don't be too modest with us. You deserve every penny; otherwise, our Su family would feel unworthy of your generosity. We have principles."

Lin Shuicheng lowered his head and smiled softly, but it seemed distant, as if such occurrences were common and didn't elicit much excitement. "Thank you."

"Also…" Seeing that Lin Shuicheng had smiled, Su Yu gained some courage. He noticed that Fu Luoyin was still watching their direction, making him a bit nervous yet sincere as he whispered into Lin Shuicheng's ear, "About what you mentioned earlier, chasing me... heh heh, I think it's not necessary. I know you're kind to me, but the favor you did today has already been repaid. Besides, we're all friends, so why dwell on such details? And, Sister-in-law, your feelings for me aren't those of a lover, right? I still want to find someone I love, who loves me back, that's when marriage becomes meaningful."

Lin Shuicheng replied, "Mm."

Looking at Su Yu's earnest expression as he tried to explain, almost afraid of hurting him, Lin Shuicheng couldn't help but smile again.

Su Yu inquired with curiosity, "What are you smiling about, Sister-in-law?"

"Very much like E-E," Lin Shuicheng observed him quietly. "If E-E had grown up normally, he would likely be as likable as you."

Initially, Su Yu hadn't been affected, but with Lin Shuicheng's gentle gaze and tone, he couldn't resist the allure, his heart pounding fiercely.

Feeling embarrassed, Su Yu said, "I-I'm actually two years older than you, Sister-in-law..."

Pushing his untouched food towards Su Yu, Lin Shuicheng replied, "Have more. I'll go out for some fresh air."

As Lin Shuicheng stood up to leave, Fu Luoyin also rose from his seat, involuntarily following in his direction.

Fu Luoyin couldn't quite explain why, but it seemed that Lin Shuicheng was like a magnet, drawing his attention at all times, becoming the center of his world.

The entire table was focused on the conversation between Lu Shengwen and Lin Shuicheng, but Fu Luoyin's attention was solely on Lin Shuicheng.

He noticed that throughout the morning and into lunch, Lin Shuicheng hadn't touched a single bite.

Lin Shuicheng had selected some stir-fried rice and side dishes according to his previous preferences, but these items remained untouched on the table. Although it appeared as if he was using utensils to pick at the food, in reality, Lin Shuicheng was merely using a clean spoon and fork to rearrange the presentation without actually consuming anything.

Lin Shuicheng didn't touch a single bite of food but kept drinking instead.

Fu Luoyin had no idea why he was fixating on such matters at this moment, just as he always found himself nagging about Lin Shuicheng going to bed with damp hair. He simply felt that it mattered.

He was someone with a gastric condition; he knew how terrible it was to drink on an empty stomach. It was clear that Lin Shuicheng wasn't much of a drinker either; otherwise, how could he have gotten drunk and been taken away by Fu Luoyin back then?

The more Fu Luoyin thought about it now, the more he believed their encounter was nothing short of miraculous – that he happened to come across the stubborn Lin Shuicheng in his drunken state, that he took a liking to him at first sight, and waited for him in the parking lot. Back then, he had just left Sector Eight and hadn't decided when to return to Star City. If Lin Shuicheng hadn't gotten drunk that day, would his impression of him have merely stopped at "a rather good-looking student"?

He had never been one to take the initiative in pursuing someone.

Otherwise, where would he have met Lin Shuicheng?

He simply wanted to talk to him again.

He was annoyed just by seeing him and hearing his voice now, but he still yearned for another conversation with him.

As lunchtime arrived, the guests started to leave for their accommodations, preparing to rest for the afternoon before the evening banquet and ball – the Su family had set up a dance floor, offering a range of venues from classical ballroom to rock music spots for relaxation and entertainment. In addition, there were outdoor beach barbecues, skydiving, and artificial ski slopes available.

Lin Shuicheng didn't linger at any of these places nor pay attention to his surroundings. He seemed lost or unsure of where he was headed. Following about fifty meters behind, Fu Luoyin saw Lin Shuicheng head towards the beach.

The artificial island's sandy beach was clean and soft. Lin Shuicheng wandered aimlessly for a while before sitting down to stare into space.

The sea breeze blew, and they were the only two people on the deserted beach.

Lin Shuicheng didn't notice him. He gently buried his head in his arms, as if he were dozing off, looking as pitiful as a leader who had no food to eat.

But when the leader was hungry, it would wag its tail and come to him for food. Lin Shuicheng wouldn't utter a single word.

As Fu Luoyin looked at his back, he had a feeling for the first time: he didn't understand Lin Shuicheng, and he had no idea what Lin Shuicheng was thinking.

Despite having read through all of Lin Shuicheng's files and memorized every adorable word that could pierce one's heart, he still had no clue what Lin Shuicheng was thinking now.

This feeling made him even more angry and frustrated.

Fu Luoyin strode over and plopped down next to Lin Shuicheng, shoving a bag of hot congee and sushi rolls he had just packed from the banquet into Lin Shuicheng's arms.

Since Lin Shuicheng was leaning forward with his head resting on his knees, Fu Luoyin considered the angle and rolled the packaging bag into a shape that wouldn't scratch Lin Shuicheng's face, squeezing it under Lin Shuicheng's arm.

Lin Shuicheng snapped out of his reverie and looked up at him, questioningly.

Fu Luoyin's expression was somewhat grim — he also realized that he had just acted rather foolishly. Thus, with a stern face, he said, "Eat something, Lin Shuicheng, or people might think I've dumped you and that you're heartbroken to the point of skipping meals."

Lin Shuicheng looked down at the bag in his arms but didn't move or speak.

Seeing that he was about to sigh, Fu Luoyin smiled first, though it was a rather forced smile. "I know it's not because of me, but you should still eat properly, Lin Shuicheng."

Lin Shuicheng seemed tired and didn't say much. He opened the bag and began to eat.

Fu Luoyin watched on.

Eating had seemingly become an insurmountable challenge for Lin Shuicheng. He took a small bite of the sushi roll, chewed it slowly, and then swallowed with a blank expression, his actions mechanical.

Drinking the congee was even more painstaking. The pork and century egg congee Fu Luoyin had brought for Lin Shuicheng came in a transparent, sealed cup. After several sips, Fu Luoyin doubted that Lin Shuicheng had consumed even a third of the straw's capacity.

Furrowing his brow, Fu Luoyin asked, "Are you unwell? Your appetite is so poor?"

"No," Lin Shuicheng denied promptly, changing the subject. "What brings you here this time?"

Fu Luoyin choked again before responding, "To bring you food."

"Delivered. Thank you, you can go now," Lin Shuicheng said. "I'd like to be alone for a while."

He rubbed his temples, unable to conceal the fatigue in his eyes.

Looking at Fu Luoyin, he noticed that the other had no intention of leaving, so he stood up and brushed off the dust from his clothes.

Fu Luoyin promptly rose to his feet and took a deep breath. "Can't I even talk to you, Lin Shuicheng? Do you treat all your admirers this way? Why is it that someone named Han can enter your home and take pictures of you? You opened the door in a white T-shirt—what if he had ill intentions?"

Lin Shuicheng spoke softly, "Are you pursuing me, Fu Luoyin?"

Fu Luoyin was taken aback.

—Was he pursuing Lin Shuicheng?

He almost immediately denied it. "How could that be? I don't have feelings for you. I..."

He found himself struggling to continue as he saw Lin Shuicheng smiling gently.

That smile was open and pure, as if all his thoughts had been seen through like a child's, leaving only an unyielding and cold adult unfazed.

"I'm merely reminding you that you still owe me two favors. I don't have feelings for you, so why would I pursue you if I were out of my mind?" Fu Luoyin said coldly. Lin Shuicheng took a step forward, and he followed suit, not leaving his side for an inch. "But why not? You haven't answered my question yet. Why did you say you're pursuing Su Yu?"

"Because, later on, the Su family did me a favor," Lin Shuicheng replied. "Su Yu is well aware that I don't have romantic feelings for him, and likewise, he doesn't for me. Such a relationship wouldn't affect his future life significantly."

They arrived at the entrance of the arranged hotel. Lin Shuicheng walked in and pressed the elevator button. Fu Luoyin unhesitantly squeezed in with him.

Again, they were in a confined space, and he could smell the fragrance on Lin Shuicheng's body—the same scent of shower gel. Did Lin Shuicheng still use that shower gel after moving away?

With great effort, Fu Luoyin suppressed the urge to pull Lin Shuicheng into his embrace. He repeated, "No romantic feelings, yet you want to repay your debt by offering yourself? Lin Shuicheng, you owe me more than you do Su Yu. Why can't it be me?"

Why couldn't it be him?

Han Huang could, Su Yu could—why not him?

Why did Lin Shuicheng leave him halfway through their living together?

The elevator dinged open, and Lin Shuicheng stepped out, softly saying, "Go back, Fu Luoyin. You're acting like a stubborn child right now."

Fu Luoyin's gaze turned terrifying in an instant. He clenched his fists and asked in a low voice, "What did you just say?"

He was so exasperated that he almost laughed. He had no idea how Lin Shuicheng could still infuriate him further.

"I heard you. I'm really tired," Lin Shuicheng said. "Thank you for the congee and sushi. I'll be heading back to my room."

As Lin Shuicheng swiped his room card, Fu Luoyin paused right outside his door.

He watched as Lin Shuicheng opened the door, his movements pausing slightly.

The bed in the room faced the entrance, visible from the outside. A clean piece of silk covered the bed, with a bunch of pink preserved flowers arranged on top.

The pink, cheerful blooms were clean and soft, concealing a blooming rose within.

At that moment, Fu Luoyin's heart beat a little faster.

He recalled instructing Zhou Heng to leave a bouquet of flowers in Lin Shuicheng's room before he came over, as Lin Shuicheng might appreciate it. Last time, when he sent Lin Shuicheng flowers, he received a thank-you message via text.

Given how fiercely this little kitten had treated him today, would seeing the flowers make things better?

He observed Lin Shuicheng walk step by step towards the flowers, then gently embrace them in his arms. A hint of anticipation couldn't help but surface in the depths of his eyes.

A large bouquet of eternal sakura flowers was in Lin Shuicheng's arms, complementing his complexion beautifully. He was fair, and the pink of the flowers exuded vitality, blending seamlessly with his clean aura – it was a delightful sight.

Lin Shuicheng carried the flowers out and bent down to place them on the ground outside the room. Holding the room card, he looked at Fu Luoyin. "Room 313 at Star Alliance Luxury Hotel."

Fu Luoyin was taken aback.

"I don't appreciate my personal space being intruded upon, nor do I wish for something similar to happen again in the future—like finding myself unable to enter a room booked for me, forcing me to stay in 313, only to discover someone waiting for me there," Lin Shuicheng said. "I'd appreciate it if you kept the flowers for yourself."

He closed the door behind him.

Back in bed, Lin Shuicheng lay quietly, staring blankly at a point in mid-air.

There was no sound from outside; Fu Luoyin must have been furious.

After a long while, he struggled to sit up and fumbled for his phone, instinctively opening the search page.

Previous searches: Winter Chestnut City flights and train tickets.

Search result: No available tickets at the moment.

Previous search: Redirect to Server Website - Attempting connection to Harbor Forum - This forum is expired and closed. Please try again.

No matter how many times he tried or what methods he employed, he couldn't access that forum. All he could see from the snapshot was the post's title: "Damn it! Something huge just happened at the Harbor!..."

That was the closest he had ever come to uncovering what he sought to know.

Lin Shuicheng's fingers trembled slightly. After a moment, he abruptly raised his hand and slammed his phone violently against the wall!

The edge of the wall was covered with a flexible wallpaper, so instead of shattering as expected, the phone merely thumped to the ground with a dull sound.

Lin Shuicheng's eyes were bloodshot. After taking a deep breath, he got out of bed to retrieve it. The anger and gloom he had been suppressing threatened to overwhelm him once more, making him feel like a cluster of atoms adrift in the darkness, disconnected from gravity.

A knock on the door sounded. "Lin Shuicheng?"

It was Fu Luoyin's voice.

Fu Luoyin hadn't left yet.

Hearing the commotion inside, Fu Luoyin's hoarse voice suddenly turned anxious. "Lin Shuicheng? What's wrong with you? Did something happen?"

Lin Shuicheng wanted to reply that he was fine, but all the pent-up emotions had surrounded and overwhelmed him, leaving him unable to utter a single word. His vision was filled with swirling illusions, gray figures moving back and forth, bright light shining in his eyes, and warm blood splattering on him.

—And the deafening crash that shattered his world.

After trying to open the door a few times, Fu Luoyin resorted to kicking it down. He immediately saw Lin Shuicheng kneeling on the ground, holding his phone in a daze.

He rushed over and knelt down beside him, pulling Lin Shuicheng into his arms. His voice was laced with concealed panic and anxiety. "What's wrong with you, Lin Shuicheng? What's going on?"

Lin Shuicheng gasped for air, still unable to speak. In a fit of nerves, he bit his fingers relentlessly, biting hard and fiercely. Blood seeped from his wound, but even the pain couldn't dispel the illusions before his eyes.

Fu Luoyin was both startled and furious. "What are you doing, Lin Shuicheng?!"

He grabbed Lin Shuicheng's hand, holding his wrist with one hand. Seeing that Lin Shuicheng was about to bite his lip again, he reached out, his fingertips gently brushing across Lin Shuicheng's lips before accurately lodging them between his teeth.

"It's alright now," Fu Luoyin said, despite being bitten fiercely and showing no sign of letting go. Yet, his expression remained calm and gentle. "It's alright, Lin Shuicheng, little kitten. I... I'm here."

Chapter 87: Estrus vs Heat Sensitivity? (3200+)

"What exactly do they intend to do? Every time I ask Father, he doesn't tell me, only urging us to be cautious."

Inside the room, Xu Ming sat down on the sofa with a furious expression.

Chen Wuxing also sat down, soothing her.

In fact, Xu Ming's father had already told him, but after some thought, he decided to keep it a secret from his parents-in-law.

Qing Er sipped her soda. "Fortunately, no one was hurt. These people are utterly insane, launching indiscriminate attacks."

Ever since Qing Yi returned from the hospital, his face had been clouded with gloom.

Chen Wuxing cleared his throat, suggesting they retreat to their rooms for rest.

At his words, they nodded and departed.

Chen Wuxing kept his gaze on the staircase until he was certain they had all left, only then feeling relieved.

"Dear child, they are not worthy to be your family."

After Chen Wuxing finished speaking, he embraced him tightly, giving his face a gentle peck. He spoke softly, "You still have me."

Xu Ming wearily leaned on his shoulder: "I'm really exhausted."

Chen Wuxing gently ruffled his head. "Baby, I know. Like I said, you've got me."

No sooner had the words left their lips than they were met with a chorus of jeers.

Their bodies froze, all turning in unison to look up at the balcony.

It was Qing Er who had been instigating the commotion; now, he was being lifted by his collar by Qing San.

Qing San apologized, "My apologies, I'll take this eavesdropper back with me right away."

The two downstairs found themselves unable to protest.

Qing San then proceeded to walk away with Qing Er in tow. After two steps, Qing San turned back and said, "Carry on with your conversation."

Even Xu Ming felt a bit embarrassed. He reached out to push the person beside him, only to find that they didn't budge an inch.

Today, Chen Wuxing seemed somewhat unusual.

Xu Ming raised his head and was drawn into the swirling vortex that flowed in Chen Wuxing's eyes.

"You."

No sooner had the words left her lips than they were covered by another pair of gentle ones, which then nibbled softly and hurriedly intruded into her space.

Xu Ming couldn't help but close his eyes in compliance with the act.

Her eyes were filled with the tender concern in Chen Wuxing's gaze.

One cannot deny that the wounds within my heart are being tenderly mended, bit by bit.

Upstairs, the atmosphere was utterly distinct.

Qing Yi's face was dark with concern. "Why wasn't the food inspected beforehand? After just a few days of comfort, have we already forgotten the dangers?"

Qing Si still stood before the vast floor-to-ceiling window, silent as ever.

Qing San and Qing Er were bowed, receiving their scolding.

"If the one who ate that poisoned pastry today had been the employer, who would have taken responsibility? You or you?"

The two kneeling figures shook their heads in unison.

Qing Yi huffed. "Both of you will apologize to the employer with me later. If something like this happens again..."

Qing Yi didn't pay attention to their remorseful words but instead focused on the person ahead.

After a moment's contemplation, he spoke, "Qing Si, ever since I took you in three years ago, you've been cold and distant, barely uttering a word. I don't know what happened to you, but I didn't inquire back then, and I won't now about your matter with the General. If you don't wish to see him, return home first. We'll handle things here."

When they first encountered Qing Si three years prior, his clothes were tattered, and his skin was almost entirely scarred.

He had stared wide-eyed at the sky, seemingly oblivious even to lying in the mud.

It was as if he belonged there, a part of the landscape itself.

In that instant, Qing Yi's first impression was sheer astonishment.

After the rescue, they discovered that Qing Si's bones were damaged to varying degrees, preventing him from standing or moving about.

Initially, Qing Yi assumed that he couldn't move due to his condition, but after healing him in a treatment chamber, he realized it might not be the case.

Qing Si spoke no more than five sentences a day, spending his time sitting in a tree, watching the sunrise and sunset.

They were uneasy leaving Qing Si alone, especially with his striking appearance.

Upon discovering that Qing Si possessed surprising agility, they decided to bring him along and gave him the name Qing Si.

Three years passed this way.

After a moment, Qing Si turned back and said, "No need, I can't."

Qing Yi nodded upon hearing this, relieved that it was so.

"You can go rest if you're tired," he offered.

Uncharacteristically, Qing Si acknowledged the request and started walking toward the room.

This is clearly favoritism.

However, neither Qing Er nor Qing San had any objections. If there was favoritism, they were both on the receiving end of it.

The sound insulation of the house is quite good. Once the door is closed, all the words of Qing Yi's scolding are blocked outside the door.

Qing Si strolled nonchalantly over to the table and sat down, a mirror placed before him.

It's all because of this face. If only I had mustered the courage to alter it back then.

Qing Si, also known as Luo Le.

He is him, yet not him.

His memory was intact; he vividly remembered everything Huo Lanjing had done, including the fact that she had given birth to their child alone.

Yet, he didn't despise Huo Lanjing; he merely looked down on him. It was the kind of disdain one would have toward a stranger, disdain for the actions Huo Lanjing had taken.

He didn't have any affection for Chen Chen either. Three days ago, he had wiped away the child's tears because, biologically, he was the kid's father and felt obligated to do so.

Not out of fatherly affection, nor out of pity.

At present, he has no understanding of what love truly is.

No exception applies to familial love, friendship, or romantic affection.

Perhaps it was the effect of the medication.

But it no longer matters.

What he aspired to be was Qing Si, not Luo Le.

Now, this nomadic existence has its charm.

The following day, due to the events that had transpired the previous day, Chen Wuxing and Xu Ming decided not to venture outside.

Qing Yi and Qing Er were meticulously planning their schedule for the wedding day, cross-checking every detail of the ceremony.

Qing Si, or Luo Le as he was also known, listened with an absent-minded air.

Qing Yi caught a glimpse of his distraction and asked if there was something on his mind. Luo Le replied that there wasn't anything.

It was the first time Qing Yi had seen him so preoccupied.

Contemplating for a moment, Qing Yi suggested that Luo Le take a walk outside, with plans to inform him of their discussion later.

Upon hearing this, Luo Le's mind couldn't help but drift back to the morning's message from the soft, young voice.

He acknowledged the suggestion and stood up to leave.

Qing Er looked towards the door and inquired, "Is it alright to let him go like that?"

Qing Yi sighed, "Let him deal with his own affairs."

At noon, Luo Le, guided by memory, arrived at Huo Lanjing's usual residence - the house they once shared as newlyweds.

After ringing the doorbell, he saw a child who reached only up to his knees.

A fever patch adorned his forehead, and he was dressed in pajamas, looking rather worn out.

Upon seeing him, the boy's face lit up with a smile as he called out, "Daddy!" But then, he promptly covered his mouth.

Luo Le immediately recalled what he had said that day. The child must be afraid that he would leave.

Looking at the child standing barefoot on the floor, he disapproved and bent down to scoop him up.

"He left you alone at home?"

Surveying the surroundings, Luo Le noticed that not even a household robot was present.

Chen Chen pressed his lips together, hesitating for a moment before saying, "Uncle, can you not leave after I tell you something?"

Luo Le was taken aback. "Go on."

Seeing his cold and distant father again, Chen Chen still felt a twinge of sadness. He was on the verge of tears, but the memory of that day made him suppress them.

"I saw that uncle upstairs, but no matter how much I called out to him today, he wouldn't respond. He told me to stay away from that room."

Luo Le paused, likely guessing what was going on.

Suddenly, there was a rumble from Chen Chen's stomach.

Looking at him, Luo Le walked into the kitchen on his own and opened the fridge for a look.

He cooked some fried rice with eggs.

Chen Chen held his cute little plate, nervously scooping up a spoonful and taking a bite.

In the next moment, tears streamed down his face.

It tasted like Father.

It had the exact same taste as Father's cooking; Uncle hadn't lied to him.

Confused, Luo Le asked, "Why are you crying?"

Chen Chen wiped away his tears messily. "Nothing, it's just really hot."

...

After the meal, Luo Le played with Chen Chen for a while longer.

When it was time for their afternoon nap, Chen Chen stubbornly refused to sleep.

Luo Le let him be. However, about twenty minutes later, he himself fell asleep.

He approached and felt Chen Chen's burning forehead. He then replaced the fever patch on Chen Chen.

Children under ten years old were not allowed to use treatment pods. When they were sick, they could only take medicine; injections were out of the question.

After placing Chen Chen in bed, Luo Le left the room, closing the door behind him.

As he passed by the master bedroom, Luo Le unconsciously sensed a dense scent seeping through the crack of the door.

His body weakened, and he leaned against the wall, his neck gland burning and itching, demanding to be marked.

This sudden wave of heat was inexplicable. Could he be going into rut again?

Sweat beads formed on Luo Le's forehead, and the corners of his eyes took on a faint red hue.

His mind went blank in an instant.

He knew nothing now; he only craved being marked.

His legs grew weaker, and unable to support himself, he tumbled to the ground.

Suddenly, the door swung open from inside, revealing the culprit standing in the entrance.

Huo Lanjing frowned. Upon seeing the person lying at the door, his pupils constricted, seemingly surprised by Luo Le's presence.

He immediately crouched down. Before he could speak, Luo Le, with reddened eyes, clung tightly around his neck, exhaling onto the skin of his shoulder blade.

It was like being gently scratched by a kitten, igniting a trail of flames that seared straight into his heart.

Huo Lanjing's renowned self-control teetered on the brink of collapse. He reached out to push Luo Le away, "Qing Si."

Luo Le's gaze was dazed, and though his grip weakened, his hands continued to cling uncontrollably around his neck.

Over the past three years, his rutting periods had become increasingly intense, and the effectiveness of the suppressants dwindled with each passing episode.

The last time, Luo Le locked himself in a sealed room alone.

He prepared an abundance of suppressants and administered forty-two injections over the course of a week, yet he still found himself consumed by desire.

After that episode, he slept for an entire month before regaining consciousness.

No Alpha could withstand being embraced by their beloved Omega during their sensitive period, and Huo Lanjing was no exception. He was already reacting, his ears turning crimson from the strain.

He subtly pulled away from Luo Le, noticing the flush on his labelless face, causing him to involuntarily swallow.

"You, go back first."

With these words, Huo Lanjing rose to leave. However, as he turned around, Luo Le tugged at his hand.

Being in his sensitive phase, his body was weak, and he stumbled, falling to the ground after half a turn. His head struck the wall with a loud thud.

He closed his eyes with a muffled groan, and when he opened them again, he saw Luo Le's gaze unfocused. His usually stern face now held a hint of allure.

Before he could speak, Luo Le straddled his lap, pinning his shoulders with both hands.

Then, an unskilled kiss landed on his lips, parting them.

Both kept their eyes shut, instinctively tilting their heads up and down.

Alphas typically took the lead, so such provocation was clearly a challenge to them.

Huo Lanjing could no longer restrain himself. With his right hand, he grasped Luo Le's head, flipping him over onto his back.

He then held both of Luo Le's wrists in one hand, positioning him facing away. Bending down, he gently nipped at the inhibitor patch with his teeth before licking it.

A strong scent of pomelo filled the air, and as Huo Lanjing drew closer, he detected a faint, cold pine fragrance mingling within.

That was... an irreversible mark.

A flash of surprise passed through Huo Lanjing's eyes, even though he had always suspected that this person was indeed Luo Le.

Yet, the joy she felt upon learning that he was indeed Luo Le was indescribable.

It was truly him.

Chapter 73: This Seat Is Confused (End of Inverted V)

Running into Mo Ran unexpectedly, Xue Meng froze for a moment. This was the first time they had met since Mo Ran's imprisonment.

Recalling Xue Meng's defense of him in front of everyone, Mo Ran couldn't help but flash him a smile. However, Xue Meng was startled by this smile and showed a disgusted expression, gritting his teeth as he said, "What are you doing? What are you looking at?! There's nothing to see! Why are you smiling?! There's nothing funny!"

"…I was just greeting you."

"Disgusting!"

Mo Ran: "…."

His arrival interrupted Mo Ran's words. Shi Mo fell into thought for a moment but didn't press further. Instead, he smiled at Xue Meng and asked, "Young Master, who has provoked you this time?"

"Who else could it be? Who else?! So shameless! Ignorant of shame! Vile and despicable, lowly and obscene!"

Mo Ran sighed. "That doesn't rhyme."

"Mind your own business! If you have the ability, come at me!"

"Useless, useless, not an educated man," Mo Ran chuckled. "Well then, who's the culprit this time?"

Shi Mo smiled. "I bet it's Elder Brother Deity again."

"What kind of Elder Brother Deity! A beast! A lecher! How can he be so casual and not catch any venereal diseases?! I'd gladly sacrifice ten years of my lifespan to curse him with sores on his head and pus flowing from his feet, with a rotten nose and eyes – let's see who would still find him attractive then! This despicable, shameless, vulgar scoundrel..."

Mo Ran: "......"

Seeing Xue Meng about to launch into another endless tirade, Shi Mo hastily stopped him and pointed behind them, shouting, "Shh, look, the female cultivators who fancy Elder Brother Deity are coming!"

"Ah!" Xue Meng was startled, a hint of panic appearing on his usually arrogant face. He muttered an insult, "sensual and filthy," before darting away without looking back, truly resembling a dog whose master had just died. As he fled, he tried to save face by yelling, "I suddenly remembered an urgent matter – I'll take my leave first!"

Watching him disappear in a flash, Mo Ran said in surprise, "Wow, this Elder Brother Deity is quite something to scare him like that."

Shi Mo held back his laughter. "Ever since he accidentally ran into the guy at a tavern two days ago and got into a dispute, he's been like this. Looks like he's met his nemesis."

"I'm impressed. I must meet this person someday." Although Mo Ran said this, he had a good idea of who the 'Elder Brother Deity' was. Whoever could make Xue Meng hide like this had to be the person he suspected.

But now wasn't the time to watch Xue Meng's antics. In the Drunken Dew Pavilion, Xue Zhengyong and Xuan Ji had already arrived and were discussing the case of the eighteen murdered people with the owner of Peach Blossom Spring, a celestial from the Feathered clan.

The Immortal Feathered was nearly divine, her form surrounded by a gentle glow of spiritual light. Though she appeared to be a young maiden in the bloom of youth, no one knew her true age.

She was leisurely recounting the details of the situation to Xue Zhengyong when a servant entered and whispered, "Immortal, the person has arrived."

"Ask them to come in," Xue Zhengyong replied.

Mo Ran followed Shi Mo into the warm chamber, scanning the room and spotting Xue Zhengyong holding his famous scholar's fan as he conversed with someone. Immediately, he called out, "Uncle!"

"Child, child," Xue Zhengyong turned at the sound of his voice, his eyes lighting up as he hurriedly beckoned him over, patting his shoulder. "Come, sit beside your uncle..."

"I didn't kill anyone..."

"Of course not, of course not," Xue Zhengyong sighed repeatedly. "Who knows how this misunderstanding came about? The Immortal just told me everything. I've come here to find a way to clear your name, ah, heavens have mercy, look at how disheveled you are."

He led Mo Ran over, and Immortal Feathered made no move to stop them, simply observing the pair with a faint expression.

Mo Ran also greeted Elder Xuan Ji, then sat down next to Xue Zhengyong. What puzzled Mo Ran, however, was that Xuan Ji didn't immediately notice the absence of his disciple Xia Sini, only nodding at Mo Ran naturally.

It was instead Immortal Feathered who asked, "Huh? What about the other child? The one with the surname Xia?"

"Oh, right," Xuan Ji came back to his senses. "…Where's my disciple?"

Seeing that Mo Ran didn't seem concerned about Xia Sini, he was a bit displeased. "My junior brother is still in the Heavenly Prison. He asked me to convey his greetings to you."

"Mm-hmm." Xuan Ji nodded. "Why isn't he here?"

Mo Ran replied sulkily, "Cooking."

"…"

Xue Zhengyong was taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Cooking is more important than clearing his name?"

Xuan Ji also smiled. "Truly impetuous and capricious. After the meeting, I'll go take a look at him."

"No need. We still have to eat after the meeting," Mo Ran said. "If you want to interrogate him, do it quickly."

Xue Zhengyong then said, "Immortal, let's continue where we left off. You see, our sect has another elder skilled in alchemy. Before coming here, I specially asked him to refine several Child's Truth Pills."

"Child's Truth Pills?" The Immortal was slightly startled upon hearing this, tapping his rosy fingertips against his lips. "Are these the pills that can make mortals speak the truth?"

"Indeed."

The Immortal was slightly surprised. "The ingredients for this pill are complex and extremely difficult to refine. Even in my Peach Blossom Paradise, it would take no less than half a month to concoct it. I never expected that Immortal Lord's disciple would have such a talented Medicine Sect expert. Why didn't you bring him along?"

Xue Zhengyong explained, "He has an introverted nature and prefers not to travel with others." "The pill is already being refined and can be delivered by carrier pigeon to Peach Blossom Paradise within ten days. When the time comes, please inspect the pill's efficacy and administer it to my disciples. The truth will then come to light."

The Immortal pondered for a moment before nodding. "This method is feasible."

Xue Zhengyong sighed in relief and smiled. "In that case, I'll go retrieve my other disciple from the prison cave right away."

"Wait."

"What's the matter?"

The Immortal said, "Before the truth is revealed, Mo Weiyu and Xia Sini are still suspects. Even with Lord Zun's guarantee, I cannot release them both without constraint."

Upon hearing this, Xue Zhengyong snapped his fan shut with a loud clap. A smile lingered on his face, but his gaze had turned chilly. "Immortal, your actions seem rather unjust."

The Feathered Immortal lifted his gaze, his scarlet eyes fixing onto him. "Does Lord Zun Xue have an issue with my decision?"

"Yes, since both my disciples have not been convicted and are under the watchful care of Elder Xuan Ji and myself, what is the reasoning behind Immortal's continued insistence on imprisoning them?"

"Not exactly imprisonment," the aloof Immortal corrected. "I haven't mistreated them; their daily provisions have never been interrupted. I've merely restricted their movements, which isn't excessive."

Xue Zhengyong's smile had turned cold.

"How is it not excessive? As far as I know, that dungeon lacks sunlight and moonlight, meant for confining convicted criminals. For Immortal to casually dismiss it as not excessive with a mere flick of the tongue, that takes quite some audacity."

A Feathered tribesman nearby immediately interjected sternly, "Lord Xue, please watch your words!"

"What's the matter? Have I said something inappropriate? I haven't insulted your esteemed Immortal, only spoke the truth without unnecessary courtesy. That's hardly excessive."

The Feathered Immortal grew more agitated at Xue Zhengyong's response. "You—!"

A delicate, jade-like hand reached out and halted him. The Immortal looked up, offering Xue Zhengyong a cold smile. "I've heard rumors from the mortal realm that Lord Xue of Death and Life Peak is a learned man, though perhaps lacking in knowledge and skilled in rhetoric. However, upon meeting you today, I find those rumors to be misleading. Lord Xue, your argument is quite compelling."

Xue Zhengyong returned a faint smile, devoid of warmth. "I'm just an unrefined person, Immortal. Please don't take offense."

The Feathered Immortal chuckled, picking up an orange and peeling it meticulously before holding it out to Xue Zhengyong. "Then let us compromise. It's impossible to grant them complete freedom, but it's indeed improper for them to remain in prison. I will have Xia Sini released immediately, while Mo Weiyu and Xia Sini will reside in the High Heaven Pavilion, a place for entertaining guests. However, I must assign someone to keep a close eye on them, ensuring they don't leave the pavilion. How does that sound?"

Xue Zhengyong fell silent for a moment before raising his hand to receive the orange that hung suspended in mid-air.

Despite being a place for guests, High Heaven Pavilion did not often see visitors. Thus, it had been deserted for a long time. Since the Immortal had agreed to let them settle here first, Mo Ran decided to tidy up the premises himself. Once he was done, he would fetch Chu Wanning.

Xue Zhengyong and Xuan Ji still had important matters to discuss, so under the watchful eyes of a few Feathered, Mo Ran accompanied Shi Mo to High Heaven Pavilion.

Located in the northwest of Peach Blossom Spring, the pavilion was surrounded by lush flowers and a picturesque landscape.

"It's a lovely place. Living here wouldn't be an injustice," Mo Ran said with a grin.

Shi Mo sighed. "How could it not be? You didn't kill those people, yet they're blaming the innocent. It's a shame Master can't come. If he were here, he'd use Heavenly Inquiry to question you, and there'd be no need for Red Child Pills to reveal the truth."

"Haha, Shi Mo thinks too simply. Heavenly Inquiry is a divine weapon, capable of extracting the truth, but its effectiveness depends on whether the user has the intention to interrogate. Do you think those bird people would allow my Master to question me? Would they believe him?"

"…That's true."

As twilight approached, Mo Ran started cleaning the house, with Shi Mo assisting him.

It was peculiar. After finishing the cleaning and taking a moment to rest with a cup of tea, Mo Ran realized that he wasn't secretly delighted at the chance to be alone with his junior disciple sister nor did he entertain any romantic thoughts.

This realization left Mo Ran momentarily speechless, almost causing him to choke on his tea.

His junior apprentice brother jumped in surprise. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing." Mo Ran waved his hands hastily, inwardly groaning.

Could it be that from practicing with Chu Wanning for so long, he had also become a paragon of self-restraint like Liu Xiaohui? Looking at this isolated High Heaven Pavilion, surrounded by no one but the swaying peach blossoms, if this were in the past, he would surely have first indulged in some affectionate moments with Shi Mo before getting down to business.

What was going on lately? He was so detached and devoid of desire. This wasn't normal...

Scratching his head, Mo Ran met Shi Mo's gaze.

Their eyes locked, and Mo Ran broke into an honest, dimpled smile, endearingly charming. "The peach blossoms outside look beautiful. I'll pick a branch for you to take with you."

Shi Mo replied, "Plants have feelings too. Let them bloom peacefully on their branches."

"Ah... You're right. Yes, yes, I won't pick them then!"

Sitting in silence for a moment, Mo Ran tried desperately to think of something else to talk about, but he realized that with fewer opportunities to meet, there was actually nothing new to bring up.

Lifting his gaze, he noticed the fine beads of sweat on Shi Mo's forehead from helping him clean the quarters. Filled with compassion, Mo Ran took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and offered it to him.

"Use this to wipe your sweat."

"..." Shi Mo glanced down, seeing Mo Ran nervously clenching the handkerchief. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he softly said, "Thank you."

He accepted the handkerchief and gently dabbed at his forehead.

The fabric felt soft and delicate, made from the finest silk of silkworms. After using it, Shi Mo commented, "I'll take this back with me, wash it, and return it to you."

"Sure, sure, sure," Mo Ran hastily agreed, his fawning towards Shi Mo now instinctive and deeply ingrained. "If you like it, you can keep it."

Shi Mo chuckled. "That might not be appropriate. Look how well-made this handkerchief is..." As he spoke, he unfolded the cloth, preparing to smooth out any wrinkles and fold it neatly again.

But as his slender, fair fingers brushed against the freshly opened fabric, Shi Mo froze and softly exclaimed, "Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

Shi Mo paused, lifting his gaze with a smile. "Are you really giving me this handkerchief, Ah Ran?"

"If you like it, just take it. What's mine is yours," Mo Ran said generously.

A hint of enigmatic amusement flickered in Shi Mo's eyes. "Offering someone else's flowers to Buddha, aren't you afraid your Master will find out and punish you?"

"Huh?" This time, it was Mo Ran's turn to be taken aback. "What do you mean by offering someone else's flowers to Buddha? What does that have to do with my Master?"

"Look for yourself," Shi Mo said, his tone carrying an indiscernible nuance. "Such a large peony blossom, when did your Master ever give you this handkerchief?"

Chapter 160: Reward

Felios had no idea what Wen Ying was thinking. If he did, he would have been even angrier.

A devil releasing his grip on him just because he found him sturdy and resilient?

That was an insult to devils!

Wen Ying raised his hand. "Wait."

Felios became cautious. "What trick are you planning now?"

Wen Ying's knack for trickery had already infiltrated his devilish heart.

Wen Ying said, "Give him the antidote. Levimo is still there."

Felios gestured for him to hurry up.

Wen Ying took out the antidote he had prepared in advance yesterday and handed it to Levimo, who was sitting on the ground.

Levimo's expression was a mix of emotions as he handed over the antidote. Typically, it was poison demons who offered remedies after their fellow demons used poisonous magic, followed by healing spells.

After Levimo descended, Phelios was eager to resume, but Wen Ying pointed at the large wall clock. "It hasn't even been half an hour yet."

Phelios: "… Weren't you being arrogant just now?"

Wen Ying looked at him like he was an idiot. "It's still half an hour away."

Phelios snorted, coiling his tail and closing his eyes to rest, while pondering in his mind what trick Wen Ying might use this time.

Since the first match yesterday, Wen Ying hadn't fought seriously at all, relying on cunning tactics instead. Phelios' subconscious thoughts had naturally leaned in that direction.

Half an hour passed, and the ranked match began. Phelios felt like cursing – the numbness in his fist and the slight tremor in his arm made him look at Wen Ying with a skeptical expression about the meaning of being a demon.

The same Magic Mirror Demon appeared once again, without any fluctuations of magical energy indicating no power amplification. He was using sheer physical strength augmented by magic.

Either his physical fitness had significantly improved, or his magic power was so immense that it directly enhanced his physique.

Regardless of which it was, it left Phelios utterly bewildered.

Wen Ying rubbed his fist that had just clashed with Phelous', feeling a slight ache.

"What was the expression on Phelous' face?"

"Phelous took three steps back just now, while Wen Ying only took two!"

Lan Jiaying and the others instinctively straightened their backs, watching the arena even more attentively.

Lilith murmured, "Has Aruda made another breakthrough in his research?"

It felt like witnessing a cat's strength being on par with a tiger's, shaking their worldview.

Phelous, inwardly startled, approached with greater caution than before, defending against Wen Ying's tricks.

Wings sprouted from behind Wen Ying, boosting his elevation and augmenting his speed. He launched a side kick towards Phelous' neck as he soared into the air.

Phelous reached up to grab Wen Ying's ankle. His palm tingled slightly, and his astonishment deepened. Despite the shock, Phelous concentrated more magic in his hand, amplifying his arm strength, then lashed out with his tail at Wen Ying's waist.

Wen Ying exerted force in his waist, lifting his lower body upward. The foot that hadn't been caught kicked Phelous' chest just as the tail swung toward him. Phelous winced in pain, momentarily easing his grip. Wen Ying seized the opportunity to pull his foot back.

With a sweeping tail, a sharp whistle of air brushed past Wen Ying's ears, sending a shiver down his spine and raising goosebumps on his skin.

The simple initial move had his adrenaline soaring, his blood boiling, and every muscle in his body crying out for release. The same was true for Phileas. His ice-blue eyes seemed to gain a hint of warmth from the rush of blood, his excited gaze fixated on his prey, exuding an eerie sense of pressure.

In the next moment, Phileas vanished from his spot and reappeared behind Wen Ying, his sharp-clawed hand reaching for the nape of Wen Ying's neck. Wen Ying sidestepped, raising his arm to block while his bat-like wing swatted at Phileas. The latter seized the white wing, using it as leverage to toss Wen Ying away.

Wen Ying hurtled backward, and from the watery curtain behind Phileas, a barrage of water arrows emerged, piercing through the air towards him.

His spatial bracelet flickered, and several magic cards flew out, transforming into a wall of fire shields that enveloped him protectively.

Water and fire intertwined, dense steam billowed across the arena, obscuring the center from sight. Phileas summoned a gust of wind to dispel the fog, but Wen Ying was nowhere to be found in his vision.

Phileas froze.

A sense of danger crept up from behind him, and he swiftly turned, using both hands to block the sudden kick. He managed to shield the direct impact on his back, but was still knocked to the ground, spitting out blood.

Still reeling from the fact that Wen Ying's kick had been more powerful than before, Phileas instinctively rolled to the side. In the spot he had just vacated, thorns erupted from the earth.

Phileas' pupils constricted, and he immediately took flight. In the next second, thorns rose in layers from the ground in that area.

A trident formed of ice appeared in Phileas's hand, swatting away the incoming spikes of earth while slicing through the silver-white branches that intertwined with them. He paid particular attention to whether any white blossoms adorned these branches, but for now, he didn't spot any.

It seemed Wen Ying had kept his promise – at least this battle wasn't going to involve poison. Phileas had never heard of such silver-white branches before, let alone ones that bore toxic flowers. What kind of demonic potion had Aruda fed to Wen Ying to transform a Mirror Demon into a Poison Demon?

Not just a Poison Demon, but one with such absurd magical power.

Phileas was mentally cursing under his breath.

Just as he finished dealing with the surrounding magic, Wen Ying silently appeared and kicked him in the shoulder, sending a searing pain radiating through it.

With his right hand grasping the ice trident, Phileas anticipated Wen Ying's next move and lunged forward, only for Wen Ying to be faster than expected. The trident missed its target, and Phileas found himself being kicked towards the edge of the arena.

Phileas was utterly dumbfounded. Judging from the pain transmitted from where he had been kicked, he could tell how much force Wen Ying had exerted. His disbelief was etched on his face as he stared at his opponent: "Your speed..."

He hadn't detected any fluctuations of magical energy, which meant that Wen Ying's sudden increase in speed wasn't due to a boosting spell but his own abilities. This realization sent shivers down his spine – had Wen Ying been holding back all along? What on earth had Aruda fed him to make him so ridiculously powerful?

The demons in the spectator stands erupted in shock, their voices buzzing with excitement as they discussed the unbelievable turn of events. They were all agitated, as if they had witnessed something surreal.

"Was he a Mirror Demon with that speed just now?"

"Didn't they determine during the physical examination that he's already an adult? How can his strength still improve so rapidly?"

"Aurora is that powerful? I'm tempted to pay her a visit now..."

"Are you crazy?! Aurora is terrifying!"

"I was just thinking about it..."

Boros's brows knitted in worry. His hand, which had been resting casually on his knee, slightly clenched, and veins popped up on the back of his hand due to the strain.

Impossible, that scene he had imagined for Wen Ying's adulthood would never happen.

Wu Fei had been cheerful, ready to praise Wen Ying's prowess, but when he turned his head, he saw the horrified expressions on the faces of the nine-tailed fox siblings. Confused, he asked, "Is there something wrong with the match?"

Lilith struggled to tear her gaze away from the arena. Looking at the bewildered Wu Fei, she said with a complicated expression, "It's... hard to explain."

Muershi was also stunned. Had his friend been secretly training without telling him? Suddenly, he thought of a possibility and sent a message to Li Jie, a classmate who was skilled in potion-making from the Black Goat Clan, using his phone.

Does Wen Ying's condition resemble the effect of a short-term power-boosting magic potion?

"It doesn't seem like it. His magical aura is very calm, not frenzied at all."

When one consumes such potions, their magic usually becomes "excited," making it easily noticeable.

Felice opened his mouth to speak, but Wen Ying interrupted, "I didn't take any potion."

Li Jie, who had been messaging Muershi with his head down, lifted his eyes in surprise upon hearing Wen Ying's words. He immediately glanced at Muershi. How could these two devils think so synchronously? One would ask, and the other would have the same thought.

Wu Shaluo felt as if he was back at the beginning of the semester. Back then, he hadn't approached Wen Ying directly but had first sent Huiguo to test the waters. After the test, he had decided not to embarrass himself by going up.

Now, he had that same feeling of not wanting to embarrass himself again, except this time, the tester had changed from Huiguo to Felice.

His restless heart to step forward suddenly quieted.

In human terms, this was unscientific!

Undeterred, Felice stood up, planning to try again, only to fail miserably.

Wen Ying stood by, his injuries seemingly insignificant as he hopped around energetically. He examined his hand while glancing at the part of Phileus's body he had just attacked, deep in thought. Phileus could sense a feeling of being hunted by a tiny white mouse from Wen Ying's gaze.

Despite his bodily pain, he struggled to his feet and lashed out his tail at Wen Ying, who appeared weak. Then, he said listlessly, "I surrender."

A red mark appeared on the right side of Wen Ying's face, outlining the shape of fish scales. He muttered to himself, "He still has strength left. I must have been too gentle. Next time, I'll need to hit Poros and Lan Jiaying harder since they have thick skin and flesh."

Phileus was still present and was the only one who heard Wen Ying's mutterings. He couldn't quite describe the feeling but looking at the unsuspecting Poros and Lan Jiaying, he felt a sudden sense of equilibrium.

Poros and Lan Jiaying inexplicably sensed an ominous foreboding.

Wen Ying sat cross-legged, first indulging in the luxurious use of magic to remove the red marks of fish scales from his face. The mark, representing Phileus's stubborn attack, vanished quickly under the healing spell.

Half an hour passed, and Wen Ying heard the approach of the next demon. This aura belonged to...

Opening his eyes, Wen Ying saw Muershi smiling and waving at him, his casual demeanor not resembling that of a challenger.

Ah, Muershi, Wen Ying mused, stroking his chin. Among the three major families in the Demon Realm, the foxes were the primary mages, the hellhounds the warriors, and the birds of extreme malice were balanced between the two.

The birds of extreme malice had a premonition of danger, which, when applied in combat, allowed them to anticipate the location of threats and evade them.

Essence was deeply engrossed in the match and said excitedly, "Koroy, who do you think will win between them?"

"It'll be exciting no matter who wins," the Demon Fairy replied with anticipation. "Two cunning fellows... It'll definitely be a sight to see who can successfully trap the other."

In the end, Wen Ying managed to evade Muershi's poisonous white flowers, dodge the hidden magic cards within the branches, and, using his danger perception, sidestep Wen Ying's more lethal attacks. Seeing Wen Ying summon the Grand Magic Mirror and create a wall of earth to block the mirror's reflection of himself...

Muershi had successfully avoided all of Wen Ying's tricks and even set traps of his own for Wen Ying to fall into.

The demons watching from the stands held their breath; this battle was more thrilling than the previous ones. It seemed as though they weren't competing in strength but something else entirely.

Muershi chuckled lightly and asked, "Anything else?" He could tell that Wen Ying wasn't using his full power, but he aimed to exhaust him.

"Do you know how despicable you look right now?" Wen Ying felt that his energy expenditure had exceeded his expectations. Muershi's face looked incredibly irritating.

Muershi had been leading him on all along. His goal wasn't to win but to exhaust Wen Ying. With his Evil Bird's innate talent for evasion, he could easily dodge attacks, forcing Wen Ying into a nauseating game of chase where he would only attack when Wen Ying stopped running.

It wasn't impossible to force him down, but expending the energy and magic needed to take down an Evil Bird would be enormous. There was still a long time before six o'clock, and Wen Ying was certain that Muershi would concede defeat before half-past five.

For instance, at 5:20, if Muershi took a 30-minute break, it would be 5:59, just in time for another round to begin. As long as the match started, the time could drag on indefinitely.

Wen Ying straightened his posture, assuming a pensive look. Muershi slowly ascended into the air, his innate racial spell "Malevolent Thunder" beginning to condense.

Wen Ying suddenly looked up and asked, "Do you still remember that small cubicle from that day?"

Muershi nearly tumbled down, a shiver running through him as the electric arcs on his feathers dissipated.

"Speak up, what kind of small compartment frightened Muershi so abruptly?"

"I wish to listen!"

"The Tyrant Bird actually knows fear? Quick, take a picture!"

"I'm going to set this as my phone wallpaper!"

Lan Jiaying signaled Wu Shaluo to send him a copy of the photo.

A fleeting thought crossed Perseus's mind, but he failed to grasp it, only sensing a sense of familiarity.

Muershi forced himself not to look at Perseus. Landing on the ground, he approached Wen Ying before his feet had even settled, whispering, "Why did you have to bring this up again?"

Wen Ying folded her arms. "Are you going down?"

Muershi replied, "You can't always threaten me with that."

Wen Ying turned towards the stands, and Muershi cried, "Wait!" He swiftly flew down.

The old demonic referee looked at Muershi in confusion as he descended, then back at Wen Ying standing on the arena.

Wen Ying said, "Teacher, he's conceding."

The audience was in an uproar.

Lilith grabbed Muershi, who was passing by, and asked curiously, "What small room is Wen Ying talking about? Why are you so obviously scared of it?"

"It was a mistake I made back then," Muershi said wistfully. He shouldn't have told Wen Ying about Berossus's location just for fun; he had brought trouble upon himself.

"What mistake?" Essence inquired, "Did the two of you...?"

Berossus perked up his ears.

Muershi sneered. Suddenly, he took advantage of Essence's distraction, yanking his arm and flinging him onto the arena.

Essence: "!"

Muershi clapped his hands. "Too many questions."

Seeing Wen Ying looking over, Essence raised his hands. "Muershi threw me up here."

Wen Ying held onto him. "Since you're here, why not give it a try?"

Essence rolled his eyes inwardly, thinking of Phileas who had tried and perished. He didn't want to make a fool of himself, so he forcefully broke free from Wen Ying's grip while fluttering his eyelashes. "I have no interest in fighting at all."

Many demons in the spectator stands were rolling their eyes to the heavens.

Wen Ying still wanted to persuade him, but Essence paused and whispered into Wen Ying's ear, "If you promise me tonight..."

Wen Ying instantly released Essence's hand and stepped back three paces.

Essence shrugged with regret as he flew off the arena. Passing by Beros, he noticed the demon's cold, expressionless gaze and teased, "That look of yours will make me think you're jealous."

"Scram."

Boros dismissed him with nary a glance.

Though Essence had left, no other demon ascended the platform after him.

Wen Ying guessed that only two demons would challenge tomorrow. As expected, on the third and final day of the tournament, Boros finally stepped onto the stage.

Boros wasted no time with words. The elderly demonic referee's cry of "begin" was all the provocation he needed to launch his attack. Swift as lightning, his fiery figure darted before Wen Ying, the heat waves distorting the air and warping his vision.

Reacting instinctively, Wen Ying parried Boreas's assault. A layer of white frost coated his arm, mitigating the damage from the black flames.

In terms of strength and speed, Wen Ying had improved significantly. Beros' attacks were becoming more ruthless, but Wen Ying wasn't being overwhelmed.

Initially, the oppressive sensation stemming from their stark size disparity had now dissipated. Wen Ying coolly assessed Boreas's next point of attack, his magic and martial strikes increasingly infused with the power reverberating back to him from the Bloodwood.

"Bang!" "Whoosh!"

Two demons clashed with fierce blows, each punch tearing through the air with a resounding whistle. Spells intertwined amidst their close combat, as silvery-white branches and black engulfing flames locked in a contest of might. The frost-coated branches proved resilient against the flames, which struggled to immediately consume them.

Tiny white blossoms sprouted from some branches, causing the raging flames of the Incinerating Flame to wane as if encountering water.

Perseus enveloped himself with magic, resisting the toxicity of those little white flowers.

The muscular demon tensed, his physique formidable. The red eyes of the Hellhound, Scarlet, gradually became mesmerized, their gaze fixated solely on the battle at hand. The magical patterns on his face spread like flowing blood, exuding an eerie and demonic charm. Frenzied magical power clung to him in the form of flames on either side.

Among the spectators, few demons dared to speak, awestruck by this aura. Even though it wasn't directed at them, they still felt intense fear.

In Squad One, half of the demons were relatively unaffected. Scarlet, whether talking to himself or to the demon beside him, remarked, "Perseus has grown even stronger."

Amidst the diligent efforts of his peers, Scarlet felt left behind, with an irresistible urge to rush home and devote himself to intensive practice for twenty-four hours straight.

In comparison to that frenzied, battle-immersed figure, the Mirror Demon exuded a more tranquil aura, less terrifying to other demons. His power seemed to sprout like a tender shoot from the earth, quietly growing stronger. By the time the demons realized, they found themselves entangled by these grown shoots, wrapped around them in circles, drawing them into an endless abyss of darkness.

Some demons, realizing the peril, broke out in cold sweat. They couldn't allow themselves to be the only ones frightened. One of them whipped out their phone, typing with fingers as swift as phantom claws, relaying the battle's progression in text to loved ones outside the academy.

This Mirror Demon was defying the heavens!

And the Cerberus of this generation was equally terrifying!

The arena couldn't withstand the power of the two demons and cracked, putting the magical barrier that prevented the battle's magic from spreading in peril. The elderly demon referee intervened, stabilizing the wavering barrier, much to the relief of the spectators.

Wu Shaluo was grateful he hadn't participated yesterday. He leaned toward Lan Jiaying and whispered, "Will you... fight this afternoon?"

Lan Jiaying maintained a calm expression, showing no signs of worry. However, his hand on the armrest gripped it tightly.

Today, the Devil King would be coming, though this information hadn't been publicly announced. He had secretly obtained it.

Now, the Devil King was here. The King's magic concealed his presence, making it impossible for Lan Jiaying to locate him despite knowing he was nearby.

At the thought of his father potentially witnessing his defeat by Wen Ying, Lan Jiaying instantly became anxious, filled with fear. Unconsciously, he crushed the armrest of his chair.

Wu Shaluo gasped, "Your Highness..."

Lan Jiaying nonchalantly replied, "I will fight."

Fixing his gaze on the battle between the two demons on the arena, Lan Jiaying didn't miss a single detail. He sought to find any potential weaknesses in Wen Ying's defense and memorize his typical fighting patterns.

The duel between the two demons on the arena lasted nearly half an hour, ultimately concluding with Beros being kicked down by Wen Ying.

Boros still had one hand clutching the edge of the arena when Wen Ying stepped on it with his foot.

Today, everyone had witnessed how powerful the Devil Mirror's kick was. Although it wasn't long, it made the devil's eyelids twitch. That foot was the only one among the younger generation that dared to step on Boros's hand!

Wen Ying stood by the edge of the arena and exhaled deeply. "Finally kicked him down."

He had also tested Boros's current limits today. Wen Ying concluded that Boros had no intimidation towards him before reaching adulthood!

The Blood Tree was great, the Blood Tree was marvelous. Through telepathy, Wen Ying praised the Blood Tree, who responded with joyful emotions.

Wen Ying then turned to look at Lan Jiaying, whose gaze had always been filled with a challenging desire. His black eyes stared straight at him, his pupils deep and serene, like the calm before a storm.

Wen Ying didn't understand why Lan Jiaying's expression had suddenly become so serious. Moreover, that gaze... except for the time he cut his hair, he hadn't done anything too excessive to Lan Jiaying recently. Why did Lan Jiaying's gaze seem to convey a resolute determination to tear him apart?

After much thought, Wen Ying still couldn't figure out what he had done.

Could it be that he held a grudge against him for taking first place in the final exams? It wouldn't have delayed his giving such a gaze until now, would it?

Lan Jiaying's gaze now was even more terrifying than when he had cut off his golden locks! A chill ran down Wen Ying's spine.

Soon, Wen Ying sensed another murderous gaze directed at him. He lowered his head and saw Beros kneeling on one knee below the platform, looking up at him with half his face obscured by his hair's shadow. His blood-red eyes, still immersed in the thrill of battle, would terrify any ordinary demon.

There was blood trickling down from the wound on his forehead, running over his eyebrows and into his eye, as if the eyeball had merged with the flowing blood, making it appear even more vividly crimson.

He resembled a demonic predator ready to feast, but rather than causing him to appear humiliated, it only made him seem more terrifying.

Wen Ying's heartbeat suddenly changed its rhythm, as if stimulated by something. An indescribable excitement spread through his body, making every pore tingle with anticipation.

His mark remained on that muscular body. Looking down at Beros, the deafening, primitive roars of the surrounding demons created an illusion of ringing in his ears, making his heartbeat sound like a drumming in his chest.

Wen Ying bit down on his knuckle to suppress the bizarre surge of pleasure.

This wasn't normal.

Essence sat slanted, observing the subtle changes in Wen Ying's expression. The corners of his lips curled upward.

From their first encounter, he had sensed it. His intuition had been right; Wen Ying's hidden desires were gradually surfacing alongside his growing power.

The demon king, concealed within the cacophony of cheering devils, stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Despite the remaining time, no new demons appeared. Everyone glanced at Lan Jiaying tacitly. Instead of taking advantage of Wen Ying's less than optimal condition, he chose to challenge him in the afternoon.

It was somewhat comical that despite Lan Jiaying's desperate desire to defeat Wen Ying in front of the Devil King, an inner voice told him that Wen Ying hadn't used his full strength against Beros.

Being defeated by Wen Ying at his peak would sound better than being defeated by someone who had already fought Beros once.

Lan Jiaying's agitated magical energy flowed unevenly within him, causing his nerves to tense up to the point of a splitting headache – a sensation he had never experienced before.

Would the Devil King be disappointed if he saw him lose to a Mirror Demon?

But Beros lost too...

But Beros wasn't the Devil King's son.

After a noon of contemplation and a refreshing nap, Wen Ying arrived at the arena to find a low-spirited Lan Jiaying with disheveled hair.

The other's resentment made Wen Ying feel inexplicably guilty, so he cautiously asked, "Did I do something to offend you recently?"

Right? Right?! He hadn't cut Lan Jiaying's hair lately, nor had he released any new magic cards featuring him, even though he had considered pushing the boundaries a little – but those weren't out yet, were they?

With an aura akin to a vengeful spirit, Lan Jiaying still wore his usual elegant and faint smile, sending shivers down Wen Ying's spine. His tone of speech was unexpectedly gentle and obedient.

The fight ensued, and Wen Ying was astonished by Lan Jiaying's even more deranged combat style than Perseus'. Perseus would exchange injuries, but Lan Jiaying took it to a whole new level. Amidst his berserk fighting, Lan Jiaying retained a hint of composure that made Wen Ying wonder if he had lost his mind.

Wen Ying dared not use poison on Lan Jiaying, fearing that if poisoned, he might force himself to cast magic, thereby damaging his body irreparably. After putting in much effort and getting injured himself, enduring several blows from Lan Jiaying, Wen Ying finally managed to kick him down.

The moment Lan Jiaying was knocked down by Wen Ying, he switched from his frenzied state to a serene, tranquil feeling as if all sounds had ceased.

As Wen Ying touched the corner of his mouth, bloodied from Lan Jiaying's blows, he gasped and thought to himself that Lan Jiaying was truly acting strangely today.

No demon ventured forward anymore.

Demons inherently admired strength, and after three days of ranking matches, everyone had fully acknowledged Wen Ying's prowess. His first-place victory was no longer seen as mere luck; he had genuinely earned it through his power. He had defeated the strongest among the younger generation, both Beros and Lan Jiaying!

Amidst the cheering, Wen Ying suppressed the urge to grit his teeth and gasped softly.

It hurt so much. Beaten by Beros in the morning and Lan Jiaying in the afternoon, although his injuries weren't severe, the pain was excruciating.

Among the cheering demons, some were crying tears of excitement while shouting ecstatically. These weren't isolated cases; it was surreal because they had placed significant bets on Wen Ying not securing the top position, and now they were suffering huge losses.

A small fraction of the demons were ecstatic, having placed a meager bet on Wen Ying to maintain his first position.

When news of the ranking match results spread, all the demons in the capital felt as if it was April Fool's Day in the human world. After verifying multiple times and confirming that it was true, they found it absurd.

A Mirror Demon had defeated a top seed among the high-ranking demons in a round-robin competition?

The demon students who had witnessed the three days of ranking matches at the Lucifer Demon Academy described the events vividly, adding fuel to the incredulity of the situation.

Many demons in the capital began cutting back on expenses, as they had wagered heavily against Wen Ying's possibility of coming first and were now weeping bitterly. Wen Ying, on the other hand, had bet a substantial amount on himself, resulting in a significant profit.

With the ranking matches concluded, the semester came to an end. Similar to schools in the human world, the Lucifer Demon Academy had winter and summer breaks, complete with homework assignments during those periods.

Having secured the first place, Wen Ying excitedly followed Feng Luo and Lai Yehua into the Devil King's Castle to meet the Devil King, who would award him the prize for his victory – a legitimate ticket to the human world.

Although he now possessed the ability to "smuggle" himself into the human world, Lu Qingyuan's current magic power could only sustain him there for about two days.

"Starting today, you will be an intern presiding judge in the Human World Judgment Bureau's enforcement team."

Wen Ying's smile froze as he looked up at the Devil King, wondering if he had misheard just now.

"Lord Demon King, isn't the prize for first place the chance to go to the Human Realm?"

The Demon King replied confidently, "That's right. Going to the Human Realm is done through proper channels. I've looked through your records and noticed that you seem to be quite effective against the Extremists, often foiling their plans. I think it would be excellent for you to serve as the Chief Justice of the Human Realm's Judgment Bureau Enforcement Squad. Once your achievements meet the requirements, you'll become a permanent member. As for the previous one, they'll be transferred back to the Demon Realm's Judgment Bureau."

Wen Ying had a lot on his mind, but all he could manage to ask was, "Is there a salary?"

The Demon King chuckled. "Yes, your salary will be paid in a combination of both Demon Realm currency and Human Realm currency."

"…Thank you, Lord Demon King."

"There's no need to thank me. In a few days, you can set off for the Human Realm to earn your achievements. It's winter vacation, so you won't miss any schoolwork."

Wen Ying's eyes widened involuntarily. What the f*ck? He had a pile of homework!

Wen Ying tried to decline tactfully, "Lord Demon King, I'm just a Mirror Demon. If I were to be parachuted into the position, the other demons would be very dissatisfied."

The Demon King responded, "Use your aura to overwhelm them and intimidate them."

"Lord Demon King, I'm not sure what kind of aura I possess…"

The Devil's smile held a profound meaning: "You do. The look in your eyes and the aura you exuded when you looked down at Bellos from the arena that day were impressive."

Wen Ying was stunned into silence, his entire body shuddering. He finally understood why Lan Jiaying had acted so strangely that day. It turned out that the Devil had watched the match.

But as Wen Ying regained his composure, he said bashfully and awkwardly, "Your Highness, I don't have that kind of... fetish? Interest? Passion? Am I crazy? It all sounds weird."

He had just momentarily lost his mind back then! He didn't have any abnormal thoughts!

The Devil smiled but didn't comment.

Feng Luo said, "Don't even think about refusing."

Lai Yehua nonchalantly stabbed Wen Ying in the back: "You can write your homework in the Human Realm."

Wen Ying looked at Lai Yehua and mentally noted this down.

That was it. When Wen Ying returned home, he tried to get Aruda to rescue him, but Aruda was surprised. "This is a good thing. The Chief Justice of the Human Realm's Judgment Bureau's Enforcement Squad is the most powerful position a devil can hold in the Human Realm."

"Almost no devils can enter the Human Realm now. This position doesn't seem to have much to do with power in the Devil Realm," Wen Ying muttered.

Alruda: "Not yet, but there will be eventually."

Wen Ying's heart skipped a beat. "The barrier has weakened again?"

Alruda gently patted Wen Ying's head. "Don't worry about trivial matters. I've prepared a pot of Poison Demon Herb for you. It's time for your medicinal bath today."

Wen Ying instantly forgot his melancholy. That medicinal bath was excruciatingly painful. He didn't want to recall the sensation of the poison invading his body – it was as uncomfortable as being boiled alive.

"Alright then."

...

While the Lucifer Demon Academy's ranking matches were in full swing, subtle changes occurred unnoticed in the Human Realm.

After the Extremists successfully opened a portal between the two realms, demonic energy from the Demon Realm seeped into the Human Realm. Even though the portal had been closed, the demonic energy that had already infiltrated remained in the Human Realm.

With the increase of demonic energy in the Human Realm, the barrier mistook it for an overall power boost and began to weaken, developing multiple vulnerable spots.

Though the Extremists had suffered significant losses, many still remained scattered throughout the Demon Realm. They exploited these newly emerged weak points, sending numerous low-ranking demons to the Human Realm before they could be detected by the demon forces.

The current vulnerability in the barrier was insufficient for mid-ranking demons to pass through, but the scattered low-ranking demons that infiltrated the human realm were more than enough to give governments worldwide a headache. These malevolent creatures wreaked havoc everywhere, causing panic and unrest across the globe.

When demons appeared in cities, heavy weaponry could not be used, leaving Exorcists as the only line of defense. The status of these Exorcists rapidly soared.

With heightened status came disharmony. While this was only a nascent trend within the Flower Planting Nation, some smaller countries had even witnessed a resurgence of the ancient "divine right of kings" phenomenon.

In response, the Flower Planting Nation's top leaders held an emergency meeting, deciding to establish a Special Biological Disaster Response Department. They swiftly assembled a team of experts and established branches in every city, county, and rural area throughout the nation.

Most of the enforcers were recruited directly from the military. Each regional disaster response department also collaborated with Exorcist churches and associations, requesting them to dispatch Exorcists to take up residence, ensuring that every location would have one on standby in case of any incidents, thereby preventing scenarios where a demon could wreak havoc unchecked, as seen in foreign lands.

The establishment of the disaster response department aimed not only to protect ordinary citizens but also served the government's ulterior motives. They wished to prevent the Exorcist organizations from gaining too much power over state institutions. By creating this department, they sought to decentralize the Exorcists' internal hierarchy, putting those dispersed across the country under the jurisdiction of the disaster response department.

Henceforth, in times of need, the government could directly call upon Exorcists without having to negotiate with their organizations.

In the future, graduates from magic academies would also be assigned to work within this department.

The gears of the national machinery began turning swiftly. The public trusted their government, and for a while, domestic social order remained stable, with no major upheavals or sudden spikes in prices. Food costs were kept within acceptable limits.

Xiao Le, who moonlighted as a cosplayer, was assigned by the church to participate in film production. However, he didn't miss the ongoing transformation. After being allocated to the disaster response department in Mu City, he continued his acting duties on the surface while secretly building his own team, ensuring that the Exorcists under his command were reliable.

From the perspective of the Church in Mu City, Xiao Le sensed that there were issues throughout the organization, with many exorcists having ties to extremist factions. It sent shivers down his spine.

Given the Church's unreliability, Xiao Le secretly reached out to contacts within the Association.

Both he and Wei Ranfeng had graduated from the same Exorcist Academy, and they still kept in touch. After graduation, Wei Ranfeng joined the Association, and he encouraged his old classmate to come work at Mu City's Disaster Countermeasure Department, secretly forming a faction together.

The Disaster Countermeasure Department's regulations broke the unspoken rule of the Association and the Church each managing their own territories. The department stipulated that for fairness, both sides must be represented in every local department.

Many high-ranking officials within the Church opposed this, but the Association members agreed amicably. With the involvement of government officials, the three parties negotiated back and forth during meetings. Eventually, a compromise was reached through mutual concessions.

Wen Ying had no idea that after just a few days away from the human world, the societal landscape had changed significantly.

He had endured the poison bath of Aruda's love, tolerated the excruciating pain as if his skin was being torn apart, carried a pile of winter holiday assignments, and obtained a mystical treasure for compressing power from the Devil King. Through the Devil King's ancestral special passage, he returned to the human world, only to discover that a new department called the Calamity Response Unit had emerged in the country.

The sensation of compressed power was not pleasant. Previously, Wen Ying had felt it moderately, but with the elevation of his level, experiencing it again was akin to having both nostrils blocked while sleeping, forcing him to breathe through his mouth – it was incredibly uncomfortable.

This was still a result of the human world's rules weakening their suppression on demons due to the increase in demonic aura. Before this, it had been even more unbearable.

After only a short while, Wen Ying already felt dizzy and disoriented.

He emerged from the restroom of a shopping mall, and Wen Ying gazed at his teleportation point with a bizarrely complicated expression. The ancestral teleportation point of the Demon King was actually in a toilet... Did Lan Jiaying know about this?

According to Muershi, Lan Jiaying had been in a daze and locked himself up at home these past few days. When Wen Ying asked how he knew that, Muershi replied, "His demonic chef told me."

Muershi also mentioned that Belos was likewise staying indoors, diligently practicing magic every day, as reported by his own demonic chef.

Wen Ying understood now; one had to guard against cooks who might leak information.

Before arriving in the human world, he had changed into human attire in the demon realm. After swallowing the magical potion given by Aruda, which could temporarily transform his appearance into that of a human, he put on a white mask and glasses with no prescription. Then, he pushed open the bathroom door and stepped out.

Using a new smartphone, I scrolled through the latest domestic news on Weibo, checking the trending topics to get a general idea of what's currently capturing the public's attention.

Special Biological Disaster Response Unit? Referring to himself as a special being, Wen Ying felt a mix of emotions.

After scrolling for a while, Wen Ying followed the address provided by the Devil King. When he found the location, he was astonished to discover that the Demon Realm's Human World Judgement Bureau's enforcement team was situated within a... Cosplay cafe.

At the entrance stood a young man and a woman. The girl was dressed in a maid's uniform, while the boy was attired in a butler's tailcoat. The shop was situated right by a bustling crossroads, a location that guaranteed a 100% head-turning rate - it was the epitome of public attention.

More remarkably, just one street over was the location of Mu City's Special Biological Disaster Response Department, colloquially known as the Disaster Countermeasure Division.

Wen Ying slapped his forehead, his eyes losing their luster.

The Devil had said he would understand and relocate the Human Realm Judgment Bureau's headquarters to Mu City, as he knew Wen Ying was from there. Wen Ying had some expectations about the Devil's knowledge, but was still startled by his casual decision.

He was still worried that the Devil's choice might cause his future colleagues to look down on him.

Now, after seeing the place, Wen Ying suspected they wouldn't just look down on him, but might even wish to stab him.

The two at the entrance were humans. After observing them for a while, Wen Ying couldn't see anything special. After some thought, he walked over. The girl warmly handed him a flyer.

"Handsome, would you like to come in? Our services are comprehensive. The first floor is a café, the basement has a bar, the second floor is a restaurant with both Western and Chinese cuisine, the third floor has a gym, and the fourth floor is a hotel."

Wen Ying: "...."

Wen Ying numbly stepped in, and another girl immediately came out to greet him. After hesitating for a moment, he whispered, "I'm looking for your manager."

"Manager?" The girl looked puzzled. "Please wait a moment, I'll go call them."

Chapter 206: Proposal

When Shen Lie and Shen Jin returned to the village in the late afternoon, the Xu and Lu families, who lived near the entrance, spotted them. They hurried out of their caves and, seeing that both were unscathed, with Shen Jin's slightly reddened eyes the only indication of his earlier turmoil, Xu Shopkeeper and Uncle Xu breathed a sigh of relief.

No one asked about what had happened to the others. Looking at the snow covering Shen Lie and Shen Jin, Lu Erliang said, "Let’s talk tomorrow. The mountain has been battered by wind and snow all day. Hurry back to warm up."

Shen Lie indeed worried about his family. He nodded at the others and, leading Shen Jin, strode towards their cave.

Everyone was waiting for them. From afar, Sang Luo, Shen An, and Shen Ning saw them and got up to greet them. By the time they reached the entrance, Shen Lie had already brushed off the snow on his head and body. Then he went inside.

The food was already prepared. Shen Ning started cooking while Shen Lie and Shen Jin put away their weapons. After washing their hands at the mountain spring, they returned to the cave.

Seeing Shen An tending to the fire, Shen Ning and Sang Luo swiftly prepared dinner. Shen Lie approached and asked the three, "Were you scared this morning?"

They had practiced martial arts for several months and hadn't missed any hunting opportunities, but it was their first time attacking humans, especially in such a chaotic situation.

To be honest, they had spent a long time practicing archery and staff skills. In a real fight, there was no time for fear; instead, they felt a thrill from putting their training into action. However, Zheng Daniu's blow still made them shudder. If not for a deep-seated hatred, how could she have become so agitated? Thinking this, Shen An shook his head.

Shen Ning and her second elder brother were alike in this regard: at first, they felt a twinge of trepidation, considering these to be truly wicked individuals. However, upon recalling the sweetness of their little sister, any unease dissipated. In fact, they found themselves rather excited at the prospect of confronting such villains for the first time. "Big Brother," she recounted, "there was one with a blade who charged straight at me and Sister Wen Yin. The three of us, together with Elder Brother Wen Hong, managed to knock him down flat."

Noticing that she didn't seem frightened at all, Shen Lie wore a slight smile on his face. "Then put in more effort and practice well."

Out in the world, those with ill intentions often target women and children, precisely because they are the least capable of defending themselves.

As a professional novel translator, I will provide an elegant and contextually apt translation for each line. Please provide the lines you would like me to translate.

San Luo was a woman of few words. After dinner and their evening ablutions, the children returned to their adjacent wooden huts and closed their doors. Only then did she ask Chen Lie, "Did you go to that village when you returned later?"

On the return journey, they would pass by the villages where the Zhou and Feng families resided.

Shen Lie nodded, then looked at Sang Luo. "Do you want to ask about the Zheng family?"

Sang Luo recalled Zheng Datou's reaction when she saw the three men and one woman. At that moment, she didn't want to hear any more; she didn't dare to listen.

She shook her head and wrapped her arms around Shen Lie's waist, burying her face in his shoulder.

Shen Lie embraced her, remembering the partially concealed matters that Butcher Zheng had mentioned but not fully disclosed that afternoon. He held Sang Luo closer and fell silent for a while. Then, he lowered his head and asked, "I only have a hundred or so characters left in that scroll to read through. Would you like to teach me, Ah Luo?"

In response, two arms reached up to wrap around his neck.

All night, Sang Luo nestled in Shen Lie's embrace. Initially, he had genuinely been protective and caring. But as Sang Luo clung to him more than usual and even initiated a kiss, everything changed, becoming chaotic.

Outside the cave was bitterly cold, but inside, it was scorching hot. So much so that tears welled up in Sang Luo's eyes. Apart from not crossing the final line, they were as close as could be.

In the end, Shen Lie held the utterly limp Sang Luo, his voice hoarse as he pleaded softly into her ear, "A'Ro, will you marry me? We won't do anything, but I want to pay respects to heaven and earth with you, to let them know we're husband and wife. Will you?"

Shen Lie couldn't shake off the thought that they hadn't gone through a formal ceremony. Even without their elders, he wanted the heavens and earth to bear witness.

Sang Luo was devoid of strength and consciousness, lacking even the energy to lift a finger. After a moment, she leaned closer, their noses touching. A muffled "yes" was lost between their lips.

Sang Luo realized that consummating their relationship wouldn't change much. Her desire for Shen Lie was undeniable, and her emotions and longing intertwined, growing harder to suppress each day. Restraint seemed to be consuming her.

...

After the incident the previous day, the villagers, Zhou family, and scattered mountain dwellers placed even greater importance on training. Although they maintained their distance, all understood that their bond had strengthened. In a real crisis, they would be there to support one another.

Outskirts Village now had seven large blades, plus those Shen Lie and his companions had retrieved during their earlier rescue mission in the county town. There were now over a dozen military knives in total.

The children continued to learn stick techniques, while the gifted youths like Shen Lie and Chen Dashan began to be instructed in saber skills alongside them.

Thanks to that encounter, Xu Manager, Uncle Xu, Chen Youtian, Zhou Dalang, and the Gans, who had always been more enthusiastic about gathering than martial arts, also joined in the training. Winter was a slow season for work anyway, and their figures soon became fixtures in daily drills.

With a new concern weighing on his mind, Shen Lie waited patiently for days until all the snow had melted, ensuring that no traces would be left behind when entering or exiting the valley at night. That very evening, he sneaked into the entrance.

Old Man Chen and Old Man Lu were too old for such endeavors, so most of the time, it was Village Chief Zhou who guarded the valley. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he lived in the large cave near the entrance, where he had a makeshift shelter, a bed, bedding, and all other necessities.

Shen Lie came in at night, but not to deliver anything; instead, he sought out Village Chief Zhou to borrow a copy of the Great Qian Calendar from him.

Village Chief Zhou was taken aback and momentarily failed to grasp the situation. He instinctively asked about the purpose, but since they couldn't hold any grand ceremonies in the mountains, and Sanluo preferred to keep things low-key, Shen Lie didn't go into details.

Seeing that Shen Lie wasn't forthcoming, Village Chief Zhou didn't press the matter. Instead, he simply fetched the calendar after securing a rope, returning shortly with the book in hand. He stared at Shen Lie for a long moment before suddenly saying, "Your auntie reminded me. Have you and A Luo not yet performed the marriage ceremony?"

Women tended to be more observant and meticulous when it came to such matters. The original Shen family's grass hut only had one room, which must have been quite cramped for four people. After seeking refuge in the mountains, they all shared a cave, and Sanluo never seemed to have styled her hair in the manner of a married woman.

Suddenly borrowing a calendar — what could it be for? For ordinary folk like them, it was usually used to choose auspicious dates or check farming seasons. With the recent Chen family wedding, it wasn't difficult to guess Shen Lie's intentions now.

Shen Lie's eyes lit up with amusement at being guessed correctly. "Yes, but we don't have any parents or elders left. It wouldn't be suitable to hold a grand ceremony in the mountains. A Luo prefers to keep things simple, just the two of us paying respects to heaven and earth."

A smile danced in Zhou Cunzheng's eyes as he handed the almanac to Shen Lie. He also gave him a bag of dates and a fresh red string, saying, "Feel free to consult the almanac, and consider the red string a gift. It was purchased by my second daughter-in-law and has never been used. Your aunt asked me to deliver it to you. Life in the mountains may be tough, but don't neglect the hair-tying ceremony."

Shen Lie's eyes lit up with joy at the sight of the red string. "Thank you, Uncle Zhou."

Zhou Cunzheng patted him on the shoulder with a grin. "Go now, live happily with Ah Luo, and grow old together."

With a radiant smile, Shen Lie carefully put away the red string before leaving for the cave. His eyes shimmered as he eagerly asked Sang Luo to help him choose a date.

Sang Luo couldn't help laughing when she saw how eagerly he waited for the snow to melt so he could borrow the Zhou family's almanac. She wrapped her arms around Shen Lie's neck, leaned in, and kissed his cheek. Naturally, he pulled her into his embrace, opened the almanac, and earnestly asked her to pick a date.

Their faces pressed against each other, their whispers were intimate and sweet.

The chosen date was only three days away.

Originally, no one had planned to notify others. They intended to bring Shen Yin and Shen Tie out the night before the ceremony, and have their own family witness their wedding to the heavens.

But could the Zhou family keep this a secret? On the very night Shen Lie borrowed the almanac, news spread throughout the valley. Preparations for gifts were hastily made, and Zhou Cunzheng was tasked with delivering them under the cover of darkness, without informing Shen Lie and Sang Luo. The gifts were given to those who lived outside the valley, asking them to deliver them on the right day.

In the Chen family, Shen Lie's generous gift from the past was still remembered. Upon receiving the news, Chen Youtian's first thought was to find his son and confirm the date. He urged Chen Dashan to find something nice for the occasion.

When Chen Dashan heard that Shen Lie was getting married, he was utterly stunned.

He momentarily set aside the issue of propriety and hurriedly found Shen Lie, pulling him aside to a quiet spot. "You're getting married? Wait, you haven't yet? No, you aren't...?"

He had intended to ask if Shen Lie hadn't already gotten married long ago.

Then it dawned on him that Shen Lie had only brought back a wife, but hadn't gone through any formal wedding ceremony with Sang Luo.

Slapping his forehead, he chuckled. "Ah, looks like I beat you to it after all."

He was almost laughing out loud with his hands on his hips.

Shen Lie was in a good mood, and besides, his Aro was so kind-hearted that she didn't bother to argue with the naive Chen Dashan. He simply asked, "Did Uncle Zhou tell you?"

Given that he had borrowed the almanac last night and Chen Dashan had shown up early this morning, it was clear that Village Chief Zhou had informed everyone.

Sang Luo's hope for a quiet, low-key ceremony seemed dashed, but Shen Lie was still delighted. The only thing that might make them a bit uncomfortable would be the instinctive reaction of others, similar to Chen Dashan's—had they not consummated their marriage?

Shen Lie suspected that this might be one reason why Sang Luo was hesitant to announce their marriage publicly, given the circumstances in the mountains.

However, things seemed to be working out well now, and that was all that mattered.

With Shen Lie in high spirits, Chen Dashan was equally delighted. "Which day did you choose? I'll also get some nice things for you and your wife."

Smiling, Shen Lie shared the date, and Chen Dashan promised to wait before heading home to inform Chen Youtian about Shen Lie's wedding plans. He then told Zhou Ge that he would be going out for a while, grabbed his knife and bow, and called Xu Wenqing along before rushing off.

The night before the wedding, Shen Lie fetched Shen Yin and Shen Tie. It was only then that the Shen siblings learned that their eldest brother and sister-in-law were planning a wedding ceremony.

Both Shen An and Shen Ning were ecstatic, bustling around to ask Gan Shi what they could do to help. This caught Gan Shi off guard, as they were currently hiding in the mountains with scarce resources. After some thought, she instructed Shen Ning to scatter more red dates on Sang Luo's bed and taught the siblings to say auspicious words for good luck.

Thus, when the actual wedding day arrived, Sang Luo was surprised to find that everyone had come bearing gifts, indicating that they were aware of the ceremony. Filled with joy, she received the presents and expressed her gratitude.

Chen Dashan and Xu Wenqing returned in the late afternoon, both grinning as they carried a deer. Xu Wenqing was oblivious, but Chen Dashan pulled Shen Lie aside, chuckling. "Don't think badly of your brother, alright? You must have heard this in the military – venison is great stuff. Eat plenty tonight."

Shen Lie nearly choked. These days, he felt his blood rush to his nose every day, and the thought of eating deer meat didn't sit well with him.

Although he wanted to give Chen Dashan some advice, he realized it wasn't appropriate for him, as a man, to discuss such matters regarding another couple. Instead, he planned to let Sang Luo discreetly mention it to Zhou Ge one day.

Unbeknownst to him, Chen Dashan had the exact same plan in mind. Upon returning home, he approached his wife and asked her to secretly teach Sangluo the contraceptive method that her mother had taught her.

Zhou Ge: "…Alright."

Under Chen Dashan's persistent urging, he had no choice but to head to the Shen family's cave.

When Sangluo found out that Zhou Ge was coerced by Chen Dashan to teach her the contraceptive method passed down from 'Zhou Ge's mother,' she couldn't help but burst into laughter. It was just the two of them in the cave, and they both chuckled until their shoulders trembled.

Silence suddenly enveloped the surroundings.

Lin Shuicheng looked up and smiled at Yan Zi. "Auntie, please sit down and have something to eat. Why is everyone standing?"

Yan Zi seemed to awaken from a dream and quickly took her seat.

Due to Fu Xue's initial intention to join in the conversation with Lu Shengwen, she had no choice but to sit as well.

Her face alternated between flushes of red and paleness. She was on the verge of having a pleasant conversation with Lu Shengwen, which would have served as a warning to the Su family. Yet, Lin Shuicheng unexpectedly intervened!

Why is it Lin Shuicheng again!

On the other side, Dong Shuoye and Fu Luoyin approached as well. Upon seeing Lin Shuicheng, Fu Luoyin's throat constricted, and he immediately turned to leave. Dong Shuoye grabbed him, "Minus Two, if you leave now, Su Yu will laugh at you endlessly in the future. He'll tease you for being afraid that he'd steal your man. It's just Lin Shuicheng, are you scared you can't catch him?"

Fu Luoyin murmured, "Yes, it's just Lin Shuicheng."

They also approached and sat down. This time, Fu Luoyin didn't sit beside Lin Shuicheng; instead, he positioned himself diagonally across from him, lifting his gaze to fixate intently upon him.

Su Yu whispered, "Sister-in-law, do you feel like Second Bro's gaze is like a laser beam? I feel like I'm being pierced through..."

Lin Shuicheng let out a barely audible sigh.

Lu Shengwen was incredibly warm towards Lin Shuicheng, seemingly delighted by his unexpected presence: "When you called a few days ago, we were thinking of inviting you over for a chat. And here we are, meeting at Doctor Yan's place! Oh my, what a coincidence, isn't it? Mr. Lin, are you currently working with Doctor Yan?"

Lin Shuicheng smiled in return: "Not really. I haven't been taking on many projects lately. Su Yu is a friend of mine, and the Yan family has been very helpful. I'm here today to celebrate Doctor Yan's birthday. But I didn't expect the world to be so small – turns out Mr. Lu is also a friend of Doctor Yan. I had no idea before. How have you been, Mr. Lu? Any new developments in your company's organic exploration efforts?"

Su Yu, nervous as he devoured the steak that Lin Shuicheng had cut for him, strained his ears to continue listening to their conversation.

Lu Shengwen's expression was somewhat peculiar.

Lin Shuicheng's casual question had hit the nail on the head.

They were a pharmaceutical company, and their development was currently thriving. Their recent competition with the Su family partly stemmed from their desire to expand into Star City's market. Backed by the Han family from the former Middle East division, they lacked neither funding nor suppliers. Their financial prowess surpassed that of the Su family, and if they wished, they could secure exclusive agreements with all raw material suppliers and clinical trial sites on the market.

Money was not an issue, but the most crucial shortage they faced was top talent.

Two centuries earlier, organic synthesis relied on AI-generated pathways, large reaction matrices, and brute-force simulations of reaction conditions. Robots and machine learning had already replaced 95% of the workforce in this industry. Automation had scaled up, forming a closed loop in experimental processes, both physically and data-wise. In short, pharmaceutical factories might once have relied on formulas and reactions as their competitive edge, but that was no longer feasible – the composition of drugs was no longer the benchmark for industry leadership, as every company's system could now brute-force screen drug components. Speed of research and development, effectiveness in clinical trials, and successful market launch were the lifeblood of the industry.

Lu Shengwen was a decisive and visionary man. He had foreseen the current trend years before the advent of quantum computers, downsizing the organic synthesis team and pushing for digitalized pharmaceutical systems. This wise decision propelled Lu Pharmaceutical to unparalleled heights, but he was also confronted with a problem: while the middle and lower tiers of researchers who could be replaced by machines had left, there was no influx of outstanding talent to fill the gap, and the future direction of the company seemed unclear.

The AI's performance in synthesizing new drugs wasn't as terrible as anticipated, but neither was it as promising. The root of the issue still lied in the existing theories. Organic chemistry was replete with indirect methods and creative successes, while direct approaches were scarce, and reaction flaws were inadequately documented. The AI had replaced most human labor, but when it encountered defects, no one was there to correct them.

Lin Shuicheng had first interacted with them during his sophomore year. At that time, Lu Shengwen had hit a roadblock in a study on an antidepressant's reaction with neurotransmitters in the human body, and even their specially appointed expert couldn't identify the cause.

Out of desperation, and considering Lin Shuicheng's affiliation with Yang Zhiwei, as stated in his resume, they invited him to give it a try.

After spending just one day in their lab, Lin Shuicheng vanished for a whole two weeks. Lu Shengwen was disheartened, assuming that the overambitious young student had been intimidated and fled. Surprisingly, Lin Shuicheng returned.

He could still recall Lin Shuicheng's appearance that winter. He dashed over in his lab coat, carrying the pungent smell of solvents – not exactly pleasant, but Lin Shuicheng's demeanor made one overlook these odors, his messy hair, and his exhausted look.

With a boisterous laugh, he embraced them and announced, "I did it!"

Their special consultant, disbelief etched on his face, asked, "This can't be true, Lin. We've consulted all available literature, and there's no—"

"Yes, I did them all! Some documents were wrong, some didn't mention the concentration of the reactants!" Lin Shuicheng waved a USB drive in his hand, his eyes sparkling with a radiant smile like the dawn of spring.

For a full fifteen days, this student with no background in organic chemistry had retraced every single documented experiment to verify the reaction, working tirelessly without much sleep. Most importantly, he had actually succeeded.

Lu Shengwen had a particularly deep impression of Lin Shuicheng, and they had collaborated once before. When the company encountered new issues this time, Lin Shuicheng was the first person that came to mind. However, he had been unable to get in touch with him.

The reason why it took Lu Shengwen so long to recognize him today was that Lin Shuicheng's entire aura had changed.

His appearance remained the same, but his demeanor had become more subdued, even cold and distant, as if he were detached from the world. This was different from the young man who had burst into the company with laughter in Lu Shengwen's memory. Even if they looked identical, his initial reaction would be that he had merely encountered someone who coincidentally resembled Lin Shuicheng.

Yet, it turned out to be Lin Shuicheng himself!

Lu Shengwen gave him a meaningful glance, pursed his lips, and shook his head. The answer was well-known among industry insiders.

He asked, "Teacher Little Lin, are you really not taking on any projects lately?"

As a seasoned CEO who had accepted his fate, he respectfully addressed him as "Teacher Little Lin." Despite the fact that the people at the table already recognized Lin Shuicheng's capabilities, they were still taken aback by the honorific.

Fu Xue's expression could no longer be described as merely "unpleasant"; it was now laced with an obsessive jealousy and an indescribable awkwardness. Why did Lin Shuicheng have to intervene right now?

He had just cut a steak for Su Yu, making it clear which side Lin Shuicheng stood on. Although Lin Shuicheng hadn't mentioned the unseen mediation that had just occurred, his presence made it obvious that he was here to help the Su family regain their footing!

Had his relationship with Su Yu truly reached such depths?

The key was that he could actually hold his own!

She wanted to leave the table in a fit of desperation, but that would be improper etiquette. Instead, she forced a smile and continued listening, stiffly.

Lin Shuicheng chuckled. "I've been quite busy lately, so I might not have the time. However, since you and Aunt Yan are partners, perhaps I can offer some suggestions and see if they can be of assistance to both of you. I didn't expect to run into you here. Had I known you were affiliated, I wouldn't have held back. The book I gave Dr. Yan might come in handy; it summarizes recent trends and field knowledge in medicinal organic chemistry. If there are any further questions, feel free to contact me."

Lu Shengwen glanced at Yan Zi, his thoughts racing. "Ah... Of course, of course! As partners! Our desire to collaborate is very strong!"

The stubborn Lu Shengwen, who had refused to budge just moments ago, now seemed to acknowledge their "partner" status with the Su family?

Su Yu's eyes widened.

Yan Zi, too, was stunned. Only after Lin Shuicheng's words did she remember to check the book he had given her—there were simply too many items for her to examine them all. She had yet to thoroughly look through what Lin Shuicheng had sent.

Flipping through the first two pages, she immediately realized—it was an invaluable industry gem!

The book was bound by hand, with beautiful handwriting indicating that it was all done by Lin Shuicheng himself. On the front page, he had scribbled a few lines: "This book attempts to explore potential research directions for the current state of medicinal organic chemistry, combining AI-based production planning analysis under bottleneck conditions... and conducting feasibility verification. Originally intended as my undergraduate thesis, its completion was suspended due to a change in my major focus to analytical chemistry and atomic assembly."

"Post-Graduation Supplement: Due to a shift in focus to quantum analysis, the progress of this book has been discontinued, and the publishing contract has been terminated. The completed content will not be publicly released. Apart from a few unperformed experiments, the feasibility of the rest has been verified. I now bequeath all creative works and experimental achievements to the legal representative of Su's Pharmaceutical Company, Dr. Su Yu. Additionally, I wish Dr. Yan Zi a joyous 53rd birthday."

This is an industry Bible, clearly outlining the current shortcomings and future prospects, detailing feasibility, research methods, and potential challenges. Each point reflects a young student's earnest exploration and reflection on a sunset industry, a discipline transitioning from science to technology.

This is a true grand gesture. Lin Shuicheng knows that the entire birthday celebration was orchestrated to pave the way for Su Yu, and he has essentially presented all avenues to the Su family!

Su Yu exchanges a glance with Yan Zi. Although innocent, Su Yu understands everything from Lu Shengwen's reaction.

Unable to sit still, Su Yu pulls out his phone, sending a question mark to Lin Shuicheng. Simultaneously, he receives a message from Yan Zi, containing a picture of Lin Shuicheng's thesis cover.

Taking a look, Su Yu continues messaging Lin Shuicheng, "What are you doing, why are you giving such a valuable gift? We can't accept this; it's your academic achievement, a thick volume! How can you give it away so casually?"

"It's a gift for you. I said today is about you. I believe there's no better present for Aunt Yan Zi," Lin Shuicheng replies, even though Su Yu is sitting right next to him. "Moreover, the book isn't complete, only about 75% finished. I've decided not to continue or publish it. If it can be of any assistance, I'm glad."

Years ago, he eagerly proposed this topic to Yang Zhiwei, who remained noncommittal. His ambitious plan met with a tepid response: "Go ahead. It'll be challenging, but that's not the most crucial thing."

He proceeded, and looking back now, he finally understands what Yang Zhiwei meant by "challenges."

His thesis would undoubtedly disrupt the entire pharmaceutical industry, functioning as both a Bible and a blade. Once published, it would bridge the gap between major corporations and small businesses, potentially leaving many in a declining industry jobless. He aimed to expand the pie and distribute it equally, but inevitably, more people would resent their smaller slices rather than appreciate the increase.

And he was no longer the ambitious youth of old, having chosen a path of failure that was now reaching its end.

Confused, Su Yu continued firing off messages to Lin Shuicheng. Before he could finish one text, Lu Shengwen noticed their exchange: two young men texting each other back and forth, obviously seated together yet secretly engaged in a sweet little game.

Lu Shengwen's attention shifted to Su Yu. "Little Su and Mr. Little Lin...?" He glanced at them with a knowing smile.

Again, Su Yu was caught off guard. Mustering a forced laugh, he said, "Oh no, not at all, hahaha, though I wish it were true."

Both Fu Luoyin and Dong Shuoye looked up from across the table.

Realizing his joke had gone awry, Su Yu quickly corrected himself. "Hahaha, actually, she's my sister-in-law! Yes, sister-in-law!"

Lin Shuicheng shot him a glance.

Finding the laughter bitter on his lips, Su Yu continued, "I mean, she used to be my sister-in-law! Hahahaha..."

Fu Luoyin set down his glass.

"Everyone, enjoy the food, enjoy the food..." Su Yu urged.

For some inexplicable reason, Su Yu felt like crying. He would rather stand at the entrance for another week in the freezing cold than continue to stay here!

It was the first time he had seen the gentle and refined Young Lady display such an expression. He could even hear the loud "thud" when she collided with the door frame from afar.

At this thought, Chang Ji's thoughts suddenly paused.

When he went to the Ministry of Punishments earlier, he had mentioned Young Lady's loss of composure.

"Young Lady couldn't even stand steadily. She didn't even realize she had bumped into the door frame. It seems she must be extremely worried about Madam Hou."

Upon hearing his report, his master's gaze softened slightly, and he calmly instructed Chang Ji to fetch someone from the Sun family. However, just as Chang Ji was about to leave, his master called him back and asked,

"Where did she bump?"

It took Chang Ji a few moments to realize that his master was asking where Young Lady had bumped herself.

But how would he know? Didn't his master forbid him from entering the inner courtyard?

All he could do was wait by the Moon Cave Gate of Songsi Courtyard. If not for his keen hearing, he wouldn't have noticed what was happening inside. After Young Lady hurriedly left, he rushed to inform his master, naturally not paying attention to where she might have hurt herself.

Fortunately, his master's question seemed to be casual, and he himself seemed taken aback after asking it. Without waiting for a response, he dismissed Chang Ji to go to the Sun family.

Gu Changjin's act of bringing Sun Daoping to the Qingheng Courtyard was nothing short of a lifeline for Rong Shu, like a ray of light in a dark room or a warm coal in a snowstorm.

Sun Daoping barely glanced at Madam Shen before dismissing the need for a pulse diagnosis. He promptly retrieved a case of needles from his medical kit and, with a serious expression, said, "Madam Gu, time is of the essence. I won't write out a prescription. Please commit these medicinal ingredients to memory and send someone to decoct them immediately."

Upon Sun Daoping's arrival, the previously panic-stricken servants and maidservants in the courtyard found their composure and began working methodically.

As soon as Sun Daoping finished his acupuncture treatment, the herbs that Rong Shu had been instructed to prepare were delivered.

Rong Shu personally administered the medicine and, with a hoarse voice, handed a cup of honey water to the exhausted Sun Daoping. She asked, "Doctor Sun, has my mother been rescued from danger?"

Sun Daoping spoke truthfully, saying, "Madam Hou has indeed stopped bleeding now, but there was an excessive amount of blood loss earlier. I cannot say for certain whether she will regain consciousness; all we can do is exert our utmost efforts and leave the rest to fate. Please be assured that for the next half-month, I shall come to the Marquis's residence daily to administer acupuncture to Madam Hou. This decoction serves to seal the veins and replenish blood, with eight doses prescribed per day. It is imperative that not a single dose be missed."

Sun Daoping never sugarcoated his words, and Rong Shu knew he spoke the truth. Her heart felt as though it was weighed down by a massive boulder, making it almost impossible to breathe.

She nodded gracefully and said, "Many thanks to Doctor Sun for your kindness." With that, she instructed Yingyue to carry the food basket and escort Sun Daoping out of the mansion.

Her countenance was truly unsettling, with a pallid complexion and parched, wrinkled lips - a clear indication that she had neither sipped water nor tasted a morsel of food for several hours.

Sun Daoping parted his lips, intending to speak, yet the consoling words lingered on the tip of his tongue, refusing to be uttered forth.

Human emotions can be difficult to fathom, rendering words often meaningless in such moments. As a physician, she found it more productive to dedicate her energy to studying medical cases rather than engaging in idle talk, with the ultimate goal of curing Lady Hou swiftly.

Chang Ji had been waiting outside the courtyard, observing coldly as Prince Cheng'an escorted a court physician inside. The physician, aware that Sun Daoping had already visited, waved his hand dismissively. "Doctor Sun may be young, but he is highly skilled. With his presence, there is no need for my services here."

What a joke; if even the esteemed descendant of Doctor Sun couldn't cure the patient, what hope did he have? Why bother?

Rong Xun could only watch helplessly as the physician left, pacing back and forth along the corridor in anticipation. He had overheard the conversation between Sun Daoping and Rong Shu.

Yearning to see Shen for himself, he was stopped by Nurse Zhou.

"Doctor Sun mentioned that Lady is currently in a coma, needing peace and quiet now more than ever. His Lordship should return to Qiuyun Hall for rest," she said sternly.

Rong Xun's lips twitched. In the past, Nurse Zhou would always greet him warmly whenever he came to Qingheng Courtyard. Why the sudden cold shoulder?

Yet, Rong Xun found himself unable to rebuke her, nor did he have the heart to do so.

"I just want to see Zhen Niang for a moment," he croaked, his voice hoarse.

Nanny Zhou, however, didn't respond immediately. She glanced behind Rong Xun and said calmly, "Madame has sent someone over, and this old servant really can't leave. I hope His Lordship could lead those people away and inform them at Ho'an Hall on my behalf. Comfort Madame and tell her that our Lady will surely overcome any adversity, so she doesn't need to worry."

The moment the Lady started bleeding, several nannies had arrived at Ho'an Hall and stood guard outside without leaving.

How could Nanny Zhou not know what their purpose was?

They were there to keep an eye on when the Lady would die and how her dowry should be arranged after her death.

At this thought, Nanny Zhou's anger flared up. She leaned close to Rong Xun and whispered through gritted teeth,

"Do you know why the Lady would rather take medicine twice than give birth to that child? It's because she doesn't wish to have another daughter. If she knew that you are such a father, she would rather not have given birth to the first daughter, nor let her suffer in the Cheng'an Marquis Estate. The eldest daughter was forced to leave the estate at the age of four. Do you know that while you were enjoying family bliss with Second Lady and Fourth Young Master in Qiuyun Hall, the eldest daughter was crying out for 'Mother and Father'? She even had to spend her birthdays alone!"

Nanny Zhou's face twisted, and her molars ground together audibly. After finishing her words, she lifted the curtain and entered the room.

The people in the courtyard were too far away to hear what Nanny Zhou had said. Seeing the dazed look on Rong Xun's face, they assumed that the Lady's condition had worsened.

A trusted nanny by Madam Rong's side hurried forward and anxiously said, "His Lordship, is the Lady not well? This old servant must remind you that the eldest daughter is already married. You must keep a close watch on the Lady's dowry to prevent—"

Slap!

Before the nanny could finish her sentence, Rong Xun slapped her across the face.

The nanny clutched her cheek, disbelief etched on her features.

The Marquis was known for his filial piety and had always treated the nannies around Madam Elder with kindness and respect; when had anyone ever seen him so enraged?

Rong Xun closed his eyes briefly before stating coldly, "All of you, return to Ho'an Hall!"

...

Not mentioning the incident in the courtyard to Rong Shu, Amao merely mentioned lightly, "This old servant managed to persuade the Marquis to return to Qiuyun Hall."

Chapter 116: Reality: An Exchange

This favor was not difficult for She Lingshuang to fulfill, but she understood the significance of the Spirit Binding Rope to Ming Yiyang.

Her thoughts transcended simply erasing the mark; it was more profound than that:

"…Would you kill Uncle Yan?"

Ming Yiyang's expression was genuinely surprised, as if it was inconceivable that she would ask such a question. Then, he suddenly smiled:

"No."

That smile was bright and harmless, seemingly genuine.

Chi Zihe, who already felt that something was off, found the situation even more unsettling. He couldn't resist disrupting the superficial joy and tried to comprehend the changes that had occurred in just a few short days:

"Don't tell me you don't hate him!"

Ming Yiyang appeared somewhat bewildered, almost innocently following the direction of Chi Zihe's words as if to "look," and said:

"I don't hate him."

Chi Zihe felt somewhat suffocated.

It was as if he sensed a perilous transformation in the person before him, into a time bomb that could detonate at any moment, but he had no idea when. There was a manic feeling of things spiraling out of control:

"How can you not hate him?! He's done all those things to you!!"

"Yes, he did those things to me."

Ming Yiyang remained unruffled.

He had turned himself into a mirror, speaking without any emotional ripples:

"Now, I understand the essence of the Unseen Rulers."

"They have no emotions. All those human-like sentiments are merely habitual disguises, nothing more."

"You know all this, yet you still..."

The young man interrupted him, his unfocused eyes holding something far more profound:

"But."

"I still... want him."

Chi Zihe was deeply shaken by these words.

Then, he became so enraged that he felt like stomping his feet in frustration, wishing the other would shape up!

Putting aside how they had spent that chaotic morning, Chi Zihe, unable to contain his impatience, rushed to Xinhepu Road with his wife.

The usually elegant and refined Taoist was now wildly pressing the doorbell, barely restraining himself from kicking the tightly shut black iron door to make it open faster.

Pan Hu, wearing sunglasses, assumed something was wrong and hurriedly rushed out of the house to greet them.

Chi Zihe went straight to the point with his first question:

"Where is Yan Qiling?"

Pan Hu said,

"Our Master is still upstairs..."

Chi Zihe immediately headed upstairs, his steps swift and purposeful.

Pan Hu hurried to follow, not even having the chance to attend to She Lingshuang:

"Mr. Chi, are you going to see our Master? But Master is still deeply asleep..."

He followed behind the obviously agitated Taoist, somewhat perplexed:

"Mr. Chi, what's wrong with you? Has there been any change in Master's condition? Should I prepare something...?"

Chi Zihe slammed open the bathroom door and strode a few steps to the bathtub.

The bathroom was as pristine as a painting, and in the pure white tub, a man clad in a black silk robe lay at the bottom, not even stirring a bubble with his breath, as if he were lifeless.

Pan Hu, noticing Chi Zihe's strange demeanor, couldn't help but glance back at She Lingshuang, who was also quickly approaching.

She Lingshuang averted his gaze, not meeting it directly. Pan Hu sensed that something unusual had occurred, and it was undoubtedly connected to Yan Qiling... Yes, perhaps more than just being related.

There might even be a grudge involved.

After all, Chi Zihe's demeanor resembled someone coming to collect a debt.

Maintaining a composed demeanor, Pan Hu approached the bathtub and used his muscular arm to partially shield Chi Zihe's body from Mr. Lingshuang, creating a barrier between this potentially menacing man and his master:

"Mr. Chi, if there's something you need to discuss, let's do it outside. My master is still sleeping, and it wouldn't be convenient for him to wake up for a conversation right now."

"Let's discuss this outside so I can take note of your opinions. When Master wakes up, I'll surely report it to him for his judgment."

Chi Zihe sneered and said,

"What judgment is there to make? He plucked out Xiao Ming's eyes! Xiao Ming can't see anything now, what decision can he possibly make?!"

This was an unexpected turn of events that Pan Hu hadn't foreseen.

However, upon actually hearing it, he didn't show much reaction.

He promptly displayed an apologetic expression, resembling the basic politeness maintained at a funeral for someone unrelated:

"It is indeed regrettable. Is Mr. Ming's condition still stable?"

Chi Zihe's anger flared upon hearing this:

"Regretful? What bullshit! Your master did such a foolish thing, and all you can do is feel regret? Let me tell you, if Yan Qiling doesn't wake up and clarify this mess right now, this won't be over anytime soon!"

Pan Hu was also quite helpless:

"Mr. Chi, I understand your agitation at the moment. I doubt that Mr. intended for this to happen to Mr. Ming. Moreover, given Mr.'s character, even if he did do something like this, there would surely be a reason behind it."

"Besides, I don't believe that Mr. took Mr. Ming's eyes out of greed. Once everything is settled, Mr. will certainly return them. On that point, I have faith."

"You're his dog, so why should I believe a word you say?"

Chi Zihe tried to push him away:

"Get lost. I'm going to wake him up and ask. Does this guy even have a heart? Does he know what condition Little Ming is in right now? Damn it, if he doesn't return them, he'll ruin Ming Yiyang. What's the difference between that and sending him to his death?!"

"No way!"

Pan Hu grabbed the Taoist, but the man nimbly evaded his grasp. Pan Hu had no choice but to pounce on Chi Zihe with his bear-like body, lifting him up and carrying him out of the bathroom.

She Lingshuang, who had witnessed everything, thought to herself, Impressive, such an unconventional tactic.

With a stormy expression, Chi Zihe was forcefully taken out of the bathroom and sat silently on a small sofa in the living room.

Now, only She Lingshuang could speak up:

"Pan Hu, it's not that we intended to cause trouble. Uncle Yan really overstepped this time."

"I was the one who asked him to help Ming earlier. Now, with what he's done, I have no way to explain it to Old Chi or to Ming."

"What Yan Qiling has done has nothing to do with you. Don't take on all the blame."

Chi Zihe huffed in response.

There was a slight pause in She Lingshuang's tone, but she maintained her gaze at Pan Hu, undeterred.

"We're only using the Revenant Array to temporarily summon Uncle Yan back for a brief consultation. It won't interfere with his affairs in the Realm of Purgatory."

Pan Hu wasn't an innocent fool. The Revenant Array was not something that could be used frequently on humans, let alone on the vulnerable Wujian Lord.

Though Yan Qiling didn't seem fragile, who knew if it was really a Revenant Array they were using? What if it was something else?

His unspoken concerns remained unsaid as he maintained his usual politeness: "Miss She and Mr. Chi, I understand your concerns. But you both know how perilous the Realm of Purgatory can be."

"What if you summon him carelessly and something similar to last time happens? What if other Heaven Rank Wujian Lords detect this? I cannot allow Mr. Yan to take such risks."

Pan Hu was well aware of these people's eagerness to see Mr. Yan, so he wasn't worried about them resorting to force: "The task Mr. Yan is currently undertaking concerns many individuals, not just Mister Ming."

"I admit that Mr. Yan doesn't always consider the feelings of individuals, or even those close to him. However, once he makes a promise, he will undoubtedly keep it."

"Both of you aren't newcomers to this world; you should be well aware of the consequences of making deals with Wujian Lords."

"Sir fulfilled his promise to Miss She, ensuring Mr. Ming would leave alive. Now, hasn't Sir kept his word? Mr. Ming is unharmed except for his eyes, isn't he?"

"The Black Rank Wujian Master protecting two ordinary people to leave alive... Mr. Chi, you understand the magnitude of this challenge."

"You can't assume that because Sir is a Wujian Master, this task was effortless. That wouldn't be fair to him."

Pan Hu's furry fingers interlaced, his beast-like eyes behind the sunglasses exuding calmness:

"Regarding Mr. Ming's eyes, I'll be straightforward. Sir isn't someone who would take something from others without reason, let alone from those around him."

"At times, the reasons are not convenient to share. Although Sir took Mr. Ming's eyes, he surely didn't abandon him. If you truly believed Sir to be like other Wujian Masters, cold and heartless, you wouldn't be listening patiently to me now, would you?"

Chi Zihe stared at him coldly, while She Lingshuang's gaze held a hint of pleading:

"We only want to understand how Uncle Yan is considering this matter. Without the Yin-Yang Eyes, the dangers in Little Ming's future are clear, not just to us, but even more so to Uncle Yan."

Pan Hu refilled her tea cup:

"Sir's approach has always been an exchange. He took the Yin-Yang Eyes from Mr. Ming, so he must have given him something in return. Haven't Mr. Chi and Miss She noticed any difference in Mr. Ming?"

Chi Zihe rolled his eyes upon hearing this.

"You can't possibly be talking about the Spirit-Binding Rope, right? How can these two things be compared?!"

She Lingshuang, on the other hand, felt that they might have overlooked something crucial. After a moment of pondering, an idea struck her, and she turned to ask,

"Did... did you check Ming's train ticket?"

Chi Zihe was taken aback, his brows furrowed.

"No...? With his eyes in that state, I had no interest in checking his ticket."

After their eyes met, both saw the answer reflected in each other's gaze.

Seeing that they had grasped the situation, Pan Hu felt relieved, knowing his guess was correct. He got up to bid them farewell.

"If Sir doesn't wake up tonight, I'll have to retrieve him and dry him off. There's still much work to be done, so I'm afraid I won't be able to entertain the both of you any longer."

Feeling anxious to verify his theory, Chi Zihe didn't dwell on other matters.

Yet, he was genuinely surprised by Pan Hu's loyalty:

"You're married, aren't you? Does your wife know that you spend your days with a handsome man as pretty as a flower? Doesn't she suspect anything about your sexual orientation?"

Pan Hu returned a sincere smile:

"I always finish work on time when Mr. Yan is around; I can go back home at six to cook for my wife. But there's no way around it during times like these; I have to work overtime. Besides, Mr. Yan pays extra for overtime, and my wife thinks this is a good job."

Only after finishing his sentence did he realize the focus of Chi Zihe's question. He chuckled:

"My wife really likes Mr. Yan. She buys all the magazines he features in, and during holidays, she comes with me to visit him. She even asked if Mr. Yan was hiring assistants before, because she wanted to apply."

Chi Zihe understood now. Pan Hu's wife was also a sucker for good looks; she would forget everything once she saw Yan Qiling's face.

There was no need to doubt anything – the couple would probably love to sleep in the same bed as Yan Qiling.

Damn it, never mind.

Anyway, none of them were ordinary people!

Chapter 86: You Agreed? (3000+)

For the safety of Chen Wuxing and Xu Ming, Qing Yi instructed Qing San to keep an eye on them and to send a signal in case of any abnormalities.

Upon hearing Huo Lanjing's words, the two remaining individuals turned their heads to look at Qing Si.

Considering his size, wouldn't that mean it's intended for him?

All eyes were on Qing Si, waiting for her reaction.

Yet, he witnessed Qing Si rise from his seat without uttering a word, completely ignoring Huo Lanjing as he passed by.

Huo Lanjing's expression turned grim in an instant.

Qing Si emerged from the restroom, only to bump into Huo Lanjing head-on.

Leaning against the door frame, it was evident that he was waiting for someone.

Qing Si simply brushed past him as if he hadn't seen anyone at all.

Huo Lanjing, noticing this, hurriedly caught up. "Luo Le."

Qing Si remained indifferent, continuing on his way as if in his own world.

This unfamiliar sensation stirred an inexplicable anxiety within Huo Lanjing.

In a few long strides, he approached Qing Si, grabbed him, lifted his hat, and pulled off his mask.

"The mole on the back of your neck is identical too. Why won't you admit it?"

Seeing that Qing Si's expression remained unchanged, as still as a tranquil body of water, Huo Lanjing's anger flared. He activated his holographic screen and pointed at Chen Chen's photo.

Upon seeing the picture, Qing Si's eyes flickered before returning to calmness.

The other employees noticed the commotion but, intimidated by Huo Lanjing's presence, dared not approach.

Seeing his silence, Huo Lanjing's frustration grew exponentially, like a snowball rolling downhill.

His gaze darkened as he firmly grasped Qing Si's shoulder. "Answer me."

Qing Si glanced at the obstruction before him and dismissed it with a single word. "Scram."

Taking advantage of Huo Lanjing's momentary distraction, he attempted to slip past him.

Just as he took a step away, his hand was seized.

Without hesitation, Qing Si turned around and fiercely slapped back.

Huo Lanjing's head jerked to one side from the blow. His untended locks, grown out over time, shielded his eyes, obscuring his expression.

Upon witnessing this scene, the onlookers bowed their heads, pretending to be occupied with tasks.

The spacious store was filled only with the sound of music playing through the speakers.

Qing Si wanted to leave, but his wrist remained firmly clasped, preventing escape.

After a moment, Huo Lanjing finally moved. He used his thumb to wipe the dampness from the corner of his mouth.

"You have the same face and similar habits as him. If you're not him, then who are you? Why are you pretending to be him, and what's your purpose?"

His tone was like that of an interrogator, devoid of any emotion.

Qing Si looked at his captured hand and lifted his gaze to meet the dark red gaze. He rubbed his thumb against his index finger.

"Daddy?"

"I've finally found you, I... Luo Le?"

Two voices sounded simultaneously from behind.

Qing Si turned his head and saw the scene at the door.

Huo Fei was holding Chen Chen with an astonished expression on her face.

Chen Chen: "Put me down, put me down."

Huo Fei regained his composure and gently set Chen Chen down.

Chen Chen dashed over to cling onto Qing Si's thigh, looking up at him with big eyes. "Papa, Papa, you're finally back! Chen Chen missed you so much!"

Qing Si maintained his cold demeanor, showing no reaction.

Huo Fei sensed something amiss and turned to look at Huo Lanjing. Upon seeing the swollen redness on his face, everything clicked into place.

Oh, he got beaten up.

Then, Huo Fei inquired with a glance what had actually happened.

Huo Lanjing remained silent, his mind in turmoil. A person's first instinct was often the most genuine.

Ever since Chen Chen appeared, that person hadn't shown any signs of recognition towards him, as if they truly didn't know Chen Chen.

Could it be that Luo Le had lost his memory?

Huo Lanjing recalled the day when Qing Si had evaded him. It didn't seem like Qing Si didn't recognize him.

Chen Chen called out for a while, but when the man didn't lift him up as he usually did, he sensed something was amiss.

He tentatively called out "Daddy" again, but the man still didn't respond. Panic seized him. "Daddy, don't you recognize Chen Chen? Why won't you hug me? Are you angry that Chen Chen was with Uncle? Daddy, I didn't mean to..."

As he spoke, tears began to fall relentlessly.

In the next moment, Chen Chen felt the person holding him shift.

A gentle hand brushed away his tears, and the gaze seemed to convey, "Don't cry."

Chen Chen lifted her head, glanced at Qing Si, then sobbed as she threw herself into his arms. She wiped her tears on his shirt, back and forth.

Qing Si pushed him away, saying, "I'm not, your father."

He then rose to depart alone, leaving Chen Chen behind.

Upon seeing this, the ease that Huo Lanjing had felt upon witnessing Qing Si's half-kneeling posture vanished without a trace.

Chen Chen, looking at the back of her father, cried even louder.

Huo Fei had no experience in soothing children. She walked over and nudged Huo Lanjing.

"Hey, come back to your senses. Go comfort your son."

Huo Lanjing regained his focus and looked at Chen Chen, who was crying on the floor. He crouched down in front of him and whispered something into his ear.

Chen Chen looked up at him. "Really?"

Huo Lanjing replied, "Give it a try, but let's do it another day. You should go back for now."

Chen Chen initially disagreed, but after Huo Lanjing spoke to him again, he obediently followed Huo Fei away.

Huo Lanjing then turned around and returned to the VIP room.

At that moment, the manager was about to take Qing Si's measurements, but Qing Si was reluctant, resulting in a deadlock between them.

Huo Lanjing approached and said, "Use my wife's measurements for that white outfit. Order a set of best man attire for each of them and have them delivered to one address."

Manager: "Yes, sir."

This was something the host family should have prepared, so they didn't refuse.

Qing Si was no exception.

For the next three days, Huo Lanjing didn't show up.

The wedding candies and banquet were booked, and the affairs progressed smoothly.

Today was the day for taking wedding photos.

The photography company was chosen by Xu Ming, and the location was selected in the suburbs.

Given the suburban location, they attached extra importance to safety this time, deciding to go together.

Save for the first day when they went to select their attire, they worked in shifts on all other occasions.

By the time they arrived, the photographers were already on site.

Photographer: "You've arrived. The newlyweds, follow him to change into your attire. Everyone else, accompany him."

Qing Yi senses something amiss and inquires, "Who arranged this?"

The photographer winces, "No one. They're just changing clothes; why are you following them?"

"So, we can follow then, right?"

Qing Yi whispers this, but Chen Wuxing and the other photographer, engaged in conversation, do not hear him.

Seeing their persistence, the photographer relents.

However, the photographer only permits one person to go along. Qing Yi contemplates and decides to send Qing Er.

Afterward, they are led to two vehicles and instructed to change their clothes.

Although puzzled, they comply.

Once dressed, the photo session begins, starting with a group shot of both of them.

They position themselves as directed by the photographer, with Qing Si seated on the farthest right step.

He gazed down at his hands, lost in thought.

"What are you looking at?" a voice suddenly asked.

Qing Si turned his head, spotting Huo Lanjing in his dark purple suit.

He shot up and moved to the other side.

"Hey, what are you doing? Don't move, you're disrupting my composition. Sit back down," Chen Wuxing, who had been forewarned, spoke up as he witnessed the scene.

Qing Si hesitated for a moment before sitting back down.

"Pay attention to your facial expressions, we're about to start shooting. Here we go, 3...2...1... Is the watermelon sweet?"

"Yes, it is."

Amidst laughter, only the two individuals on the far right wore frosty expressions.

After the photographer snapped the picture, Huo Lanjing subtly shifted closer to Qing Si, their heads nearly touching.

The photographer had finished shooting, but upon noticing their gesture, captured a few more frames.

"Alright, let's proceed to the next location."

Throughout the shoot, they took numerous pictures, and without fail, Huo Lanjing stood beside Qing Si in each one.

However, most of the time was spent watching Chen Wuxing and Xu Ming filming.

"Come, everyone, you've worked hard. Let's have a bite to eat first."

Upon seeing the fruits and pastries on the table, Qing Er leaned in and exclaimed, "Wow, there are even fruits. This sort of treatment for a photo shoot must be quite expensive, right?"

Qing Si cast a glance, noticing the crates of fruit within the carriage, then shot a look at Huo Lanjing without uttering a word.

"I must be insane to have a conversation with a barrel of wine, like you."

Qing Er, feeling unamused, left first.

That box was used exclusively by the vendor who supplied the Huo family with fruits and organic vegetables, all transported from the Third Planet via spacecraft.

Qing Si didn't join the others in eating but turned around to sit on a chair on the other side.

As soon as he sat down, someone else took a seat on the adjacent chair.

Qing Si glanced and saw it was Huo Lanjing, promptly averting his gaze.

Huo Lanjing noticed and placed the fruit plate on the table. "Have some."

Qing Si looked and saw grapes. He glanced at the group of people nearby who were also enjoying their fruits.

Silently, he reached for a grape and began to eat.

Huo Lanjing spoke up, "That day... I'm sorry."

Qing Si lifted his head to look at him, then lowered it again to continue peeling his grape.

Has he come to his senses?

Huo Lanjing continued, "Over the past three days, I've done a lot of thinking, and I still feel the need to apologize to you. I shouldn't have suddenly grabbed you that day or said those things."

He then looked at Qing Si, awaiting his response.

After a moment's silence, Qing Si replied, "It's alright."

Huo Lanjing furrowed his brows, concern etched on his face as he asked, "Can I trouble you with something?"

Qing Si lifted his head, inviting him to speak with his gaze.

Huo Lanjing pressed his lips together, hesitating for a while before saying, "Do you still remember that child from that day? He fell ill after we met."

Pausing briefly, he continued, "I'm not implying it has anything to do with you. To be honest, his father is no longer around, and he's not even five years old. We've never dared to tell him. Before, it was just that you resemble his father so much that I made a mistake."

"Would you be willing to act out a scene with me? Just until he gets better. I'll pay you by the day, a million per day. What do you think?"

Qing Si lowered his head, deep in thought.

Huo Lanjing remained silent, waiting patiently.

After a moment, he glanced over and noticed that they had almost finished everything on the table.

"All right," he said.

Huo Lanjing turned his head at the sound of this, looking slightly surprised. "Really? You agreed?")

Qing Si continued, "The timing is up to me."

Huo Lanjing's lips curved into a smile. "Sure."

Suddenly, a person at one of the tables collapsed, causing a commotion.

Qing Si immediately rose to his feet and approached.

The person lying on the ground was frothing at the mouth with eyes rolled back, clearly in a state of unconsciousness.

Qing Er is wiping the residue from the corner of his mouth. "Hurry, bring the car over."

The driver acknowledged and hurried to get the car moving.

Qing Yi glanced at the items scattered on the ground and then at the objects on the table. He nudged Qing Si, who had rushed over.

"Give me an evidence bag."

Qing Si looked behind him at the approaching crowd and shook his head.

Qing Yi understood and addressed everyone, "Does anyone have a sealable bag?"

One of the photographer's assistants dug into their backpack and produced a stack. "Like this one?"

Qing Yi nodded, first collecting the fallen pastries from the ground and then the remaining fruits and desserts on the table.

Huo Lanjing took one look and grasped the situation; his gaze darkened.

Had they been engaging in such perilous tasks for these past three years?