Asianovel

Chapter 69: Father and Son Reunite

Qin Chen raised an eyebrow, his smile inviting a punch. "I have a suggestion for you. How about it?"

Huo Lanjing didn't even lift his head, not holding much hope. He casually responded, "Go on."

Qin Chen continued, "If I were you, I wouldn't push so hard. Have you heard the saying 'too much of a good thing can be bad'? With your constant searching everywhere, they'll surely be too scared to come out. If you pretended to give up, there might be a chance you'd find some traces."

Huo Lanjing looked up at him upon hearing this, tapping his index finger lightly on the table, seemingly lost in thought.

"Of course, it's ultimately your decision. It's none of my business. If you can't find them later, don't blame me," Qin Chen waved his hand, adopting an indifferent attitude.

After a long silence and no response, Qin Chen felt awkward. The atmosphere had suddenly turned cold.

He couldn't help but secretly marvel, Lord Luo is quite impressive, able to handle this icy demeanor for four years.

"Right, the old man asked me to give you a reminder. How about it, when are you coming back?"

Huo Lanjing lifted his gaze slightly. "About the insectoids, you—"

"Stop, I won't ask anymore, okay?" Qin Chen surrendered with his hands up, wondering if this person was a devil.

The mere mention of the incident made Qin Chen's head throb. With the insectoid king's permission, he had led a team to ambush them, but not only did they fail to capture any, they were also ambushed and had to spend two days in a healing chamber.

After that, the insectoids vanished without a trace. His people had been staking out the area for a month, yet there was no news at all.

It was a disgrace that he had botched such a simple task.

On the second planet, the spring sunshine was slightly cool.

Luo Le carried a little baby on her back and held a bag of fruit in her hand, strolling leisurely along the school path.

Some students were in class, so there weren't many people on the road.

"Hmm, where have you been?"

Luo Le looked up and saw Gu Heting jogging towards him from a distance of about ten meters away.

He paused and asked, "Any news?"

Last time, I asked Gu Heting to help keep an eye out for a house, but there's been no news so far.

"There's news, but..." Gu Heting stood in front and took a breath before continuing, "However, I think it's unnecessary now, as the person has already been withdrawn."

Luo Le's brows knitted slightly. Would Huo Lanjing give up so easily?

Seeing the expression on his face, Gu Heting knew he didn't believe him, so he explained, "Really, I've been observing for two days, and to be honest, I've been followed before, but because of my work, they stopped following me at the school gate. However, in the past few days, this group of people has also been withdrawn."

With everyone withdrawn, could it be that Huo Lanjing had truly given up?

At this thought, Luo Le paused, feeling somewhat weighed down, not as light-hearted as he had anticipated.

Luo Le was in a quandary. On one hand, she wished for Huo Lanjing to give up promptly, while on the other, she was curious to see how long he could persist.

It took Huo Lanjing seven years of perseverance to disrupt the insectoid's practical training base.

What a remarkable level of determination.

But from the time he left until Chen Chen's birth, it wasn't even a year...

"There are daily announcements at school, and with people constantly coming and going. The soundproofing of the house isn't great, so you probably didn't get much rest. Plus, if we move closer, I can lend you a hand more easily. I'm free tomorrow, so I can help you with the move. How about that?"

Luo Le felt a warm sensation in her heart upon hearing this. A slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Alright, thank you for your help."

"No problem, let me carry it for you. You still have one on your back."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the item in his hand was snatched away by Gu Heting.

Gazing at his retreating figure, Luo Le smiled but didn't speak, following after him.

Due to his childhood experiences, he found it difficult to trust others. Initially, he suspected that Gu Heting had ulterior motives.

Later, he realized that Gu Heting's concern and care for him were sincere. However, he did not understand why Gu Heting could be so kind to him, a stranger at that time.

After much contemplation, he found no answer. Eventually, he decided to stop ruminating; the genuine emotions he felt were enough.

The house purchase must proceed.

Gu Heting seems to be planning to settle down here.

The house he currently resides in, situated on the outskirts, is inadequately equipped and does not offer particularly favorable conditions.

Gu Heting's experiments have been stagnant for three years, resulting in the school cutting the budget. He has been crying every day due to the lack of funds for pharmaceutical development.

When he mentioned this matter, Luo Le said with a sincere face that he could provide it, but Gu Heting flatly refused.

There was little else Luo Le could assist with; this seemed the most reliable option after much consideration.

There wasn't much here to begin with, apart from Chen Chen's familiar little bed, his blanket, and the hard-to-find milk formula. He planned on purchasing the rest when he returned home.

Chen Chen appears to have a sort of attachment; she can't fall asleep unless in her own little bed with her personal small blanket.

She's also quite particular about her food. This brand of milk formula can only be sourced from the Empire.

The annual production is limited, and the allocation to the Second Planet is even scarcer, consistently failing to meet the demand. Hence, the price is exceptionally high, with purchases restricted to once a month at designated counters.

Luo Le had also tried other formulas, but Chen Chen would vomit immediately upon consumption, leaving him with no choice but to give up.

One could only wonder whose delicate sensibilities Chen Chen inherited.

After tidying up, Luo Le sat on the sofa and waited.

The remaining items could be cleared out later by hiring a cleaning service.

Within days of returning home, Luo Le brought up the topic of purchasing a house again.

Gu Heting thought for a moment and realized that the current conditions were not ideal to begin with. Now, with the addition of a small golden nugget, it indeed made sense to consider moving to a new place. Consequently, he did not say anything further.

After viewing three properties, Luo Le settled on one that was fairly well-rounded.

He used the excuse of being too busy to handle everything as a reason to invite Gu Heting to move in.

The house had three stories, and they could each have one to themselves.

Gu Heting thought about it and agreed without hesitation.

Gu Heting's research seems to have made progress. He spends all his time at school and doesn't have time to move.

Luo Le engaged a moving company to transfer all their belongings to the new place.

And so, Luo Le settled into the new residence.

Seasons shifted, time marched on, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed.

In the afternoon, on Empire Avenue.

"Chen Chen, take it slow, don't fall."

Pushing the stroller, Luo Le followed closely behind Chen Chen, ever vigilant of their surroundings.

"Daddy, I want, I want."

Seemingly captivated by something, Chen Chen pointed to his right without turning his head back.

Luo Le glanced in the direction indicated and saw a jewelry store.

He approached and held Chen Chen's hand, saying, "You can't eat that. You're still little, you don't need it yet."

Understanding, Chen Chen pouted, tears welling up in his eyes as he whined pitifully, "I want it, Chen Chen wants it."

Luo Le sighed. "Alright, let's take a look, but Daddy doesn't have any money."

Chen Chen didn't care. Grinning, he grabbed Luo Le's hand and rushed inside with permission.

The sales clerk was staring blankly at the entrance when suddenly, he saw a cool kid dressed in black and white with a cap worn backward pull in a youth pushing a stroller and wearing a sweater.

He immediately put on a smile and greeted them warmly, "Welcome! May I ask what you need?"

Luo Le waved his hand, indicating the tiny figure just reaching his knees.

Chen Chen released his hand, afraid of being chased out. He took out a card from the small bag hanging on his chest, trying to prove himself. "Look, I have money."

Luo Le watched from the side, the corners of his mouth twitching.

The sales clerk was amused and propped his hands on the counter. "Little brother, then what do you want? Do you need Uncle to introduce anything?"

Chen Chen shook his head and approached the glass cabinet, placing both hands on its surface. Gazing at the glittering jewels inside, he opened his mouth wide, his eyes shining like stars: "Wow."

"Luo Le crouched down and took out a handkerchief to wipe the drool from the corners of his son's mouth. "I told you, you can't eat those."

How could his son be so unambitious, getting so tempted by mere jewelry?

Chen Chen pointed at the largest ruby necklace: "Uncle, this one."

Then, his finger shifted to another necklace adorned with a sky-blue gemstone: "And this one too."

Though the little boy was adorable, these necklaces were expensive. If they got damaged, Luo Le wouldn't be able to afford to pay for them.

The salesperson looked at Luo Le, clearly hesitant. "Sir, about these..."

"How much are they?" Luo Le ignored Chen Chen's hopeful gaze and asked the salesperson straightforwardly.

"The ruby necklace is 1.8 million, and... the aquamarine gland chain is 38 million," the salesperson replied.

Chen Chen's eyes seemed glued to the two necklaces, unable to divert his attention.

Luo Le sighed. "I'll take them all."

"How would you like to pay?"

Chen Chen understood and, on tiptoe, offered his card. "I have money, I have money."

Luo Le rubbed her forehead and pushed his hand back down. "There's only ten yuan in your card, not enough to even buy a toy car. Put it away."

Chen Chen let out an "oh" and, looking a bit dejected, tucked the card back into his pocket.

Suddenly, he trembled and clutched at his lower body. "Daddy, I need to pee."

Luo Chenyue was only one year and one month old, an age when he couldn't control his bladder yet.

Looking at his flushed little face, Luo Le chuckled. "Go ahead, there's a diaper."

Chen Chen shook his head. "No, Chen Chen is a big boy. Diaper, no."

A month ago, Chen Chen had started insisting on using the toilet instead of diapers.

Luo Le lifted his gaze to the sales associate. "Excuse me, where's your restroom?"

The salesperson pointed to the left. "Over there."

"Wrap it up for me first. I'll take him..."

Before Luo Le could finish, he saw Chen Chen dash out, his steps unsteady. "Daddy, I can manage, Chen Chen."

With so many attendants in the store, Luo Le wasn't too worried.

He stood up to access his account, and the salesperson smiled at him before pulling up his own smart brain to deduct the payment.

Chen Chen wobbled along, moving at a decent pace, but due to his short legs, he hadn't reached the destination after a while.

Muttering to himself, "Cake, cake," he ran while speaking.

Suddenly, he collided head-on with a pair of legs, stumbling backward with a hand instinctively guarding his lower body.

Huo Lanjing observed the tiny figure trembling on the ground, drenched in sweat but not crying.

Concerned, he quickly squatted down, awkwardly attempting to embrace the child yet hesitating. "Where does it hurt?"

However, receiving no response, Huo Lanjing gritted his teeth and scooped the child up, preparing to leave.

Just a few steps out, the child in his arms lifted his head to look at him. "Uncle, are you... a kidnapper?"

Staring into those wide, rolling eyes, Huo Lanjing was speechless.

Whose child was this?

He maintained a stern expression. "No, I'm not."

Chen Chen had reached his limit but was forcefully holding back. "Uncle, Chen Chen needs... to pee."

Upon seeing where the child was pointing, Huo Lanjing understood and nodded, carrying him back inside.

He felt the bulge beneath the child's bottom and, observing the boy's distressed face, said, "If you can't hold it, just go ahead and pee."

Chen Chen shook his head wildly. "Chen Chen, a little man doesn't cry, Boo-boo, it's shameful."

Huo Lanjing couldn't help but chuckle. "Then hurry up, Uncle."

Normally, with his stern expression, children would burst into tears at the sight of him. He had never been fond of kids either.

But for some reason, he didn't dislike this child.

Chen Chen forcefully pushed away his hand. "It hurts, bad uncle."

"I want to get down." He struggled to descend.

Huo Lanjing, noticing this, bent down to gently place him on the ground.

The moment Chen Chen touched the ground, he turned to leave but found himself facing an empty space.

His father was nowhere to be seen.

Huo Lanjing observed the child halt after only a few steps, his face as pale as a withered eggplant.

He crouched down. "What's wrong?"

Tears swirled in Chen Chen's eyes before dripping down. "Daddy's gone. Uncle, find Daddy."

Seeing the falling tears, Huo Lanjing was taken aback for a moment. Then, he reached for the handkerchief in his chest and wiped Chen Chen's face. "I'll help you look. Don't cry anymore."

That was how kids were. Once they started crying, they couldn't stop. Despite being told to stop, Chen Chen still sobbed uncontrollably.

Uncle Wang went to make an announcement, but after waiting for an hour, no one came forward.

Coincidentally, the surveillance camera at the entrance had malfunctioned and had yet to be repaired. Thus, there was no way to check the footage.

"Daddy... Did he abandon Chen Chen?" The more Chen Chen thought about it, the sadder he became, and more tears rolled down his cheeks.

Huo Lanjing tapped his ring-adorned finger on his thigh. An jewelry store was not a suitable place for abandonment. Besides, no one would be foolish enough to do that.

"Do you know your father's smart brain ID?"

"Hmm?" Chen Chen wore a puzzled expression.

Huo Lanjing sighed. "Did he give you a card or something like a small note?"

Chen Chen took off her small purse and pulled out the card. "An ID?"

Huo Lanjing nodded and took it to scan with his smart device.

Soon, the owner's identification information popped up on screen.

Gu Heting, male, from the Second Planet...

Huo Lanjing cast a glance outside; the sky had already turned dark.

Fixing his gaze on the child with his head bowed, he asked, "Child, do you wish to stay here or come back with me?"

"Looking for Father," Chen Chen said with his head down, pouting.

"I'll get in touch with your father tomorrow."

With the information in hand, tracing an AI identity would be no trouble.

"Hao Lanjing asked again, "So, what do you prefer? Staying here or coming with me?"

Actually, he was uneasy about leaving the child behind, but he knew the boy had a strong will.

If he insisted on taking him back, the child would likely resist.

"Uncle Wang's house."

Upon receiving the answer, Huo Lanjing scooped up Chen Chen and strode out nonchalantly.

Seeing this, Uncle Wang followed suit.

Only after the three of them had entered the car did Luo Le cautiously emerge from around the corner. Watching the departing vehicle, his eyes darkened slightly.

He hadn't expected to encounter Huo Lanjing as the first person upon returning to the Empire. Moreover, Chen Chen had been taken away by him.

It was truly perplexing. Wouldn't the logical course of action be to take the child to the police station?

Who would simply take a lost child home?

This must be a child trafficker, right?

Luo Le held onto the stroller tightly, hesitated for a moment, then sighed and left.

Inside the stroller, Chen Chen had long forgotten about his father.

Huo Lanjing was carrying him in his arms, with Chen Chen's feet resting on his legs as he leaned against the car window, watching the scenery rush by outside.

Huo Lanjing supported him with one hand while retrieving a bottle of milk from the compartment with the other. He inserted a straw and offered it to the child.

"Drink."

Wait, could a child around one year old drink milk?

Chen Chen shook his head, pushing away the bottle before unzipping his little bag and pulling out a pacifier with teeth marks on it – clearly a well-used item.

"Bottle-feeding time."

There were no children in the household, let alone any baby formula available.

Huo Lanjing pondered for a moment and summoned a holographic screen. "Which one do you want?"

Luo Le had previously allowed Chen Chen to choose as well. Thus, he sat down and effortlessly started selecting items.

He first picked the formula he usually drank and then picked out numerous small snacks - jelly, infant nutrient drinks, and tiny pumpkin porridge...

After a moment, he stopped and turned to see that Uncle was silently observing him.

Just like Father when he was upset, he wouldn't say much.

Could it be that he chose too much?

Chen Chen crossed out the newly picked snacks and asked, "Uncle, I want the jelly, but not the others, right?"

Was he trying not to anger him?

Huo Lanjing cleared his throat softly, reinstating the item he had previously crossed out. "You can keep them all."

Did this child's family usually restrict such purchases?

Chen Chen planted a kiss on his lips, landing on his arm. "Thank you, Uncle."

A warm sensation stirred within Huo Lanjing's heart. However, this child was indeed too skilled at endearing himself.

One could only wonder who he had learned it from.

The Huo family's ancestral home is dimly lit, with servants bustling about to arrange the venue.

Huo Lanjing carried Chen Chen as they walked inside, and upon just stepping through the doorway, they were met with a pile of garments on the sofa. At that moment, Huo Fei was clad in a strapless mermaid gown, yet her expression betrayed a distinct lack of joy.

"Master, Manager Wang."

The servants, catching sight of the figure at the door, bowed respectfully.

Huo Fei turned at the sound, only to see his younger brother standing at the door, cradling a tiny infant in one arm. The face was eerily familiar.

She hesitated for a moment, her face filled with suspicion as she asked, "Your son?"

Huo Lanjing glanced at her and then walked over to the sofa, placing the child down.

"No."

The more Huo Fei looked at the boy, the more he resembled a younger version of Huo Lanjing. She reached out and playfully smacked him, asking, "Spill the beans, what's going on here?"

Assuming that the stern aunt in front of him disliked him, Chen Chen wrapped his arms around Huo Lanjing's neck and buried his face into it.

With one arm around the child, Huo Lanjing shot her a glance, aware that the kid was scared. "Found him on the road."

"And you just happened to find him? You didn't, by any chance, abduct him, did you?"

Uncle Wang, sensing that the situation was escalating, hurriedly intervened to clarify.

After digesting the information, Huo Fei realized she had overreacted and frightened the child.

Forcing a smile, she said, "Don't be afraid, I don't eat children."

Her words only made the situation more terrifying.

Chen Chen shook her head frantically.

Huo Lanjing: ...

He glanced at Uncle Wang, who promptly understood and held out his hand to Chen Chen, saying, "Come on, let's go up and play."

Chen Chen shot a glance at Huo Fei before tumbling into Uncle Wang's arms and being carried away.

Huo Fei withdrew his gaze. "Don't you think this child resembles you when you were young?"

Huo Lanjing's eyes flickered slightly, "His father is named Gu Heting, not Luo Le or Gu Zhiwei."

Though he spoke thus, inwardly, his heart was already stirred with a quiet turbulence.

Judging by the timeline, Yueyue should be around this age.

"Don't forget how Gu Zhiwei got that identity of his. Once there's one, there could be a second." Huo Fei raised two fingers.

If Luo Le could forge one identity, why couldn't he forge a second?

Could it really be him...

Huo Lanjing lowered his gaze in deep thought.

She then asked, "What's his name?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Lanjing suddenly had an idea.

Huo Fei looked up at the person who abruptly stood up, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going upstairs," Huo Lanjing said before leaving.

Seeing his dismissive attitude, Huo Fei shrugged her shoulders.

Having said that much, the rest was up to him.

Uncle Wang was watching TV in the living room with Chen Chen in his arms. When Huo Lanjing entered, he saw Chen Chen holding his bottle, absorbed in the show.

His hand paused, then he closed the door and walked over to switch off the television.

Chen Chen looked utterly perplexed.

Huo Lanjing returned and said, "Does your father usually let you watch TV while drinking milk?"

This single sentence effectively silenced Chen Chen's impending protest. He turned his head away in indignation, refusing to look at Huo Lanjing.

Huo Lanjing came over and sat down, gesturing to Uncle Wang.

Uncle Wang understood and gently placed the child on the sofa before standing up to bid farewell.

After a moment of deliberation, Huo Lanjing asked, "What's your father's name?"

Although still upset, he couldn't be an impolite child.

Chen Chen swallowed a mouthful of milk and replied, "Daddy is just Daddy."

His daddy had told him before that if anyone asked about who his daddy was or what his name was, he mustn't say anything. Otherwise, the insectoids would come and take him away, as they loved eating children the most.

Huo Lanjing observed that when the child felt guilty, they would avert their gaze from him.

Is it possible that Luo Le has created a false identity, calling himself Gu Heting?

Huo Lanjing's heart was filled with renewed hope.

After the child finished his milk, Huo Lanjing gently wiped his mouth, then picked up a piece of jelly.

"Desire a taste?"

It was his favorite flavor.

Chen Chen looked up for a while and nodded honestly.

"Huo Lanjing pointed at the large bag of snacks on the table. "Answer my question. Are all these yours?"

Chen Chen gazed at the bag of snacks, then rubbed his belly. He really wanted to eat them.

Yet he couldn't betray his father.

"I won't ask about your father," Huo Lanjing assured.

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen's eyes lit up. If he didn't have to speak of his father, then he wouldn't be betraying him.

He nodded in agreement.

Huo Lanjing continued, "How old are you?"

"One year and one month." He held up two fingers on each hand.

Next, he asked, "How old is your father?"

Chen Chen shook his head.

After asking a few more questions, Huo Lanjing learned that the child had just arrived in the empire with his father.

From the boy's description, his father should be in his twenties.

The details seemed to align.

Huo Lanjing supported the child's face with both hands, examining him from top to bottom.

He couldn't recall what he looked like as a child, but the shape of this child's lips and the outline of his eyes bore a resemblance to Luo Le's.

Could it be that this was really his child?

"Daddy, it hurts."

Huo Lanjing released his grip on the child's face.

That night, Chen Chen was supposed to sleep on another bed, but he couldn't fall asleep. Staring at the dark ceiling, he felt as if there was a ghost with a monstrous face lurking above him.

Just as Uncle Gu had described.

Chen Chen pulled back the covers and hid his face, missing his father dearly.

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. Clutching his small pillow, he scurried up to Huo Lanjing's bed.

Huo Lanjing, witnessing it all, faintly curved his lips in the darkness.

Chapter 118 - Shen Cheng

Exploded?

What exploded?

President Yang was flailing his arms about, unable to form coherent sentences.

Both Shen Hongyuan and Shen Xingran also subconsciously froze in confusion.

Shen Hongyuan even reflexively glanced at his phone, thinking that President Yang might have been browsing some significant business news while using the restroom.

It wasn't until an awkward anger appeared on President Yang's face when he repeated, "The toilet exploded!" that Shen Hongyuan and Shen Xingyu, father and son, finally realized what had happened. They rushed into the restroom with furrowed brows.

Shen Hongyuan muttered, "That can't be right, I clearly checked it?"

Upon seeing the state of the stall, Shen Hongyuan's words came to an abrupt halt.

Amidst the initially tranquil and utterly normal toilet bowl, a bizarre array of pearls erupted forth.

These pearls were translucent and colorful, exuding a somewhat fantastical aura at first glance.

That was, of course, if one could overlook the peculiar objects mixed within them.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, these pearls seemed to possess a life of their own, continuously gurgling out of the bowl.

Perhaps it was due to the pearls being beneath, while the, well, waste resided above.

With this surge of pearls...

Whatever had been flushed down was forcefully pushed back up.

Overflowing from the toilet, they spilled across the floor.

"Your... Your restroom!" President Yang's complexion cycled from pale to flush to ashen.

When he had rushed out just now, he still felt a hint of embarrassment.

To come to someone else's house and end up causing an explosion in the toilet—what kind of situation was this?

But!

Now that he saw it clearly, it was clearly the fault of the toilet itself!

President Yang's anger flared instantly.

He shot a glance at Shen Hongyuan and sneered, "President Shen has quite a sense of humor. If you're not satisfied with my conditions, you could have said so directly. There was no need to pretend to agree and then secretly pull such a stunt to disgust me."

Upon hearing this, Shen Hongyuan panicked.

He quickly said, "President Yang! This was an accident! It must have been a prank by one of the children at the banquet. Look, there's nothing wrong with this cubicle over here..."

As he spoke, he immediately opened the door to another cubicle.

To prove his point, he even reached out to press the flush button.

Water rushed eagerly from the tank into the toilet bowl.

At first glance, it seemed entirely normal.

But soon, due to the immense water pressure, the hidden, luridly-developing water droplets beneath surged upward in a tumultuous wave.

With a "whoosh," they pushed against the debris above, sending it splashing high.

Translucent water droplets, mixed with various peculiar substances, danced in mid-air.

A few even sprinkled onto Shen Hongyuan's head.

In that instant, the entire restroom fell eerily silent.

moments later, the unfortunate Yang President stormed out, sleeves flapping.

The other CEOs who had witnessed the scene were all left with their eyes wide in shock.

For a while, it was unlikely anyone would dare set foot on the Shen family's territory.

The once bustling Shen family villa finally quieted down after a long evening of revelry.

Moments later, Shen Hongyuan's furious roar echoed from the bathroom:

"Lu Ran!"

The explosion in the Shen family toilet had undoubtedly posed significant obstacles to Shen Hongyuan's plan for securing investments.

However, the profits from the HZ project were enormous, making the Shens the apple of Beijing's eye for the time being.

Even Shen Xingzhuo's half-dead studio managed to secure a few investments at this crucial moment and was back in operation.

This was the first time Shen Xingzhuo had seen any progress in his career, prompting him to pay a visit to the Shen family home.

Unfortunately, his timing was poor, as Shen Cheng had also made an appearance.

Shen Xingyu and Shen Hongyuan were currently engaged in a heated argument over the matter.

As Shen Xingzhuo entered the house, he overheard Shen Xingyu declare, "I won't approve any allocation of funds this time."

A sharp sound of shattering glass followed.

It must have been Shen Hongyuan losing his temper and smashing the cup.

Shen Xingzhuo paused but still entered the room.

He had moved out to live on his own before reaching adulthood, so he didn't have much of an impression of his cousin Shen Cheng.

Vaguely, he recalled that when he was young, this cousin used to visit quite often.

Before his father took power, it was said that this cousin, upon hearing his grandfather's dissatisfaction with his father, went out of his way to show concern for his grandfather and attend to him tirelessly.

It was obvious he was trying to curry favor.

After Shen Hongyuan ascended to power, Shen Xingzhuo expected his father to have a hard time accepting this younger cousin.

But to his surprise, while his father might not be great in many aspects, he did have a sense of brotherhood toward this cousin. Over the past decade, he had helped settle numerous troubles for him.

Even when Shen Cheng got someone pregnant outside last time, it was Shen Hongyuan who settled the matter with money.

That incident had initially aroused Madam Shen's suspicions.

Shen Xingzhuo walked into the living room.

He happened to witness Shen Hongyuan pointing at his own chest and telling Shen Xingyu, "He is my younger brother! Don't you, as an elder brother, understand this?"

Something in those words seemed to strike a chord with Shen Xingyu.

He froze on the spot for a moment.

Seemingly unsure of what to say, he pursed his lips and stood there in a daze for a while before lifting his gaze back to Shen Hongyuan.

Shen Xingzhuo caught sight of Shen Xingyu's expression at that precise moment.

He vaguely sensed that, for an instant, the look Shen Xingyu cast at Shen Hongyuan held a hint of envy.

Shen Xingzhuo even thought that Shen Xingyu would agree.

Yet, Shen Xingyu took a deep breath.

He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Instead, he bent down to pick up the suit that had fallen to the ground, draped it over his arm, and turned to leave the living room.

Shen Xingzhuo and Shen Xingyu came face to face.

The two brothers had never quite gotten along.

Even on Shen Xingyu's birthday, Shen Xingzhuo hadn't shown up, let alone given him any gifts.

They stared at each other for a few seconds in a deadlock.

In the end, Shen Xingyu spoke up, habitually warning, "Be cautious with the investments in your studio recently."

Shen Xingzhuo had always found this tone of his the most irritating since childhood.

It was as if Shen Xingyu believed he was the only capable one in the entire Shen family, while everyone else was just troublemakers.

Shen Xingzhuo pulled the corners of his mouth, sarcastically remarking, "That has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business."

Shen Xingyu didn't say anything else and left with a grim expression.

Watching Shen Xingyu depart, Shen Hongyuan caught his breath, sitting on the sofa.

However, his face wasn't filled with rage but rather a hint of concern.

Upon seeing Shen Xingzhuo, he instinctively spoke in an irritable tone, "You finally decided to come back? Is the studio short on cash again? What great prospects do you have!"

Shen Xingzhuo's temper flared up instantly.

"You either take your anger to Shen Xingyu or Shen Cheng, but don't vent it at me!"

With that, he stormed upstairs and returned to his own room.

Upstairs, Mrs. Shen was still in her dressing room, video chatting with her girlfriends, proudly showcasing the limited edition jewelry she had recently received.

Hearing the dispute downstairs, she instinctively went to close the door and returned to continue chatting with her girlfriends.

Shen Xingran stood in the corner of the third floor corridor, silently watching the scene below.

After a while, he descended to the second floor and knocked on Shen Xingzhuo's door.

Inside the room, Shen Xingzhuo had lost his initial enthusiasm upon returning home.

Lying in bed, he was momentarily unsure of what to do.

After lying there for a moment, Shen Hongyuan's words echoed in his mind: "He's my brother!"

Shen Xingzhuo sat up from the bed, bending down to pull out a cardboard box from under it.

This box had been a gift he prepared for Lu Ran on the day Lu Ran officially rejoined the Shen family.

But that day, he hadn't been able to give it to Lu Ran. Later, when Lu Ran moved in with the Ji family, there was even less of an opportunity to present it.

In truth... if Shen Xingzhuo was willing, there would always be opportunities.

But he always wanted Lu Ran to take the initiative to come closer, to call him 'brother,' before he offered these things to him.

There was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in," Shen Xingzhuo said.

The door opened, and Shen Xingran poked his head in, addressing him with a smile, "Brother."

For an instant, Shen Xingzhuo felt a sense of joy. It was as if this simple "Brother" gave him a sense of belonging and worth within the family.

However, their relationship had been somewhat strained recently, making the situation a bit awkward now.

"Why are you knocking when entering my room? Just come in," Shen Xingzhuo remarked.

Shen Xingran chuckled and stepped inside, comforting him, "Brother, I saw Father getting angry again just now. Are you alright?"

As he spoke, he noticed the cardboard box in Shen Xingzhuo's hands, recognizing it as something Shen Xingzhuo had brought back the other day.

With feigned curiosity, Shen Xingran approached and asked, "Wow, Brother, what's in there?"

The box was filled with old items.

Shen Xingran spotted a deflated, colorful rubber ball and instinctively reached for it.

However, his hand was stopped by Shen Xingzhuo.

The atmosphere turned tense once more.

After a brief hesitation, Shen Xingzhuo closed the box and said, "They're just some toys from our childhood."

With that said, he pushed the box back under the bed.

Shen Xingran slowly retracted his hand.

But soon, a smile returned to his eyes as he continued the previous conversation:

"Brother, don't take it too hard. Dad has been in a bad mood lately because Big Brother keeps suggesting that Lu Ran join the Shen Corporation."

Shen Xingzhuo was taken aback. He asked, "Did Shen Xingyu suggest it?"

"Mm…" Shen Xingran nodded, as if it was nothing. "Big Brother really wants Lu Ran to come back."

Shen Xingzhuo fell silent for a moment.

"Oh," he replied. "That's good. He should have come back anyway."

Shen Xingran smiled but didn't say anything more.

Ever since Ji Min was discharged from the hospital, Fang Chen had been rather unhappy.

Lu Ran was already incredibly busy to begin with.

When Ji Min wasn't around, he wasn't much of a party-goer. Now that Ji Min was back, Lu Ran spent even less time hanging out with him.

Although Fang Chen had many friends, most were only interested in him due to his family background.

He didn't want to give up on Lu Ran, such an entertaining companion, so easily.

Thus, Fang Chen took the opportunity of a weekend to visit Ji Min's place once more.

Upon arrival, he scooped up Big Yellow and grumbled, "Lately, I feel like Big Yellow doesn't even recognize me anymore."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ji Min emerged from the study.

The man seemed perfectly fine.

He merely carried a cup to refill it with water.

As he passed by the sofa, he greeted them casually, "Fang Chen is here. Have fun, you two."

Fang Chen forced a laugh. "Haha, hello, Mr. Ji."

Ji Min nodded in response.

After Ji Min left, Fang Chen let out a sigh of relief and resumed his complaint, "You haven't been hanging out with me lately."

For a fleeting second, Lu Ran felt guilty, but he still defended himself, "Well, I'm there when we're gaming."

Fang Chen rolled his eyes but leaned in closer, saying, "Do you remember the person you helped me deal with last time? Well, he's in deep trouble now!"

The two of them leaned in close to chat, simultaneously pouring themselves glasses of juice.

Lu Ran had just picked up his glass of juice.

There was Ji Min stepping out of the study again. Upon seeing the fruit juice in Lu Ran's hand, he frowned.

The man drew closer, his finger lightly grazing the rim of the youth's cup. With a hint of resignation, he said,

"Who was it that complained about an upset stomach last night? And now you're drinking something icy?"

With that said, he took the juice from Lu Ran's hand and replaced it with a cup of warm water.

After attending to this matter on his own, Ji Min politely turned to Fang Chen and said, "Please forgive me, Lu Ran isn't very mindful when it comes to eating, so I need to be more attentive."

Fang Chen: "..."

When Ji Min left, Fang Chen picked up his phone, turned off the screen, and held it up to examine his reflection for a while.

"What are you looking at?" Lu Ran inquired.

Fang Chen replied with a poker face, "Checking if I'm glowing."

Chapter 61: Is This Seat Taken?

The brothers ceased their playful scuffle and both stood up.

The man before them exuded an air of great solemnity. Xue Meng was momentarily stunned before he nodded, saying, "Mm. You have a point. Who are you?"

He had been spoiled since childhood, and despite Madame Wang's repeated teachings on etiquette, he had never taken them to heart. Hence, his asking for someone's name without using a respectful title or introducing himself first was extremely impolite.

However, Mo Ran knew that this person would not hold it against Xue Meng. After all, he was...

"I am Ye Wangxi, a disciple of the Confucian Wind Sect," the youth replied calmly, unperturbed. Under his dark, sword-like brows, his eyes shimmered like stardust, sharp and brilliant. "May I ask for your esteemed surname?"

"Ye Wangxi?" Xue Meng frowned, muttering, "Never heard of him. No reputation."

Although his mutterings were soft, if the other party had good hearing, they would definitely hear them. Thus, Mo Ran tugged at Xue Meng's sleeve discreetly, signaling for him to behave, before hiding his emotions behind a slight smile. "I am Mo Ran from the Summit of Life and Death, and this is my younger brother, Xue Meng."

Xue Meng shrugged off his hand and glared at him.

"Don't touch me. Who are you to call me your brother?"

"Ai, Xue Meng, you…" Mo Ran sighed, then his eyes curved into a smile as he turned to Ye Wangxi. "My younger brother is mischievous; I'm sure Brother Ye has had a good laugh."

It wasn't that Mo Ran had suddenly become polite towards Xue Meng. It was just that Ye Wangxi was an exceptional figure among people. Although he was unknown at this point, in his previous life, he was the second strongest cultivator after Chu Wanning.

Heaven only knew how much trouble Mo Ran had gone through at Ye Wangxi's hands in his past life. Reborn, Mo Ran didn't want to make an enemy out of this sharp and noble hero again. He already had enough on his plate with Chu Wanning; adding Ye Wangxi to the mix would mean no more peaceful days.

Ye Wangxi was a man of few words. After exchanging a few polite remarks, he returned to his room.

As soon as Ye Wangxi left, Mo Ran's grin returned, and he nudged Xue Meng with his elbow, asking with a chuckle, "So, what do you think?"

"What do I think about what?"

"About him," Mo Ran said. "Do you like him? Isn't he handsome?"

"..." Xue Meng gave him a confused look before cursing, "Crazy."

Mo Ran laughed heartily. "The four of us will be living under the same roof now, constantly running into each other. You should be grateful it's him living with us."

Xue Meng asked curiously, "From the sound of your voice, do you know him?"

Mo Ran, of course, couldn't tell the truth, so he jokingly replied, "I don't, but I judge people solely by their looks. I found him attractive and felt quite pleased."

Xue Meng cursed, "Disgusting!"

Mo Ran chuckled and turned away, waving his hand before making a cursing gesture behind his back. Then, he lazily returned to his small stone house, locking the door with a thud, leaving Xue Meng's insults outside.

The next morning, Mo Ran woke up early.

To help them acclimate to life in the Peach Blossom Paradise, the Feathered people had delayed their cultivation for three days. After finishing his grooming, Mo Ran noticed that Ye Wangxi had already left, while the other two were still asleep. Thus, he strolled around the streets on his own.

In the early morning mist, many Immortal Sect swordsmen moved gracefully, floating past as they hurried to their individual practice spots.

Passing by a breakfast stall, Mo Ran saw freshly cooked steamed buns and remembered that his junior disciple was still ill. He walked over and said, "Madam, I'll take eight steamed buns and a bowl of sweet porridge to go, please."

The Feathered vendor didn't even look up and replied, "Give me six feathers."

Mo Ran was taken aback. "Six what?"

"Six feathers, huh."

"...So do I need to go find a chicken and pluck some now?"

The Feathered being rolled their eyes at him. "Want food without feathers? Scram."

Mo Ran was both annoyed and amused. Just as he was about to ask more questions, a familiar voice sounded from behind, followed by a hand wrapped in bandages reaching out, holding six shimmering golden feathers between its fingers.

"Lady Boss, give us the porridge. I'll pay for it."

Taking the feathers, the Feathered being didn't bother with further chatter and turned to pack the breakfast. Mo Ran turned his head and saw Ye Wangxi standing beside him, looking handsome and refined.

"Thanks a lot." Holding the steaming fried buns and sweet porridge, Mo Ran walked alongside Ye Wangxi. "If we hadn't run into you today, we'd probably be starving."

"It's no big deal," Ye Wangxi said. "Miss Eighteen has a bad memory and often forgets to give new arrivals feathers. I just happened to pass by and it was a simple gesture. You don't have to be so polite."

Mo Ran asked, "In Peach Blossom Land, do all transactions require feathers as currency?"

"Indeed."

"Where did those feathers come from?"

Ye Wangxi replied, "They were plucked."

"Plucked... plucked..." Mo Ran was taken aback. Were they really taken from birds? Wouldn't the birds here be completely plucked bald?

Seeing his astonishment, Ye Wangxi glanced at him with a hint of amusement. "What are you thinking? This Peach Blossom Land has an Ancestral Abyss. It's said to be where the Divine Phoenix ascended to the heavens. At the bottom of the abyss lies a sea of scarlet flames, so scorching that no grass can grow and no beasts can survive."

Upon hearing this description, Mo Ran immediately recalled the blood-red sky he had seen on the outskirts of the city the previous day. "Is that abyss located near the northern part of the city?"

"You're correct."

"But what does that have to do with the feathers?"

Ye Wangxi explained, "Well, although no other living creatures can survive near the Ancestral Abyss, it is home to a flock of enraged owls. They build their nests with true fire and are active only at night. Their feathers can aid in the cultivation of Feathered beings."

"I see," Mo Ran chuckled. "No wonder they use feathers as currency."

"Mm-hmm. But you should take note that their feathers become indistinguishable from ordinary owl feathers during the night. Even if you manage to catch one, it would be useless. Only when the sun rises each day do the enraged owls return to the Ancestral Abyss in flocks. Right before they enter the abyss, their wings regain their golden hue. That's the time to pluck them."

"Haha, wouldn't that be like practicing light body techniques? If your skills aren't up to par, you'd end up as roasted meat if you fell. But if you don't go and pick them, you'll starve to death." Mo Ran couldn't help but click his tongue. "That's truly vexing."

Ye Wangxi asked, "Are you not proficient in light body techniques?"

Mo Ran chuckled. "Just average."

"That won't do," Ye Wangxi said. "Furious Owls are swift and agile, not inferior to hawks or falcons. If you don't practice diligently, you'll be starving within a few days."

"Like this, huh..."

Seeing Mo Ran lost in thought, Ye Wangxi sighed. "I have quite a number of feathers, so I'm not lacking for now. If the three of you need any, just ask me first."

Mo Ran waved his hands repeatedly and smiled. "How can I accept that? Consider these six feathers borrowed from you. I'll go back and eat first. If I manage to pluck any feathers tomorrow, I'll return them to you. Thank you very much."

After bidding farewell to Ye Wangxi, Mo Ran returned to the annex with his porridge and steamed buns.

Xue Meng's room was empty; he had probably woken up and wandered off aimlessly. So Mo Ran headed to Chu Wanning's bamboo house.

Chu Wanning was still asleep. Mo Ran placed the porridge and fried buns on the table and went to his bedside, looking down at him.

Suddenly, a familiar sensation stirred in his heart.

This junior apprentice brother... Why did he look so much like someone else when he slept?

But he couldn't quite place who it was. There was just a vague memory of someone who would curl up into a ball whenever they lay in bed, their hand pillowed beside their face. Who was it?

Just as he was lost in thought, Chu Wanning stirred awake.

"Mm..." Rolling over, Chu Wanning caught sight of the person by his bedside and his eyes widened in surprise. "Mo Ran?"

"For the last time, call me senior apprentice brother," Mo Ran said, ruffling his hair before feeling his forehead. "Your fever's gone down. Come on, get up and eat something."

"Eat something..." The child on the bed echoed blankly, his disheveled hair accentuating the tenderness of his face.

"See how much your senior apprentice brother cares for you. I bought breakfast early this morning. Eat while it's still hot."

Chu Wanning, dressed in a pristine inner robe, got out of bed and walked to the dining table. Laid out on it was a fresh lotus leaf wrapping a crisp, pan-fried bun with a flaky bottom, sprinkled with green scallions and black sesame seeds. Beside it was a small bowl of longan and osmanthus porridge, cooked to a soft, glutinous consistency and steaming with warmth.

The usually dominant Elder Yu Heng felt a hint of uncertainty. "For me?"

"Huh?"

"Are… all of these for me?"

Mo Ran was taken aback for a moment before answering, "Yes."

Looking at Chu Wanning's hesitant expression, he pondered for a moment and said with a smile, "Hurry up and eat before it gets cold."

During his years atop the Summit of Life and Death, although people respected Chu Wanning, his stubborn and aloof personality made few willing to share meals with him, let alone prepare breakfast for him. Sometimes, when he saw his disciples looking out for one another, he wouldn't admit it aloud, but secretly envied their camaraderie. Thus, he gazed silently at the bowl of porridge and steamed buns for a long time, reluctant to partake.

Seeing Chu Wanning sitting on the small stool, staring at the food without touching his chopsticks, Mo Ran assumed it didn't suit his taste and asked, "What's wrong? Is it too greasy?"

"..."

Chu Wanning turned to look at him, shook his head, then picked up the spoon to scoop a spoonful of porridge. He blew on it to cool it down and cautiously took a sip.

If he were still the elegant and distant Master Chu of old, this manner of sipping porridge would only accentuate his refined grace.

But on a child, it appeared somewhat clumsy and pitiful.

Misunderstanding, Mo Ran said to him, "Do you not like longan? You can pick them out and discard them; it's no big deal."

"No," the junior disciple replied, his face not showing much emotion, but when he looked back at Mo Ran, his dark eyes were gentle. "I like them."

"Oh... Haha, that's good then. I thought you didn't care for them."

Lowering his thick eyelashes, Chu Wanning repeated softly, "I like them. No one has ever treated me like this before."

As he spoke, he lifted his gaze to look at Mo Ran earnestly.

"Thank you, Senior Apprentice Brother."

Mo Ran was taken aback that he would say such a thing and froze.

He wasn't an inherently kind person, nor did he particularly like children. The reason he was nice to Xia Sini was that he found it impressive that someone so young had such exceptional skills, making him a promising young man worth befriending.

But despite his selfish intentions, the junior disciple had responded with sincerity. Mo Ran felt a little embarrassed, but also found it odd, so after waving his hand to dismiss Chu Wanning's thanks, he asked, "Has no one ever bought breakfast for you before?"

Chu Wanning nodded, his expression unchanged.

"Surely the disciples under Elder Xuan Ji take care of one another?"

Chu Wanning replied, "I don't often spend time with them."

"What about before you entered the sect? When you were still living in the secular world, your parents..." But halfway through his sentence, Mo Ran paused.

His junior apprentice brother was so delicate and pure, like fine jade. Which parent could bear to leave him on a mountain to cultivate, without even a single visit to the sect? Presumably, his story was similar to Shi Mo's and his own.

Indeed, Chu Wanning answered calmly, "My parents abandoned me, and I had no other relatives to look after me."

Silent for a long moment, Mo Ran let out a deep sigh. He thought to himself: I befriended this child because of his exceptional cultivation and his calm demeanor, unlike other noisy children. Now it turns out that we share the same background.

As he looked at his junior apprentice brother, he couldn't help but recall his own bitter childhood. A surge of empathy and affection welled up within him. Suddenly, he said, "No one took care of you before, but there will be someone from now on. Since you call me Senior Apprentice Brother, I'll look after you from now on."

Chu Wanning seemed surprised by these words, but after a while, he slowly formed a smile. "You want to take care of me?"

"Mm. Follow me from now on, and I'll teach you cultivation techniques and swordplay."

Chu Wanning's smile grew wider. "You want to teach me cultivation techniques and swordplay?"

Misinterpreting the expression, Mo Ran scratched his head and said, "Don't laugh at me. I know your cultivation is quite good, but you're still young, and there's much more to learn. Elder Xuan Ji has many disciples; he won't be able to take care of you. What's wrong with learning from me? At least I still possess divine weapons."

Chu Wanning fell silent for a long while before responding, "I wasn't laughing at you. I... think you're great."

In the past, he would never have said such a thing, but after shrinking in size, it seemed that his temperament had softened as well. It was like hiding in the shadows, allowing him to finally remove his stiff facade.

For Mo Ran, who had lived two lifetimes, this was the first time someone had praised him as "great," even if it was just a child. He was so flustered and pleasantly surprised that his usually thick skin flushed red as he stuttered, repeating, "I... I, I'm great... Am I really?"

Suddenly, he vaguely recalled a time when he genuinely wanted to be a good person.

But that humble yet gentle aspiration, like wanting to marry Aunty Li from the cosmetics shop when he grew up, earning enough money to buy steamed buns every day, or hoping for two servings of braised pork in every meal instead of being a god, had all become distant memories, scattered by the winds and snow.

Chapter 106 - Station 23: Three Rounds

A change in players meant a fundamental shift in the rules.

Initially, Ming Yiyang was supposed to face Bai Changfeng. No matter how much Ming Yiyang won, it wouldn't have mattered to spectators, as he would be taking those stakes from the Bai family.

But now that Lin Yongjian had replaced him, it meant that whatever Ming Yiyang gained, Lin Yongjian would lose an equal amount.

This was a life-and-death match where one teammate was sacrificed for the other's gain. Madam Old Bai intended to witness such a scenario unfold.

Her objective was to indulge in pleasure and pain, witnessing the distortion and cheapness of human nature. Such a life-or-death setup clearly thrilled her.

Moreover, she needed to retaliate against being ensnared by Yan Qiling's quick-witted trap during the second round.

Once an agreement was sealed between two Unbounded, it could not be altered.

From the moment Yan Qiling proposed the dice game and she counter-proposed becoming his guest behind the scenes, their pact had begun to take shape. The subsequent details were merely additional conditions both parties would attach to the agreement.

Yan Qiling deliberately bargained, giving the impression that he was in a difficult position and uncertain about the outcome of the wager.

In reality, she had secretly maneuvered, using the concealed seventh dice to create a triple six, thus winning the game!

Indeed, there had been no prior stipulation that victory had to be achieved with only six dice, allowing Yan Qiling to exploit this loophole... Clever tactics.

She wouldn't allow others to exploit the same trick she had used. It was impossible for Yan Qiling to form a new contract with her.

So, she decided to summon one of the flesh beings to battle against them.

Though it was puzzling why Yan Qiling, as the Master of the Unseen Realm, would associate with these inexpensive flesh beings and constantly aid them, it mattered little now.

Let them fight amongst themselves.

The woman's beautiful and venomous smile bloomed behind her exquisite fan.

Despite his hesitation, Lin Yongjian had no choice but to steel himself and proceed.

The two sat facing each other.

This time, the atmosphere between them was notably quiet, carrying an awkward silence as they stared at each other.

However, this might be a one-sided feeling on Lin Yongjian's part.

Ming Yiyang showed no intention of holding back. Without even glancing at them, he pushed all his chips forward.

"All in."

Lin Yongjian hadn't expected such a high stakes game from the start, but now, he found himself in a dilemma.

He gazed at the scattered multitude of oddly-shaped teeth before him, which seemed to come from people of various ages. The grooves still evident on these teeth hinted at the lifestyles of their former owners.

Would he end up becoming one of these people?

Taking a deep breath, Lin Yongjian looked across the table and spoke,

"Ming Yiyang, I don't advise betting so much. If you're willing, let's go with ten teeth per round."

"Are you calculating how many times you can afford to lose? Planning to use your remaining thirty teeth as incremental stakes, right?"

A leisurely smile tugged at the corner of Ming Yiyang's mouth. With his right elbow resting on the armrest of his chair, he propped up his cheek.

"Too inefficient, and pointless."

Lin Yongjian had no idea what this person was thinking:

"But... this would give us both an escape route... Professor Yan, don't you want to persuade him?"

"There's no turning back for those who sit at the gambling table."

Ming Yiyang, reexamining the dice, picked up six of them to toy with, not allowing the embraced Yan Qiling to speak.

His amethyst eyes held an unreadable emotion:

"Don't you understand yet? You don't have three chances at all. These teeth you borrowed, whether ten or thirty, they're all leverage. Lose just once, and it's game over; there's no chance of redemption. Since it's all or nothing, you must bet big and pray for a single, victorious roll."

One by one, he tossed the dice into his own cup, each one landing with a resounding clatter:

"I don't need to win, but that doesn't stop me from going all in. Though you borrowed the teeth, whether you or I triumph, with 150 teeth, a single roll of triplets will generate enough profit to save anyone besides you and me."

Everyone held their breath.

Ming Yiyang was right.

Lin Yongjian's bet was borrowed, but interest-free. The leopard could multiply the stakes by three, resulting in four hundred and fifty teeth. After repaying the initial hundred and fifty, there would still be three hundred left. That amount was more than sufficient to save ten people.

The only unfortunate one would be the loser of this round, who would end up with nothing and potentially in debt.

As the last dice landed in the gambling cup, the silver-haired young man flipped it onto the table with a snap:

"However, you don't have to think too highly of me. This is the outcome Teacher Yan wants to see, and compared to you, he'd probably prefer if I lost."

Lin Yongjian immediately turned his gaze to the silent man sitting at the table.

The man's neatly combed black hair partially obscured his downcast expression as Yan Qiling turned his head to look at Ming Yiyang beside him.

The handsome young man turned back to meet his gaze, then leaned in close to whisper softly into his ear.

"Rest assured, I won't let anyone bear a grudge against you."

Yan Qiling was momentarily stunned.

Ming Yiyang gently pushed the betting bowl forward and said,

"Place your equivalent stake, Lin Yongjian."

Lin Yongjian knew there was no escaping this round, and indeed, the strategy was as Ming Yiyang had stated - it was the best possible solution.

His thick brows furrowed slightly, and he lowered his gaze before saying,

"Just like him."

The white teeth piled up in the center of the gambling table, forming two small, snow-white peaks with a compelling, cruel beauty.

Ming Yiyang made a polite gesture, identical to before:

"Please, go first."

Lin Yongjian, however, didn't take the cup but instead gazed intently at the other person and said earnestly,

"Let's do it together, Mr. Ming."

Ming Yiyang was indifferent.

Just like the first round, he made no flashy moves. Hooking the base of the cup with his finger, he lifted it gently, causing it to spin mid-air before landing with a "pat" on the table, concealing its contents completely.

Beside him, Bai Changfeng watched with restless agitation. He found that as soon as Ming Yiyang's fingers touched the cup, he could see nothing!

Up above, seated, the elderly Mrs. Bai shook her fan gently. Her calculating gaze revealed a cold, icy smile.

Lin Yongjian hadn't expected this person's "shake" to be so swift.

He had learned some dice-shaking techniques when he made films in the past. At this life-or-death juncture, he had no choice but to give it a try.

He began shaking the dice with a "rattle," and Bai Changfeng, observing him, rubbed his chin, looking somewhat anxious, wishing he could just shake it for him. Only when his mother shot him a warning glance did he restrain himself, watching the situation unfold with a blank expression.

Pat.

Lin Yongjian slammed the betting cup onto the table.

Assuming he wasn't mistaken, there should be six twos in his cup, but he wasn't entirely sure, leaving him somewhat anxious.

However, Ming Yiyang, sitting across from him, suddenly declared an impossible number while gazing at Lin Yongjian's cup:

"I'll guess a 'leopard', two points."

Lin Yongjian was taken aback and asked,

"Are you saying... six twos?"

"No, just two points."

Ming Yiyang barely paused before lifting his own betting cup.

His dice were revealed, aligned in a row, with the topmost one showing – unbelievably – two points!

Lin Yongjian suppressed the quivering in his heart.

Of course, he didn't believe that his dice could only roll a two. However, Ming Yiyang's previous miraculous gambling skills were so exceptional that, despite constantly reminding himself that it was impossible, he now found himself mostly convinced.

He hesitantly and cautiously opened his own cup.

Amidst the white powder, only one of the six dice remained.

And the single surviving die revealed a two on its face!

Lin Yongjian's face turned ashen.

Ming Yiyang, on the other hand, collected his chips with leisurely composure. The number of teeth in his possession had already doubled to three hundred!

He casually grabbed a handful of the pristine white teeth while propping his chin up and said,

"Let him down. I'll have another round with Young Master Bai."

Bai Changfeng was quite eager for another round, but the beautiful maid who had been assisting Madam Bai in moving the screen silently held his shoulder back.

Madam Bai's aged voice echoed softly:

"That won't do. The rules were established beforehand — each person only gets three chances. You've gained enough this time to redeem the teeth of everyone except Lin Yongjian. Greed is unbecoming. You should all return home."

"Many thanks for your kindness, Madam."

The young man's tone was languid, drawn out:

"But, Madam White, didn't you also say that as long as one still wishes to gamble, they need only give up a tooth to continue, isn't that right?"

A disheartened Lin Yongjian stared at him in disbelief, unable to fathom such a request.

The woman's face twisted into a bloodthirsty smile:

"Certainly, if Mr. Ming wishes to proceed, I'd be more than happy to accommodate that small request, provided you're willing to pull out your own tooth."

Ming Yiyang picked up the heavy golden forceps and tossed them to Yan Qiling.

"You do it."

Yan Qiling held the golden instrument without hesitation, approaching his opponent and gripping Ming Yiyang's chin with his icy fingers. His voice, like the clashing of gold and jade, carried no extraneous emotions:

"Open your mouth."

Ming Yiyang smiled, his eyes narrowing as he opened his own mouth, revealing a set of sharp and pointed teeth.

The young man's front teeth were solid and attractive, but the ones inside seemed somewhat crooked, possibly the result of not having them extracted in time.

Yan Qiling didn't blink as he inserted the dental pliers, gently gripping the tooth that displeased him on the inner side. Then, with a flex of his fingers, he tightened his grip, gradually securing the unfortunate tooth.

The smile on Ming Yiyang's face faded, and he looked up at Yan Qiling expressionlessly. After a moment, the man suddenly exerted force!

A muffled groan almost escaped the youth's lips as the bloodied tooth was pulled out by its roots and carelessly tossed onto the table.

Madam Bai nearly sat up entirely, clearly delighted by the entire scene. She watched with avid interest.

The handsome young man turned his head to spit out some blood, his gaze now predatory and intense as he gazed at her. With crimson-stained lips, he spoke softly:

"Well, can I continue with Mister Bai Changfeng now?"

The woman lightly shook her small fan and wickedly chuckled.

"Certainly, but there's a condition."

"The one who can sit at this gambling table shouldn't be you."

Ming Yiyang's eyes sparkled with fierce diamond-like glints.

The woman partially shielded her gaze with her fan and spoke calmly,

"Mr. Yan, since Mr. Ming has gone through great lengths to secure this opportunity for you, please proceed."

Chapter 147: Transition

Wen Ying met Xiao Le's gaze, only to see the shock on the other's face. For a moment, he was baffled. Did he look that terrifying? Enough to make the other tremble?

Suppressing his inner confusion, Wen Ying surveyed the area. After eliminating Xiao Long, he was unsure which of the exorcists nearby were truly radical. Thus, he concealed himself within the black fog.

In today's battle, he had already had his hands full with just Xiao Long as the "boss". Adding to that, his destruction of the anchor point could be rounded off to him closing the teleportation array. Wen Ying pondered that he would certainly be the first this time.

Lan Jiaying would likely be furious again, and the corners of Wen Ying's lips curled up. His original body retreated from the battlefield.

Lu Qingyuan's magical power had reached its limits. It was time for him to return to the Realm of Magic.

The battle that had stunned the world's ordinary people quickly drew to a close, leaving behind many questions.

Muse City's demons had flooded the internet, and everyone eagerly sought the truth.

Many brave souls, seeing that humanity had triumphed, drove to Muse City to investigate further, among them were numerous new media representatives, all hoping to obtain firsthand information.

The government, however, did not release the details people were eager to know. They merely reassured the public that the incident was still under investigation.

Indeed, the government was still "investigating." Some individuals within the administration were aware of the existence of demons and exorcists. In the past, exorcists had solemnly declared that the gateway between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm was severed, leaving them to deal only with the minor demons in their world.

Who could have predicted that just a few years later, the Church would send envoys, reporting unusual spatial disturbances, followed by the sudden appearance of demons from the Demon Realm!

Many of the government officials in charge of this situation had lost significant amounts of hair due to stress. Dealing with it improperly would lead to severe consequences.

Public morale was already unstable, and they couldn't make any guarantees that the black hole in Mu City wouldn't appear elsewhere or that demons from the Demon Realm wouldn't reemerge. They couldn't publicly declare such promises.

It was likely that many ordinary citizens were also aware of the truth, but they needed the people's trust, hoping that the government would provide a satisfactory answer.

In short, they were in a desperate situation, with inquiries pouring in from abroad. The attention of the entire world was focused on Mu City, in the country of Huaxia.

They couldn't afford to delay any longer; they needed to reassure society. Thus, the day after the incident with the black hole demon, the Huaxia government issued a public announcement.

As the government made its announcement, Wen Ying was staring wide-eyed with his classmates at Yang Shiming's luxurious "golden house."

Surveying his surroundings, he saw Bellerophon, Muershi, Koroy, Ishtar, Lan Jiaying, and Wu Fei—quite a number of demons from his class were present in Mu City alone. His gaze then shifted to the luminous white statue enveloped in translucent black mist.

This is the divine stone, named a stone but resembling a fine jade with an intrinsic luminescence. Wen Ying assumes that humans would probably feel an instant sense of exhilaration upon seeing it, because as a demon, he instinctively feels disgust towards it, much like how one would want to get rid of a rat.

The divine stone resembles a natural carving of an angel, with its arms crossed protectively over its body and wings folded in front, its face partially obscured by the arms, revealing only a portion of its forehead.

Lan Jiaying had seized this opportunity amidst the chaos yesterday to retrieve it from Mu City's church. He is well aware of his current predicament.

His human body, still recovering from the invasion of toxins, has also caused him some harm. Rather than risking the frontlines where other demons might gain more, he chose to loot the church for its treasures.

Not only did he take the divine stone, but he also plundered numerous other items.

Although there is a wealth of loot, the value of the divine stone in terms of final assessment remains uncertain. Thus, Lan Jiaying's brow is slightly furrowed, his lips tightly pressed together, emanating a low-pressure aura around him.

Compared to when he was alone with Wen Ying, he appears significantly more composed now.

Several demons, inhabiting human bodies, are engaged in conversation here.

To Wen Ying's surprise, Wu Fei was not dragged back to the demon realm by Muershi. When he saw Muershi again after encountering Wu Fei, he shot him a look of astonishment—had this guy undergone a change of heart?

"I wonder what everyone thinks about this?" Essence broke the silence as the demons were scrolling through their phones.

Wen Ying propped his chin up and said, "Shouldn't our final exams be over by now?"

Beros replied, "There's no set time frame. We haven't received any notification to return to the demon realm yet."

What he meant was that it would be disadvantageous to go back now. What if the others managed to score more points by lingering and surpassed them?

Aside from the scores, Beros was actually more concerned about another issue—the "one-month boyfriend" that Wen Ying had proposed. There were still quite a few days until the end of the month, and the thought of returning to the demon realm so soon filled Beros with dread.

After the final exams, the academy went straight into vacation mode, allowing them to extract the memory segments from their avatar puppets that counted towards their grades as their "exam answers." They had up to three days for the extraction, leaving plenty of days unused.

On the surface, Beros seemed to express his desire for a high ranking, but in reality, he wanted to stall for another month.

For once, Wen Ying didn't see through Beros's true intentions. After hearing his words, he fell silent for a moment before saying, "Suddenly, I feel like they're very unreliable." He dared not openly criticize the Demon King, so he lumped him together with "they" in his complaint.

What kind of final exam had no specific time limit and only gave a general direction for effort?

Wu Fei spoke softly from the corner, "Will the other students come over when they see Mu City's message?"

Koroy raised her eyebrows playfully. "If they do, they'll only be picking up scraps." There was no trace of anxiety or concern in her tone. After responding to Wu Fei, she directed her gaze at Lan Jiaying.

"Your Highness, did your father give you any specific time or requirements?"

Lan Jiaying shook his head. "I know no more than you do."

Muershi chuckled. "I think it's great as it is. I want to stay here and see how the human world changes. It's a critical turning point, and there seems to be plenty of room for intervention. It's fascinating!"

The wicked tendencies in Muershi's nature stirred. Wen Ying feared that he might really cause unrest in the human world, so he quickly said nonchalantly, "The human body isn't as comfortable as my own. I'd like to return to the demon realm sooner."

Essence leaned back, adopting a relaxed posture with a casual tone. "It may be uncomfortable, but compared to the excitement of being able to intervene, it's bearable."

To avoid arousing suspicion from Wen Ying, Poros echoed "indeed" right after Essence finished speaking. He had no interest in the commotion, but he was highly interested in stalling for time.

Koroy swung her feet and gazed out the window. "The demon realm should be too preoccupied to bother with us now. The extremist demons who activated the teleportation magic need to be dealt with. I think they won't tell us to return until they've taken care of that matter."

A sudden gleam lit up in Lan Jiaying's eyes, his spirits lifting and dispelling the gloom. He exuded an energetic and ambitious spirit as he spoke with elegant poise and rhythm, as if reciting words from a terrorist: "Wen Ying, you said the anchor is hidden in that building, and the demonic mobile game was created by exorcists. Then, destroying that building would be beneficial without any drawbacks."

Wen Ying's eyelids twitched violently. Muershi's words had stirred Lan Jiaying's desire for praise from the devil king, igniting his enthusiasm.

"That makes sense," Muershi slapped the armrest of the sofa, his expression excited. "I like this plan."

Various terrifying scenarios of destroying the building flashed through his mind, and he even began to ponder the details.

Seeing that all the demons present, except Wu Fei, were tempted by the idea, Wen Ying not only felt his eyelids twitching, but also a pulsating vein on his forehead.

He raised his hand to press on the throbbing vein without being noticed, pretending to be interested as well, but throwing out another idea that his brain had hastily cooked up: "I think watching the scene that the divine stone over there could create would be more interesting than destroying that building."

Beros asked casually, "What do you want to do with the divine stone?"

The other demons looked at Wen Ying with interest, it seemed that everyone was in the mood for some trouble. Wu Fei shot Wen Ying a pitiful and pleading look.

In his heart, Wen Ying was someone who could cause trouble, even scarier than an extremely wicked bird.

Wen Ying held up his index finger and lowered his voice. "Awaken and intensify various human reactions."

Muershi's eyes shone brightly. He even leaned closer, almost sticking to Wen Ying, while Beros gave him a cold glance.

"When ordinary people come into contact with the Divine Stones, those with innate talents awaken. For those with average abilities, the magic stored within the stones helps to unlock their potential. In Mu City, we exhaust the magic within the Divine Stones," Wen Ying said with a cunning smile, "and then secretly encourage them to study magic, applying public pressure on the Church and the Association."

The excitement in Muershi's eyes faded as he asked, puzzled, "What benefit does it bring us to increase the number of exorcists?"

Chapter 193 - A Hole in the Heart

Yet, the truth had abruptly and brutally unfolded before him without any warning.

Seven-year-old Shen Yin was utterly stunned. The colors and scents from those chaotic memories he had thought were mere illusions of his starvation suddenly drowned him once more.

Shen Yin was utterly terrified.

Wang Chunniang was also paralyzed with fear, both by Shen Jin's words and the sight of so many people rushing into the valley.

Liu Dalang trembled uncontrollably as he glared at Wang Chunniang. If looks could kill, she would have been flayed alive at this moment.

Chen Ma and Madam Xu were the quickest to react. One went to pull Shen Yin while the other went for Shen Jin, coaxing them both out.

Old Man Lu and Old Lady Lu were deafened by the commotion. They watched as Madam Xu half-supported, half-carried the weeping Shen Jin outside, wanting to say something to her but unable to utter a single word.

Their age and experiences in tumultuous times allowed them to understand the burden behind Shen Jin's desperate questioning during her breakdown.

No, who can truly empathize with another's experiences unless they've lived them firsthand?

Recalling the state of their three sons when they first entered the valley, the Lu couple were rendered speechless. When Shen Jin had been helped out of the cave, Lu Caihu turned to the younger Wei Qinghe and said, "Qinghe, please make your way to the entrance and deliver a message to Village Chief Zhou. Ask him to summon Shen Lie, A Luo, Dashi, my second and third sons back here tonight."

At these words, Lu Dachang's legs went weak, almost giving out beneath him.

Trembling, he stammered, "Mother? Mother!"

Lu Caihu didn't look at him, but instead focused on Zhuangzhu and Doudou, as well as Tiezhu and Huizi who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

The thought of her five grandchildren made Lu Caihu genuinely want to cry. But even in her despair, she couldn't afford to soften. For the sake of these five children, she had already shown leniency twice.

Lu Caihu felt all her strength drain from her body. Reaching behind her, she found the bedpost and leaned against it, needing something to prop herself up. She then gazed at her five grandchildren for a long moment before her eyes fell on the eldest, Zhuangzhu.

"Zhuangzhu, you saw everything that happened today. Your mother was given many chances."

"She's not just ungrateful now; she's turned her benefactor into an enemy to despise. She believes everyone in this valley has wronged her, treated her poorly."

Although Lu Caihu hadn't heard what Wang Chunniang had said earlier, she had caught most of Shen Jin's crucial points. The child's emotions had been unchecked, and her voice carried.

From all that had been said, it wasn't difficult to piece together the situation, especially with Lu Shuzhu's question about whether his elder brother and sister-in-law had saved them only to create more enmity.

Lu Shuzhu was already aware of the gravity of the matter. Tears rolled down his cheeks, which he hastily wiped away.

Hu Zi was somewhat bewildered. Seeing the expressions on his family members' faces, he instinctively felt afraid. He tugged on Lu Daniu's sleeve and whispered, "Sis, what did Mother do?"

Lu Daniu didn't dare to speak, only sobbing softly.

Wei Qinghe observed the scene and, recalling the words he had just heard, knew he could no longer remain. He nodded respectfully to Mother Lu before hastily departing. The others in the valley, seeing this, also offered their condolences before leaving one by one.

When Lu Dalang saw Wei Qinghe leave, he knew there was no turning back. His knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed, barely managing to hold himself up by gripping the bedpost nearby.

At that moment, a single thought consumed him: He would be implicated by Wang Chunniang and left to fend for himself—this much was certain.

His teeth chattered uncontrollably.

This fear surpassed the previous two incidents.

During the first mishap, he had only feared his parents' reproach. In the second, he had experienced the dangers of the deep mountains and realized the chaos outside the valley. Back then, he had been afraid of being cast out of Yun Valley, but his quick response and consideration for his siblings had spared him from his mother's wrath.

This time, Lu Dalang's fear originated from his understanding of his parents' nature.

He now knew what it meant to have one's liver and gallbladder tremble with fear.

...

On the other side, when Shen An, Shen Ning, and Shen Tie, who were assigned tasks farther away, rushed over after sensing something amiss, they only saw Shen Jin and Shen Yin weeping uncontrollably. Shen Tie, who was oblivious to the situation, was also frightened and ran to Shen Jin's side, asking what had happened. When he didn't get an answer, he ran to Shen Yin's side and asked her.

However, no one told him anything.

How could Wei Lingzhen dare to let the youngest child know? She held onto Shen Tie and coaxed, "It's alright. Your brothers are fine. They had a small argument, and it'll be over soon."

These words couldn't even soothe Shen Tie, much less Shen An?

Shen An knitted his brows and turned his head to look at the Lu family's residence where the crowd had gathered earlier. He didn't pursue the matter further but asked Shen Ning to take care of Little Jin and Little Yin. Then, he dashed towards the Lu family's cave without waiting for Qin Fangniang's call.

...

The atmosphere in the Lu family was clearly off. Shen An scanned everyone's expressions before his gaze settled on the ashen-faced Lu Dalang and Wang Chunniang. Eventually, his focus fell on Wang Chunniang's face.

The Lu couple, being the elders of the household, as well as Eldest Master Lu, all held a position of seniority. With this in mind, Shen An's gaze settled upon Uncle Lu's face as he queried, "Uncle Lu, what is the matter with Xiao Jin and Xiao Yin? Has something happened?"

Lu Shuanzhu was still choking, utterly unable to respond.

Old Man Lu glanced at Shen An and had to take the initiative to speak. "An, don't ask about this for now. First, go back and take care of Little Jin and Little Yin. Your Grandma Lu has already asked Uncle Qinghe to inform Village Chief Zhou that she'll be going out at night to invite your eldest brother and sister-in-law back. Your Second Uncle and Third Uncle will also return. They will give an explanation to your family."

"Explain?"

Then it's no trivial matter.

Shen An looked at Wang Chunniang steadily, not wanting to make things difficult for the Lu family elders. He knew he would find out when his older brother and sister-in-law returned. Nodding in agreement, he turned and hastened back, paying no mind to walking properly as he directly cut across the half-harvested field.

Back at home, Jin and Yin had already ascended to the upper cave. Both brothers appeared deeply distressed, and Tiel, unaware of the situation, found himself weeping in sync with them, merely sensing their distress.

Harvesting was already behind schedule, and agricultural tasks couldn't afford to be delayed. After Qin Fangniang and the others returned the villagers, they went back to the fields. However, they temporarily avoided the area adjacent to the Lu family's land, giving the Lu family space to deal with the situation. They started cutting rice in another part of the field instead.

At this moment, in Shen Jin's cave residence, Xu Wenbo and Xu Wenying were accompanying him on the sidelines.

Shen An didn't dare to probe further. He bent down and found Chen Po in his own kitchen, together with Shen Ning, tending to a fire as they boiled something.

"Granny Chen, what on earth happened? Did something occur involving Tiger's mother?"

Granny Chen sighed. She was amazed that trouble could still arise even with the door closed. She didn't deny it and only whispered, "I didn't hear what was said in front. It must have been some hurtful words. Little Jin is in for a rough time now, and Little Yin must be frightened too. Remember not to ask about it. I had Ah Ning search for a calming and soothing medicine from your family's remedies and had her brew it. You should take it up to them and make sure they drink it."

...

By the time the herbal soup was ready, Shen Jin had obviously regained some composure. At least, he no longer looked as terrifying as before. His eyes were swollen, but he had sent away the Xu siblings to work in the fields.

When Shen An and Shen Ning brought the soup, Shen Jin looked at the two steaming bowls before him. A fresh wave of tears welled up in his eyes, and his throat tightened. After a long while, he said, "I'm fine. I just need some more time. You both go help in the fields first."

There weren't many sunny days in the valley. If they missed this good weather, the rice might not dry properly.

Seeing that Shen Jin seemed to be doing better, Shen An instructed him and Shen Yin to take the calming medicine before leaving with Shen Ning, glancing back every few steps.

Shen Jin's fingers trembled as he looked at the two hot bowls of soup on the table. He dared not touch them. After a long while, he pushed one bowl towards Shen Yin. "This is the calming medicine. Drink it. We can't afford to fall sick. Don't cause any more trouble for Big Brother's family."

Shen Yin's lips were still quivering. He wanted to ask about Sweet Girl, but when he saw Shen Tie beside him, he didn't dare to inquire. Wiping away his tears, he picked up the bowl and started drinking. After a few sips, seeing Shen Jin still sitting there in a daze, Shen Yin asked, "Third Brother, why aren't you drinking?"

That simple question seemed to strike a nerve in Shen Jin. His nostrils involuntarily flared, and his brows furrowed. Two more tears slid down his cheeks, which he hastily wiped away. Mumbling, he said, "Drink yours."

Yin Shen assumed he was just having trouble swallowing, so he nudged the bowl of herbal soup towards Jin Shen and said, "Brother, don't get sick."

In those words, "don't get sick," Jin Shen sensed Yin Shen's fear. His hand trembled, but he finally reached for the bowl, lifting it with unsteady hands. Before taking a sip, his tears fell one by one into the brownish broth. He stared at them for a moment, then, holding the bowl, tilted his head back and gulped down the medicine, tears mixing with the bitter liquid.

Tears continued to fall as he swallowed.

Tie Shen watched from the side and turned to fetch two pieces of hawthorn candy and two slices of banana from a shelf.

They were gifts from Sang Luo. Tie Shen, still haunted by the incident in the county, always feared running out of food and couldn't shake off his habit of eating hastily. Jin Shen and Yin Shen had tasted a few pieces, but then left the rest for the youngest, Tie Shen, to enjoy slowly.

Now, Tie Shen retrieved the treats and handed a portion to each of his brothers. "Brother, don't cry anymore. If the medicine is bitter, eat something sweet."

Unbeknownst to Tie Shen, the sight of the hawthorn candy and banana slices only made Jin Shen's tears flow more fiercely.

As Jin Shen's empty bowl was taken by Tie Shen, who stuffed the snacks into his brother's hands, Jin Shen gazed at his palm for a long while, simply observing, before finally clutching them tightly. These were familiar snacks he had eaten before, yet now, he didn't dare put any in his mouth.

Confused, Tie Shen called out to his brother, asking, "Why are you really crying? You're drinking medicine, isn't that only for when you have a serious illness?"

A serious illness?

Jin thought back to those nights when he first entered the valley – he had indeed shed tears then.

He looked at his two younger brothers, no longer avoiding their gaze. He carefully concealed what shouldn't be said before stating, "I wept after hearing some malicious gossip that pierced the heart."

"Little Silver and Little Iron, remember this: our survival is thanks to Shopkeeper Xu and Uncle Xu's kindness, as well as the benevolence of Aunt Xu and the others. Our elder brother and sister-in-law overlooked past grievances and still took us three in amidst such harsh times. All the help we received from the families in the valley was repaid by our elder brother and sister-in-law."

"Remember, if anyone speaks ill of our elder brother and sister-in-law in front of you, refute it firmly. They owe us nothing." He paused, then added, "It's our family who owes them, along with Little An and Ah Ning."

Jin Iron was young and clueless about the situation; he simply nodded obediently. Jin Silver also nodded, but uncertainty flickered in his eyes.

Aunt Wang's tactful suggestion was indeed piercing to the heart. A seven-year-old child might indeed follow her line of thought. If Elder Brother and Sister-in-law had taken their family along at that time, would Mother and Sweet Girl still be alive?

This thought is beyond human control; it is an instinct. Just as Shen Tie, who happened to turn around upon entering the valley, would subconsciously say, "If only Tian Ya and my parents were still here, it would be perfect," upon witnessing the beauty within the valley.

Just like him, whenever he saw the children in the valley playing, reading, and learning to write, Shiqiao, Xiaoya, and Awi would often become absorbed in thought. At night, when he went to sleep, he sometimes dreamed that among those people sat a sweet Xiaoya.

Intellectually, I grasped it all, yet emotionally, an abyss with an open maw seemed to cleave my being in two, leaving me torn when I awoke—uncertain whether to rejoice at seeing my sister or dread the underlying implications of such dreams.

He dared not confide in anyone, instead dedicating himself to repairing the damage, only to have someone rip away the makeshift patches, tearing flesh with the wounds they covered.

Now, not just him, but Little Silver's heart had also been torn open by Wang Chunniang's venomous words.

With a tight grip, Jin's hand on the tabletop curled into a fist. He looked at Yin and then at Tie, who was clueless about the situation. All those thoughts he had previously kept to himself, shielding his younger brothers from the harsh realities, he knew in that moment that he could no longer bear them alone. He couldn't let Little Yin and Little Tie end up like this, nor could he guarantee that they wouldn't be corrupted by this, turning into someone akin to Mother Huizi.

He stared at Shen Yin and said, "Do you think Hu Zi Niang's words made sense? Do you think that if our eldest brother and sister-in-law had taken our family with them from the beginning, Tian Ya and our mother wouldn't have died?"

With a slight tremor in her hands, Yinsen hesitated for a moment, while Tieshen was left utterly stunned.

Shen Jin was not surprised. He knew that feeling all too well. The moment Wang Chunniang uttered those piercing words, he knew it was inevitable.

He didn't elaborate on the hypothesis but instead asked Shen Yin, "If we hadn't separated households, if Elder Brother hadn't returned, do you have any idea what situation An and Ah Ning, and we, would be in right now?"

While Shen Tie was perplexed, Shen Yin was jolted out of her thoughts by Shen Jin's words. She lifted her gaze to look at him.

Chapter 68: Suspicions

After settling Luo Le, Gu Heting turned around and left.

Gu Heting's school residence is a one-bedroom, one-living room, one-kitchen, and one-bathroom apartment. It has been regularly cleaned by an aunt (referring to a domestic helper or housekeeper), so it is not dirty and can be moved into directly.

"Ahh..."

Hearing the sound, Luo Le looked down to find the little bundle in his arms had awakened, gazing at him with wide eyes.

"Ah, you're awake."

He reached out to rub Chen Chen's cheek, and a trail of saliva trickled down from the corners of Chen Chen's unsealed lips.

Luo Le found it amusing and reached over to wipe his mouth.

"We'll be staying here for now. Grow up quickly, okay?"

After that, they settled into their new residence.

Every day, Gu Heting would come over in the afternoon and generally stay for two hours before leaving.

There were times when she would bring nutrient solutions, fruits, or other items that Luo Le might need.

Chen Chen needs to drink milk seven times a day, and sometimes, when he wakes up hungry in the night, Luo Le has no choice but to get up and prepare the milk.

Within a few days, signs of fatigue began to show under Luo Le's eyes, darkening with each passing night.

He barely ventured out except to take out the trash, and was forced to adjust his schedule to match Chen Chen's.

It's a mystery how there can be so much sleep to catch up on in a single day.

In addition to the absence of an AI brain, it can be said to be almost isolated from the world, except for the occasional visits from Gu Heting.

Fortunately, Huo Lanjing hadn't come looking for her.

Another full month and a half had passed by in a blink of an eye.

Despite the numerous tugs in her hair by Chen Chen, Luo Le went to prepare his milk formula.

Upon arriving, Gu Heting immediately noticed the scene and chuckled, "This style is quite impressive."

Luo Le yawned, dismissing his childish behavior.

"Don't be angry. I have some good news for you."

Luo Le rubbed the baby bottle in his palm, checking the temperature by pouring milk onto his wrist as he asked, "What?"

Gu Heting didn't beat around the bush and said with a smile, "The person you were hiding from has left."

Has Huo Lanjing left?

Luo Le: "Really?"

"Of course,"

Upon receiving an affirmative response, Luo Le's gaze remained inscrutable as he pursed his lips. "That's wonderful. Will you be free tomorrow?"

Gu Heting was somewhat puzzled: "What's the matter?"

"It's time for me to return as well."

Gu Heting waved his hand and said, "I advise you not to do that. Every day when I go back, I can still feel the burning gaze."

Luo Le wore a puzzled expression. "He didn't withdraw his people?"

"No, I think he probably won't leave, he left in quite a hurry this time, I guess he'll be back after a while." Gu Heting said with a sigh.

Upon further reflection, Luo Le realized how he could have forgotten -- Huo Lanjing was always someone who wouldn't rest until he achieved his goal.

He poured the milk into his cupped palm again; this time, the temperature was just right.

About to speak, the sound of Chen Chen's crying echoed from within the room, interrupting their conversation.

After informing Gu Heting, Luo Le took the milk bottle and went inside.

After a while, Chen Chen, satiated and content, ceased his antics. Luo Le carried him over to the sofa to lie down.

"And this one." Gu Heting brought over a bow-shaped semicircle surrounding Chen Chen, adorned with little animal pendants that swayed with his movements.

Luo Le sat twenty centimeters above Chen Chen's head, while Gu Heting was at the tail end.

Observing the one who was amusing Chen Chen, Luo Le rubbed the palms of their hands together.

"Could I ask a favor of you?"

Gu Heting lifted his head, the smile on the corner of his mouth lingering: "Hmm?"

"Would you be willing to purchase a townhouse for me, a three-story detached dwelling with a rooftop, using your name? The payment would be made through my account."

Gu Heting slightly furrowed his brows and asked, "Shall I transfer it to you after I've finished buying it?"

Isn't this too much of a hassle?

Luo Le shook his head. "No, the fact that he hasn't withdrawn means he hasn't given up yet. He might trace you right after the transfer is completed."

Gu Heting hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Shall we proceed with the transfer once they have withdrawn?"

Luo Le: "Mm."

Gu Heting had been taking care of him before, and also occasionally running errands for him from time to time. He owes a great debt of gratitude.

He had never been one to owe favors, but he wasn't adept at navigating social dynamics. After much contemplation, this was the only solution he could devise.

When Chen Chen grows up a bit more, he'll return to the Empire. It's unlikely he'll come back. This house can be seen as compensation for that favor.

Once he fetches his mother, they'll return to Planet 423.

Though there was nothing grand there, he found great pleasure in the place's leisurely pace of life.

Let's settle there for two years first. We'll return to the Empire when it's about time for Chen Chen to start receiving an education.

When Wind City created this ID, they had already taken this issue into account. Hence, the ID named Gu Zhiwei held the privilege of unfettered choice in their children's education within the Empire.

Suddenly, Gu Heting exclaimed softly, "Look, look at your son."

Luo Le lowered his head upon hearing the sound.

At this moment, Chen Chen, lying on the sofa, rested his head on its soft cushion while propping himself up with his shoulders, exerting great effort as evidenced by the sounds he was making.

Worried that he might have difficulty breathing, Luo Le got up to lift him, but her hand was suddenly struck by Gu Heting.

"Let him come himself."

Luo Le vividly recalled the tender feel of Chen Chen's body. With his spine underdeveloped, he couldn't even stand while holding him. Could he really flip over?

They watched as the figure struggled for a long while but failed to flip over.

After lying down for too long, both of them grew concerned about the potential impact on their lungs, and thus decided to give up.

Yet, before they could lay a hand on Chen Chen, they witnessed him tilt his head back and, with a sudden lurch of his body, flip over them.

Gu Heting turned his head to look at him, "What do you think, I told you he could do it, it's been three months, it's about time for a turnaround."

Luo Le was surprised that this soft little creature, who couldn't even hold its head up steadily, could actually flip over.

He watched as Gu Heting held Chen Chen in his arms, swayed him a couple of times, patted his butt, and said with a smile, "Raise the dragon head."

Upon finishing his words, Chen Chen broke into a grin; however, his laughter was accompanied by a flow of saliva.

"Oh, do keep an eye on your son."

Luo Le promptly grabbed two tissues to wipe Chen Chen's mouth.

Gu Heting suddenly remembered something and turned to ask, "Chen Chen should have a physical examination. Bring along the notebook related to him and let's go have a look."

Luo Le nodded and turned to pack his belongings.

The hospital is equipped with specialized infant health screening instruments that provide more comprehensive data, tailored specifically for young children.

Gu Heting unfolded the small blanket, then asked Luo Le to wait here, and went to check on Chen Chen with a "hey" while holding him.

The office was meticulously arranged, with Luo Le seated in his chair, swiveling around several times.

At the same time, Gu Heting has already placed Chen Chen into the detector, watching the alternating blue lights and paying attention to the numbers on the display screen.

Chen Chen delightedly danced with joy under the alternating glow of the lights.

After a moment, the report came out.

Gu Heting took it and read through it line by line.

When Chen Chen was born, due to limitations in resources, such an extensive examination had not been conducted on him.

Suddenly, Gu Heting's gaze fell on a certain spot, and his eyes flickered slightly.

The Mα gene - how could Chen Chen possibly possess the Mα gene?

Alphas and Omegas typically manifest their natures at the age of eighteen. There exists a particular gene in the world; should it present itself, it irrefutably identifies a child as an Alpha, with their mental prowess destined to escalate to an A+ level, leaving no room for doubt.

This is the recessive α-gene, exceedingly rare, occurring in only one out of sixty million individuals. There's a fifty percent chance it can be passed down genetically.

And this gene...

Looking at the little one giggling, Gu Heting was slightly distracted. After a while, he carried him back.

By the time he arrived, Luo Le might have grown weary from waiting and had fallen asleep, curled up on the table.

If it were any other day, Gu Heting might have just let him continue to sleep, but he had something to attend to in a while.

He gently nudged Luo Le.

Luo Le gradually came to, opening his eyes to find the man before him. Rubbing his eyes, he asked, "How is it?"

"No issues at all, perfectly healthy."

Luo Le nodded. "In that case, I'll be heading back first. I'll cook tomorrow. If you don't mind, come over for dinner after work."

Gu Heting had no objections.

The following evening, Luo Le cooked three dishes and one soup while Chen Chen was asleep.

By the time the last dish was ready, the other two had already grown cold.

No sooner had I heated it up than the doorbell rang.

Luo Le took off his apron and walked over, only to find Gu Heting standing outside the door.

Didn't he have the key?

Could it be that they left it behind?

Luo Le pulled open the door, but Gu Heting didn't come in right away. Instead, he just stood there, looking at him.

With a full heart of curiosity, he waved his hand in front of her eyes. "What's wrong with you? Are you alright?"

Gu Heting snapped back to reality upon hearing the voice, managing to force a somewhat strained smile.

"Nothing much, just a bit weary."

"Let's retire early tonight."

Chen Chen sat on the sofa, gazing at the pendant hanging above, reaching out to grasp it with delight.

At the dining table, both remained silent, quietly enjoying their meal.

After a while, Gu Heting suddenly looked up and called out to him.

Luo Le tilted his head slightly. "Hm?"

Gu Heting reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, saying, "This is a new ID. With this, you won't have to hide and dodge anymore."

Luo Le frowned slightly and glanced at him. "Where did this come from?"

Gu Heting: "I got it from a friend."

When creating the identity of Gu Zhiwei, Wind City mentioned that the Empire was tightening its grip on such matters.

How did Gu Heting's friend manage to obtain that?

"Which friend?"

"Accept it, this is the identity of an Imperial citizen, granting you all the privileges of the Empire's nobility. With this status, you can provide Chen Chen with better educational opportunities."

Luo Le pushed the card back again. "No need," he said.

This privileged number, Wind City mentioned it was very expensive. He couldn't accept it.

Gu Heting: "Why?"

In the Empire, the nobility formed a circle, the influential families another, and the wealthy and politically connected offspring constituted yet another circle. Each group grew up intertwined.

If he were to genuinely use these IDs to exercise privileges, it's likely that the fraud would be discovered within an hour.

Not to mention, such a status would make it more likely for her to encounter Huo Lanjing.

"No other reason really, I've just grown accustomed to it."

Gu Heting raised his eyes and noticed that Luo Le's gaze was extremely firm, so he sighed and took back the item.

"Very well, do reach out to me if you have any matters in the future."

Luo Le nods, "Alright."

In the meantime, within the Fifth Planet's office, an unusual silence reigned.

Huo Lanjing sat in his chair, gazing at the map of the spacecraft with a troubled frown.

He spent a month on the Second Planet, but his efforts proved fruitless.

Following that, his subordinate reported that they seemed to have found Luo Le, which was why he rushed back in a great hurry, only to find out it was just someone who resembled her.

Qin Chen suddenly spoke from the side, "You haven't found her yet?"

"Mm." There was a hint of impatience in his tone.

Chapter 117: Exploded

Ji Min couldn't think of any reason to hold back in that instant.

He pressed forward again.

Relying on memory, he guided the person towards the edge of the bed.

In the darkness, they stumbled and bumped into the bench at the foot of the bed, producing a muffled thud.

Lu Ran, who was being held, paused and struggled slightly.

But for the first time, the man in front of him ignored his struggles, lost in heavy breathing.

"Hey, your leg!"

Lu Ran tried to turn his head away, but was pulled back by the grip on his chin.

"My leg is fine," the man replied casually, his voice lost amidst the deepening kiss.

Lu Ran's tongue throbbed in pain from being sucked.

The air in his chest was relentlessly stolen away, while heavy, ragged breaths pelted his face, scorching hot.

His rationality grew hazy, melting into a thick and sweet syrup.

Yet, a single thread of concern still lingered cautiously over Ji Min's leg.

Struggling once more, Lu Ran seized a moment to catch his breath between the man's lips.

Then, with effort, he pushed against the person in front of him.

Only at this moment did Lu Ran truly comprehend the immense strength of the man before him.

His attempt to push away was effortlessly neutralized by Ji Min's gentle grip.

With just one hand, Ji Min held both of Lu Ran's wrists firmly behind his back.

His knee brushed against the edge of the bed in a futile attempt to resist for a moment.

Ultimately, he trembled before collapsing backward.

The tall and powerful male figure pressed down upon him.

Unlike last time, there was no comical squishing on top of him, but they were still pressed intimately together.

He was securely trapped beneath the man.

Click.

It was the sound of a metal belt buckle being undone.

Lu Ran froze for a moment, instinctively struggling once more.

As he shifted slightly, the man lying atop him let out a low groan.

The man's brow knitted tightly together, and he let out a low, ragged breath.

A voice hoarse to the point of being barely recognizable whispered intimately into the youth's ear, "Immediately."

The room was dimly lit, creating an atmosphere of intimacy.

It exuded an indescribable warmth and sultriness.

The curtains were undrawn, and the faint yellow light from the courtyard filtered in, just enough for Ji Min to discern the flush on the young man's cheeks.

Ji Min lowered his head to kiss again.

In this moment of utmost intimacy and ambiguity.

Yet, he heard the youth beneath him lean in close to his ear, his voice a devilish whisper, "Uncle Ji."

Ji Min: "..."

It was as if someone had slammed on the brakes on a highway, jerking Ji Min's reason back to reality in an instant.

He fell silent for a moment, then lowered his gaze to the man beneath him, Lu Ran.

The young man's cheeks were still flushed, yet he looked at him with a mischievous expression, calling out again, "Uncle Ji, what are you doing?"

Ji Min: "..."

He lowered his head again, intent on silencing the person with a kiss.

In the middle of the kiss, he couldn't help but grit his teeth and say through clenched jaws, "Did you have to call me that way at this moment?"

"Haha! Haha! Haha!"

Lu Ran forcefully pushed the person away, flipped over on the bed, and stood up, reaching out to turn on the light.

Blinding brightness instantly filled the entire bedroom.

Dispelling the intimacy that had been concealed in the darkness.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Lu Ran stood with his hands on his hips, looking at Ji Min and asking,

"Would you assume that my anger has subsided now?"

Ji Min: "..."

Indeed, he had forgotten about that.

First with Uncle Ji's remark, and then with Lu Ran jumping up and causing a commotion.

Now, there's nothing else to be done.

The man sat cross-legged on the bed, propping his forehead with a sigh.

After some thought, he still felt stifled.

He said helplessly, "Just go ahead and kill me then."

"Did I call you wrong?"

Lu Ran also sat across from him, gesturing at Ji Min. "Didn't you want to be my elder before? When I called Gu Zhi 'Uncle Gu,' weren't you quite dissatisfied?"

Ji Min: "..."

At this moment, he didn't wish to utter a single word.

Glancing at the youth across from him, he couldn't help but feel that his present state was rather ungainly. He reached out to fetch a pillow, placing it demurely upon his lap.

Seeing this, Lu Ran burst into another round of laughter.

He pounced forward, seizing Ji Min by the neck and asking, "Well, have you realized your mistake?"

Ji Min had developed a slight aversion to Lu Ran's pranks.

Seeing someone rush over, he hurriedly caught them with his hands and let out a long sigh. "What do you think?"

After such a scene, whether it was a person or a ghost, they would realize their mistake.

"Oh?" Lu Ran raised an eyebrow and asked,

"Well then, let me ask you, if something were to happen again in the future, would you still keep the dangers from me, secretly making wills and arrangements for friends just like before?"

Ji Min paused for a moment before obediently responding, "Of course not."

The man's reply was impeccable, radiating righteousness: "I'll definitely discuss it properly with you."

Lu Ran: "..."

Fixing Ji Min with a stern gaze, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "What did that moment of hesitation mean?"

"Ahem."

Ji Min raised his hand to touch his nose, diverting the subject with a soft plea, "You're leaning on me."

Lu Ran was infuriated.

Without further ado, he smacked him lightly with the pillow, his voice stern: "Don't interrupt! Answer me properly!"

Ji Min furrowed his brow and let out a muffled hum, pulling the person closer into his embrace.

He leaned against the headboard of the bed, gazing down at the youth in his arms whose eyes shone with both determination and sincerity. With a sigh, he answered earnestly:

"Rest assured, I won't hide any dangers from you anymore, forcing you to climb in through the window to see me. That was indeed my fault," the man said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "But..."

"What 'but'?" Lu Ran's displeasure was evident.

"However, if there are unforeseen circumstances, I'll still find ways to ensure everything is taken care of," Ji Min said, gently stroking his hair.

Lu Ran took a deep breath and reached out to grip his throat again.

"I think you're doing this on purpose. You know it upsets me, yet you insist on going ahead with it!" He pressed his fingers against Ji Min's Adam's apple.

Ji Min quickly dodged.

"I'm about to explode with anger! You sleep alone!" Lu Ran struggled to get up.

But the man reached out to hold him back.

With all his might, Lu Ran tried to sit up, but his face flushed in vain as he remained stuck.

He simply reached out to tousle Ji Min's hair instead.

After some playful antics.

Suddenly, Ji Min winced and furrowed his brow.

Lu Ran quickly ceased his actions, turning to examine Ji Min's leg:

"What's wrong? Is your leg hurting again?"

Leaning his chin on Lu Ran's shoulder, the man sighed softly, "My leg is fine, but other parts of me are about to break from your antics."

Lu Ran: "..."

He fell silent for a moment, still somewhat concerned. Eventually, he lifted the pillow off Ji Min's legs to take a look.

After just a brief glance, he threw the pillow back, his ears reddening as he said,

"Nonsense, it's not broken at all!"

Unable to contain himself, Ji Min chuckled as he embraced the other.

They sat facing each other, leaning against the headboard of the bed.

Lu Ran nestled in Ji Min's arms and said in a muffled voice,

"I don't like it when you arrange those things."

Seemingly, every move was planned with the assumption of his departure.

But Lu Ran was unwilling to entertain such "assumptions."

Ji Min rubbed his chin against the top of Lu Ran's head.

Precisely because he knew that Lu Ran was reluctant to think about these matters, Ji Min had secretly made arrangements without informing him.

Lu Ran was not ready to confront these hypothetical scenarios.

Let him face it alone then.

It was late into the night.

In the end, Ji Min took a shower, gradually suppressing the urge that came with just being discharged from the hospital.

Lu Ran didn't return to his own room either.

After waiting for Ji Min to finish his ablutions, he took a shower as well.

With his hair half-dried, he climbed into bed, still steaming from the shower.

Only when he got on the bed did he realize that Ji Min had brought another blanket up.

There were now two separate blankets on the large bed.

Ji Min lay in one of them, eyes already closed and drifting off to sleep.

The man slept very properly, with his limbs well-behaved, stretched out long and straight.

Lu Ran observed for a moment before slipping under his own covers.

Then, he emerged from the other side of the blanket and slinked into Ji Min's.

"Tsk."

Ji Min opened his eyes, promptly grabbing hold of his hand.

"What are you doing?" Ji Min looked at him coolly, then reached up to brush a hand through his hair. "Dry off before coming in."

But Lu Ran chuckled and burrowed in completely, wrapping his arms and legs tightly around the man.

"Lu Ran, you're being too much," the man said in a deep voice.

He had just prevented an accident, and now this rascal was intentionally teasing him.

Yet, Lu Ran hugged him with all limbs, issuing a muffled sigh. "Boss, you're really like a huggable bear."

The moment he heard the term "Boss," Ji Min knew the kid was half-asleep.

He sighed, deciding against sending the person away.

Rather than removing the blanket, he gently tugged it upwards, enveloping the youth's head within its cozy confines.

The lights in the bedroom dimmed once more, and the two of them fell asleep in each other's embrace.

As the two of them took a break, the Shen family's banquet was only just reaching its climax.

The guests in the courtyard had gradually dispersed.

Yet, Shen Hongyuan's study was still occupied by numerous prominent figures from the business world.

Now, the Fang family had expressed their intention to cooperate with the Shen family.

Should they genuinely secure the HZ project, the Shen family's status would undoubtedly soar.

At present, many individuals were keen on doing the Shen family a favor.

Seizing this opportunity, Shen Hongyuan began to actively seek investments.

He was also willing to lower himself, flattering the influential figures in the study and entertaining them with his wit, leaving them all grinning from ear to ear.

"One good turn deserves another. Let's seal the deal tomorrow and sign the contract!" one of them proposed.

The others also expressed their eagerness to collaborate.

Shen Hongyuan promptly agreed, "Very well, I'll be available anytime tomorrow!"

With several investments secured in a row, Shen Hongyuan felt invigorated.

Noticing the increased warmth in the expressions of the executives before him, he responded in kind.

Especially Mr. Yang, the eldest among them, Shen Hongyuan almost wished he could support the man while descending the stairs.

Upon reaching the ground floor and preparing to depart, the executives, assuming they had spent quite some time and consumed refreshments, excused themselves to use the restroom.

At that moment, Shen Hongyuan treated these gentlemen as if they were his saviors.

Upon hearing that the group was heading to the restroom, Shen Hongyuan couldn't help but shudder, recalling Lu Ran's visit earlier that day.

"Please wait a moment, Mr. Yang," Shen Hongyuan said, not daring to be careless and fearful of any mishaps.

Rather than assigning a servant, he personally went down to the first floor to inspect the restrooms.

Hmm, everything seemed to be in order.

Each stall was tidied up neatly, with no sign of cockroaches lurking about.

This relieved Shen Hongyuan greatly.

He hadn't expected that Lu Ran wouldn't pull any pranks today.

After the inspection, Shen Hongyuan personally supported President Yang into the restroom:

"The floor here can be slippery. Please be cautious, sir."

Despite his efforts, Shen Hongyuan was, after all, still the boss of a company.

Seeing that Manager Yang had gone into a stall to use the toilet, Shen Hongyuan had no interest in waiting for him in the bathroom and thus returned to the corridor outside, where he lit a cigarette.

Coincidentally, Shen Xingyu walked over at that moment.

Upon seeing Shen Hongyuan, he frowned and said, "Dad, did Shen Cheng do something again today?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Hongyuan's gaze darkened.

He waved his hand and said, "That's your uncle. He's still your senior, regardless."

Shen Xingyu sighed. "Dad, I've told you not to associate with him anymore."

Shen Hongyuan's expression turned grim. "He's a director of the company and my younger brother. If anything really happens, can I just ignore him?"

"Allow me to speak frankly," Shen Xingyu said with a cold tone. "The internal financial deficit of the Shen Corporation is all because you've been indulging him."

"Enough, I know what I'm doing."

Shen Hongyuan spoke sternly, "Your uncle's father passed away due to company affairs. If it weren't for him, there wouldn't be the Shen Corporation as it is now. Where would you be CEO of?"

Shen Xingyu was left speechless.

Shen Hongyuan was in a good mood that day and didn't intend to get angry with his son.

He patted Shen Xingyu and said,

"Alright, go entertain those uncles and elders. We should be able to settle the funding issue today."

As he finished speaking, the sound of the bathroom door slamming echoed behind him.

He turned around to see President Yang, who had just entered for a bowel movement, stumbling out with a distended belly.

His clothes were drenched, and his face was filled with terror.

As he ran, he yelled, "It's exploded! It came out!"

Rong Shu was taken aback once more.

She had only consumed two cups of fruit wine. How could she have affected him? In her previous life, she had consumed alcohol many times, yet he had never complained about her scent the following day.

After Gu Changjin left, she instinctively lifted her arm and sniffed it. Aside from the fresh scent of pear blossoms, there was no peculiar or unpleasant odor.

"Yingyue, Ying Que, come here and smell me to see if there's any strange smell on me."

Yingyue and Ying Que had also heard Gu Changjin's words earlier. Hearing Rong Shu's request, they bent down and took a whiff of her body.

Yingyue replied first, "This servant only smells the pear blossom fragrance from yesterday. I don't detect any other odor."

Nodding vigorously, Ying Que agreed, "This servant didn't smell anything strange either. Could it be that the smell is from Sir himself? Yesterday, Sir didn't arrive at Songsi Courtyard until midnight and didn't use the washroom. Perhaps he's the one who smells bad."

Her lady had always been a fragrant beauty, so Ying Que disliked what Sir had said just now. Unconsciously, she tried to shift the blame onto Gu Changjin.

Just as Lord Gu, drenched in 'dirty water', stepped onto the carriage, Chang Ji, who was beside him, noticed his relaxed expression and found it rather odd.

Why is Master in such a good mood today?

Ever since Jin-shi passed out in the Ministry of Justice's prison a couple of days ago, Master's mood has been gloomy for two consecutive days. Based on Chang Ji's understanding of his master, this gloominess should last a few more days, as Jin-shi's health won't hold out much longer.

Though the Supreme Court and the Board of Censors have reviewed the new verdict for Xu Li'er's case and submitted it to the Wenyuan Pavilion, they have no idea when the chief state counselor will present it to the inner court.

Chang Ji had been too afraid to inquire about this matter, for he didn't want to further upset Gu Changjin. Now, seeing that his master seemed to be in a slightly better mood, he mustered the courage to ask, "Master, has there been any progress in Xu Li'er's case?"

Gu Changjin's gaze fell on the window as he replied coolly, "The cabinet should submit that verdict to the inner court either today or tomorrow. At this moment, all the officials and citizens in the capital are waiting for the final judgment in this case. The Chief Eunuch of the Office of Ceremonial wouldn't dare to hold onto the verdict privately. Within seven days at most, Jin-shi and Xu Li'er should be able to leave the prison."

Chang Ji's lips twitched.

Seven days... He wondered if Jin-shi would survive until then.

Wanting to ask but hesitant to do so, after inquiring about the case, he noticed that his master's mood had worsened. Eyeing Gu Changjin carefully, he suddenly paused and asked, "What happened to the right side of Master's face? It looks like it's red."

He added in bewilderment, "Could it be a bug bite? But with Master's skills, not even a mosquito could get close to you."

Unintentionally, the speaker's words struck a chord in the listener.

Gu Changjin's lips straightened, and he narrowed his eyes slightly.

Indeed, with his skills, it was difficult for anyone else to come close to him, let alone pinch a mark on his face like that.

Last night, he had deliberately allowed the girl to approach him out of curiosity to see what she would do. However, he shouldn't have stood there motionless and endured it when her hand touched his face.

It was as if... he was intentionally letting her vent her anger.

More importantly, it was as if he had done such a thing countless times before.

Gu Changjin pressed his chest, where his heart, since the night he entered that magnificent canopy bed, had been pounding wildly with unrest.

He is an inquisitive person, always eager to uncover the roots of matters and discern their underlying reasons, subsequently formulating strategies to address them.

Thus, she closed her eyes and, like an impartial observer, meticulously dissected every moment she spent with Rong Shu yesterday, both in the study and by the canopy bed.

He returned to Songsi Courtyard to ascertain the extent of her influence over him.

The closer he was to her, the faster his heart beat, but that was all there was to it. The night before, he had lain by her side with no inclination whatsoever to engage in any amorous dalliance with her.

As long as he didn't think of her, avoid her, or inquire about anything related to her, his heart would return to its usual state.

Gu Changjin opened his eyes, having made up his mind.

The carriage arrived at the entrance of the Ministry of Punishment's office unnoticed. Chang Ji got down to open the door and asked when they should come back for him.

"Come fetch me at sunset. Also—" Gu Changjin paused before continuing calmly, "Tell them at the Songsi Courtyard that due to the Ministry's busy workload before the new year, I'll be staying in my study from now on."

Chang Ji was not surprised at all by Gu Changjin's decision to return to his study. In fact, he found it more normal than the previous night when his master had taken the initiative to spend the night at the Songsi Courtyard. Yesterday, Chang Ji almost dropped his jaw in disbelief.

After acknowledging the order, he returned to Wutong Lane.

Once Sun Daoping left, Chang Ji and Heng Ping went back to their residence. After parking the carriage, as they approached the entrance of their quarters, they noticed someone standing there.

The person wore a pine-green skirt, with her hair neatly arranged in a round bun. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her expression was stern—it could only be Aunt An.

Chang Ji's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly put on a servile smile, greeting warmly, "Oh, Aunt An, why are you here? Has Lady sent you with any instructions?"

"Auntie didn't send me; I came out of curiosity. Young Master spent the night at the Songsi Courtyard yesterday. Why didn't you or Heng Ping inform me?"

Chang Ji inwardly sensed trouble but maintained an even more earnest smile on his face. Bending his waist, he repeatedly apologized, "Heng Ping has been occupied with tasks assigned by the Master these past few days, thus he couldn't spare any time. It was my oversight not to inform you and Madam, but I assure you it won't happen again."

Indeed, he had not been idle these days. With Heng Ping absent, Gu Changjin's entire service relied on him alone, leaving him as busy as a bee with its head caught in its own legs.

But Chang Ji, having grown up under Nanny An's tutelage, knew precisely what words would soothe the old nanny's blackened heart.

Upon hearing Chang Ji's explanation, Nanny An's expression visibly softened. "It seems you've become a bit too relaxed lately. Next time if there's anything you don't report, I'll inform Madam and send you back to Jinan for some rigorous bone-strengthening exercises."

After a light reprimand, Nanny An casually brought up Heng Ping. "You mentioned that Heng Ping rushed off due to the Young Master's orders. Do you know what task he was assigned?"

Chapter LXVII: The Search Begins

Gu Heting was taken aback for a moment, then he released his grip and said, "I apologize for my rudeness."

Luo Le adjusted his clothes again, thinking that Gu Heting had already left, but to his surprise, he was still there.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward. Luo Le turned back and asked, "Aren't you going to be busy?"

Gu Heting pursed his lips and said, "Go, I must go. As for the butterfly on your shoulder..."

Luo Le tilted his head to glance at his shoulder. "Oh, this? I got it tattooed."

Gu Heting slightly furrowed his brows, with a hint of disbelief: "Tattooed?"

Luo Le's lips curved slightly. "Does it not seem like me?"

"It does seem so."

It didn't seem like a tattoo; it appeared more like something he had brought into the world from his mother's womb.

Luo Le glanced at Gu Heting with a puzzled look.

"Shall you attend to your tasks? I'll get changed, otherwise there might be too many people downstairs handling the discharge procedures later."

Gu Heting glanced at his shoulder and acknowledged with a nod before leaving.

Gazing at his retreating figure, Luo Le pressed her lips together and fell into a slight trance.

In his teenage years, Luo Le associated with a group of wayward aristocrats, racing cars, indulging in alcohol, and partaking in all sorts of revelries, never once tasting defeat.

The group of privileged youths, having witnessed Luo Le's audacious racing skills, dared not provoke him easily.

He had never been anyone's definition of an obedient child, yet here he was, unexpectedly experiencing what it felt like.

Luo Le smiled. As he walked over to change his clothes, he remembered that the curtains were still open.

He approached and drew the curtains, taking just two steps when something in the corner of his eye caught his attention – a commotion at the hospital entrance.

There, parked, was a black hovering vehicle that appeared increasingly familiar the more he looked at it.

Isn't that license plate on the car Huo Lanjing's favorite?

No way, right?

Luo Le stepped forward, leaning against the glass, scanning for that figure. Suddenly, he spotted the person downstairs.

Why on earth would Huo Lanjing come to the Second Planet out of the blue? It was clear he was here for Luo Le.

Luo Le hastily drew the curtains shut and glanced back at Chen Chen, still sound asleep.

He couldn't let Huo Lanjing catch him.

In a flurry, Luo Le threw on some clothes, too rushed to gather anything else.

Grabbing a small blanket, he wrapped Chen Chen in it, then lifted him gently into his arms.

Perhaps because his movements were a bit rough, or maybe his anxiety had affected Chen Chen, the baby began crying loudly the moment he was picked up.

As a new father, Luo Le had no experience soothing a child.

Contemplating for a moment, he gently patted Chen Chen's back and softly said, "Good boy, Chen Chen, don't cry. Be a good boy."

Seemingly understanding, Chen Chen stopped crying.

With his big eyes wide open, he stared at Luo Le as if he could really see him.

Luo Le smiled and dashed out the door with the child in his arms.

Just as he pressed the elevator button, he noticed an elevator about to arrive on this floor.

It was coming from downstairs.

Luo Le hastily rushed to the stairwell corner with Chen Chen. Taking the stairs would be too slow; they had to take the elevator.

If Huo Lanjing ordered the hospital to be sealed off before he reached the ground floor, there would be no escape.

Luo Le hid by the staircase entrance, constantly watching the elevator, afraid of missing it.

A minute later, the elevator doors opened.

Huo Lanjing emerged from the elevator, clad in a deep camel-colored coat, his steps hurried.

A nurse pushed an Omega in a hospital gown across his path.

He paused for a moment.

Luo Le's heart hung in suspense, his gaze cautiously landing on Huo Lanjing.

Fearful that he might approach.

Suddenly, Chen Chen in his arms began to cry, the wails echoing loudly.

Huo Lanjing stopped nearby, looking over with a puzzled expression.

Luo Le inwardly cursed, hastily withdrawing and swaying Chen Chen back and forth in his arms, patting him as he did so, remembering that infants often enjoyed being jostled about.

His body had not yet fully recovered, leaving him devoid of strength. Though Chen Chen was not heavy, he could not run while carrying him.

All he could do was pray fervently, "Please don't come over, please don't."

Perhaps his wish was answered by the heavens.

Huo Lanjing had only taken a few steps when Captain Lin suddenly emerged from the elevator. "General, let's go. The doctor is waiting for us at the entrance."

Huo Lanjing nodded and turned to leave with Captain Lin.

Watching his figure disappear around the corner, Luo Le hurriedly joined the crowd and entered the elevator.

At the same time, at the closed door of the patient's room, three doctors in white coats were waiting.

As Huo Lanjing approached, the lead doctor extended his hand. "General Huo, I've long heard of your reputation. It's an honor to meet you."

Seeing his sycophantic expression, Huo Lanjing gave him a cold glance. beads of sweat formed on the doctor's forehead, and he took a step back.

Huo Lanjing ignored him, grabbing the handle and pushing the door open.

The room was empty.

An open bottle sat on the bedside table, and the patient's gown was messily sprawled on the bed.

A vein pulsed on Huo Lanjing's forehead. "Seal the hospital, find her for me."

A doctor hurriedly interjected, "General Huo, you can't do that. There are still patients seeking treatment."

Lieutenant Lin stepped forward to clarify, "The General means to seal the hospital, allowing entry but not exit."

Upon understanding his intention, the doctor didn't linger and went to seek the director's approval.

Moreover, it was clear to anyone that the General's mood was terrible. Staying any longer might turn him into a venting target.

Huo Lanjing strode inside. At the foot of the bed, there was a small bag, and the slippers were neatly placed underneath. The water bottle had its cap open.

If not for the hospital gown on the bed, one might have thought that the patient had just gone to the restroom and would return momentarily.

Huo Lanjing sat down, clutching the gown, his gaze darkening as he fixated on it, lost in thought.

"General, it seems Madam has given birth to a little prince," Lieutenant Lin said, presenting a medical record before him.

Huo Lanjing took the paper and flipped it over, revealing the words on its surface.

Gu Chenyue.

A child born from the fusion of his and Luo Le's blood.

He reached out to gently stroke both names, a subtle glint flickering in his eyes.

So Luo Le had named their child Chenyue.

Meanwhile, as Luo Le reached the ground floor, he quickened his pace towards the entrance.

The building he lived in was already close to the door, and within three minutes of descending the stairs, he was outside.

It wasn't until he was safely inside his car that Luo Le allowed himself to relax.

Gazing at the ceaseless flow of traffic through the window, Luo Le felt a bit lost.

Leaving the Second Planet was definitely out of the question now. Chen Chen was only a little over a month old, and his fragile body would not withstand the strain of space-time travel.

Considering that Huo Lanjing managed to track him down to the hospital, he must have uncovered his identity by now. If Luo Le were to return, he might well be walking right into a trap set by Huo Lanjing's men.

Luo Le leaned against the car window, lost in thought.

He couldn't risk going to an establishment like a hotel that required identification.

So, where could he go now?

Should he contact Wind City now?

Wait, Luo Le suddenly realized his mistake. He had yet to retrieve his AI brain.

How could he have forgotten about such a crucial matter?

Luo Le hastily instructed the autonomous hovercar to change its destination.

*

The staff member looked grave as they asked, "Are you sure you want to retrieve your AI brain?"

Luo Le nodded, responding earnestly, "Yes, please do it quickly."

"Alright, follow me."

A few minutes later, Luo Le felt a weight lifted off her shoulders as she pulled the newly bought mask up over her nose.

On their way here, Luo Le had already fed Chen Chen, who was now contentedly asleep after a full meal.

Luo Le lowered her gaze to look at the tiny bundle of joy on her chest. She reached out to gently rub his face; it was soft and squishy, indentation forming under her touch.

— "Gu Zhiwei?"

The sudden voice startled Luo Le, who stiffened and gradually turned sideways.

No way, could he be recognized despite being so well-covered?

He raised his eyes and saw that it was Gu Heting.

"Why are you here? No, how did you know I was here?"

Gu Heting blinked at him and said, "It was just a guess."

"Aren't you supposed to be in the lab at this hour?"

Luo Le looked at him with a hint of confusion.

Gu Heting smiled and said, "You must be avoiding someone and not going home."

Luo Le felt somewhat awkward, unsure of how to respond.

"Where are you headed next? If you haven't found a place yet, I do have a suggestion for a temporary residence."

"Where exactly?"

Gu Heting pursed his lips and said, "How about my dormitory? Would you like to go there?"

Luo Le furrowed his brow slightly. Wouldn't a place like school require real identities?

It seems that he noticed his doubts, so Gu Heting explained: "No need for real names, and there's no one else, you can rest assured."

Luo Le nods, he indeed has nowhere else to go at the moment.

"Thank you. I'll make sure to pay the rent."

Gu Heting knew that if it was for free, Luo Le might not feel at ease living there: "Alright, five hundred a month will do. I rarely stay there either, but may I ask you a few questions?"

"What?"

Gu Heting's car was parked right outside the door. After walking for a short while, it was easily spotted.

"Step into the car first, you can't afford to catch a chill right now."

Luo Le nodded, and the two of them got into the back seat together.

Moments later, the vehicle began to move.

Gu Heting spoke: "Is that fierce and ferocious person another father of Chen Chen?"

Luo Le didn't intend to hide anything and nodded.

"He's... so domineering. You wouldn't believe it, but the moment he found you were missing, he ordered the hospital to be locked down, allowing entry but not exit."

Luo Le knew he would do this. Thankfully, he was one step ahead.

"He's always been like that."

"It's evident."

After that, neither of them spoke, and the carriage fell into a sudden silence.

"Does Chen Chen have a godfather now?" Gu Heting suddenly asked this question.

Thinking of someone on the distant Fifth Planet, Luo Le smiled. "I've got it."

"Well, I didn't expect someone else to beat me to it."

At that very moment, a distant Wind City let out an unbidden sneeze. Rubbing his nose, he wondered if Brother Le was thinking of him.

Gu Heting said with a smile, "Then would you like to consider me as an older brother? I'm thirty this year, so I should be a few years older than you."

After a long while, Luo Le did not respond. Just as Gu Heting thought he was unwilling and was about to treat it as a joke, he suddenly saw Luo Le nod his head.

"Truly?" The tone held a touch of delight.

During this period, Gu Heting has been of great assistance to him. Without Gu Heting's help, he might have truly struggled to manage on his own.

Luo Le nods sincerely, "Mm-hmm."

Gu Heting: "That's wonderful."

Perhaps it was because of excessive joy, but Gu Heting was quite talkative all the way.

It is often said that a three-year age gap constitutes a generational divide. Gu Heting is thirty years old, which is almost eight years older than him.

Luo Le could only respond to him from time to time.

Suddenly, Luo Le thought of a question and turned his head to ask, "Do you have an Omega?"

Ever since Luo Le has known Gu Heting, he has never met his family nor seen him discuss relationships.

Yet, during this period, he could faintly detect the subtle scent of an Omega.

If there were, it wouldn't have been appropriate for him to have lived there in the past.

After all, it would seem peculiar for an Omega with a child to move into his quarters.

Surely no omega would be indifferent to such a matter.

"No, there isn't."

Gu Heting had just finished speaking when he noticed Luo Le's expression, which was somewhat amusing. He said with a smile, "Why do you look at me as if I were a scumbag? Really, there's nothing like that. I like Alphas, so you can rest assured, there's definitely no Omega involved."

Luo Le paused, refraining from asking further questions.

You really don't need your real name to enter the school, you just need Gu Heting's guarantee.