Asianovel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

His phone pinged.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lin Shuicheng replied, "Thank you."

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lin Shuicheng said, "Thank you."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Six in the morning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The clerk scratched his head. "Seems like it.

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

At precisely seven o'clock.

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

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

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

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

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

He asked, "What are you doing?"

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

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

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

Lin Shuicheng even saw his younger self.

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

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

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

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

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

It was 9:30 AM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lin Shuicheng provided his address and then settled into waiting.

Doing nothing, maintaining this position, just waiting.

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

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

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

His desire to sleep overpowered all rational thought.

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

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

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

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

"Lin Shuicheng."

Fu Luoyin knocked gently.

There was no response.

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

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

Still, there was no response.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was 9:30 in the evening.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fu Luoyin's smile became even more strained.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strange, yet breathtakingly charming.

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

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

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

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

He let out a soft sigh.

Author's Note:

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

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

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

Chapter 131 - Rebirth

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

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

And then there was Shen Cheng and that female caregiver.

Until now, Shen Hongyuan remained consumed by resentment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shen Xingzhuo remained unaccounted for.

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

After investigations, Shen Xingyu was released.

Nonetheless, he had to resign from the Shen Corporation.

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

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

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

Shen Xingyu shouldered the debts left behind by Shen Hongyuan.

He sold all of his personal assets to cover them.

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

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

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

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

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

There came a knock on the office door.

"Enter," Shen Xingyu said, as usual.

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

The assistant stood in the doorway with a bittersweet expression.

"Mr. Shen Jr.…" he said reflexively.

Shen Xingyu smiled and replied, "Not anymore."

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

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

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

Shen Xingyu checked the time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

He had never felt so free in his entire life.

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

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

A bearded man with disheveled hair barged in.

It was the company's Chief Financial Officer.

Shen Hongyuan was the one who authorized the embezzlement.

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

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

He dashed around the floor like a madman.

The other employees promptly stepped away in alarm.

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

"All the Shens must die!"

Slam!

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

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

Screams echoed around them.

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

That fleeting moment of freedom vanished like a dream.

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

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

In the end, all dust settled.

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

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

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

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

Now, Lu Ran wore the same expression.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But the Shen family was not.

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

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

Lu Ran has heard even more gossip.

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

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

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

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

Snap.

The first crack appeared in the family's unity.

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

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

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

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

Ji Min knew then that he was waiting.

Waiting for Shen Xingran to make a move.

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

At times, Ji Min found Lu Ran foolish.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lu Ran clutched his stomach, shivering with chills.

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

Ji Min: "..."

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

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

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

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

Elder Shen's grave was relatively clean.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Looking at the tombstone, Lu Ran said:

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

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

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

Ji Min's words trailed off.

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

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

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

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

Not out of love for his young grandson.

Ji Min paused, ultimately refraining from voicing these speculations.

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

But then, the wind carried the youth's voice once more.

The young man crouched before the towering tombstone looked up and said, "Old Man, don't worry either. Even though the company has been donated, I'll come and burn incense for you every year."

"You can rest assured, there'll be plenty of ghost money, so you won't be short of cash down there..."

A hint of a smile tugged at Ji Min's lips.

He was suddenly uncertain about his assumptions.

Perhaps, when Grandpa Shen first took in his youngest grandson, he simply wanted to mold a successor to his liking from scratch.

But gradually, this elder, who valued benefits and had an immense need for control, found something more precious amidst the repeated "Grandpa" from the child.

After returning from the cemetery, Lu Ran went to prison on the weekend.

He hadn't visited Shen Hongyuan even once after the latter fell ill.

Nor did he visit when Shen Xingyu was stabbed.

This time, Lu Ran wasn't visiting Mrs. Shen at the prison.

He had come to visit Shen Xingran.

After waiting for a while in the visiting room, Shen Xingran, clad in prison attire, was escorted over by a guard through the glass wall.

Shen Xingran's head was shaved, and he appeared much darker than before.

He sat down opposite Lu Ran.

The two faced each other across the glass, both remaining silent for a moment.

After a while, Shen Xingran spoke, "I didn't expect you to actually come."

Lu Ran smiled but remained silent.

It seemed that Shen Xingran had been holding back, so he continued, "I saw it on the news – you donated the Shen Corporation."

Even now, as he spoke those words, Shen Xingran was still filled with disbelief and astonishment.

"Why would you donate it? That's the Shen Corporation, isn't it? How could you be willing to give it away?"

He muttered to himself for quite a while.

The prison officer noticed his unusual state and gave him a closer look.

After mumbling for some time, Shen Xingran seemed to have come to a realization and suddenly fell silent.

Then, he laughed at himself mockingly.

"I assumed you were the one entangled with the Shen family indefinitely, unable to sever ties. Yet, you turned out to be much more lucid than I thought, cutting off all connections so cleanly."

"Otherwise, what? Keep it as a source of distress?" Lu Ran replied.

Shen Xingran lifted his gaze to look at Lu Ran.

He said, "It took me a long time being here before I suddenly came to realize this."

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow.

Shen Xingran asked, "At Shen Xingyu's birthday party, did you deliberately mention to him that you were going to join the Shen Corporation, knowing that I was eavesdropping?"

Lu Ran merely smiled but didn't respond.

Shen Xingran had always viewed Lu Ran as a competitor.

Now that there was nothing left to compete for, he felt something different.

Shen Xingran lowered his head and whispered softly,

"Sometimes, I wonder... if... it's possible... that we're the ones who resemble family the most."

Lu Ran lifted his gaze to meet Shen Xingran's.

Shen Xingran's words sounded rather unsettling, but Lu Ran surprisingly understood his meaning.

If "Shen Xingran" was a title,

then Lu Ran was the first incumbent, while Shen Xingran was the second.

Both of them were orphans.

Shen Xingran was the one who had stolen his identity.

At the same time, he was also someone who had never had a name of his own.

Yet, Lu Ran still found it peculiar that Shen Xingran could have the audacity to say such words to him.

With an indescribable sense of curiosity tinged with sarcasm, Lu Ran asked, "Do you know how cold the pool water in Beijing is during winter?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Xingran lifted his head, confused. "What?"

There was no pretense on Shen Xingran's face; it was genuine ignorance.

Lu Ran froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

He laughed loudly, leaning back and forth with mirth.

Shen Xingran, on the other side, was puzzled by his sudden laughter and jumped in surprise.

Lu Ran made no attempt to explain.

Instead, he wiped away the tears that had welled up in the corners of his eyes from laughter, suddenly realizing that the lingering pain in his memories belonged to a past life.

Lu Ran stepped out of the visiting room.

The early autumn sky was exceptionally clear.

The cerulean expanse seemed vast and boundless, stretching high above his head with only scattered cotton candy clouds floating about.

With unprecedented lightness in his stride, Lu Ran walked forward confidently.

A gentle breeze blew, causing the still lush trees lining the path to sway, their leaves rustling softly.

Before him lay a broad road, verdant and inviting.

Humming a tune, Lu Ran approached the prison gates.

They stood ajar, and Ji Min was seen chatting with the prison guard, his back turned to the entrance.

The prison guard, with a northeastern accent, asked, "What are you doing here?"

Ji Min replied, "Waiting for my partner."

A hint of sympathy and empathy instantly appeared on the guard's face.

"Waiting for your partner..." he inquired, "Is your partner being released, or...?"

He gestured as if someone was going in.

Ji Min was momentarily taken aback by the guard's exclusive alternatives.

Lu Ran quickly sprinted a few steps.

Jumping onto the man's back from behind, he answered with a grin, "His partner, they've escaped from prison!"

The guard was startled.

Upon recognizing Lu Ran, who had just entered, he sighed in relief, "You scared me. I really thought an escapee had shown up."

Amidst laughter, Ji Min walked forward with Lu Ran on his back, swaying gently.

"Why are you in such a good mood?" he asked.

"Just because!" Lu Ran replied, rubbing the nape of Ji Min's neck from behind.

The parking area was still quite a distance away.

After resting on Ji Min's back for a while, Lu Ran eventually found it too embarrassing and hopped down.

"Where do you want to play?" Ji Min inquired.

"I want some ice cream," Lu Ran said.

Ji Min didn't press for more details. He held Lu Ran's hand and led him in search of an ice cream shop.

Such establishments were scarce near the prison, so they had to walk quite far before finding one.

Lu Ran stepped in and frowned at the array of flavors on display.

"Hmm..." He pondered deeply.

The cashier asked, "What flavor would you gentlemen like?"

"Give me a moment, I'll figure it out soon," Lu Ran said.

Ji Min: "..."

Seeing the veins popping out of his forehead, Ji Min let out a sigh.

"Don't even think about it." He reached out, covering the youth's head with his hand, decisively selecting for him, "Chocolate."

Lu Ran lifted his gaze to look at him.

Resolving the dilemma, he said, "Then I'll have the sea salt flavor."

Each holding a waffle cone in hand, the two of them strolled out together.

Then, they took a bite from each other's ice cream, exchanging flavors in the process.

Lu Ran held his chocolate cone and finished it in two bites.

Ji Min savored his sea salt-flavored ice cream slowly.

As they passed by a university, Lu Ran suddenly remembered something. "In a couple of days, our school will be open for visitors, saying that parents can come in for a tour."

Ji Min asked, "What day is it? Maybe I can drop by then."

Lu Ran leaned closer, squinting at him. "Huh? They said only parents are allowed. What kind of parent are you?"

Ji Min held his hand and acted mischievously. "Anyone listed on the same household registration book can be considered a parent."

Unable to contain himself, Lu Ran clung to his shoulder and burst into laughter.

----- End of Chapter -----

Table of Contents | Previous Chapter

Chapter 83: Disappearance (3000+)

Huo Lanjing searched around and, upon seeing the discarded bed, he had a good idea of what had happened.

As he proceeded along the path, following the footsteps, he was met with a shocking sight when he emerged from the dense forest.

Luo Le was being held at his waist by a half-lizard man with a dagger, being forced to walk steadily towards the precipice ahead.

This person is Du Wei?

How did he end up like this?

Now clad in fresh white clothes, Luo Le seemed to have undergone a simple cleaning in the healing chamber. The ends of his hair were slightly curled, carrying a hint of moisture.

Due to their back-to-back positioning, Huo Lanjing couldn't see his expression.

With a tight grip on the dagger behind him, Huo Lanjing moved forward, treading softly.

Before entering the woods, he had wisely retracted his mecha to avoid alerting anyone.

Du Wei didn't notice him.

They weren't far apart now. Just as Huo Lanjing was about to hasten his pace, Du Wei suddenly turned around.

His every move was clearly visible to Du Wei.

With a swift turn, Du Wei pressed the dagger against Luo Le's throat, only a centimeter away: "Don't move."

Huo Lanjing immediately stopped and looked at him: "Let him go."

Du Wei smiled: "Why should I let him go? If it wasn't for him, how would I have ended up like this?"

He pushed the knife forward slightly, drawing a bloody line on Luo Le's neck.

Huo Lanjing quickly raised his hand in a gesture of surrender: "Stop."

As he spoke, he threw the dagger away: "Shouldn't your hatred be directed towards the Huo family, specifically me?"

Du Wei pointed his blade at him: "If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have had any dealings with you lot. He deserves to die, and you and your Huo family deserve it even more. It's all your fault."

Huo Lanjing responded, "I'll trade places with him. Wouldn't it be more satisfying to personally slay the mastermind behind it all?"

Du Wei lowered his head, his expression indiscernible.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly looked up. "Do you think I'm an idiot? Swapping a controllable one for a troublesome one? Don't think I don't know that people like you carry countless storage rings, just like this one..."

Seeing him raise his hand, Luo Le immediately stomped on his shoe. Taking advantage of his momentary pain, she snatched the ring off his finger and started walking away.

Fuming, Du Wei exclaimed, "You..."

He was about to give chase when Huo Lanjing suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his path.

Du Wei angrily stomped the ground and roared, "Get out of my way."

Luo Le took several steps forward when she suddenly heard the sounds of a struggle behind her.

Before she could turn back, a sharp pain pierced her chest.

It was as if countless needles were piercing in from all directions.

He found it hard to breathe.

Clutching his chest, he turned his head to see Du Wei already under Huo Lanjing's feet.

Luo Le's lips were devoid of any color. He opened his mouth, attempting to speak, but his mind was a blank canvas.

Noticing Luo Le's unusual state, Huo Lanjing, who had been keeping an eye on him, rushed over, fearing that the young man might collapse at any moment.

Du Wei, lying on the ground, caught a glimpse of the scene and suddenly burst into laughter, covering his eyes.

But when a human hand touched his scaly face, his laughter ceased abruptly, replaced by tears streaming down his cheeks.

Huo Lanjing had no time to spare for the person behind him. Despite the mere dozen meters, every step felt like an insurmountable obstacle.

Just as they were only four meters apart, a pitch-black hole materialized out of thin air behind Luo Le.

Huo Lanjing's heart plummeted. With urgency in his voice, he yelled while hastening his pace, "Luo Le, behind you! Run, Luo Le, run!"

With great effort, Luo Le managed to steady his descending body, but his feet refused to move.

Seeing Luo Le standing motionless, Huo Lanjing's heart leaped to his throat. "Luo Le, what are you doing? Quick..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the pitch-black hole swallowed Luo Le entirely.

"No!"

Luo Le vanished completely from his sight.

Huo Lanjing felt as if his heart were about to burst, his mind a blank canvas, time seemingly frozen.

Looking down at his hand that had just grazed Luo Le's fingers, a sense of emptiness engulfed him, threatening to consume him entirely.

Something suddenly landed on his face, and he instinctively reached up to touch it. Turning his hand over, he saw a tear.

Since the passing of his parents and grandfather, he had not shed a single tear.

Not even when his leg was brutally crushed, his abdomen torn apart by beasts, or any other such ordeal - he had never cried.

Huo Lanjing knelt on the ground, head bowed, resembling a battle machine devoid of energy.

Tears dripped onto the soil one by one.

After a moment, he struggled to his feet, swaying unsteadily.

With a determined gaze, he pushed forward, stepping resolutely.

"--General, what are you doing?"

It was Captain Lin, who had rushed over, grabbing hold of Huo Lanjing's shoulders and pulling him back.

Huo Lanjing's mind was set on entering, charging ahead like a marionette controlled by invisible strings.

This was where Luo Le had left. He needed to hurry and catch up.

If he was too late, he would lose her forever.

Yet, the hands gripping him were steadfast, unable to be shaken off.

Huo Lanjing's icy gaze narrowed. "Let go."

His tone was as cold as winter frost.

Captain Lin, undaunted by the intimidating aura, retorted, "General, are you the one who's insane, or am I? Have you forgotten that you and your wife have a child? Do you want him to grow up without any family? He's not even two years old, General."

Hearing this, Huo Lanjing paused in his stride.

He stared blankly into the dark abyss, lost in thought.

After a moment, he shifted. Believing that Huo Lanjing was about to advance again, Captain Lin tugged hard.

But instead, Huo Lanjing said, "Let go."

Shaking his head, Captain Lin held on tightly.

In the next instant, he was fiercely kicked aside. Clutching his bruised knee, he looked at Huo Lanjing with a hurt expression, only to see that the general was heading towards where Du Wei lay on the ground.

Relieved, Captain Lin got up and followed.

Du Wei remained in his initial position, showing no intention of fleeing.

Huo Lanjing approached and, bending down, grabbed his collar before delivering a fierce punch.

Du Wei's face twisted from the blow, a trail of blood slipping from the corner of his mouth.

Yet, he was still laughing, a touch of madness in his voice. "Hahaha! Admiral Huo shows such an expression too? Yes, just like this. How does it feel to lose?"

Huo Lanjing's eyes reddened with fury, and for Du Wei, this was the most satisfying sight.

Let the flames of anger burn brighter.

Huo Lanjing was a tyrant with boundless power, why should someone like him be loved?

Why should anyone find him appealing?

Du Wei's grin was like a sharp knife, piercing deeply into Huo Lanjing's heart.

With sudden force, Huo Lanjing snatched a gun from the strap tied around Lieutenant Lin's calf.

Then he pressed the barrel against Du Wei's forehead.

Military regulations stipulated that prisoners of war could not be killed prior to interrogation.

Lieutenant Lin rushed to intervene. "General, you can't kill him."

Huo Lanjing slowly stood up.

Lieutenant Lin thought he had regained his composure, only to witness him, without a word, shoot a bullet into Du Wei's abdomen the next second.

Du Wei grunted in pain.

Huo Lanjing spoke, "Tell me, where does that... lead?"

This wasn't actually a black hole but something similar.

It would only suck in objects within a meter's range, yet its suction force was immense.

He had stumbled upon it by chance and had no idea how long it had existed. It seemed as if the cliff below had been swallowed by it.

Presumably, once this planet is entirely devoured, the black hole will become an authentic one.

Huo Lanjing was at his breaking point. The image of Luo Le's disappearance was seared into his mind, and Du Wei's presence served as a constant reminder that he was the reason for Luo Le's downfall.

If only he hadn't let Huo Fei intervene, Luo Le would still be alive, untouched by the gunshot...

Huo Lanjing stomped on Du Wei's chest, sending him crashing to the ground with a loud thud. Then, he crouched down, pressing the gun against Du Wei's forehead.

Du Wei was fearless; after all, he had no loved ones left in this world anyway.

Now that Luo Le was gone, and Huo Lanjing had turned so vengeful, there was nothing left for him but revenge, and death held no more terror.

Just as Huo Lanjing was about to speak, Du Wei suddenly snatched the gun from him. A shot rang out, and a laser bullet pierced through his skull.

Huo Lanjing's eyes flickered slightly as he watched Du Wei fall, then he turned and walked away.

Lieutenant Lin followed closely behind.

When they returned to their starting point, Huo Lanjing turned back for a glance, clenching his fists slightly before leaving.

Their men had already subdued the interstellar pirates and were awaiting Huo Lanjing's orders.

Upon arriving, he simply instructed to take them back and got into the vehicle.

As soon as the car door opened, Chen Chen was seen sleeping soundly. Wind City gently patted his shoulder to soothe him.

The moment Wind City saw Huo Lanjing, he tilted his head to look behind him and whispered, "Where's Brother Le?"

Huo Lanjing bent down to pick up the deeply asleep Chen Chen. However, in the next instant, his hand was grasped by Wind City. "Where's my Brother Le? Where are you taking Chen Chen?"

Huo Lanjing still didn't respond and swiftly wrapped Chen Chen up.

Wind City erupted in anger. "WHERE'S MY BROTHER LE!"

His voice was so loud that it startled Chen Chen awake. Rubbing his eyes, he mumbled sleepily, "Papa, what's going on?"

If only Wind City could turn back time and seal his own mouth. He forced a smile. "It's alright, you can keep sleeping."

Just as he was about to go over and carry Chen Chen, Huo Lanjing pulled a lever, whizzing away in the next second.

"Where are you taking him?"

The sudden gust of wind roused Chen Chen from his sleep. He lifted his head. "Uncle, where are we going?"

Huo Lanjing didn't even spare him a glance. "Hold on tight."

In the next moment, he accelerated abruptly.

Moments later, Huo Lanjing brought Chen Chen back to the precipice they were at previously.

Chen Chen pointed at the person lying not far away. "Uncle, who's that person?"

Huo Lanjing stared resolutely ahead. "It doesn't matter."

He then walked five meters in front of the dark hole before putting Chen Chen down.

"What is this?"

Huo Lanjing, gazing at Chen Chen's innocent face, held his hand a little tighter. "It's nothing. Let's go."

Chen Chen suddenly spoke up, "Uncle, where's my father?"

Huo Lanjing paused, the words on the tip of his tongue swallowed back. "He... He's hurt and has been taken away by the doctors."

Chen Chen had the right to know the truth, but he shouldn't bear such pain.

After that, Huo Lanjing asked Captain Lin to take the man away and settled down with Chen Chen.

Wind City, witnessing Huo Lanjing's actions, understood what was happening.

He had attempted to snatch Chen Chen away, but failed.

So, he also decided to stay.

Huo Lanjing cleaned up the villa and moved in, taking Chen Chen to visit the cliff every day.

He would also teach Chen Chen some wilderness survival skills.

Chapter 114: Reality: Past Incidents

Chi Zihe didn't mean that.

He was simply very afraid that Ming Yiyang would be overcome with emotion and rush to confront Yan Qiling, resulting in a physical altercation and ultimately sacrificing his own life.

It wasn't that he was a coward, but the fact was, an Unbounded Master who had returned from the Underworld possessed terrifying power – power so immense that it could warp reality itself!

One must know that the Realm of the Living had a tremendous ability to strip away everything, especially for beings that didn't belong there. Its draining effect was even more potent against such entities.

Although Yan Qiling claimed to have a foothold in the human world, every moment he spent here, his soul was being drained by the Realm of the Living. This drain was potent enough to instantly obliterate wayward spirits, yet Yan Qiling appeared completely unaffected.

This already spoke volumes.

The power that Yan Qiling wielded was far beyond what an ordinary person could contend with... Even if their master were to reemerge, facing this man head-on would likely be a risky endeavor.

Not to mention, Unbounded Masters were ruthless characters without any regard for compassion.

If he could take Ming Yiyang's eyes, he could just as easily take Ming Yiyang's life!

At this point, Chi Zihe had no choice but to quickly call She Lingshuang and ask her to come over and deal with the mess.

This time, he didn't make the call in the hospital room for fear of agitating Ming Yiyang.

When She Lingshuang picked up the phone, she was unaware of what had happened and asked,

"How is Xiao Ming doing? Is he alright? Should I come over in a few days to cook some nourishing soup for him? You can have some too."

"Why am I just a side note?"

Chi Zihe felt a bit down, but this wasn't the time for jokes. He quickly brushed aside the playful tone and got straight to the point:

"Uncle Yan has plucked out Xiao Ming's eyes!"

"…What?"

She Lingshuang's voice was filled with confusion and disbelief. It seemed she had never anticipated such a situation. She immediately said,

"It's too late today. Once I've settled the children and Grandmother, I'll buy a ticket for Guang City tomorrow. Make sure you get a clear understanding from Xiao Ming about everything that happened—don't leave anything vague!"

"Alright, alright, hurry up then... Oh, this atmosphere is too gloomy, I can't handle it."

"I understand."

With a grim expression, Chi Zihe took a deep breath at the hospital room door after hanging up the call.

He wasn't an overly empathetic man, but Ming Yiyang was his best friend.

He had watched this kid grow up, almost like a father to him. Later, when Ming Yiyang started working in his company, the roles reversed, and Chi Zihe became a sort of father figure to him.

In their unique father-son dynamic, he had long considered Ming Yiyang as family.

Despite his tumultuous upbringing, the kid had always been arrogant and never shown signs of despair. He always maintained an indomitable spirit, no matter how challenging the situation.

But now, he was in a gloomy and reticent state.

Though the Yin-Yang Eyes had vanished, the impending return to the Netherworld would double the risks. These were realities that couldn't be overlooked.

Chi Zihe truly didn't know how to comfort the other party.

To be honest, he was somewhat angry inside.

Despite his persistent persuasion earlier, his words had fallen on deaf ears.

But at this crucial moment, he wouldn't blame the other party for not listening to him.

Losing one's sight was already a great tragedy in life; adding more salt to the wound would be inhumane, something he couldn't bring himself to do.

Exhaling the pent-up frustration in his chest, Chi Zihe strengthened his emotional defenses and declined the chaotic social engagements outside. He then gathered his spirits and entered the ward.

Ming Yiyang had already finished his meal, with the food box and spoon tidily placed on the metal cabinet beside him.

"You've finished eating, right? Did you enjoy it? Should I have someone prepare something else for you?"

Chi Zihe thought he could smoothly carry out the conversation.

However, when he actually pulled up a chair and sat down, he found his words dry and stiff.

Just like during his graduate thesis defense, when he faced the criticism of his Taoist scripture and temple management professors in the preliminary defense, he felt awkwardly tongue-tied even while sipping water.

Ming Yiyang didn't say anything, only leaning against the headboard.

This silence was more unsettling than a disheartened response.

Chi Zihe coughed softly, finally thinking of something uplifting to say:

"That, well, Mr. Si has already paid the final installment – six hundred thousand yuan. It's all in your account now. You can verify it later when your eyes recover... Yeah, just rest assured and take care of yourself for this period. Don't overthink things. There are still plenty of tasks you can handle at the company."

Ming Yiyang remained silent.

Chi Zihe couldn't help but quicken his pace with his words:

"Even if the Wujian World insists on pulling you in later, we still have options regarding your Yin-Yang Eyes. We can ask Master to come out of seclusion and perform a ritual to help you regain your sight."

"If that method doesn't work, there are other avenues. You don't need to worry about those messy issues. No matter what, you've got Senior Brother and Sister-in-Law. We'll find a way to deal with it all. Don't be concerned."

"…Thank you."

Relieved that Chi Zihe had finally spoken, he sighed in relief.

However, before he could continue, the other person suddenly asked,

"Senior Apprentice Brother, I recall that the first time you met Yan Qiling was at She Family's Ancestral Hall, right?"

Chi Zihe's heart skipped a beat as he replied,

"Hmm, yes, that's correct."

Ming Yiyang turned his head, his eyes unfocused,

"What was he like back then?"

Chi Zihe was initially taken aback, then fell into a deep, furrow-browed silence.

He recalled the time when She Lingshuang had just become pregnant.

That man, with his usually smiling almond-shaped eyes lowered, had a subtle hint of indescribable regret in his brows.

In his early years, he had been wayward, having grown up alongside She Lingshuang. Everyone believed they should marry, and even he had thought so too.

But when something is predetermined too soon, it feels like a shackle around one's neck.

He had imagined getting married only after he had lived life to his heart's content. However, She Lingshuang suddenly called one day, informing him that she was pregnant.

His joy at becoming a father didn't last more than a second before he was consumed by the terror of being trapped in life's prison. Instead of rushing back, he claimed he was busy with work and wouldn't be able to return anytime soon.

Lingshuang's tone had been filled with disappointment, and he knew it, but he refused to go back. It felt as if doing so would lead him straight into an enforced marital hell.

Later on, he regretted his decision countless times, and even now, the memory still filled him with remorse.

Back then, Lingshuang would argue with him over his business trips, trying every means to get him home.

While at a drinking gathering, he received a call from She Lingshuang. Over the phone, she cried, begging him to return, telling him that the situation in the village was dire. She had been possessed by negative energy, and her recent hospital checkup did not yield favorable results. The fetal heartbeat was weak, indicating a potential miscarriage.

He dismissed it as another one of She Lingshuang's tricks and hung up, pretending there was bad reception.

It wasn't until the middle of the night when Wang Bafang called repeatedly, reiterating the situation, that he reached for their matching bracelets and found them scorching hot. Only then did he realize that She Lingshuang hadn't been lying. In a hurry, he finally made his way back to Mount Sanqing.

He entered the city hospital, and She Lingshuang was filled with an eerie aura. Not only her, but Wang Bafang had also been tainted by it.

Only now did he learn that half a month ago, She Village had suddenly been shrouded by an unknown ghostly energy, thriving despite the purifying yang force of the Taoist Master's Mansion. Several senior disciples had entered the village to investigate, but they had all vanished without a trace, leaving no clues behind.

She Lingshuang had always lived in seclusion on the mountain. The previous night, when Wang Bafang went to the village to assess the situation, he happened to encounter her running out of her house for help. Thus, he rushed her to the hospital overnight and frantically contacted him.

The woman lying in bed had a pale, translucent complexion. Instead of the expected ecstatic reaction to his arrival, she displayed a serene detachment as if she had seen through the world.

Disregarding his concern, the woman remained unnervingly calm, not at all like a patient:

"The village is peculiar. Others can't sense it, but you're different. Chi Zihe, you're familiar with the village layout. Last night, I sensed a force guiding me towards the ancestral hall. If my guess is correct, it might have been taken over by some malevolent entity. The ghostly aura is drawing sustenance from the yin earth, allowing it to envelop the entire village."

"Grandma isn't on the mountain right now, and the ancestral hall has been abandoned for years, so it'll be difficult to locate. I'll give you Man Du; it will lead you there."

She Lingshuang's aloofness stirred an unprecedented anxiety within Chi Zihe. The matter in She Village could wait; he was more concerned about his own family's affairs. Holding her icy hand, he asked,

"Are you in pain right now? I'll go get you something to eat. What would you like?"

She Lingshuang allowed him to hold her hand without responding to his question.

"These tasks can be handled by me alone. The fate of my senior brothers is uncertain; finding them takes precedence."

He sensed that She Lingshuang was in a foul mood, but she had already withdrawn her hand, leaving only a chill in his palm.

"Go ahead," she said.

Unbeknownst to him, this instance of She Lingshuang's coldness was distinct from any previous encounter.

Alongside Wang Bafang, they found the bamboo raft washed up on the water's edge. Even before reaching She's village, they could sense an eerie stillness bearing down upon them.

The water surface was calm, without a ripple, like a mirror reflecting silence.

At the entrance to the village, the items used for the ritual remained, yet not a soul could be seen. This unsettling atmosphere weighed heavily on both Wang Bafang and Chi Zihe.

Nonetheless, with no other choice, they steeled their nerves and ventured deeper into the village.

Chi Zihe affixed the Spirit Seeking Talisman to his body, and upon reopening his eyes, he discovered that an eerie pink miasma had silently enveloped the village.

This pink miasma exuded an extremely dense spiritual energy, but it was far from being something benign. Instead, it carried an aura of ghostly Yin spirits.

Wang Bafang immediately sensed that things were amiss:

"This aura is so thick... What kind of formidable entity could it be? Shouldn't we contact our Senior Uncle first to inquire about where Master is wandering now? We don't want to end up delivering ourselves as prey."

Chi Zihe pulled out two Purple Gold Talismans from his bosom and slapped them into Wang Bafang's arms:

"Even if Master comes, it'll take quite some time. What if they're overseas attending an exchange conference? Asking would be pointless then. Besides, look at how fast this miasma is spreading. If we leave it unchecked, it'll likely reach beyond the village by tomorrow. We can wait for Master, but this miasma won't wait for us."

Upon seeing the Purple Gold Talismans, Wang Bafang exclaimed in awe:

"Holy cow, these are amazing! Even a Heaven Rank ghost wouldn't stand a chance against these! Alright, let's brothers investigate together!"

Chi Zihe, unimpressed with Wang Bafang's excitement, placed the full-bodied Mandy on the ground, instructing it to locate the source of the miasma.

As they followed Mandy, the miasma around them grew increasingly thicker.

First, it was pink, then transformed into a rosy hue, like a camellia red, and finally, they seemed to be trapped in an infernal hell of crimson, so dense that it was almost impenetrable. This expanding red tide brushed past them, carrying with it a massive amount of Yin energy!

Wang Bafang was the first to reach his limit. He flipped out an exorcism charm and slapped it, causing half of it to instantly turn to dust.

Fortunately, one of his senior brother's specialties was the prolongation of talismans, barely managing to protect both of them from the Yin energy that sought to exploit their vulnerability.

As they continued, however, Man Du, being an inanimate object, found it increasingly difficult to move due to the ingress of Yin energy. Eventually, it shattered entirely.

Chi Zihe picked up Man Du's core, and the overwhelming Yin energy had surpassed their ability to perceive its intensity!

Trapped amidst the dense fog, the two could only sense an overwhelming Yin energy wherever they went! There was no way to discern their original path.

In this dire situation, they had no escape route.

Fortunately, Chi Zihe took off his earring and, crouching on the spot, performed a divination.

Muttering to himself,

They were just a few steps away from the shrine, but even if they reached it, no miracle would occur. The problem of the miasma would persist. However... there might be a turning point, but it could also lead to their demise instead.

The divination frightened Wang Bafang, and he was somewhat tempted to leave.

But as Chi Zihe gazed at the turning point, the image of She Lingshuang's pale face flashed before his eyes, along with the thought of the child they had struggled to protect. Finally, he brushed off the dust from his robe and declared, "I'll check out that turning."

Wang Bafang couldn't let him venture forward alone.

With a determined grit of his teeth, he decided to follow, ready to risk their lives together.

Soon, they entered an area overgrown with weeds and thorns.

They were already quite close to the village shrine.

However, the problem was that the She family's shrine had been neglected for decades. The original bluestone paving on the ground was in ruins, and merely avoiding the pits required great effort.

Still, Chi Zihe could sense that what they were searching for lay ahead.

They pushed through the thicket and stepped cautiously on the creaking, shattered stones and tiles.

The crimson mist abruptly transformed into a dense, bottomless black fog at some invisible boundary.

They collided with each other, creating a vortex where the two colors intertwined, resembling a perilous natural phenomenon.

Should any mortal dare to challenge it, they would never return, meeting a gruesome end.

Chi Zihe didn't allow Wang Bafang to enter and ventured alone into the swirling maelstrom of red and black.

In the absolute darkness, he could no longer hear any sounds of the wind.

Within this artificial night, amidst the boundless midnight, a glimmer of snowy white jade-like radiance suddenly caught his eye.

He made his way closer.

And then, he saw a snow-white skull perched atop the stone lion statue in the temple courtyard.

Chapter 69: I'll Learn From You!

Was it a coincidence? Or...

Now, there was no way he could casually look at his Master's chest. He could only rely on memory to recall the injury - a faint crescent moon shape, which was undoubtedly just a slash from a blade, unlike Chu Xun, whose chest had a hideous hole left by five fingers digging in.

They were still different, after all.

With this thought, Mo Ran felt a slight relief. Although Chu Xun and Chu Wanning were vastly different in personality, they shared too many similarities – from their appearance, to their philosophy of "putting others before oneself," to that scar on their chests. The coincidences piled up, making it hard not to suspect something.

But for some reason, perhaps because Chu Xun was too gentle, completely unlike Chu Wanning's tyrannical nature, or maybe because Chu Xun was a family man with a wife and child, Mo Ran felt he would be unable to bear it, would break down, if Chu Xun were Chu Wanning reincarnated, or even if Chu Xun was Chu Wanning himself.

Fortunately, that wasn't the case.

The calamity that would befall Linan City without Chu Xun's protection was self-evident.

Of course, the Ghost King didn't keep his promise. As night fell, a blood rain swept through, staining the world crimson and filling the air with a stench of death. The city's moat ran red with blood, while the mindless screams of the living echoed throughout the night.

Zombies roamed the streets, feasting on fresh blood sausages and devouring brains.

Mo Ran led Chu Wanning to seek shelter in a dilapidated cottage, whose owner had long passed away, and its furniture was covered in a thick layer of dust.

Mo Ran firmly shut the door, sealing all entrances except for a small kitchen window through which they could monitor the outside situation.

Sharp screams and ominous devouring sounds periodically echoed from beyond.

Mo Ran placed Chu Wanning on a pile of firewood in the corner and stroked his head. "As Miss Eighteen said, if we defeat the Ghost King, we can leave. So, stay here obediently and don't move around."

Upon hearing this, Chu Wanning lifted his head abruptly. "You're going out?"

"I'll leave only after the Ghost King appears, not now."

"But it's very dangerous outside. The Void Realm has materialized; how can you resist alone?"

"I can't take a child along to fight, either."

Chu Wanning shook his head. "I'll go with you."

"Hahaha, little Junior Brother, you're so adorable, but you're still young. You'd only slow me down. When you're older, I won't stop you from stepping up in situations like these, but for now, listen to your Senior Brother."

"I won't hold you back."

"Those who drag others down usually say that," Mo Ran replied. "Promise me you'll behave and not cause trouble, alright?"

"..."

Seeing Chu Wanning finally fall silent, Mo Ran breathed a small sigh of relief. He gazed through the wooden window's lattice, his expression gradually turning solemn.

Why had the illusory realm, initially meant for trials, suddenly become tangible? His junior apprentice brother was right; someone was trying to harm him. There were countless people in his previous life who wanted him dead, but in this lifetime, he hadn't offended any formidable characters. Thinking it over, the only one who might want his life was the fake Gouchen he had encountered at Jincheng Lake.

But who was that fake Gouchen's true identity? To be able to skillfully manipulate the Jincheng Chess Game to such an extent, why hadn't they shown their abilities in his previous life?

Could it be that there was more than one person who had been reborn in this world...

This thought sent shivers down his spine, even causing a fierce glint to flash in his eyes.

After being reborn, all he had wanted was to bury his past. If there was a second reincarnated individual, things would become much more complicated.

His brows knitted tighter, but then he heard Chu Wanning say, "...Mo Ran, I..."

"What's the matter?"

Chu Wanning gritted his teeth secretly, weighed the pros and cons, and decided to reveal the truth to him.

"Listen to me, actually I can help you. I am..."

But when Mo Ran heard "I can help you," he assumed that his junior disciple was trying to resist again, so he interrupted, "Alright, alright, I said you can't go out, and you won't. Stop pretending to be tough, just listen."

"No, let me explain..."

Mo Ran, in a foul mood, replied, "Not listening, not listening, like a turtle reading scriptures."

"..."

Seeing the displeased look on Chu Wanning's face, Mo Ran realized he might have been too harsh, so he poked the space between Chu Wanning's eyebrows and chuckled. "You're so young, why do you carry such bitterness and refuse to listen to elders? Well, let me tell you, since you call me Senior Apprentice Brother, we're from the same master. When we encounter danger like this, it's my duty to protect you. Do you understand?"

Chu Wanning closed his eyes slightly and whispered, "...I understand."

"Good, then you—"

"But I'm worried about you."

Mo Ran was taken aback. The tip of his finger, hovering just above Chu Wanning's forehead, trembled slightly, leaving him momentarily speechless. Having lived two lives, he had never heard anyone express concern for him with those exact words. Even Shi Mo, who treated him tenderly, had never been so straightforward in showing his care.

He gazed blankly at the small child before him, a jumble of emotions swirling within him.

After a long while, his gaze softened. He gently brushed his fingertip across Chu Wanning's, then caressed the top of his soft hair.

"Don't worry. Senior Apprentice Brother promises to come back lively and kicking."

"Mo Ran, can you let me finish what I have to say first…?"

Mo Ran smiled warmly. "Alright, what do you want to say?"

"I actually am—"

"Bang!" The door burst open.

A wild-haired man, screaming, rushed in, covered in blood. One of his thighs was mangled and torn apart, while a horde of zombies followed, drawn by the scent of blood.

A man stumbled into the room on a broken leg, rolling and grabbing anything within reach to throw at the snarling zombies. "Get away! Don't come here! Go away! Stay back!"

Mo Ran cursed inwardly, shielding Chu Wanning behind him. A red glow appeared in his hand as he summoned Ghost-Defying Blade to protect them, turning his face slightly aside and saying,

"Younger Martial Brother, hide well and don't come over!"

With that, he rushed forward with the vine, engaging the undead horde invading the house. Although Ghost-Defying Blade resembled Heaven's Inquiry, Chu Wanning hadn't fully taught Mo Ran his techniques, and Mo Ran's weapon of choice in his previous life had been a blade, not a flexible one like this. Thus, while he initially held his own, he gradually began to struggle.

In the midst of his chaotic dance with the weapon, he suddenly heard a child's voice behind him, clear and cold. "Three strikes to the left wrist, then jump up and swing it around your back."

Without time to think, Mo Ran followed the instructions, striking the vine against a zombie on his left. With just one blow, the zombie's arm was shattered, exposing its bones. Normally, no one would bother attacking it twice more. But since Younger Martial Brother had given the order, Mo Ran decided to try it out. He struck the zombie twice more, then leaped into the air, relaxing his waist and flipping to swing the vine backward—

Whoosh!

At that precise moment, just as another wave of zombies approached, Ghost-Defying Blade, imbued with threefold power, burst into a blazing inferno. It charged towards the undead, slicing through their ranks with explosive force. The zombies were decapitated, their heads tumbling to the ground in a cloud of black smoke.

Mo Ran was stunned, glancing at his younger martial brother, seated calmly amidst the stack of firewood, with a hint of surprise.

This guy... impressive?

"How do we proceed?" Mo Ran grew excited, his spirits lifted.

Chu Wanning's face remained expressionless. "Next... take your left hand and pat your right sleeve."

"Oh, oh, this move is profound and mysterious. What kind of technique is it?"

Chu Wanning replied coolly, "There's nothing profound about it. You were just too eager with your swing, and your sleeve accidentally caught fire from your weapon."

Mo Ran let out an "ah" and looked down, realizing it was true. He hurriedly smothered the flames that had ignited on his sleeve. Yet, this person had an incredibly thick skin; he didn't seem embarrassed at all. Instead, he looked up with a grin and said to the other, "My junior disciple is truly impressive. I like him."

Chu Wanning coughed softly and turned away, facing the barren wall. His ears had a slight flush to them.

At this point, only six moving zombies remained in the room. Chu Wanning didn't want to look at Mo Ran anymore, so he kept his head turned and instructed the wall, "Relax your wrist, swing the vine towards the ceiling, and rotate it six times to build up power. Then execute the One-Stroke Slash."

Mo Ran followed the instructions, but as he swung for the fifth time, he suddenly remembered, "How do you perform the One-Stroke Slash?"

"... Swing it just as you would with a sword in normal circumstances."

"Oh, I see!" Mo Ran exclaimed, enlightened. With one swift strike, flames blazed, and the supple vine seemed to instantly transform into an unbreakable blade. It slashed through the six zombies in a single stroke!

"Woah-"

This time, Mo Ran's eyes widened to the size of saucers.

"Where did you learn this? Why do I feel like your proficiency with the vine whip is as skillful as my master's? No, wait, maybe you're even better. You taught me things he never bothered to share."

"..."

A grin spread across Mo Ran's face. "Great, great, fantastic! I won't have to worry about my master's disapproving looks anymore. Learning from you would be so much more enjoyable, wouldn't it?"

Chu Wanning shot him a glare. "You don't like Elder Yu Heng's expressions? How about mine then?"

Mo Ran put away the vine whip and blocked the door again, dragging a table to block the entrance. He chuckled. "Your expressions are for my own good. We've been through adversity together, and I appreciate your care, Senior Brother. Even if you give me the cold shoulder or hit me when you're upset, I won't hold it against you."

Chu Wanning's face darkened. "Who wants to be your younger brother?"

With that, he jumped down from the stack of firewood, ignoring Mo Ran, and went to inspect the injured man who had intruded.

To his surprise, Chu Wanning's eyes widened slightly. "...Why is it him?"

"Who is it?"

Mo Ran leaned over for a closer look and was equally stunned. "That... That Xiaoman?"

It was indeed Xiaoman, lying in a pool of blood, groaning and sobbing intermittently. He had sustained severe injuries. After Chu Wanning examined him, he shook his head. "Humans and ghosts can never coexist peacefully. The Ghost King must have used him and then abandoned him. This person truly is..."

Mo Ran said, "He deserves it."

Chu Wanning glanced at him. Mo Ran chuckled nervously, suddenly feeling a twinge of guilt. Shouldn't he, himself, be the one to suffer the consequences for his misdeeds?

Changing the subject, Mo Ran inquired, "Oh right, what did you want to tell me just now? What exactly are you?"

Chu Wanning lowered his eyelashes, paused, and whispered, "Actually, I am—"

Mid-sentence, a sudden gust of wind stirred behind him. Startled, Chu Wanning whirled around to counterattack. But with his child's body, his strength was far from that of an adult, and he found himself unable to break free—his throat was firmly gripped by the other party!

Xiaoman, not knowing when, struggled with all his might, relying on a single breath to crawl out of the pool of blood!

With a veined hand clamped fiercely around Chu Wanning's throat, the other hand restrained his arms behind his back. His disheveled face was consumed by an insane blaze of desperation, causing his entire being to contort in a grotesque manner, like a wax statue melting under scorching flames.

His eyes were bloodshot as he hissed at Mo Ran, "Take me... away from here..."

"Let him go!"

"Take me away from here!!" Xiaoman roared in fury, veins bulging in his temples, "Or I'll take his life! Leave!"

"You want me to save you, and I will, but why do you bear a grudge against a child? Let him go first—"

"If you say another word, I'll kill him right now!! I've already committed countless evils, what's one more? Will you or will you not leave?"

Chu Wanning was choked to the point of being unable to make a sound, his delicate face flushed bright red. Mo Ran panicked at the sight. Although he could easily end Xiaoman's life with a single strike, in this realm where illusions became reality, if Xiaoman were to truly fly into a rage, there was a chance that his junior disciple would be severely injured before Mo Ran could act.

Mo Ran said, "Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. Don't get agitated, just loosen your grip a bit. I'll…."

Before he could finish speaking, blood splattered everywhere!

Author has something to say: Mo Ran: My little junior disciple is so kind to me, clever and adorable *^o^* He's completely different from my master!

Chu Wanning: Huh. Blind.

Chapter 157: Four Battles

Wen Ying held his ground, justified in his actions, for he had not violated any rules.

For the third match, Scarlet from the Wyvern Clan stepped forward immediately. Wen Ying was taken aback. Was one of the favorites entering so early?

Scarlet flexed his hands, his gaze sharp. "I want to see if you can still conserve your energy against me."

His inner demons chimed in agreement. This was Scarlet they were talking about. They didn't believe that Wen Ying could defeat his opponent without much expenditure.

Wen Ying raised an eyebrow. "Do you still remember our previous promise?"

Scarlet's brows furrowed, a chilling thought lurking at the back of his mind.

Wen Ying grinned. "Back then, I won our bet, and you had to serve as my slave for a period of time. Isn't that timeframe still valid?"

The arena fell silent.

Scarlet: "...F*ck."

Wen Ying didn't say a word but pointed at the arena below. Scarlet's face alternated between pale and flush as he reluctantly jumped down.

Scarlet Crow, Wu Shaluo, gave a glance to the Second Class Fallen Angel, Huiguo, sitting beside him. Huiguo stood up and flew onto the arena, sneering coldly, "I owe you one from before. Today, I'll return the favor."

Huiguo spread his black wings, and electric arcs flickered across the metallic-black feathers. The sizzling sound of electricity filled the air, making the atmosphere tense.

The elderly demon referee, with an indifferent tone, announced, "Begin."

"Whoosh—"

A flurry of metallic black feathers shot at Wen Ying like a rain of arrows. After casting the first spell, while Wen Ying was still dealing with it, Huiguo started preparing his second spell.

A few black feathers detached from the flock and shot around Wen Ying. When they pierced into the ground, purple currents flowed out between them, connecting like threads and forming a square.

Silently and swiftly, Huiguo chanted a spell, then threw out another black feather that flew above Wen Ying's head.

The black feather hovering above Wen Ying seemed to connect with the surrounding square formation of feathers. Once connected, it formed a ground-bound magic prison. As the spell took shape, Huiguo continuously shot metallic black feathers to prevent Wen Ying from leaving the confines of the square.

Wen Ying's tail swished towards one of the feathers on the ground. A magic card flew out from his platinum-tipped white tail, transforming into four metal stakes that pierced through the feather from three corners and the center above.

With only a corner of the black feather remaining before him, Wen Ying wrapped his right hand in his magic, forcefully pulling it out.

Huiguo didn't expect this spell to succeed. He already had a backup plan. He distanced himself from Wen Ying, interlacing his hands. Bolts of lightning, formed from his magic, continuously shot out from his palms, striking down at Wen Ying.

Branches extended from the shadows cast by Wen Ying, precisely deflecting each bolt of lightning. From the spectator stands, the branches seemed to be dancing wildly with astonishing speed, not missing a single bolt of lightning.

Huiguo raised both hands, condensing a ball of lightning in his palms. Arcs of electricity flashing from his black wings converged above his head. The lightning ball, starting the size of a ping-pong ball, rapidly expanded to about one meter in diameter before being hurled towards Wen Ying with tremendous force.

(Extra content from the author)

The author has something to say:

Wen Ying remained grounded, not taking flight. Now, with the aggressive and dominant lightning magic above his head, he felt a strong resistance to ascending into the air.

Huiguo's strategy was to keep his distance from Wen Ying. As long as he maintained that distance, Wen Ying would have to use magic, inevitably depleting his magic power. Huiguo's lips curved into a cruel yet pleased smile as he watched Wen Ying below employing various spells to counter his own. With an arrogant gaze, he thought, 'He's just a Mirror Demon, albeit a bit special. There's no way he could turn the tables.'

This hateful Mirror Demon, in cahoots with Essence, forced him to agree not to touch any other demon for a year, slowing down his power progression. He remembered that debt well.

The smug High Demon was oblivious to the increasing number of silver-white branches covering almost the entire arena. As Huiguo flew mid-air, his feet were surrounded by those branches.

Indeed, some of the demons watching from the sidelines could see through it, but according to the rules of the ranking matches, they were not allowed to alert the competitors. Their hearts burned with anxiety.

Each effortless victory Wen Ying secured was a slap in the face to these high-ranking demons, causing a stinging pain. Those who had bet on Wen Ying only being able to win three consecutive matches were especially anxious.

Muershi taunted Wu Shaluo with a sneer, "Your cousin is going down this time."

--

Chapter 203: The Wedding Cup

However, Shen Lie was destined not to sleep that night. In truth, the same could be said for Sang Luo.

Both had long harbored feelings for each other. For two hearts that were mutually smitten, attraction, closeness, and touch were instinctive. As they were already husband and wife, even the slightest hint of emotion could stir up a tempestuous wave, how could they resist?

It was unclear how it started, perhaps when Shen Lie leaned towards her with his gaze too intense to bear, or maybe because Sang Luo's short twenty-eight years in her previous life had been mostly bitter, with the last part spent suffering from illness. At this moment, she wanted to indulge herself, so she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

From an attempt at learning, the scene transformed into Shen Lie's domain of plunder. The fire crackled as the wood burned, and the temperature beside it grew increasingly scorching. Sang Luo felt weak all over, her head spinning. It was her first time realizing that a kiss could be like this.

In the end, the wolf skin was indeed used solely by Sang Luo, wrapping her entirely, separating them to regain their composure and prevent any further transgressions.

After regaining their calm, Shen Lie embraced Sang Luo, along with the blanket, into his arms. When she tried to move away, he chuckled softly in her ear, "I'm delighted just holding you, truly."

...

It took four days to bring back the four live sheep, two big and two small, to the village. Everyone gathered curiously to have a look. Uncle Xu examined them and confirmed that one was already pregnant, while the other three were two males and one female, with one of the male and female sheep still being adolescents.

Shen Lie had sought out these live sheep with the intention of diversifying the family's diet. They decided to keep the pregnant one, while the male would be quietly taken into the valley at night to mate with the existing herd. The adolescent pair was gifted to Chen Dashan as a wedding present.

Shen An, Shen Ning, and Shen Jin had also been eagerly awaiting the goat's milk. They rallied a group of their friends to cut down trees for constructing the sheep pen.

It was impossible to leave all the work of building the sheep pen to a bunch of young apprentices. Shen Lie tied the goats to a tree, carried the two baskets back, and asked Sang Luo to freshen up and rest. Only then did he go out to help.

During those four days in the mountains, they had grown much closer, but only the two of them knew how deep this bond had become.

At night when it was time to sleep, as Sang Luo looked at Shen Lie, he chuckled and said, "Sure."

He had agreed, and they would continue to share a bed and a cot.

...

In the blink of an eye, it was November 27th. The Chen family's wooden house had been completed a few days earlier. As Chen Dashan was about to get married, Old Man Chen, Qin Fangniang, and Little Ya naturally had to come out. Even if they just stayed in the wooden house without going out, they still wanted to be present. Many families in the valley also took this opportunity to visit their relatives and, of course, prepare a gift for Chen Dashan.

On the morning of the 28th, accompanied by Madam Gan as the matchmaker, Chen Dashan picked up his bride, Xue Wenqing, with a few other boys. It seemed like a normal day, apart from not carrying baskets. It was no different from their usual hunting trips; they didn't attract any attention.

When they returned, besides bringing Zhou Ge's dowry, they also carried various gifts of dried meat and dates from neighbors near the Zhou family, along with a basket full of blessings.

Considering the special circumstances, there were no elaborate feasts or strict observance of etiquette. The wedding party arrived and left promptly after completing their tasks. Chen Dashan and Zhou Ge bowed to Zhou Lazi and his wife at her home, and then again to his own grandparents and parents here. This marked the completion of all necessary rituals.

Many children had gathered to witness the event, and each family in the valley had prepared gifts, whether grains or cloth, selecting their finest possessions to offer.

Sangluo and Shen Lie had already presented their gifts earlier, but on such an auspicious day as a wedding, Sangluo decided to give the Chen family an additional present.

She had brought it along when she visited Shen Yin and Shen Tie in the valley the previous night and now returned home to retrieve it, delivering it straight to the Chen family's cave.

Arriving late, the children who had come for the spectacle had already left. Only Zhou Ge was in the cave. As a newlywed, she was extremely nervous and dared not wander around carelessly. Fortunately, she was somewhat acquainted with Sangluo, and her tension visibly eased upon recognizing her visitor.

Sangluo found the situation amusing. She passed a small jar of wine to Zhou Ge and said, "This is my congratulatory gift. In the mountains, we don't have many formalities or rituals, but I thought that at least one cup of the wedding wine should be shared between you two tonight."

"Wine?"

Sangluo nodded. "Yes, red wine. It has a pleasant taste, I think you'll enjoy it."

Zhou Ge had never tasted wine before, only knowing that it was expensive. Recalling Sangluo's mention of the wedding cup, she had witnessed a few years ago when Zhou Cunzheng's family married off their daughter-in-law, so she understood the meaning behind it. Blushing, she expressed her gratitude.

Seeing Zhou Ge's bashful expression, Sangluo thought about how this girl was roughly the same age as her current body, still a month shy of seventeen. She wanted to offer some advice but found it difficult to articulate. The gap in understanding between ancient and modern times was vast. In this era, it was common for girls to marry at fifteen; being unmarried at seventeen would earn them the label of an old maid. If one waited until eighteen, people would suspect there must be something wrong with them for not finding a spouse...

In short, their perspectives were entirely different, and what Sangluo wanted to say might sound odd to Zhou Ge.

Yet, if one were to overlook this point, the valley could provide shelter for raising children safely. Assuming the child wasn't left wailing at the entrance, the elderly women within the valley, with their years of experience, ought to be capable of assisting in childbirth. However, the ages are indeed young - a girl might conceivably give birth as early as seventeen and a half, or perhaps as late as eighteen.

Even if we wait until she conceives at eighteen and gives birth at nineteen.

Newborns are the most delicate to care for, especially in this remote mountain area where access to medical help and medicine is scarce. Sangluo couldn't dare to ponder the possibilities.

Considering the Chen family had always treated her well, and given the relationship between Chen Dashan and Shen Lie, she decided to intervene once more. Strange as it might seem, she would take that chance.

She glanced around the cave entrance and, seeing no one else, whispered to Zhou Ge, "When you got married, what did your mother instruct you?"

Zhou Ge was taken aback, and her cheeks flushed red.

Of course, her mother had imparted some advice – the day before, she had quietly shared a few words with Zhou Ge when no one else was home. However… was this something that could be openly discussed?

Stuttering, Zhou Ge found it impossible to articulate her thoughts.

Seeing her struggle, Sang Luo understood. In ancient times, a bride would typically receive a talisman for protection from fire as part of her dowry. But that was for wealthy families; the Zhou family, being of modest means, wouldn't possess such an item. Instead, the knowledge would likely have been conveyed verbally, in vague phrases, to prepare the bride for married life, particularly for what to expect on the wedding night.

Sang Luo felt a bit awkward too, but she mustered the courage to whisper, "It's not that. I mean, did your mother advise you about avoiding pregnancy too soon after marriage?"

Zhou Ge was taken aback. Her mother had indeed mentioned this, mainly out of concern that the chaos might spread to the inner circle and endanger her pregnancy. However, after weighing the options, she believed that even if she were pregnant, Chen Dashan would be able to protect her. Compared to staying at home, marrying into the Chen family would be safer. So, she instructed Zhou Ge to persuade Chen Dashan to exercise some restraint after their marriage.

Her face flushed red, and she found it difficult to speak. But Sang Luo's reputation, both in Shili Village before and now in the mountains, was impeccable. There was no reason for her to ask such intimate questions without cause. Thus, Zhou Ge steeled herself and said, "Yes, tell him... tell him... not to be so... frequent."

Her last few words were barely audible.

Seeing Zhou Ge's embarrassment, Sang Luo couldn't help but smile. In truth, she felt somewhat uneasy too. Eventually, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and told herself to treat it as a biology lesson. She leaned close to Zhou Ge's ear and whispered a few words softly. After finishing, she added in a low voice, "This should help to prevent conception, though it's not foolproof, but it can work. Just don't say I taught you, it would be too embarrassing."

Heaven have mercy, Sang Luo herself had never gone beyond kissing. Yet, here she was, teaching Zhou Ge about contraception.

Zhou Ge, who was already blushing fiercely, burst out laughing when she heard Sang Luo's last remark. "Alright, thank you for teaching me. I'll just say my mother taught me."

Sang Luo chuckled upon hearing this, then turned serious. "I'm being sincere. It's not just about the chaos in the inner circle. It's unsafe for young women to bear children too early. Too many pregnancies can also harm the body. Besides, with limited medical resources in these deep mountains, raising children is challenging. Wait a couple of years until you're older or until the world outside improves before having children."

Sang Luo genuinely cared for Zhou Ge, and her words resonated. Zhou Ge had never heard that childbirth at a young age could be dangerous. She wasn't exactly young, as many girls became mothers before turning sixteen. Even if she were pregnant now, she would be nearly eighteen by the time the child was born.

However, Zhou Ge knew of Sang Luo's capabilities and took her advice seriously. The mention of the harm excessive childbirth could do to the body reminded her of her mother.

In the past, she thought her mother's illness was a result of giving birth to her younger sister. Now, she realized it might not only be due to that – the continuous births seemed to have weakened her mother's health gradually.

Zhou Ge nodded seriously this time. "I've taken note of everything. Thank you very much."

He almost called her sister-in-law again, but remembering that Chen Dashan was older than Shen Lie, he changed it to Ah Luo halfway through.

San Luo laughed. "Alright then, I won't keep you. I'll head back first."

Zhou Ge personally accompanied San Luo to the entrance of the cave and watched her walk away before returning to his own cave, closing the door behind him. He went to the wooden house to chat with Qin Fangniang and Chen Pozi.

...

That night, Chen Dashan celebrated his wedding night. Not only did he taste the red wine he had never heard of before, but when they were about to get intimate, Zhou Ge, blushing in embarrassment, buried his whole body into his chest, explaining how to avoid pregnancy. Well, the sweetness and ecstasy during that time were self-evident.

On the other hand, Shen Lie had no idea that San Luo knew such contraceptive methods. There was still a low couch by the bed, but since it was his best friend's wedding night, he wasn't completely ignorant. His thoughts wandered, and San Luo had sent a small jar of red wine to Zhou Ge as their wedding wine.

Just thinking about the term 'wedding wine' made his blood rush. Eventually, he insisted on tasting it too. The wine was so sweet and fragrant that his intentions shifted, and the couch almost remained unused.

Fortunately, he remembered his promise. With slightly reddened eyes, he stepped back and sat on the couch, pulling his blanket over himself. Reaching for a small cabinet by the bed, he took out the handwritten copy of 'The Analects of Confucius' that San Luo had given him, starting to read it, which made San Luo laugh until her shoulders trembled.

Shen Lie turned his head to look at her laughter. Setting down the book, he pulled her into his embrace. "Laughing at me?"

San Luo suppressed her laughter and shook her head. "No, Shen Lie, how about we make a deal? If you can read through this entire volume of 'The Analects,' you can put the couch away for one day."

The curve of Shen Lie's throat moved as he spoke. "Are you serious?"

San Luo chuckled again. "What are you thinking? I just meant the couch can be put away for one day."

Shen Lie smiled. "I'm not thinking anything. You're not allowed to go back on your word."

Resisting the urge to draw closer to her, he placed her back down and began reading earnestly, asking San Luo for help with any unfamiliar characters. Gradually, his focus shifted entirely onto the bamboo scrolls, easing the discomfort he had felt.

Lying in bed beside him, San Luo, unused to alcohol, eventually fell asleep.

When Shen Lie noticed, he gazed at her for a while, his lips curving into an unconscious smile. Carefully tucking the blanket around her, he resumed reading, jotting down any unknown characters in silence. He would ask either Wei Qinghe or Wang Yunzheng for help with them tomorrow.

Invitations from the Su family were being dispatched one after another.

Su Yu's mother was hosting an extravagant birthday celebration, which attracted prominent figures from all walks of life. Guests were expected to attend in formal attire, bearing gifts, and the event would span three full days. It was held on an artificial island near Star City, accessible solely via a sea-crossing bridge and a winding mountain highway.

The morning after Su Yu spent the night at Fu Luoyin's place, he was awakened by a phone call.

He first became aware of himself cradling a black-and-white plush slipper on the couch before realizing where he was: the room was empty, and Fu Luoyin was nowhere to be found.

As Su Yu stumbled to his feet while answering the call, his heart leaped with joy upon seeing three breakfast servings laid out on the dining table from a distance.

Among the three breakfast sets, one had been consumed, while the packaging of the other two remained intact. Su Yu approached and noticed Fu Luoyin's hasty scribble on the delivery slip: "I'm going to work."

"Damn, what a workaholic. He drank so much yesterday and still went to work?" Su Yu mused to himself.

He sat down to eat, attentively listening to the voice on the other end of the phone.

The caller was one of the directors from their family's affiliated hospitals, a young woman whom Yan Zi was grooming as her successor. She was updating Su Yu about the arrangements for the upcoming birthday banquet and the distribution of invitations.

As he listened, Su Yu unwrapped his hamburger and chicken wrap, enjoying his meal.

The voice across the line said, "So far, all the invitations have been sent out, and those who confirmed their attendance have been registered. However, we couldn't reach Mr. Lin Shuicheng. He didn't answer our calls, and there might be an error with the address we have for him. His records show that he's from the Quantum Analysis Department at the Alliance Star City University, but that department has closed down. The invitation was stuck in their school warehouse and was returned today."

Su Yu scratched his head. "Ah, yes, sis... I mean, Lin Shuicheng's department is indeed closed. He might be busy lately and couldn't pick up the phone."

As he broke apart his fried dough stick and soaked it in soy milk, he glanced at Fu Luoyin's note. "Just deliver it to Little Fu, President Fu's residence in the second ring of the city. You don't need to worry about it; I've arranged for someone to send it over."

After finishing two breakfast deliveries, Su Yu felt his mood instantly brighten—was there anyone else in the world as considerate and helpful as him?

No!

Su Yu searched around and found a clean piece of white paper. He wrote some bold letters on it: "Dear Brother Minus Two, please help me deliver this invitation to my sister-in-law. I'm very busy, so I'm entrusting this to you. Love always, Su Yu. Someone will deliver the invitation soon, remember to collect it."

After writing, he looked left and right, then stuck the paper on the front door, covering the area for entering passwords and fingerprints. This way, Fu Luoyin would definitely see it when he got home.

Fu Luoyin had meetings the entire morning.

He hadn't slept much the previous night and had also consumed alcohol, so he relied on a large cup of coffee to stay alert in the morning. Later, he didn't need the coffee anymore—his stomachache kept him fully awake, leaving no chance for dozing off.

Xiao Jue noticed Fu Luoyin's poor complexion and straightforwardly suggested, "Little Fu, go back and rest this afternoon. You've been working nonstop for long enough. You're still young, and your body can't take such strain. We've seen your efforts in amending the proposal these past few days. After the meeting concludes this morning, there won't be any urgent matters. Just clock out early."

Fu Luoyin didn't insist and left work early.

He knew he wasn't in good shape. While driving, he activated the autonomous system, tossed his phone aside after getting in the car, and immediately began to rest.

The vehicle drove smoothly, returning to the place he shared with Lin Shuicheng and eventually stopping in the garage. Sensing that he hadn't alighted, the car continued circulating air inside and outside, even playing a lullaby automatically.

In the garage, Fu Luoyin dozed off.

It wasn't a comfortable sleep for Fu Luoyin. He must have dozed for about half an hour, waking up with a sore back and neck, feeling groggy.

Pressing his aching temples, he sneezed upon waking up and had a faint sense of feverishness.

Taking a deep breath, he got out of the car, locked it, and entered the apartment building, heading home as usual.

For some reason, the moment he stepped into the elevator, Fu Luoyin felt a slight resistance. At that instant, he had an impulse: why not turn back to Seventh Bureau and just rest in the assigned room there? What was so bad about that?

Why did he have to come back here?

This home that no one cared for or awaited him.

The elevator door opened, and Fu Luoyin arrived in front of his familiar doorstep.

He immediately noticed a slip of paper attached to the door. At first, he thought it was a notice from the property management, but upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't. It was a message from Su Yu. There was also a hanging envelope, its contents unknown.

Fu Luoyin stood silently in front of the door, studying the note for a while before lowering his head to call Su Yu.

But Su Yu didn't answer.

After a moment of watching the unanswered call display, Fu Luoyin put down his phone, reached out to remove Su Yu's note, and then opened the envelope. Inside was an elegantly crafted invitation card enclosed in a thin, intricately carved wooden box with cutouts. The name on the card was Lin Shuicheng's.

He stood outside the door for a long time, studying the card intently, before finally pushing it open.

When Su Yu left Fu Luoyin's place in the afternoon, as usual, he invited Dong Shuoye along for lunch.

Dong Shuoye took him to a restaurant for hot and sour fish. The golden broth simmered with tender, boneless white fish meat, exuding a scorching aroma that kept Su Yu's head buried in his food.

"Dong Shuoye," he said between bites, "Xia Ran asked me to ask you something. What would be a good gift for Aunt Yan?"

Almost choking on his fish, Su Yu glared at Dong Shuoye, who merely looked back calmly. "Help me out, little fish. He received the invitation a few days ago and will represent his parents at Aunt Yan's birthday party. He's unsure what kind of gift would be appropriate."

Su Yu glared at him. "Why should I tell him?"

Dong Shuoye smiled warmly. "Just do me a favor. He asked me to inquire on his behalf, and it wouldn't look good if I didn't give an answer, considering he's staying at my place."

Su Yu had intended to keep glaring, but the enticing smell of pickled fish in front of him made him reconsider. He sighed and said, "…My mom doesn't lack anything. She enjoys experimenting with flower teas. Some nice tea leaves or teacups would probably make her happy. Now I know why you've been inviting me out for meals lately; indeed, there's no such thing as a free lunch."

Dong Shuoye retorted, "Did I 'rob' or 'seduce' you? You can eat anything, but don't misuse idioms, Su Xiaoyu."

Su Yu waved it off. "Forget it. I'm texting Minus Two now. Don't play word games with me here."

"What's wrong with Minus Two?" Dong Shuoye asked. "Oh, does he know that Xia Ran will be there?"

"I don't think so, but he might guess. I haven't told him about it yet." Su Yu sent a text, looking down at his phone. "He's busy now; he wouldn't have time to bother with his ex."

"So it's still Lin Shuicheng's doing?" Dong Shuoye inquired.

Su Yu blinked. "If it wouldn't result in my death from Minus Two's rage, I'd really want someone to film it for me. Our dear Minus Two has learned to send flowers to others."

He turned his phone screen around to show Dong Shuoye.

Fu Luoyin: "Why are you sending flowers?"

Fu Luoyin: "I have no idea what kind of flowers to buy."

Su Yu: "You should ask your brother-in-law what kind of flowers he likes. Besides, it wouldn't be proper for you to show up empty-handed when others are giving him flowers, right?"

Su Yu: "Roses then, just roses. They carry a good meaning and are safe choice."

Fu Luoyin: "I won't send him roses."

Su Yu: "Well, suit yourself, Second Brother Fu."

Fu Luoyin had never given flowers to anyone before.

He suffered from severe pollen allergies, except on the day of Chu Shihan's burial when he took antihistamines to place a bouquet of lilies at his grave.

He couldn't recall where he had put the antihistamines, as such seldom-used medications usually ended up in the trash.

He went to a pharmacy on the roadside to purchase some antihistamines, swallowing them down. The medication's effectiveness would last eight hours, precisely from now until midnight.

He texted Lin Shuicheng, "Kitten, I'm coming over to give you something and pick you up for home?"

Seeing no response from Lin Shuicheng, Fu Luoyin continued, "I'll wait for you until twelve, Lin Shuicheng. Shall I wait outside your house?"

Still, there was no reply.

Before arriving at Star University, Fu Luoyin went to a flower shop. With an expressionless face and a stern demeanor, he wandered around the store for a long time without revealing his purpose. Ordinary staff dared not approach him; they could only watch from a distance, awed by his tall, imposing figure that seemed to suggest a military background, exuding an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

Finally, the owner of the shop stepped in, braving Fu Luoyin's chilly presence, and asked, "Sir, are you here to buy flowers? We have various flower arrangements suitable for lovers, parents, patients, and teachers. May I know which one you need?"

Fu Luoyin's answer was slightly stiff, "For... my partner."

The shop manager understood and promptly retrieved a large bouquet of crimson roses from the back. "If you're unsure about their preferences, how about roses? You can't go wrong with roses! From the looks of it, sir, you must be newly dating, huh? Most men are like this when they buy flowers for their partners for the first time."

Fu Luoyin shook his head. "No, not roses. Not roses, but... something suitable for a partner."

The manager scratched his head and pondered, "Well... what about sunflowers? Sunflowers symbolize silent love. Sir, perhaps—"

Fu Luoyin's voice rose slightly, interrupting her urgently, "No, not sunflowers. Neither sunflowers nor roses."

Fu Luoyin glanced around and continued to ask stiffly, "Is there… a flower that signifies a wish for him to return soon after being given?"

The manager clapped his hands, beaming with joy. "Cherry blossoms! However, their petals are small. We have cherry blossom everlasting flowers in our store. Would you like to take a look?"

Fu Luoyin nodded.

The manager presented the finished everlasting flower to him.

In the exquisite gift box, the flower resembled more of a pink lavender than cherry blossoms, forming a fluffy, soft mass akin to a cotton candy strawberry cloud.

Fu Luoyin nodded again. "This one will do."

The manager pulled up the payment page, ready to show the QR code for scanning. However, Fu Luoyin casually plucked a red rose from a nearby rack. "Also… add this one as well. I won't give it to him; I'll keep it and nurture it myself."

The manager responded with a professional, polite smile. "Of course, the total comes to 472. Thank you for your patronage."

Exiting the flower shop, Fu Luoyin reached for the gift box and inspected the pink, cloud-like flowers inside.

He unwrapped the outer packaging of the rose, casually snapping off the excess stem and leaves, then struggled to fit it into the cherry blossom box. The vibrant red rose was instantly concealed by the pink cherry blossoms. Unless one looked closely, it would go unnoticed.

Fu Luoyin strolled gradually towards the place where Lin Shuicheng now resided. He glanced at his phone, but there was still no response to his text message from Lin Shuicheng.

The most practical solution was to have Rong Shu send Li'er out.

After all, the girl loved her morning naps the most.

Back when he rose early for his duties, she would always half-open her eyes to help him dress. Once he left, she wouldn't even bother with breakfast. She would simply lean back, hugging her crescent moon pillow, and fall asleep again.

Gu Changjin suddenly paused in his steps.

Back then?

Whose past was he referring to?

Seeing that he had stopped, Mama Zhang assumed Gu Changjin had something to instruct her. "Is there anything you need, Second Master?"

Gu Changjin regained his composure, pressing his lips together before responding, "Nothing, Mama. Go about your business."

Mama Zhang acknowledged his words hastily and left the corridor.

Inside, Rong Shu was combing her hair. Hearing the commotion outside, she told Yingyue, "You're no longer needed here for my hair. Check on Miss Xu in the eastern chamber to see if she's awake yet."

Rong Shu woke up early, or rather, she hadn't slept the entire night.

After rescuing Xu Li'er, her mind was in a state of extreme excitement, tossing and turning on the bed without any intention of dozing off.

Deciding to get up, she hesitated for fear of disturbing Yingyue in the neighboring room, thus not bothering to have a lamp lit.

When Yingyue left the chamber, Rong Shu rose from her rosewood chair and greeted Gu Changjin with a smile, "Did you see Mother Zhang just now? She's gone to the small kitchen for breakfast and will be back soon. It's still early, so please have some tea in the meantime."

This young lady's words were truly like a gentle spring breeze, spoken with a mild tone, at a leisurely pace, and always well-organized, capable of warming one's heart.

Yesterday, when she spoke to Xu Li'er, it was in precisely such a manner.

She seemed like an entirely different person from the girl who, in his dream, had blindly tugged at her undergarment.

But they weren't that different after all.

Perhaps it was the influence of those absurd dreams that made him lose his usual clarity and rigor when he saw Rong Shu, and this confusion was something he typically avoided at all costs.

Gu Changjin shifted his gaze slightly and softly acknowledged with an "mm," deliberately averting his eyes from her right shoulder.

For fear that the vividly seductive scenes he had struggled to recall might inadvertently resurface.

The room fell silent for a moment. Recalling his injury, Rong Shu asked politely, "Has your injury improved, Sir?"

Gu Changjin lifted his gaze and nodded, his voice calm and distant. "Just a minor wound."

Indeed, it was a small injury compared to the one he had sustained on Changan Avenue previously.

After her polite inquiry, Rong Shu did not prolong the conversation. When Mother Zhang returned, she said, "Sir, please have your meal first. I'll go and visit Miss Xu in the eastern annex."

With that, she hurried away, showing no intention of sharing the meal with Gu Changjin.

Xu Li'er had spent half the night chatting with Rong Shu the previous evening, allowing her a rare, peaceful sleep. With her spirits restored, much of the lingering sorrow and distress in her heart dissipated.

Upon seeing Rong Shu enter, Xu Li'er's face lit up as she greeted her warmly with "Madam Gu."

Time was short. Rong Shu could only spend about a quarter of an hour with Xu Li'er in the eastern annex before Yingyue came to remind them that the carriage was ready.

When Xu Li'er left Songsi Courtyard, she was exceptionally reluctant to part.

For she alone knows, her future lies elsewhere.

Miss Xu was meant to live with unassailable dignity all along. In this world, there are many young women who, like you, have stumbled through confusion and despaired at times. The better you thrive, the more strength you will impart unto them. I firmly believe that Miss Xu will inevitably become a beacon of hope for those very ladies.

Xu Li'er once believed that her existence was a disgrace.

But Madam Gu's words seemed to unlock a door for her, revealing the subtle understanding that the path available to a woman might be broader and longer than she had ever imagined.

Realizing this, her heart was struck fiercely by an invisible force.

In this world, women lead a more challenging life than men.

For those women who, like her, have lost their innocence and reputation, if they are fortunate enough to be born into wealthy families, they might spend the remainder of their days in seclusion, tending to the lanterns and ancient Buddha statues in the family temple.

But for those, like her, born into poverty with no close kin to rely on, their lives resemble winter's floating duckweed—bereft of vitality and utterly devoid of hope for the future.

Madam Gu said that if she could thrive, she could become a beacon of hope for those lonely and distressed women.

And so, she wishes to give it a try.

Before stepping into the carriage, Li'er bowed solemnly to Rong Shu and sincerely said, "Li'er thanks you, madam."

Rong Shu had been up all night and was beginning to feel weary. However, Li'er's respectful bow invigorated her once more.

After a moment of stunned silence, she smiled warmly and gracefully accepted Li'er's gesture. Then, she bowed in return, "I also thank Miss Xu."

How could she not be grateful?

Li'er's survival instilled in Rong Shu the belief that she too could survive for another three years and even accomplish more.

The sky had already turned a pale blue, with golden sunlight pouring down upon her head like molten gold. Amidst the autumn glow, the young maiden smiled radiantly.

Gu Changjin leaned against the carriage wall with one hand, gazing down at her.

Li'er wore a simple linen robe, and Rong Shu donned a plain dress, just as they did the day before. Neither adorned with golden hairpins nor tinkling jewelry, their appearances were unembellished.

Yet, in the soft morning light, Li'er's face, bare and unadorned, appeared as beautiful as a painting come to life from a masterpiece.

Her heart pounded like a drum, thump, thump.

Gu Changjin knew now that his heart palpitations were no longer without cause.

"Master, it's time to go," Chang Ji prompted.

Gu Changjin acknowledged with an "Mm," then looked at Rong Shu. "My lady, you should return home."

Her skin was too fair, and the dark shadows beneath her eyes could not be concealed. After a sleepless night and her delicate nature, she needed to rest and catch up on her sleep.

The carriage swiftly vanished down Wutong Lane, and by the time they reached the Ministry of Justice, the sky had brightened.

Gu Changjin led Xu Li'er into the ministry's offices, while Chang Ji parked the carriage and hurried out of Xuanwu Gate's main street, turning into a bustling alleyway.

In this alley was a centuries-old donkey meat bun shop, whose owner's skills were exceptional. The donkey meat was tender, the buns crisp, and when dipped in the aged broth, each bite was heavenly. Whenever Chang Ji had free time, he would come here to savor three or five of these delicious treats.

Chapter 130: Will

The driver informed the others up front via walkie-talkie.

In that instant, Shen Hongyuan felt a mix of fear and anticipation.

He thought someone would call out to stop.

Then say, "Hold on, Young Master hasn't returned yet. Where is he?"

Surprisingly, that didn't happen.

Everything went so smoothly it left him feeling empty inside.

Shen Hongyuan sat in his stable seat.

He watched as the motorhomes in front began moving one by one.

He felt his own car gradually start up and hit the road.

The dense foliage on either side of the car windows retreated gradually into the distance.

As the speed increased, the trees eventually blended into a blur.

At this moment, Shen Hongyuan experienced a strange sensation.

It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders; after all these travels, he finally felt an unprecedented lightness.

Yet, simultaneously, he sensed an indescribable stagnation throughout his body.

It was as though his thoughts and consciousness had detached, leaving only an empty shell functioning like a machine.

However, as they journeyed on, Shen Hongyuan found the experience unbearable.

He swore he could hear the wails of a child.

Unable to resist, he turned his head to look back, almost convinced he saw a weeping child running after the car.

But rationally, Shen Hongyuan knew that it was impossible.

How could a four-year-old child possibly keep up with such a fast car?

Not until they arrived at the mountain villa did they realize that the young master was missing.

The nanny, who had been hired for the trip, immediately realized the situation and said, "I saw Young Master enter Madam's RV with my own eyes! Didn't you know, Madam? How could you let such a little child get out of the car by himself?"

Mrs. Shen was momentarily stunned, unable to react.

"Lost? How is that possible?" she muttered. "Maybe he's playing hide-and-seek. Quickly, check the RV."

At this moment, for some reason, Shen Hongyuan felt an inexplicable sense of calm.

He calmly heard himself yelling in anger at Mrs. Shen and the nanny, "How did you watch over the child? How could you let Ranran run off on his own? If something happens to him, how will I face the old man?"

Only when Shen Xingyu and Shen Xingzhuo, who had just gotten out of the car, saw the adults' reactions, did they understand the gravity of the situation.

Shen Xingzhuo wept all the way, his voice hoarse and his eyes swollen.

He didn't quite comprehend what it meant for his younger brother to be lost; he was still in a daze.

Shen Xingyu's face turned pale on the spot. He turned around and started running back the way they came.

Shen Hongyuan quickly instructed someone to stop him, saying, "How old are you? Don't make things worse. Leave it to Dad."

By then, a light rain had begun to fall.

The sky had already darkened.

For an extremely fleeting moment, Shen Hongyuan did consider going back to look for the child.

After all, young children couldn't run far. If they returned now, they'd likely find him still waiting in the same spot.

But as the rain intensified and he saw the severe weather warning on his phone, Shen Hongyuan abandoned that idea.

Clutching his phone with a worried expression, he stepped into the rain and said, "I'll arrange for people to search. You stay here and keep an eye on the other children."

Yet, after standing in the rain for a while, Shen Hongyuan eventually put down his phone.

He didn't make a single call nor ask for help from anyone.

The torrential rain at night fell in fits and starts.

In the vast villa, the atmosphere was stifling.

Madam Shen was weeping in her room.

Shen Xingzhuo ran a high fever that very night.

The light in Shen Xingyu's room remained on as he would occasionally step out into the yard to check.

Shen Hongyuan hid outside, allowing the rain to drench him.

Even in the sweltering summer, the rain was still chilly when it hit the skin.

One couldn't help but wonder if a four-year-old child would feel even colder after being caught in the rain.

In Shen Hongyuan's mind, an unexpected image emerged: a child hugging his leg and calling him "daddy."

Suddenly, he felt overwhelmed with sorrow and covered his face, weeping bitterly.

That was his youngest son, after all.

How could he not feel heartache?

Shen Hongyuan then rationalized that it didn't matter. With their family's resources, finding another child wouldn't be difficult, right?

It was just a temporary separation.

Once the old patriarch couldn't hold on any longer and passed away, he would immediately bring the child back!

Shen Hongyuan made this silent promise to himself over and over again.

The next morning, upon waking up, Shen Hongyuan switched on the news.

It was then that he learned a small landslide had occurred at the foot of the mountain in the early hours of the day.

Upon seeing this message, Shen Hongyuan sat in silence for a long while.

What was supposed to be a leisurely journey had ended in such a manner.

As the one who set the ball rolling, Shen Hongyuan initially felt a twinge of guilt.

Gradually, he reached a state of self-justification—there was nothing he could do about it. Who told the child to run off on his own without listening?

Nonetheless, changes occurred within the household.

After their second son fell ill with a fever, he became disoriented and couldn't recall past events clearly.

The mere mention of his younger brother would prompt him to burst into tears.

Mysteriously, Madam Shen had become less sociable, constantly hiding in her room and declining even her usual gatherings.

Their once hot-headed eldest son, who was in the midst of his rebellious phase, unexpectedly took an interest in the family's trivial matters, wanting to be involved in everything.

It was as if he was afraid of having any idle moments.

Unaware of the situation, the elder had someone come to fetch his youngest son back home.

Shen Hongyuan had managed to dodge the issue with various excuses several times.

However, all secrets eventually come to light.

Shen Hongyuan was summoned by the elder.

The elder's health had significantly improved over the past few days. Lying on his sickbed, he gazed at Shen Hongyuan.

He spoke in a stern voice, "You've really made it big, haven't you? As your grandfather, I'm not even allowed to see my grandson?"

Shen Hongyuan hesitated for a moment before replying, "If you want to see him, let Xin Zhuo come and accompany you. He's been nagging about missing you."

The elder didn't respond, only fixing Shen Hongyuan with a piercing gaze.

Under the elder's intense stare, Shen Hongyuan finally mustered the courage to speak up:

"Ranran... He went missing during their trip. Auntie and his mother didn't keep a close eye on him. I've been searching, but the circumstances back then were too complicated..."

Shen Hongyuan tried to explain himself, subconsciously wanting to distance himself from the situation.

But he lifted his gaze.

There, on the hospital bed, lay his father – a man driven by profit, firm in his dealings, and the one who had built the entire Shen Empire from scratch. In that instant, an unusually blank and bewildered expression appeared on the old man's face.

Amidst his habitual fear, Shen Hongyuan felt a strange novelty.

He never expected to see such an expression on his father's face one day.

Silence flooded the room like a tidal wave.

After a long while, the old man's withered, purplish lips quivered as he asked, "What did you say?"

Shen Hongyuan had no choice but to repeat himself, "Ranran is missing. I didn't expect..."

However, before he could finish his excuses, the elder suddenly stirred.

The elderly man reached out and snatched his cane from the bedside, swinging it fiercely at Shen Hongyuan.

The heavy mahogany cane flew through the air, its silver dragon head striking Hongyuan's face with a thud, causing him to clutch his nose and bend over in pain.

Shen Hongyuan heard his father's strained voice yelling, "Go! Go find my Rran and bring him back!"

A sour ache, tinged with the metallic scent of blood, filled Shen Hongyuan's nostrils.

But in that instant, for some inexplicable reason, he felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

What was the point of rushing? The child was already lost.

It was too late for the old man to groom another grandson as his successor now.

Illness can descend like a sudden mountain collapse.

Grandfather Shen had been battling diabetes for decades, with frequent complications.

Upon hearing about the disappearance of his youngest grandson, his heart troubles worsened, and he was soon bedridden once more.

He could only instruct his assistant to have someone investigate.

In the past, Shen Hongyuan had always been meek and submissive around the old man.

When the old man expressed dissatisfaction with him and wanted to revoke his status as heir, he could only nod in agreement, suppressing his frustration.

He would then devise various methods to win the old man's favor.

But after this incident, Shen Hongyuan found a hint of pleasure in competing against his father.

When the old man was searching for his grandson, Hongyuan secretly obstructed his efforts and spread ambiguous false information.

Taking advantage of the old man's illness, he attended more events as the successor of the Shen family, spreading the news that his father's health was deteriorating rapidly.

Through this, he even gained a reputation as a filial son.

One day, the old man summoned him to the hospital room.

The old man lay on the bed, his expression cold and composed.

It seemed to have returned to its former strict and severe demeanor.

Absolutely no trace of the breakdown that occurred when he wielded the cane could be detected.

Shen Hongyuan was not surprised by his father's state.

He understood his father best.

So what if there were occasional emotional fluctuations? In the end, his father would always prioritize the bigger picture.

Because whether it was him as a son or his grandson, all family members combined were less significant in the old man's eyes than the Shen Corporation he had built from scratch.

The company was the most cherished asset for Elder Shen.

In comparison to the company's interests, everyone and everything else had to take a back seat.

Shen Hongyuan even speculated that the elder probably already guessed that he was responsible for losing the child.

Yet, even so, for the sake of the Shen family's reputation and to ensure the company's continuous operation, the old man would still protect his son.

After all, he was already old, and this son was his only child.

Shen Hongyuan entered with a lowered head, calling out, "Father."

There were still caregivers and nurses in the ward; in front of outsiders, he remained the obedient and submissive son.

The elder Shen glanced at him and said, "You're here."

"Yes, Father," Shen Hongyuan replied.

The elder Shen didn't say anything else. He lay quietly in bed, his gaze seemingly fixed on some indistinct point.

Shen Hongyuan noticed that there were two other people in the room, the old man's lawyers.

Soon, the elder Shen raised his hand and waved it gently.

All non-essential personnel were dismissed from the ward, leaving only the lawyer and Shen Hongyuan behind.

Once the door to the hospital room closed, Shen Hongyuan noticed the lawyer setting up a video camera.

Observing Shen Hongyuan's confusion, the lawyer explained, "The old man wishes to disclose his will."

Shen Hongyuan froze for a moment, then felt a surge of excitement and a hint of pride.

He mused that, in the end, he had emerged victorious this time.

Never would he have imagined that there would come a day when he'd witness his father conceding to him.

Shen Hongyuan promptly responded, "Father, what are you saying? You're still in good health. I consulted a doctor, and they said that you're...]

The elderly Mr. Shen closed his eyes briefly and raised his hand to interrupt him.

But not a single word escaped his lips.

This formidable man, who had been dominant for most of his life, was unusually quiet at this moment.

Until the lawyer turned on the recorder and began conducting a few simple tests to verify that the elder still possessed sound judgment.

The elder cooperated fully.

Shen Hongyuan waited patiently by the side.

Finally, he heard the elder speak:

"I am Shen Hanshan, and I hold sixty percent of the shares in the Shen Corporation. Five percent of these I bequeath to my eldest grandson, Shen Xingyu, and another five percent to my second grandson, Shen Xingzhuo..."

In between, there were also mentions of other real estate assets being divided.

Shen Hongyuan wasn't particularly surprised by the elder's distribution.

He had provoked the elder, so it was only fitting that the elder would express his displeasure.

Besides, the two sons combined held only ten percent, which was insignificant.

Suddenly, Shen Hongyuan sensed the old man's gaze upon him.

The elderly man lay in bed, turning his gaze sideways to look at him.

Due to his illness, his eyes had a slight yellow tinge, obscuring the emotions in his pupils.

Soon, Shen Hongyuan heard the old man's subsequent words:

"I'll be leaving the remaining fifty percent of the shares and all my other assets under my name to my youngest grandson, Shen Xingran."

The old man's voice was raspy and low, reflecting the weakness that came with a long-term illness.

Yet, his tone was unusually resolute.

Shen Hongyuan could sense an earnest malevolence beneath those words.

It took him several seconds to process this before he abruptly stood up from his chair.

Both lawyers, who had known the elder Shen for a long time, were also taken aback by the old man's pronouncement.

None of them expected Shen Hanshan to leave such a will.

A lawyer promptly stepped forward to reevaluate the elder's mental clarity.

The old man calmly completed the test.

He repeated his will and added, "Should my youngest grandson pass away, all shares and assets belonging to him shall be donated."

At that very moment, Shen Hongyuan was struck with utmost astonishment and resentment.

He had always assumed that the elder took in his grandson merely to groom a puppet to his liking, someone who would conform to his wishes.

Observing how the elder treated his grandson with a lack of affection and strictness, Shen Hongyuan saw echoes of his own suffering childhood in the young boy's life.

This made him harbor a tinge of sympathy for his younger son.

But now...

Why?

Why was he so strict with him, constantly guarding against and obstructing him as if he were terrified that his son would ruin the Shen Corporation he had built from scratch?

Yet, he had given such a valuable asset to an unknown four-year-old whose whereabouts and fate were a mystery?

He'd rather donate it all for nothing than leave it to him?

Was the old man planning to have the entire Shen Corporation accompany his grandson to the grave?

Then, what did he, as the son, mean to his father?

After verifying and signing the will, the old man lay there in silence.

Shen Hongyuan dashed out of the ward like a madman.

He smoked an entire pack of cigarettes on the way.

Driving to the foot of the hill where the child had gone missing, Shen Hongyuan found the area devastated by the landslide.

Amidst the ruins, he searched tirelessly but only discovered a small yellow duck-shaped backpack buried in the mud.

Staring at the backpack for a long while, Shen Hongyuan felt the irony of fate mocking him.

Motivated by the desire for gain, he finally arranged for people to search for his youngest son's whereabouts.

Ironically, finding the child was like searching for a needle in a haystack after such an easy disappearance.

After a month of relentless searching, Shen Hongyuan arrived at his elderly father's bedside with a boy in tow.

The old man's health remained frail, yet he clung to life stubbornly.

Catching a glimpse of a child's figure out of the corner of his eye, he struggled to prop himself up for a better look.

What he saw was an unfamiliar child.

Bearded Shen Hongyuan supported the child's shoulder and asked gently,

"Tell Grandpa, what's your name now?"

The child hesitated before replying, "I... My name is Shen Xingran."

"You brute!"

Old Master Shen picked up an object from the table and threw it, but he then passed out.

Shen Hongyuan immediately scooped up his "Shen Xingran" tenderly and carried him outside.

The next day, Old Master Shen passed away from low blood sugar.

Shen Hongyuan bribed the lawyer to delete the footage and alter the date on the will,

pushing it back to after he had adopted Shen Xingran.

However, altering an established will would inevitably appear unsightly.

Shen Hongyuan grew bolder and simply forged a new one.

Fifty percent of the elder Shen's shares were now assigned to him.

Upon the announcement of this will, consistent with the elder Shen's style, none of the board members harbored any suspicions.

In fact, they were even touched by the elder Shen's decision to allocate ten percent of his shares to his two grandsons, believing that he had softened with age.

Thus, Shen Hongyuan smoothly ascended to the position of chairman of the Shen Corporation.

He meticulously concealed all evidence of his deception.

As he observed his eldest son's increasing excellence, Shen Hongyuan sometimes couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

Nonetheless, he took comfort in the fact that he had molded his eldest son into a slave to the Shen family.

At times, when looking at his good-for-nothing second son, Shen Hongyuan wondered if the elder Shen had viewed him similarly back then, as he now viewed Shen Xingzhuo.

As Shen Hongyuan scolded his second son, he couldn't help but feel that he was a much better father than his own.

As for Shen Xingran...

Shen Hongyuan personally indulged him, introducing him to various social circles.

He watched the orphan, under his nurturing, shine brightly in the crowd.

He observed as the boy became the center of attention, with the name "Shen Xingran" firmly placed on his forehead and imprinted in others' hearts.

He was "Shen Xingran."

The "Shen Xingran" under Shen Hongyuan's control, his trump card.

Until not long after Shen Xingran entered university.

Shen Hongyuan received a call from Madam Shen, summoning him to a paternity testing center.

There, he saw a timid and inexperienced youth, lacking in sophistication and upbringing, deeply scarred by poverty and the absence of love, someone who was utterly unbecoming.

Within Shen Hongyuan's heart, fear battled with an abrupt surge of pleasure.

He thought to himself, Father, look, is this the heir you fancy?