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  • Friend(GL) 128

    Chapter 128: Letting Go

    Chen Xiang, under the watchful eyes of Zhou Tianzui and You Ruxu, feeling pressured to call, decided to treat it as a simple New Year’s greeting. She dialed You Ruxu’s number. The phone rang several times before a clear, slightly cool voice answered, “Hello.”

    It had been a long time since He Wei last heard You Ruxu’s voice. Her tongue felt tied as she stammered, “Teacher You.”

    You Ruxu recognized her voice, “He Wei?”

    He Wei said, “Yes, it’s me, just calling to wish you a Happy New Year.”

    You Ruxu smiled faintly, “Happy New Year.”

    He Wei’s smile was sweet and bright. Zhou Tianzui, seeing her expression, frowned, glancing at He Wei from the corner of her eye, but her gaze remained fixed on the TV screen, which she had thoughtfully muted, wanting to hear You Ruxu’s voice, but there was only silence, only He Wei’s cheerful chatter echoing in the quiet living room.

    Zhou Tianzui lowered her eyes, and after a few seconds, said, “I’ll go help in the kitchen.”

    Yu Qiao, seeing her enter, handed her some vegetables, “Wash these.”

    Zhou Tianzui stood by the sink, the cold water running over her hands. She glanced towards the living room; He Wei had hung up. Zhou Tianzui’s expression softened slightly. Soon, Fu Shushu and a few other colleagues arrived, and they sat around the dining table, chatting about work, gossiping about news they had heard, who got married, who was dating, who broke up, ordinary things, but with the added element of celebrity, every detail magnified and dissected.

    “Did you guys see Weibo last night? Seems like there’s something going on between Wei Hong and Zhao Qingli.”

    “Who? Wei Hong and Zhao Qingli? What’s going on?”

    “You straight men wouldn’t understand, but don’t you think their interactions are a little suspicious? I heard Wei Hong was invited to be on a magazine cover, and she brought Zhao Qingli with her, and after the photoshoot, they went on a trip together, for over a week, just the two of them.”

    “Seriously? I can’t believe it!”

    “What’s so unbelievable about it?” Yu Qiao, carrying a hotpot, placed it on the table, hearing their conversation, “It’s their own business, they’re consenting adults, and homosexuality isn’t illegal.”

    Lin Luo plugged in the hotpot. Yu Qiao said, “You guys start eating, I’ll make a couple more dishes.”

    “Auntie, don’t bother.” Fu Shushu said, “Come sit with us.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll cook.”

    Lin Luo said, “Great!”

    Then, realizing everyone was looking at her, she added, a little embarrassed, “I haven’t tried Dr. Zhou’s cooking yet.”

    “Dr. Zhou, cook for us!” They all cheered. Zhou Tianzui went into the kitchen and heard the conversation shift again. Yu Qiao sat with them, pouring them drinks. They were all on duty, so no alcohol, just drinks with their hotpot. Zhou Tianzui made two vegetable dishes, placed them in front of Yu Qiao, who rotated the lazy susan. Everyone praised her cooking, “Dr. Zhou, you’re a great cook!”

    Zhou Tianzui suddenly thought of You Ruxu.

    Every meal with her was a quiet affair, and she would always ask, “How’s the food?”

    And You Ruxu would always say, “It’s delicious.”

    Zhou Tianzui smiled faintly, sat down, and heard Zhao Mingqi ask, “We’re going on a business trip this week, have they decided who’s going yet?”

    Fu Shushu, looking at him, “Do you want to go?”

    Zhao Mingqi hesitated, then said, “I can sacrifice myself for the greater good.”

    He was met with a chorus of groans. Fu Shushu said, “They haven’t decided yet. It’s a long trip, over two weeks, they’ve asked a few people, but no one wants to go.”

    Long business trips were rarely popular. The senior staff mostly had families to take care of, or patients, their circumstances not allowing for extended absences. The newer recruits were eager to go, but they lacked the seniority. Short trips were fine, but for longer ones, they usually had to vote.

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “Where to?”

    “Yuhai, didn’t you know, Dr. Zhou?”

    Fu Shushu said, “Your health just recovered, you just came back to work, you’re not on the list this time.” A special consideration, Zhou Tianzui’s health was still recovering, they didn’t want to overwork her, so they hadn’t asked her.

    Zhou Tianzui paused: “Yuhai?”

    “It’s about the same issue as the last summit, a training program this time.” Fu Shushu said, “You would have been the most suitable candidate, but you’re still recovering…”

    Zhou Tianzui glanced at Yu Qiao.

    Yu Qiao was sipping her drink, her expression calm. Zhou Tianzui nodded slightly.

    The conversation moved on, the atmosphere lively and cheerful. Zhou Tianzui ate her food, her mind elsewhere.

    After dinner, she walked her colleagues downstairs, seeing them off, then returned home. Yu Qiao was washing the dishes. Zhou Tianzui offered to help, and Yu Qiao, looking at her, said, “You’re back, they’ve all left?”

    “Yes, they’re gone.” The apartment was filled with milk and nutritional supplements. Zhou Tianzui said, “Let me do it.”

    Yu Qiao swept the table, wiping it clean, then mopped the floor. Zhou Tianzui washed the dishes. They worked in silence, a strange tension in the air.

    Zhou Tianzui wanted to speak several times, then just continued washing the dishes, her head lowered.

    Yu Qiao, before returning to her room, looked at Zhou Tianzui, seeing she had nothing to say, and went to bed. Zhou Tianzui turned on the TV in the living room, a Yuhai local channel, hoping to catch a glimpse of You Ruxu in the news, but there was nothing.

    She leaned back against the sofa, then after a while, lay down, flipping through channels with the remote.

    A voice behind her, “Aren’t you going to break the TV, changing channels like that?”

    Zhou Tianzui turned around. Yu Qiao, wearing her pajamas, stood there, “Mom, you’re still awake?”

    “Couldn’t sleep.” Yu Qiao had intended to rest, but after changing into her pajamas and lying in bed, she couldn’t fall asleep, tossing and turning. After a while, she got up and saw Zhou Tianzui flipping through channels.

    She sat beside Zhou Tianzui.

    After a few seconds, she said, “Get me a tangerine.”

    Zhou Tianzui handed her one. The tangerine’s skin was thin, its flesh juicy and sweet, typical for this season. Yu Qiao peeled it, handed half to Zhou Tianzui, and said, “Your father loved tangerines.”

    Zhou Tianzui remembered, once, waiting for Yu Qiao to finish work, she and her father had sat in a milk tea shop, eating two kilos of tangerines, she had only had two or three, the rest were all eaten by Zhou Qiming.

    Her mother, seeing the pile of tangerine peels, had chuckled, “No need for dinner then?”

    And Zhou Qiming had laughed awkwardly, “I wasn’t paying attention.”

    Yu Qiao said, “How much do you remember, about your father?”

    Zhou Tianzui thought for a moment, “I remember some things.”

    “Not much, I suppose.” Yu Qiao’s tone was calm and even. She said, “When you were a baby, your days and nights were reversed, sleeping during the day, awake at night, always needing to be held, crying if you weren’t. Your father worked during the day, and at night, he would hold you, sometimes falling asleep in bed with you in his arms, and the moment you cried, he would wake up and continue soothing you.”

    “One time, you had pneumonia, you needed to be hospitalized, I stayed with you at the hospital, and he would still come every night after work, even if he couldn’t stay, he would sit by your bed, all night.”

    “Your father loved you very much.” These were words Yu Qiao had never said before, kept bottled up for so many years.

    Perhaps it was because Zhou Qiming loved Zhou Tianzui so much that she had been so angry, so irrational, after finding out about her and You Ruxu.

    Yu Qiao looked at Zhou Tianzui, “But he didn’t want to control you.”

    It was she who wanted to control Zhou Tianzui with her love, not Zhou Qiming.

    Everything Zhou Qiming did, he did it hoping Zhou Tianzui would grow up healthy and happy, while she, she had used that love to try and control Zhou Tianzui, to turn her into an obedient puppet.

    Yu Qiao apologized, “I was wrong.”

    Zhou Tianzui’s eyes instantly reddened, “Mom, don’t say that.”

    Yu Qiao said, “I was wrong, I admit it, but you were also wrong, you shouldn’t have gotten so close to You Ruxu.”

    Zhou Tianzui looked down at the remote control in her hand and didn’t speak.

    Yu Qiao continued, “But feelings, they’re not something that can be explained with right or wrong.”

    Zhou Tianzui looked up.

    Yu Qiao said, “The first year after we graduated, he was transferred, to a faraway place, I didn’t agree, we had a huge fight, it was so bad I even thought, if he really went, I would break up with him. But then when I saw him, I couldn’t say anything.”

    She hadn’t broken up with him, hadn’t even argued.

    She had waited in Jindu for six months, and then Zhou Qiming was transferred back.

    The first thing he did was smile at her, a goofy grin.

    It had made her laugh, despite her anger.

    All these years, she had never forgotten him. Yu Qiao said, “You’re just like me in this regard, stubborn.”

    Zhou Tianzui smiled faintly, “Mom, you loved Dad very much.”

    “Yes, I did.” Yu Qiao said, “I loved your father very much, but I also love you.” She looked at Zhou Tianzui, “Just like how you love your mother, and you also love You Ruxu.”

    Zhou Tianzui froze, looking at Yu Qiao.

    Yu Qiao said, “What? Did you think I would never mention her name again?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “No, I just thought you needed more time.”

    “Time? To give you and You Ruxu time to convince me, to accept your relationship?” Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Tian, you’re truly stubborn, what do you even see in her?”

    Her tone wasn’t accusatory, but curious, like a mother asking her daughter about her partner.

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Then Mom, what did you see in Dad?”

    “I…” Yu Qiao paused, seemingly lost in memories, a long silence before she finally said, “Never mind.”

    Zhou Tianzui looked at her.

    Yu Qiao said, “But Xiao Tian, since you take after me, you should know I’m also stubborn. About you and You Ruxu—” Zhou Tianzui’s body tensed, her hand gripping the remote control so tightly that it dug into her skin, but she felt nothing, just listened to Yu Qiao continue, “I won’t interfere.”

    The weight in her heart lifted.

    Yu Qiao said, “I won’t interfere, so you don’t have to tell me anything, you make your own decisions, about you and her, I only have one stance, I don’t approve.” She looked at Zhou Tianzui, “But I also won’t object.”

    Zhou Tianzui looked down.

    She said, “Thank you, Mom.”

    Yu Qiao found these words of gratitude more pleasing than any apology. She took a deep breath and stood up. Zhou Tianzui, seeing her go to her room, followed her, “Mom, are you looking for something?”

    Yu Qiao said, “Looking for my suitcase.”

    She said, “You’re going on a business trip, aren’t you packing?”

    Zhou Tianzui’s eyes teared up slightly, she rushed over to Yu Qiao and hugged her. Yu Qiao, taken by surprise, her hands hovering awkwardly by Zhou Tianzui’s waist, then after a moment, patted her back gently.

    Zhou Tianzui: Teacher You, your package has arrived.
    You Ruxu: What package?
    Zhou Tianzui: Your wife.

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 263

    Chapter 263: So Many Villains!

    Kailun: “…”

    He looked at his reddened hand and then at Fate’s reddened bottom. He wanted to slap her again as punishment, but he was also worried about giving her pleasure.

    He wondered if “perverts” were naturally attracted to each other. It seemed like he was always encountering them.

    After a moment of hesitation, Kailun extended his middle finger and poked her with a blank expression.

    A direct hit, in and out.

    Fate: “!!!”

    Fate, caught in a daze, scrambled away, her legs trembling.

    A strange sensation enveloped her sensitive soul, overflowing and soaking her legs.

    This unprecedented feeling made her panic, her body reacting in a strange way.

    [Fate’s goodwill +5, Total goodwill 30]

    Fortunately, she quickly regained control, suppressing her instinctive desires.

    “That’s too much~”

    She muttered softly, her voice laced with a hint of unfulfilled longing.

    “Forget it, I’ll forgive you. If you’re still alive in the new world, I’ll come find you. If you die, don’t blame me!”

    She made a heart shape with her hands in front of her chest, deliberately squeezing her breasts together to emphasize the pinkness.

    How shameless.

    Kailun couldn’t help but glance again…

    “Hee hee~”

    Fate chuckled, a golden magic circle appearing beneath her feet. She poured all her remaining power into it.

    The once pure white world was now filled with colors.

    Kailun tried to stop her, but a barrier blocked his path. He could only watch helplessly.

    Not only was Fate’s presence fading, but his own was being consumed as well. This special world probably belonged solely to Fate.

    He wasn’t anxious about losing control. He could sense that Carol’s attributes were increasing further, surpassing that blurry line.

    It was as if the wool had returned to the sheep.

    As he waited, Fate’s advantage didn’t expand. Her progress seemed to be stuck at the starting stage, a familiar force constantly interfering.

    Fate sensed Ottovia Nuonuo’s aura and frowned, a bad feeling creeping into her heart.

    But before she could think further, a giant crack appeared beside Kailun in this pure white world.

    Isabella, her gray hair flowing, peeked her head through the crack and waved at Kailun. “Found you!”

    Fate: “???”

    What did they think her personal domain was? Why could these people enter and leave as they pleased?

    And it wasn’t over yet. Carol jumped in after Isabella.

    Seeing Carol, Fate felt a sense of defeat.

    It was over.

    Her last resort had failed. She couldn’t think of any way to win.

    “Are you alright?”

    Carol walked up to Kailun and checked him carefully. After confirming he was unharmed, she sighed in relief.

    “I’m fine. Thanks to you all. Otherwise, I would have been in real trouble.” Kailun patted Carol’s head.

    Carol pouted and rolled her eyes at him. “It’s our duty. You can trust us more. We’re not idiots.”

    “I know, I’ll change next time.” Kailun pointed at Fate. “Since that’s the case, I’ll leave her to you.”

    Carol turned to look at the dejected Fate. “No problem.”

    She walked towards Fate calmly, the barrier that had blocked Kailun having no effect on her.

    “Aren’t you going to run?” Carol asked, standing in front of Fate.

    Fate raised an eyebrow and remained silent. “…”

    “Giving up? That’s a pity. I was just getting started.”

    Carol sighed and dragged Fate by the neck towards Kailun.

    Illusion found a suitable set of clothes for Kailun to change into. After all, his nakedness was distracting her.

    The group returned to the valley through the crack, taking Fate with them. Kailun immediately noticed Ottovia Nuonuo, lying on a special magic formation.

    Her face was pale, and she looked like she was about to die.

    This magic formation had a sacrificial effect, mainly used to disrupt Fate’s actions. The task of finding Kailun had fallen to Isabella.

    Ottovia’s current strength was far inferior to Fate’s, so her consumption was much greater. She was practically drained.

    With Fate suppressed, Isabella’s daily coin toss had a high accuracy rate.

    Sensing Kailun’s gaze, Ottovia’s dim eyes regained their sparkle. She struggled to get up from the magic formation and stumbled towards him.

    “Let me have a sip, just one sip.”

    Ottovia used her last bit of strength to jump into Kailun’s arms, her sharp fangs bared as she stared at his neck.

    She wanted to bite him. The intense hunger was gnawing at her sanity.

    Her craving for “Holy Water” had transformed into a craving for blood. The “Holy Water” could no longer satisfy her.

    But her remaining rationality stopped her from biting down.

    Carol, holding Fate by the neck, chuckled. “Ottovia contributed a lot. If Isabella hadn’t found you in time, she might have been ‘finished’ along with Fate.”

    Hearing this, Ottovia bared her teeth. Was this her choice?

    No!

    The poor Ottovia was tossed back onto the magic formation like a pillow, becoming a “consumable.”

    Having recovered her memories of the previous life, she remembered Carol’s terror. All she could do was tremble and beg for mercy.

    Compared to Carol, Kailun was a saint.

    He supported Ottovia’s small bottom with his hands. Her body was as soft as if she had no bones.

    Looking at her pale face and dimmed eyes, he didn’t refuse. He only reminded her, “Be gentle. Don’t do anything unnecessary.”

    With his permission, Ottovia bit down on his neck, her sharp fangs sinking into his flesh.

    “Mmm~”

    Weak as she was, she couldn’t pierce his skin. The feedback made her teeth ache.

    Ottovia looked up, tears welling up in her eyes, her expression pitiful.

    First Carol, then Kailun. They were all as bad as Fate.

    “My fault. Try again?”

    Kailun chuckled awkwardly. After leaving that world, his strength had returned to the Pope’s level, so his physical strength had also increased. It was normal for the weakened Ottovia to be unable to break his skin.

    “Really?” Ottovia looked at him cautiously.

    Kailun: “Really.”

    “Then… okay.” Ottovia carefully lowered her head and successfully sank her teeth into his flesh.

    [Ottovia’s goodwill +10]

  • The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated 520

    Chapter 520: “Stop! Right! There!”

    “Let! Go! Of! Her! Hand!”

    Jenom’s magic power surged, and she raised the short staff she held in her other hand.

    “No!”

    Melika’s face paled, and she let out a panicked cry. Lucy and the others also looked alarmed.

    But it was too late to stop her.

    “[Tinder]!”

    Jenom shouted.

    A small flame appeared on her raised staff and shot towards Shien like a firebolt. It was a small flame, like one from a torch, showing that Jenom was controlling her magic power and limiting the spell’s power.

    Since this was the most basic fire spell, its effect in this world would at most be a light burn.

    Although angry, Jenom hadn’t completely lost her mind and attacked recklessly.

    This firebolt was aimed at Shien’s hand holding Melika’s, clearly intending to make him let go.

    However, reality was often disappointing.

    “Whoosh!”

    Without even moving, Shien swatted away the incoming firebolt like a fly.

    “Bang!”

    With a small explosion, the firebolt scattered like sparks.

    “Huh?”

    Jenom was stunned.

    Then, she met Shien’s knowing gaze.

    “If you want me to let go, you’ll have to do better than that.”

    Shien’s words were ambiguous, unclear whether he meant letting go of Melika’s hand, or letting go of Melika entirely, allowing her to leave him.

    Jenom took it as a provocation.

    Her magic power surged, and her short staff glowed brightly.

    “[Burn Off]!”

    The elven girl finally got serious, unleashing a powerful spell.

    This was an intermediate fire spell that Melika could also use.

    Shien had already used [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree] to observe and knew Jenom’s strength.

    This elf girl was level fifty-one and possessed both [Fire Magic] and [Ice Magic] skills, both at level six, close to level seven.

    Once a magic skill reached level seven, the magician could use advanced magic, putting them among the upper echelon of magicians.

    Jenom, cultivating two types of magic simultaneously and reaching near-advanced level at a level below sixty, showed that Melika was right. Her childhood friend was indeed talented, no wonder she was considered a potential candidate for the Elven Corps.

    And just like Melika, Jenom also mastered fire and ice magic. It seemed Melika was right; they had indeed been doing the same things since childhood.

    The only difference was that Jenom’s talent in magic was slightly better than Melika’s.

    Otherwise, without traveling and only training in the Elven Homeland, Jenom couldn’t have reached this level and skill level.

    These stats were much better than Melika’s when Shien first met her.

    Having done the same things, undergone the same training, and learned the same magic since childhood, yet Jenom was slightly better than Melika in all aspects. No wonder Melika felt she could never catch up and decided to leave the village.

    Unfortunately, against Shien, this level was clearly insufficient.

    “Bang!”

    As the flames erupted and formed a burning curtain, Shien swatted it away with his hand, the powerful intermediate spell scattering with a bang.

    “What?”

    Jenom was shocked, unable to believe her eyes.

    Although that spell wasn’t her strongest, it was still a serious attack, completely different from the initial spell meant to just force Shien back.

    If Shien had also used his full strength to counter it, she could accept it being ineffective.

    But what did this man from another race do?

    He just swatted it away with his hand!

    A single slap, and her serious spell was scattered?

    How… how was this possible!?

    The shocked Jenom didn’t know that even in the past, Shien could withstand her magic with his [Magic Resistance] skill, let alone now.

    Having fused various resistance and defense skills, Shien’s [Inner Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree] provided him with almost invincible defense below the transcendent level.

    To harm the current Shien, one needed either a transcendent-level attack, a special Unique Skill that could penetrate defenses, or a divine weapon like the Holy Sword.

    An intermediate spell cast by a level fifty-one magician?

    Frankly speaking, it wasn’t even enough to tickle him!

    Shien smirked and, while Jenom was stunned, pulled Melika towards him forcefully.

    Jenom, caught off guard, loosened her grip.

    “Ah!”

    Melika cried out in surprise again.

    But this time, with this cry, Melika was pulled into Shien’s arms.

    Yes.

    Shien embraced Melika.

    “Huh?”

    Melika let out a silly sound.

    “Aaaaaaaaaah!”

    Jenom finally reacted. Seeing this scene, she let out an earth-shattering scream.

    Shien ignored this and, amidst Melika’s surprised cries, lifted her into a princess carry.

    “M-Mr. Shien…!?”

    Melika’s voice cracked as she instinctively wrapped her arms around Shien’s neck, her face turning bright red as she realized what was happening.

    Shien ignored Melika, sniffing the sweet fragrance on her and feeling her delicate body in his arms, seemingly satisfied. He turned to Lucy and the others.

    “You guys go ahead. I’ll play with this girl for a bit.”

    Saying so, Shien, still carrying Melika, leaped onto a glowing tree amidst her continuous cries of surprise.

    Then, Shien continued leaping from tree to tree, his figure flashing, heading into the distance.

    Jenom could only stare blankly at this scene, finally understanding after a while.

    “Melika… was taken away by a man…?”

    After a stunned murmur, an astonishing magic power erupted from Jenom’s body.

    It was an incredibly powerful magic power.

    Jenom had exploded.

    “Stop! Right! There!”

    The elven girl roared like a demon, then started running, chasing after Shien.

    Soon, the figures of Shien, Melika, and Jenom, chasing each other, disappeared into the distance.

    “What… what’s going on?”

    “Was that Jenom just now?”

    “It was Jenom…”

    “Why is she so angry?”

    “I don’t know…”

    “Is she chasing after someone?”

    “It seems so.”

    “I saw a dark shadow fly overhead.”

    “Me too.”

    “What happened?”

    The surrounding elves, noticing the commotion, started discussing amongst themselves, surprised and confused.

    Only Lucy, Lasha, Millu, and Lilith remained, looking in the direction where Shien and the others had disappeared, silent for a long time.

    “？？?”

    “？？?”

    Lilith and Millu tilted their heads, their faces full of question marks.

    The current situation had clearly confused these two little girls with their not-so-mature minds.

    They subconsciously wanted to follow, but Lasha held them back.

    “Should we follow them, Princess Lucy?”

    Lasha turned to Lucy and asked softly.

    Lucy rolled her eyes.

    Follow?

    Follow what?

    Help that bastard chase after a girl?

    No way!

    Lucy could tell that Shien had noticed Melika’s affection and wasn’t planning to let her go.

    Perhaps that idiot didn’t know about the elven view of love, or their pure and selfless devotion, but he definitely knew that if a cute girl threw herself at him, he wouldn’t be a man if he didn’t devour her completely.

    Under such circumstances, Lucy didn’t want to follow and watch her future husband flirt with a pure elven girl.

    Therefore…

    “Let’s go, let’s play on our own and leave them alone.”

    Lucy said, pretending to be unconcerned, and pulled Lasha’s hand, walking away without looking back.

    “…”

    Lasha glanced at Lucy’s hand holding hers, then chose to remain silent.

    “Play?”

    “Play!”

    Lilith and Millu quickly put aside their confusion and became excited again.

    Just like that, Shien ran off with Melika.

    With someone chasing after them.

  • Reborn to Stew Soup (GL) 132

    Chapter 132: Stir-fried Soybeans

    The lonely old woman only had the morning and evening chicken-feeding tasks, so they hadn’t visited her courtyard during their afternoon task search.

    Unexpectedly, in the evening, besides the chicken-feeding, there was a new task: “Helping the lonely old woman collect eggs.” One person per team, thirty seconds in the chicken coop, one coin for every three eggs.

    The old woman’s courtyard was one of the largest, filled with four chicken coops.

    “Can we only collect from the coop we feed?” Ji Junxin asked.

    The old woman paused. The show hadn’t specified. “Well… no. But you only have thirty seconds, and you have to start with your assigned coop.”

    The crew mentally thanked her for clarifying the rules.

    The coops contained chickens, haystacks, a shed, and nests. A few eggs were visible from outside.

    Ji Junxin was eager, but Mi Hongdou, worried about the chickens and Ji Junxin’s bandaged fingers, volunteered.

    She hadn’t expected much from her first attempt, but she collected twenty-two eggs.

    Ji Junxin, holding the basket, was ecstatic. “Amazing! Seven coins and an extra egg! We can afford meat!”

    Mi Hongdou dusted herself off. “It seems… there are more eggs than chickens…”

    “Yes, I haven’t collected any since yesterday,” the old woman said, taking the basket.

    Ji Junxin looked at the basket longingly. “Three eggs for one coin, and we have an extra…”

    “What’s in your pouch?” the old woman asked, changing the subject.

    “…” Ji Junxin touched her pouch, blushed slightly, and mumbled, “Roasted soybeans…” She glared at Mi Hongdou.

    It was Mi Hongdou who had insisted on bringing them, worried about rats. So, Ji Junxin had put them in her pouch.

    But the aroma while doing tasks had been tempting, and she had felt a little silly carrying them around.

    She had to ask, and Mi Hongdou’s answer was: “To make you smell good,” implying, to tempt you.

    Ji Junxin almost strangled her. But with the cameras rolling, she endured!

    She had planned to leave the soybeans at home after collecting the vegetables, but the old woman noticed.

    How embarrassing!

    “Can I try some?” she asked casually, her gaze fixed on Ji Junxin’s pouch.

    Ji Junxin couldn’t refuse. “They’re a bit hard…” she said, taking out the bag.

    The soybeans were crispy, the old woman’s crunching suggesting strong teeth. After she took a handful, only a few remained.

    And Ji Junxin had been saving those!

    Mi Hongdou could feel the foodie’s heartache. The live stream comments, after worrying about their tasks, now sympathized with Ji Junxin. Poor foodie… And a comment, “Freedom is precious, Xiaomi is more precious, but for food, both can be sacrificed…” sparked a debate about which was more important to Ji Junxin.

    The old woman, looking at the remaining soybeans, felt a twinge of guilt, sensing Ji Junxin’s sadness.

    “Here,” she said, ignoring the crew’s signals, “you said you had an extra egg, take it.” She gave the egg to Mi Hongdou, looking at Ji Junxin’s bandaged fingers.

    Although losing the soybeans was heartbreaking, Ji Junxin could still calculate.

    Profit! Kindness is rewarded!

    Their pouches were no longer empty.

    They left the egg and vegetables at home and went to the next task: feeding pigs.

    It seemed more difficult than feeding chickens, but it was simpler. The pig feed was already cooked. They just had to scoop it and pour it into the trough. The only unpleasant part… was the smell.

    Mi Hongdou wouldn’t let Ji Junxin do it. Although not as strong as Jiang Lingling, she always protected Ji Junxin.

    After listing reasons – “strain on your fingers,” “potential injury,” “dirty work,” “waste of time” – she stopped Ji Junxin.

    The viewers praised Mi Hongdou’s thoughtfulness.

    While Mi Hongdou fed the pigs, Ji Junxin quietly approached Uncle Niu, the pig farmer, and took out the bag of soybeans.

    After Mi Hongdou finished and received two coins, Ji Junxin, holding the bag, lingered.

    “What’s wrong?” Mi Hongdou, seeing the bag, assumed she was sad about the soybeans. “It’s okay, we’ll buy more later.”

    Who’s sad?! Okay, I was, but I got an egg, I’m fine now!

    “Why didn’t Uncle Niu eat any of our soybeans?” Ji Junxin asked, glancing at him. “If he had, he might have given us a pig.”

    “…” Mi Hongdou laughed. “Are you kidding? A pig for soybeans? Hahaha…”

    “What’s so funny?” Ji Junxin tugged at her sleeve. “Your soybeans are so delicious, if he tried them, he would at least give us some meat.”

    “Stop… it… hahaha…”

    “Hmph! He must not like soybeans. I’ll try again next time!” Ji Junxin, having received an egg, now saw a new path to riches. “I’ll get some meat from him!”

    Mi Hongdou realized that Ji Junxin was serious.

    The viewers were amused. Trading soybeans for a pig… she deserves that “Eating” skill. And our aloof goddess, so cute and relatable!

    “You…” Mi Hongdou wiped her tears of laughter and pulled Ji Junxin’s arm. “Let’s go, not everyone will trade for my cooking.”

    “Your cooking is the best! I wouldn’t trade it if we weren’t so short on ingredients!” Ji Junxin pouted.

    Saying such sweet words so seriously… I want to kiss her… Mi Hongdou bit her lip, tonight’s bathroom rendezvous is necessary…

    Ji Junxin’s pouting protest and heartfelt words made Mi Hongdou’s heart flutter, and the viewers savored the sweetness.

    Mi Hongdou, blushing, pulled Ji Junxin’s arm. “Silly… let’s go…”

    This helpless indulgence… you two…

    Compared to Jiang Lingling, Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin were more cautious with their tasks.

    They were supposed to go to the sewing task, but at Ji Junxin’s insistence, they went to the jigsaw puzzle courtyard.

    Ji Junxin, her fingers injured but her mind sharp, finally had a chance to shine.

    Three out of five puzzles were food-related.

    Ji Junxin completed four out of five, an eighty percent success rate, which Mi Hongdou considered excellent. But Ji Junxin was still fixated on the one she almost finished, sulking, even Mi Hongdou’s offer of steamed eggs only earning a weak smile.

    When they reached the sewing task, Ji Junxin’s soybean strategy finally paid off.

    Not by trading for clothes.

    Not every paid actor was as… flexible with the rules as the old woman.

    Miss Liu, the young woman in charge of the sewing task, couldn’t resist the roasted soybeans. She couldn’t give away clothes, but she could adjust the difficulty.

    The sewing task was just about sewing buttons back on. It didn’t require strength or intelligence, but luck, since the number of missing buttons varied.

    Thanks to Miss Liu, most of the ten garments they received were missing only one button.

    Both Mi Hongdou and the viewers were impressed by Ji Junxin’s persistence. Effort is key!

    “See? I told you, no one can resist your… cooking,” Ji Junxin said, proudly raising an eyebrow at Mi Hongdou as she picked up a needle and thread with her bandaged fingers.

    That pause… my teeth! We’re donating! Donating! Donating! the viewers commented.

    Pan Xiang, watching, felt exhausted. After Jiang Lingling’s strength-based dominance, were they now going to conquer the NPCs with food? They were supposed to be friends! The struggles of a showrunner…

    And Dong Yuannan also didn’t understand… why were the top two missions “Have Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin sleep together” and “Have Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao sleep together”… It’s just sleeping, what’s so interesting?

    The heart of a CP fan, he didn’t understand.

  • Malicious Female Lead’s Guide to Causing Trouble [Quick Transmigration] 65p1

    Chapter Sixty-Five p1

    In Yu Zhao’s impression, only dogs were cuddly and affectionate, while cats were mostly arrogant, alert, and wary, rejecting human closeness and affection, true ‘masters’.

    But the cat in front of her clearly broke her stereotype. Not only was it sweet-looking, but its temper was also unusually good. It wanted kisses, hugs, and belly rubs from her, a human it had known for less than a day, which really surprised her.

    Colleagues also gathered around and exclaimed: “As expected of a Ragdoll, the most human-friendly cat, it’s already lying down and letting itself be petted?“

    “So cute! Are those blue eyes the starry sky and the vast sea?“

    “The fluff around its neck looks so soft.“

    “Manager Zhao isn’t out yet, right? Let me pet the kitty!“

    A colleague reached out with a hee hee smile, wanting to touch the Ragdoll’s soft white fur. The next second, however, the well-behaved cat rolled over, avoided her hand, and accurately bumped into Yu Zhao.

    Yu Zhao’s eyelid twitched. Seeing it being so headstrong, she reached out in time and grabbed its soft little body, lest it bump its little head silly sooner or later.

    As soon as the Ragdoll cat was in her hands, it immediately calmed down, its paws hugging her fingers affectionately, its fluffy tail wagging, making Yu Zhao’s heart itch.

    The colleague reluctantly retracted her hand, smacked her lips, and said: “I thought this cat had a good temper, so it turns out it has taken a fancy to you.“

    “Good heavens, are you catnip incarnate?“

    “Wuwuwu, I also want the master’s favor!“

    The colleagues wailed, successfully alarming their boss.

    Manager Zhao thought something big had happened. After coming out, she saw her little princess snuggling in an employee’s arms, and couldn’t help but smile: “Did Taotao cause you trouble? Sigh, I didn’t want to bring it out originally, but there’s no one at home, and I was afraid it would be lonely, so I could only bring it to the company.“

    As she spoke, she reached out, wanting to pick up the Ragdoll.

    Yu Zhao stood still, suppressing the reluctance and resistance in her heart, and let Manager Zhao do it.

    As soon as she touched the cat’s small body, the Ragdoll meowed, hugging Yu Zhao’s hand and refusing to leave.

    Manager Zhao exclaimed, and said with a smile: “You bad kitty, you were clinging to me at home before, and after only one day out, you’re clinging to someone else.“

    Yu Zhao looked down at the cat, and found that the Ragdoll was also looking up at her, its blue eyes watery, extremely endearing.

    Yu Zhao’s head felt hot from being stared at, and she actually felt that this cat was also reluctant to part with her, and couldn’t help but say: “Manager Zhao, if you want to sell this cat, how much do you plan to sell it for?“

    As soon as she spoke, her expression froze, because she remembered that not only did buying a cat cost money, but taking care of a cat cost even more money. With the Ragdoll’s princess-like appearance and posture, wouldn’t it need the best cat food and toys?

    She didn’t have the money to raise this Ragdoll at all. Instead of saving up to buy it and then letting it go hungry, it was better to let it live a carefree life with Manager Zhao.

    Yu Zhao gave up the love in her heart, and calmly came to this conclusion, then added: “I’m just asking casually, Manager, don’t take it to heart.“

    Manager Zhao smiled: “It’s okay, every time I bring Taotao out, someone asks about this. But I don’t plan to sell Taotao. She’s a cat I carefully chose, the most beautiful little princess in the group of cats, and I plan to raise her for the rest of her life, how can I easily sell her?“

    Her words fell, and not only did Yu Zhao give up her last thought, but even Bo Chi was dumbfounded.

    She couldn’t be with Yu Zhao, then, then wasn’t this a long-distance relationship!

    Oh no, she wasn’t even human now, so… this was bestiality!

    Oh my god, this was too exciting.

    Bo Chi was carried away by Manager Zhao in a daze. When she was lying on Manager Zhao’s shoulder, her blue eyes were still looking at Yu Zhao pitifully.

    Yu Zhao lowered her eyes, no longer looking at this little cat that was stirring her heart. She returned to her workstation and started working again.

    Manager Zhao had her own separate office, but because the kitten was too conspicuous in the room, and she was afraid that the leader would see it at a glance, she put the cat outside first.

    Now that it was almost closing time, she didn’t care anymore, held the kitty and combed its fur for a while, and then played with it.

    Bo Chi was listless, and didn’t go catch anything to play with. Manager Zhao thought it was tired, and didn’t take it seriously. Seeing that it was almost time, she put it in the cat carrier and left the room.

    It was bustling outside, and a group of people were packing up and getting off work. Bo Chi curled up in the carrier, her little face against the front of the cat carrier, and through the transparent film, she saw Yu Zhao, who was still working.

    People were coming and going, and only she continued to type on the computer, unmoving. Bo Chi couldn’t help but meow twice in concern, wanting to ask if she wasn’t planning to take a lunch break or eat.

    Unfortunately, no one noticed its meows, and no one cared whether Yu Zhao ate or not. Everyone dispersed and left, and Manager Zhao also drove home.

    Manager Zhao’s name was Zhao You. She was a capable worker, and at a young age, she already owned this three-bedroom apartment in City A. The room was decorated in a minimalist style, with a post-modern ascetic feel. The surroundings were well-organized and very clean.

    She walked to the sofa, opened the cat carrier, and Bo Chi jumped out without her needing to carry her.

    Zhao You smiled and touched her: “Why are you so well-behaved today? Didn’t you always want to act coquettishly with Mommy before?“

    Bo Chi clearly knew that she was her cat now, and should be closer to her.

    However, she still felt that she was human in her bones, and really couldn’t stand being so intimate with another person.

    Facing Zhao You’s outstretched hand, Bo Chi hesitated for two seconds, and finally lowered her head to avoid it, and lightly jumped to the side, turning her cat butt towards her.

    Zhao You then noticed its resistance, and just as she was wondering, the phone rang.

    She picked it up and looked at it, then, ignoring the kitty, answered the phone sweetly: “Hello, I’m home, I received the gift, did you make that bracelet yourself? It’s so ugly and cute… Huh? You bought it? You don’t have enough living expenses now?“

    “Borrowing money from me? Sure, how much do you want to borrow?” Zhao You’s tone was gentle, and then, as if hearing something, she said in surprise: “Ten thousand? Just as repayment for the bracelet? But, but were you ripped off by the seller? Is that bracelet worth that much money… No, no, I’m not unwilling to lend it to you, okay, okay, don’t be angry, I’ll transfer the money to you now.“

    She hurriedly hung up the phone, transferred ten thousand yuan, and after waiting for a long time without receiving a reply, she couldn’t help but look up with some unease, and casually picked up the Ragdoll cat that was curiously pacing over, and said in a confused tone: “Is he angry? Should I take a few days off and fly to his city to coax him?“

    The Ragdoll meowed twice, but Zhao You didn’t understand, and didn’t take it to heart. She raised her wrist and looked at the ugly and cute bracelet she had just put on, and became even more puzzled: “Is this really worth ten thousand? Do I not understand modern aesthetics anymore?“

    Bo Chi stretched out her paw and pressed her hand, looked carefully for a long time, and found that the bracelet was crudely made, the materials were inferior, and it was surprisingly ugly. She wouldn’t even want it if it was given to her for free. Thinking of the person on the phone constantly asking to borrow money, she immediately understood and became angry, and meowed at Zhao You for a long time.

    This time, Zhao You understood.

    It seemed that her cat was scolding her…

    Zhao You couldn’t help but smile bitterly, buried her face in the cat’s soft little body, and muttered: “Indeed, I’m in the rising stage of my career now, I can’t just run around… Sigh, Ah Lei specially remembered my birthday, and carefully prepared a birthday gift for me, but I don’t have time to go and thank him… Why don’t I transfer some more money to him? He’s a student, and hasn’t started working yet, he definitely doesn’t have enough money… Hey? Taotao, why are you hitting me? Little kitty, you’re not allowed to hit people.“

    Bo Chi had been through so many worlds, how could she not see that Zhao You was blinded by love? Hearing that this silly girl was still going to give money to that man, she immediately launched a series of cat punches in frustration.

    Zhao You thought she was playing, and played with her for a long time, and finally fell down laughing, holding her stomach.

    Bo Chi bristled angrily, and went to hit her phone again, anyway, she wouldn’t give Zhao You a chance to transfer money.

    After playing around for a long time, Zhao You could only put this matter aside, rolled up her sleeves, and went to prepare lunch.

    Bo Chi struggled to push the phone into the gap of the sofa, then jumped onto the wardrobe with satisfaction, and took the opportunity to receive the plot of this world.

    The protagonists of this world were not Yu Zhao, but Zhao You and Mei Lei. Zhao You was a rich and beautiful older sister, her only flaw was that she lacked love. Mei Lei was a sunny male college student, who didn’t know anything but sweet talk to deceive the hearts of innocent girls.

    During the five years they were together, Mei Lei had taken a total of 500,000 yuan from Zhao You. Just as he was preparing to fake a terminal illness and trick Zhao You into selling her house, an accident ended his life, and he really went to the morgue.

    Bo Chi had never seen such a realistic novel before. Coupled with the faint sadness in the text, she was almost lowered in IQ and immersed in this stupid sadness – fortunately, the fragrant cat food pulled her back to reality.

    Zhao You made her cat food first, put the bowl on the ground, and then turned to make her own lunch.

    Bo Chi had to admit that she was really a good owner.

    It was a pity that Bo Chi wasn’t a pure cat, she had a wife!

    Bo Chi jumped to the ground, biting the chicken breast and chewing, while opening Yu Zhao’s task panel in her mind.

    [Yu Zhao (The Unnamed Workaholic Who Died Suddenly)]
    [Task: Live to ninety-nine.]

    Bo Chi: “…”

    Ah, was the Yu Zhao in this world so miserable?

    It was fine that she was not found in the plot, but how did she die suddenly?

    Bo Chi was deeply shocked, and after hurriedly finishing her meal, she went to find Zhao You, urging her to go to the company.

    Zhao You didn’t understand, and after washing the dishes, she reached out to pet her.

    Bo Chi didn’t have time to run away, and was grabbed by her big tail and had her back touched. Then, when the other party touched her belly, she angrily kicked her with her hind legs, meowing while kicking, with the posture of a loyal and fierce cat.

    Zhao You tsked, poked her little head, and smiled: “After going out for a while, you’ve learned to scold people? How can a little princess curse all day? Quickly become a sweet little darling again.“

    Bo Chi snorted coldly, struggled out of her arms with difficulty, and simply got into the cat carrier, meowing at her.

    Zhao You said fondly: “So eager to go to work with Mommy? You’re really Mommy’s most considerate little princess! Come, give Mommy a kiss.“

    The Ragdoll hurriedly retracted its head, and covered its head with its paws, not giving her any chance to take advantage.

    Zhao You was amused, and took Bo Chi into the car without a care.

    When they arrived at the company, she opened the cat carrier, and saw her good boy rush out of the office without looking back, come to her employee’s legs, and rub against them coquettishly. Zhao You’s smile froze, and she suddenly realized… What considerate little princess, this was clearly a Ragdoll trying to cuckold her!

    Zhao You was so angry that she laughed. Seeing Yu Zhao’s indifference, she simply let this little white-eyed wolf(ungrateful person) hit a wall.

    She returned to her own office. Bo Chi, after she left, quickly shook her fur and stood up, walked lightly to the corner, lowered her head and picked up the salted fish toy, used the chair to jump onto the table, and put the salted fish in front of Yu Zhao.

    Yu Zhao hadn’t been looking at it. Now that the salted fish was covering her keyboard, she reached out and moved the salted fish to the side.

    Bo Chi stretched out her fluffy cat paw and pushed the salted fish onto the keyboard again.

    The two of them were like playing Tai Chi, going back and forth for a long time. A passing colleague saw this and couldn’t help but stop and say: “Cats don’t usually give people things, it’s sharing its food with you now, just accept it.“

    Yu Zhao’s expression was flat: “No, there must be its saliva on the salted fish.“

    Bo Chi: “???”

    Good heavens, so she was disgusted by her?

    Pfft, you’re the one with saliva, she wasn’t stupid, how could she really eat salted fish!

    The colleague laughed heartily, patted Yu Zhao’s shoulder, and said: “Just treat it as accepting its good intentions, anyway, you can’t really eat this toy… Oh right, you haven’t eaten lunch yet, have you?“

    Bo Chi, who was listening on the side, was moved to tears.

    Finally, someone understood her good intentions!

    Quick, quick, quick! Persuade this workaholic who died suddenly to go eat!

    Yu Zhao shook her head: “I haven’t eaten, but I’m not hungry.“

    The colleague disagreed: “You have to eat something even if you’re not hungry, otherwise the money you earn won’t be enough for your medical expenses. And look how much Taotao cares about you, she knows you haven’t eaten and specially brought you her food.“

    Yu Zhao said helplessly: “How can a cat know these things…“

    Bo Chi was unhappy, pushed the salted fish to her again, and said with dead fish eyes: “Meow, meow, meow.“

    ——Feed me!

    Yu Zhao: “…”

    The colleague smiled and pulled Yu Zhao up: “Just go, don’t let Taotao worry. If you don’t go eat, I think Taotao will fight with you forever.“

    Yu Zhao strangely agreed with these words, sighed, put down her work, and went to the break room to heat up her food.

    She wasn’t a local of City A, she simply came here to work hard after graduation because the economy here was developed. She didn’t have her own house either, but rented a cheap apartment with others, and cooked her own meals.

  • A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life 176

    Chapter 176: Nangong Sacred Land, Heaven-Grade Pill Secret Realm

    “Good sister, just let me go!”

    Nangong Mian pleaded with a pitiful expression, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at the serene woman.

    The woman in white sat in a wheelchair, her eyes half-closed, ignoring Nangong Mian.

    “Look, I’m about to break through to Core Formation, so you have to let me go to the clan’s Core Formation secret realm, right?”

    Nangong Mian pleaded. “Even Sixth Granduncle said that there are ten strands of Heaven-grade pill energy in this secret realm, and I’ll only take two or three…”

    “Only?”

    The woman in white opened her eyes, a helpless expression on her face.

    “Xiao Mian, you’ve already consumed over ten strands of Heaven-grade pill energy and still haven’t achieved Enlightenment Core Formation. Even with our Nangong clan’s wealth, we can’t afford to let you continue like this.”

    Even within the Nangong clan, Heaven-grade pill energy wasn’t easily obtained.

    Core Formation cultivators who formed a Heaven Core, with the support of the Nangong clan’s resources, were almost guaranteed to reach Soul Transformation, and even had a high chance of reaching Ascension.

    This was a considerable force. The core fighting strength of the ancient clans were Soul Transformation and Tribulation Immortal cultivators. Sea Crossing Realm cultivators were the clans’ foundation and wouldn’t be easily deployed.

    Nangong Mian had consumed over ten strands of Heaven-grade pill energy, yet still hadn’t formed her core. In the eyes of the Nangong clan, this was equivalent to losing ten potential Ascension Realm combatants.

    But Nangong Mian’s actions… didn’t violate the Nangong Sacred Land’s rules.

    She hadn’t deliberately wasted the Heaven-grade pill energy, nor had she sold it. She had earnestly refined it into her body, but simply hadn’t formed her core.

    But everyone knew that Nangong Mian cultivated the Desolate Extinction Scripture, a peculiar inheritance that could only achieve Core Formation through enlightenment. More Heaven-grade pill energy was useless.

    To Nangong Mian, Heaven-grade pill energy that couldn’t be used for Core Formation was just a more valuable resource.

    In this situation, only Nangong Mian’s older sister, Nangong Ling, could restrain her.

    After all, the fearless Nangong Mian, besides the Empress, only Nangong Ling could control her. It wasn’t appropriate for others to intervene.

    “Over ten strands… I’ve already wasted, oh no, absorbed that much?”

    Nangong Mian was also shocked upon hearing this number. She hadn’t even counted.

    Nangong Ling glanced at her, closed her eyes again, and said softly,

    “I said no, it means no.”

    “Good sister…”

    “Even calling me ‘good sister’ won’t work.”

    “Then, bad sister…”

    “If you continue, I’ll send you to the imperial palace,” Nangong Ling said slowly. “I heard Madam is back and is looking for someone to serve the Empress. I think you’re quite suitable.”

    “No, no, that’s too much…”

    Hearing this, Nangong Mian instinctively shrank back.

    She couldn’t do anything against her sister, Nangong Ling, and as for the Empress… she was terrified…

    But why was Madam back… could it be because of Xue Meimei?

    The entire Great Qin Immortal Dynasty knew about the little princess’s disappearance, and the Nangong Sacred Land had naturally also received the news.

    Even Nangong Mian, who had interacted with Princess Xue, was questioned, but of course, they couldn’t get anything from her.

    Nangong Ling had already made arrangements and was about to depart for the imperial palace to become the little princess’s teacher.

    But before she could leave, the little princess disappeared, and the plan was put on hold.

    Because of this, Nangong Ling had some free time, not having to run around for clan affairs.

    Otherwise, as the youngest Tribulation Immortal in the clan, Nangong Ling was very busy and wouldn’t have the time to watch over Nangong Mian, preventing her from causing trouble.

    “But… Big Sister, just staying at home, I can’t form my core.” Nangong Mian said with a bitter face. “Enlightenment Core Formation, enlightenment, I need a place to… enlighten, right?”

    Nangong Ling pondered for a moment, not denying it. “That’s true, but this enlightenment… is mysterious and unpredictable. Even the ancient texts have few examples, it’s difficult to find any guidance.”

    It wasn’t that no one had achieved Enlightenment Core Formation from ancient times to the present, but there were no detailed records.

    In the ancient texts, there might be just a simple sentence: a certain person, at a certain time and place, achieved Enlightenment Core Formation. That was all.

    Moreover… few cultivators who achieved Enlightenment Core Formation could break through their bottlenecks. Their achievements were similar to those who formed a Heaven Core, and reaching the Saint Realm through this method was even more unlikely.

    “But we can’t just do nothing just because there’s no guidance, can we?” Nangong Mian said, “I have to go out, I have to experience things, I have to compete with others in secret realms…”

    “Spare me, just tell that to Sixth Granduncle,” Nangong Ling rolled her eyes at Nangong Mian. “I think you just want to go out and cause trouble again. Do you know how many times Third Granduncle’s lineage has complained about you?”

    “I’m doing all this for cultivation, for cultivation…” Nangong Mian said guiltily.

    “You were the one who insisted on cultivating this inheritance. I believed in you and shielded you from the clan’s warnings, and the result… is an invincible Foundation Establishment cultivator who can’t break through to Core Formation.”

    Nangong Ling sighed softly.

    She knew very well that Nangong Mian’s Enlightenment Core Formation might take hundreds, or even thousands, of years, perhaps requiring a special opportunity.

    Or perhaps…

    She would never succeed.

    Forever stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment, until her lifespan ran out.

    Nangong Ling, at the Tribulation Immortal Realm, with a lifespan exceeding an era, naturally didn’t want to see her younger sister grow old before her.

    And for the Nangong clan, an invincible Foundation Establishment disciple who couldn’t advance was also a headache.

    She could live for a thousand years, tormenting all the Foundation Establishment disciples for a thousand years!

    Piling resources on her would only make Nangong Mian more invincible at Foundation Establishment, but she would still be just a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

    Nangong Ling suddenly regretted agreeing to Nangong Mian’s request. If her sister hadn’t taken this path, perhaps… this wouldn’t have happened.

    “…Big Sister?”

    Nangong Mian still had an innocent expression, looking up at the slightly dazed Nangong Ling like a pitiful puppy.

    But this pitiful puppy was the nightmare of all Foundation Establishment Nangong disciples…

    “You definitely can’t go to the Core Formation secret realm. The granduncles have given me strict orders. If I let you in again… it would be too embarrassing.”

    Nangong Ling said helplessly. “As for going out for training… you’ve had enough experience, haven’t you? Don’t tell me you want to go to the southern barbarian lands? That’s not a place for Foundation Establishment cultivators.”

    Although she had heard that the tribes in the southern barbarian lands had recently been united, and even His Majesty was willing to go there for a southern tour, it shouldn’t be as dangerous as before.

    But… tens of thousands of years of unrest couldn’t be resolved so easily.

    The southern barbarian lands, although nominally a part of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty, were actually vast, almost two-thirds the size of the dynasty.

    However, most of it was a forbidden zone, a death trap even Sea Crossing Realm cultivators didn’t dare to enter.

    And most of the barbarian tribes were demons.

    Not humans with demonic bloodlines, but true demons.

    Most of these demons were bloodthirsty and violent, some even enjoyed eating the flesh and blood of cultivators. Even if they had some intelligence, it was difficult to communicate with them.

    And there were constant blood feuds and wars between the tribes.

    Just who had the ability to unite them… Nangong Ling was also curious.

    “Southern barbarian lands… Don’t worry, I definitely won’t go there.” Nangong Mian shook her head vehemently. “At least not until I reach Nascent Soul. Without Nascent Soul, it’s too dangerous…”

    Nangong Mian wasn’t stupid. How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator without any tribal background survive in such a place? They would just be food for the demons.

    “…Let’s talk after you form your core.” Nangong Ling raised an eyebrow, then suddenly thought of something. “By the way, you just want to go out, right?”

    “Yes, staying at home is so boring! I’m dying of boredom!” Nangong Mian nodded repeatedly, looking at Nangong Ling hopefully.

    A mischievous smile appeared on Nangong Ling’s lips.

    “In that case, the Heaven-grade pill secret realm that’s opening soon…”

    “Hmm?”

    Nangong Mian’s ears perked up.

    Could it be that her sister had suddenly become kind and was allowing her to enter the secret realm?

    “—You can be the protector for Sixth Granduncle’s lineage.” Nangong Ling said with a smile.

    “Huh?”

    Nangong Mian was stunned.

    Pro-, protector?

    What did a protector do… A protector was just a guard!

    Usually, when entering a secret realm, the protector would stay outside, to prevent accidents and protect those leaving the secret realm from being attacked.

    Of course, for Foundation Establishment and Core Formation level secret realms, the Nangong clan didn’t need to fight against outsiders. The competition within the secret realm was between disciples of different lineages.

    Except for Nangong Mian, this unusual case, the competition within the secret realm was a good place for training and cultivation.

    And since they were all from the Nangong clan, the so-called protector was just an excuse for a few old geezers to gather and relax. Theoretically, they weren’t needed…

    And if Nangong Mian became the protector, not to mention the boredom of guarding, she would also… have to face the old geezers from the other lineages.

    When she plundered the secret realms before, she had offended all the Foundation Establishment disciples, including those from Sixth Granduncle’s lineage. These old geezers were just looking for a chance to punish her.

    For Nangong Mian to be the protector was like walking into a trap.

    “So?”

    Nangong Ling asked with a smile.

    “…Can I refuse?” Nangong Mian put on a pitiful expression.

    “Of course,” Nangong Ling nodded, “then just stay home these next few days, don’t go anywhere. I’ll take you to the ancestral land later. Didn’t you want enlightenment? The ancestral land should be a good place for that.”

    “Sister, my dear sister, you can’t force your little sister like this!” Nangong Mian said with a mournful face. “I’m your sister, how can you be so cruel?”

    Enlightenment in the ancestral land was even more absurd. What kind of place was the ancestral land? It was another death trap, filled with purgatory flames. Otherwise, why would the Nangong clan leave?

    It was said… that an ancient divine beast had died there, and its resentment lingered to this day.

    “Are you going or not?”

    Nangong Ling asked cheerfully.

    She was originally supposed to be the protector for Sixth Granduncle’s lineage in this secret realm. Now, having the chance to send Nangong Mian instead, she was happy to be free.

    Moreover, those old geezers would probably be delighted to see this…

    As for Nangong Mian’s own opinion, it wasn’t very important. Just consider it a lesson for her.

    “It’s not like I have a choice…”

    Nangong Mian’s expression drooped dejectedly.

    “Then it’s settled.”

    Nangong Ling snapped her fingers and pushed her wheelchair towards the inner room.

    Nangong Mian sighed and followed, pushing her wheelchair.

    “Heh… how long has it been since you pushed my wheelchair like this?” Nangong Ling let go of the wheels and placed her hands on her lap dignifiedly.

    “I don’t remember, it should have been a few years.” Nangong Mian said.

    “You were so small back then,” Nangong Ling said softly, “although you’re still about the same now.”

    “Sister!”

    Nangong Mian pouted in dissatisfaction.

    Her height had always been a sore spot. Only the little princess was shorter than her.

    “Aren’t I, unable to stand, even shorter than you?”

    Nangong Ling smiled faintly, gently touching her paralyzed legs.

    She had suffered a severe soul injury before, and the lasting effect was that she could never use her legs again, not even reshaping her body could heal it.

    “…”

    Nangong Mian didn’t speak, just silently looked at Nangong Ling.

    “Promise me,” Nangong Ling whispered, “don’t give up, okay?”

    “I’ll be waiting for you, on the other side of time.”

    “…Okay.”

    …

    A week later, Nangong Sacred Land.

    The Nangong clan wasn’t exactly reclusive, and the Nangong Sacred Land wasn’t exclusively for Nangong clan members.

    Actually, the Nangong Sacred Land was similar to the Imperial Capital, a massive city built and managed by various factions, with many cultivators from all over, and other factions also had bases here.

    Although not as prosperous as the Imperial Capital, it was still quite lively.

    Although Luo Xue’s previous location was only a five or six-hour flight away from the Nangong Sacred Land, and for a Nascent Soul cultivator with a flying sword, it would only take a short while, unfortunately, Luo Xue couldn’t even fly, only able to use movement techniques to travel.

    Furthermore, the mountains were full of dangers, and she had to take detours to avoid some forbidden zones.

    Therefore, when Luo Xue approached the Nangong Sacred Land, an entire week had passed.

    Luo Xue was fully prepared. She first changed her appearance to that of the ghostly girl—mainly because her other disguises were too easily seen through—then took out the commonly used currency and prepared to find a place to stay.

    She wouldn’t make the same mistake she made in Ghost Demon Pass.

    However…

    “Fully booked? Why?”

    Luo Xue stared at the innkeeper of the eighteenth inn she visited.

    “Sigh, you wouldn’t know,” the innkeeper sighed, “it’s all because of the recent Heaven-grade pill secret realm…”

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c45

    45. The Origin of the Suggestion

     

    Rewinding to Gong Yiling’s first visit to the palace, when she diagnosed Emperor Shangguan Long’s poisoning:

    “This poison… are you certain it’s unique to the demonic sects?” Shangguan Long didn’t want to suspect those he was reluctant to suspect.

    Although the young eunuch was dead, and no clues could be found from him, and Head Eunuch Gao’s story about the Baiyao Dynasty spices was a lie…

    If this poison truly came from the Myriad Demons Palace, then only a few could have access to it.

    Either this was a plot set up by the Young Palace Master during his visit to Yanlie City, but Shangguan Long couldn’t believe he would act alone.

    It was simple. What would the Myriad Demons Palace gain from his death?

    The one who would benefit directly was his own son, who had been consolidating power and acting increasingly arrogant.

    So, the first person Shangguan Long suspected was his own son.

    “Other demonic sects and the Four Kingdoms might also be able to obtain this poison, but Your Majesty, compared to your death, wouldn’t Shangguan Lingyue be a greater threat to them?”

    Gong Yiling’s words were blunt.

    Simply put—did you think your life was more valuable than the general’s? They wouldn’t waste so much effort just to kill you.

    But the Emperor understood.

    He took her words to heart, slamming his hand on the table. “That rebellious son!”

    “And Ziyuan’s disappearance must also be his doing! By eliminating me and Ziyuan, does he think he can secure the throne?”

    “I have no evidence to prove whether the First Prince is the mastermind, and I wouldn’t presume to influence Your Majesty’s judgment.”

    Gong Yiling took a sip of tea. “However, I do have a way to make the fox reveal its tail.”

    “What do you mean…?”

    “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Whether it’s the First Prince or someone else, or perhaps both, Your Majesty can set a trap to expose them.”

    Gong Yiling put down her teacup, a thoughtful expression in her eyes.

    —She had a cheat, after all.

    Of course, this cheat wasn’t the useless system. She still didn’t understand its purpose, whether it was to give her strange items or just to annoy her to death.

    Her cheat was her omniscience.

    She knew who the traitor within the Shangguan family was, the locations of the demonic sects’ hideouts in Yanlie City, the identities of the twin spies, the Myriad Demons Palace’s plans, and Shangguan Yaochang and Shangguan Qingyun’s schemes.

    This was the advantage of being the “protagonist.” She knew about the upcoming bloodshed in this city and how to prevent it, how to lay her traps, and how to turn the tables on them.

    And her knowledge was something Shangguan Yaochang couldn’t defend against.

    Later—

    “Your Majesty actually agreed to this plan.” The Grand Elder said, concerned, “But Immortal Master, isn’t this too dangerous? The Myriad Demons Palace is not to be trifled with. Isn’t this leading the wolf into the house?”

    “If it doesn’t lure the wolf in, what’s the point?” Gong Yiling said confidently. “The demonic sects have been lurking in the shadows for too long. If you don’t force them out, the empire will crumble from within. Grand Elder, do you intend to be a sinner alongside His Majesty?”

    Yan Chuyue and Gong Yiling’s final treatment for the Grand Elder was on the day before the competition.

    While Yan Chuyue treated him, Gong Yiling found Emperor Shangguan Long in the back garden and asked directly, “Your Majesty, are you thinking about Shangguan Ziyuan?”

    Shangguan Long paused, then chuckled. “Can you even see through my thoughts, Immortal Master?”

    “A father’s gaze is unique. I recognize it.” Gong Yiling said, “Do you still believe she’s safe?”

    “Her life token is still intact. Although she might be suffering somewhere, at least she’s still alive.”

    He then looked at Gong Yiling thoughtfully.

    Muttering,

    “If Qingyun is the mastermind, he will lose the throne.”

    “Then, to whom shall I entrust the command of the Southern Eleven States?”

    Miss Gong understood his meaning.

    The only expert near the forest at the time was Gong Yiling. If Shangguan Ziyuan was rescued, then the one who saved her…

    It was practically spelled out for her.

    “I believe General Yan’s daughter would be a good choice.” Gong Yiling, undeterred, brought up a sensitive topic. “That girl isn’t having a good time at the Yan Estate. Doesn’t Your Majesty care?”

    Shangguan Long was speechless.

    If it weren’t for Gong Yiling being their savior, and possibly his daughter’s savior, plus her mysterious background with the Great One Engineering Sect, his attitude wouldn’t be so polite.

    “Old Yan was indeed my most trusted advisor, but I can only grant Chuyue the title of princess, allowing her to leave the Yan Estate. I can’t entrust her with military command.”

    “Is that so?” Gong Yiling said pointedly, “It seems Your Majesty is concerned not about Chuyue’s competence, but about the Yan family’s influence.”

    This struck a nerve.

    The Heartflame Empire valued martial prowess, evident from their admiration for Shangguan Lingyue.

    Although the Shangguan family held absolute power now, in the past, especially when General Yan was still alive, Shangguan Lingyue’s influence wasn’t as great.

    Every soldier in the empire, even if they didn’t know the Shangguan family, knew of General Yan’s reputation. Even Shangguan Lingyue could be said to have lived under his shadow.

    Shangguan Lingyue, a martial arts fanatic, didn’t care, but others did.

    Did Shangguan Long truly want the Yan family’s influence to surpass the Shangguan family’s?

    Only he knew the answer.

     

     

     

  • The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v2c75p2

    Chapter 75: She Died p2

    Screams, cries of children, and panicked shouts filled the air. Anyone who fell would be trampled to death in an instant, and even those moving with the crowd risked being injured.

    In stark contrast to the surrounding chaos, the young man stared intently at the cathedral, a look of regret appearing on his face only when the terrifying aura within showed no signs of dissipating.

    “Sigh, not even one death.”

    He lowered the giant axe in his hand, its impact on the ground causing tremors like an earthquake.

    Several terrifying cracks appeared on the ground, greedily swallowing the blood-soaked flesh and debris, staining the giant axe crimson.

    “Let’s try again… this time, closer.”

    The young man’s expression darkened as he gripped the axe and dragged it towards the cathedral.

    His eyes, filled with bloodshot veins, exuded a bloody aura. His heart pounded like thunder, another bloody storm brewing.

    Meanwhile, inside the cathedral.

    The Anglican choir’s singing abruptly stopped, almost everyone frozen in place, the scene before them too unbelievable.

    Not only the Archbishop on the pulpit, but also the followers below, anyone in a straight line between the cathedral’s entrance and the pulpit, had been reduced to bloody mist, staining the central hall crimson.

    …Too terrifying.

    So terrifying that almost everyone was paralyzed with fear.

    Or rather… everyone was caught in this bloody scene, unable to escape.

    They stared blankly ahead, their eyes filling with bloodshot veins, their expressions turning vacant.

    Thud.

    Thud…

    In the silent scene, clear footsteps echoed, accompanied by the screeching sound of an axe dragging across the ground, gradually approaching the cathedral.

    The shattered doors were slowly pushed open, and the handsome young man walked in.

    His gaze immediately fell upon the pulpit, but seeing the mangled remains of the Archbishop, a look of surprise flashed across his face.

    “Hmm? Why is Archbishop Johnson on the pulpit? Isn’t this the Church of Light’s territory?”

    The young man then shifted his gaze slightly, finally noticing the blindfolded nun in the wheelchair behind the Archbishop’s body.

    …His target.

    “Unexpectedly, Saint Alyssa, you are so courteous. My respect,” the young man said, bowing slightly, but he quickly raised his axe, a violent aura surging forth. “But… my apologies, I need your life.”

    This sudden turn of events also caught Luo Ling off guard. She hadn’t expected the Boy to attack so soon after Educator’s departure.

    And the surrounding followers…

    Luo Ling could sense something was wrong with them, and a strange, bloody scent lingered in the air, different from the murderous aura emanating from the Boy.

    A suspicion formed in her mind.

    Stasha, her legs trembling, cowered behind the wheelchair, clutching her head in terror.

    What was that just now?

    How… had the Archbishop been split in half so quickly?

    Why was there blood everywhere?

    Gruesome images flashed through Stasha’s mind, an urge to vomit overwhelming her.

    She wanted to stand up and push her sister’s wheelchair to escape, but her legs trembled uncontrollably. She couldn’t even stand in front of her sister to protect her.

    At the same time, Luo Ling couldn’t worry about the trembling Stasha behind her. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, her vision rapidly fading.

    …The Spores scattered around her, replacing her lost sight, were being killed. The Boy was holding his axe, not preparing to attack, but already attacking.

    This was the second time Luo Ling’s Spores had failed, the first being against Educator.

    These Awakened Ones at the pinnacle of humanity, although unable to directly perceive the Spores, could still eliminate these omnipresent eyes in their own way.

    In just a few breaths, Luo Ling’s vision was completely engulfed in darkness. She was blind again.

    “Actually, I know, Saint Alyssa, you’re not the White Witch’s Apostle,” the Boy suddenly said.

    “But I can’t gamble, hehe… whether the Harbingers have truly collaborated with the White Witch. Although it was important before, it doesn’t matter now.

    “In any case, killing one more or less makes no difference. Enough people have died already.”

    As his voice fell, the Boy’s bloodlust intensified.

    The next moment, another bloody storm erupted, tearing apart countless followers within the cathedral, a heavy killing intent descending upon Luo Ling.

    In a split second, Luo Ling stood up, scooping up Stasha at an almost imperceptible speed and dodging the attack with an ungainly roll, crashing to the ground.

    The wheelchair shattered, along with the statue behind it, splintering into pieces.

    The wall was completely breached, cracks spreading rapidly, shards of stained glass raining down from the cathedral’s dome, as if it was about to collapse.

    The Boy didn’t seem to mind the missed attack.

    Although his gaze remained fixed on the fallen Saint, he seemed to be constantly scanning his surroundings.

    “S-sister…”

    Stasha’s weak, tearful voice echoed, her trembling hands trying to help her sister up, but shards of falling glass struck her head, blood instantly flowing.

    But she seemed to feel no pain, continuing to frantically support her sister’s arm, blood covering her face.

    “I’m alright…”

    Luo Ling sat up, supporting herself. In her briefly restored Spore vision, she saw Stasha, her face covered in blood, her expression filled with terror and confusion.

    “Stasha, you’re hurt…”

    Luo Ling’s Spore vision vanished again. She reached out blindly, gently touching Stasha’s head, healing her wounds.

    “Sister…”

    Stasha was in shock. The scene before her was beyond her comprehension, making her instinctively cling to her familiar sister.

    Luo Ling turned to “look” towards the Boy, whose presence she could still faintly sense, her expression calm.

    Luo Ling knew she couldn’t escape.

    More accurately, Alyssa… couldn’t escape.

    The Boy had come here with the intent to kill, and this wasn’t an avatar, but his main body.

    Educator’s strength was terrifying, but the Boy seemed even stronger. He was clearly holding back, his attention not fully focused on her. Even so, he was an existence Alyssa couldn’t possibly contend with.

    Even if Luo Ling descended personally, it would be difficult to save Alyssa.

    But at least… she could protect Stasha.

    “If it were you, Alyssa, you would make the same choice, right?” Luo Ling asked silently in her heart.

    The answer… was obvious.

    Alyssa loved her sister, just like her own sister loved her.

    This emotion, even within Alyssa’s dead body, was an unstoppable instinct.

    A strange sensation on her cheeks. Luo Ling reached up and touched them. They were wet.

    Alyssa’s tears.

    Not hers.

    The next moment, Alyssa’s lower body was completely replaced by fungal threads, and she stood up, supporting herself.

    The Boy seemed to notice, his attention finally shifting to Alyssa’s legs.

    “This… is?” The Boy’s pupils constricted, his previously vague perception suddenly becoming clear. He murmured, “Unexpectedly… it’s true…”

    His grip on the axe tightened.

    “Your target… is only me, right?”

    Luo Ling said softly.

    “Correct,” the Boy nodded slightly.

    He wasn’t bloodthirsty, but to kill the Saint efficiently, he would inevitably harm others in the process. That was all.

    Unlike the Harbingers, after this battle, he would pray for the souls of those he had killed and observe three minutes of silence.

    Three precious minutes for a Company director.

    “Alright,” Luo Ling nodded. “I’m ready to die.”

    She walked towards the Boy step by step. The Boy felt a surge of respect for the Saint’s willingness to face death. He could see that she was trying to protect the ordinary person cowering behind her.

    Such righteousness deserved a swift death.

    The Boy had heard that the Saint was very protective of her sister. If he could use her sister as a hostage to increase his chances of killing her, he wouldn’t hesitate.

    Loyalty and love were admirable, but that wouldn’t stop him from exploiting them to complete his mission.

    “If you weren’t the White Witch’s Apostle, I would personally invite you to join the Company,” the Boy said softly, raising his axe. “But now, Saint Alyssa, please make your way to the underworld.”

    The Boy slightly adjusted the angle of his attack to avoid hitting Stasha.

    If he could kill the Saint directly, there was no need to harm her sister, causing unnecessary casualties.

    “Stasha,” her sister’s gentle voice echoed, as familiar as ever.

    Stasha looked up blankly, seeing only her sister’s back.

    “…Live.”

    Before she could finish her words, the axe descended with a bloody slash.

    But… the eternal Silent Demise Luo Ling expected didn’t come.

    As the Boy struck, as if waiting for this very moment, all the followers within the cathedral exploded, turning into bloody figures, blood spraying everywhere.

    Along with the blood already on the ground, it surged towards the Boy.

    At the critical moment, the Boy held back his strength, using his axe to block the attack, but he was still sent staggering back.

    At the same time, a small, childish figure appeared at the cathedral entrance, a look of disappointment on its blood-stained face.

    “As expected!”

    The Boy swallowed a mouthful of blood, exclaiming softly.

    He knew Educator had been lurking nearby, which was why he had held back, reserving some strength to counter him.

    “But unfortunately, I couldn’t inflict any significant injuries on you,” Educator said calmly.

    The bloody figures all stood up, staring intently at the Boy, a terrifying sight.

    Because the Boy had held back his strength, Alyssa’s body was only sent flying, bisected at the waist, not a fatal wound.

    After a moment of shock, Luo Ling regained her senses, supporting herself.

    Her first thought wasn’t about her own well-being, but whether Stasha would be traumatized by this horrific scene.

    “Stasha, Stasha… where are you…”

    Alyssa murmured, her instinct driving her to find and protect her sister.

    But there was no response.

    …No sound at all.

    Within the domains of two peak-level Awakened Ones, Luo Ling pushed Alyssa’s body to its limits, releasing a brief burst of Spores.

    Through the Spores’ fleeting vision, Luo Ling finally saw Stasha.

    And she understood why Stasha hadn’t responded.

    …She was just like the followers in the cathedral.

    All the blood vessels in Stasha’s body had ruptured, her form barely recognizable, turned into a gruesome, bloody mess.

    Her internal organs were mangled, mixing with her flesh and blood, flowing towards…

    Educator’s hands.

    —She was dead.

    Silently, without a sound.

  • Captivating Beauty 75

    Chapter 75

    The sharp crack of Cai Ying’s slap echoed through the room, making everyone gasp.

    Most of them didn’t recognize Cai Ying, but everyone knew Han Wenling.

    At least, everyone at this banquet did.

    Han Wenling had been slapped before, as a child, by both her parents.

    A few incidents stood out in her memory.

    Once, when her parents were divorcing, her mother, drunk, had slapped her.

    Another time, when Han Wenfang had fallen and hit her head on a flowerpot, their father, assuming Han Wenling had pushed her, had slapped her. Her stepmother had been there too, holding Han Wenfang, her face impassive. Han Wenling had been only nine years old.

    Both times, the burning sting on her cheek, the tears streaming down her face, had been an involuntary reaction to the physical and emotional pain.

    But she hadn’t cried since she was nine.

    She had become like the moss-covered stone in the garden she had seen that day, cold and unyielding.

    It wasn’t the stone that had injured Han Wenfang.

    It was the stone that had broken her heart.

    Now, looking down at Cai Ying, she felt a strange warmth spreading through her chest, her heart, usually cold and still, beating slowly, then quickening as a tear traced a path down Cai Ying’s cheek.

    A burning sensation.

    “Cai Ying,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, lost in the noise of the banquet hall, a sound only she could hear.

    “Are you crazy?!”

    The woman beside Han Wenling, reacting first, shoved Cai Ying.

    Cai Ying stumbled backward, caught by Shen Shu, who instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her protectively, her anger flaring at the woman’s aggressive behavior.

    Xu Jinnan also reacted instantly, stepping forward to stand in front of Shen Shu and Cai Ying.

    He Qing, the He family heiress, recently returned from abroad, wasn’t familiar with these people.

    She only sensed a dangerous aura emanating from the woman in front of her, a subtle dominance, especially in her sharp, almond-shaped eyes, that made her instinctively wary.

    She had already lost this battle.

    “Nan-jie!” Chen Bo exclaimed nervously.

    There was only one person in North City who was addressed with such deference. He Qing paused, the words “Miss Xu” still forming on her lips.

    Xu Jinnan glanced at her coldly, then turned to Han Wenling.

    Chen Bo, seeing this, hurried over, his voice low and urgent. “Nan-jie, calm down! Don’t do anything rash!”

    He was genuinely afraid of what she might do.

    This wasn’t on the same level as Cai Ying’s slap.

    This was a public place, with too many people, too many prying eyes. It wasn’t the time or place for a confrontation.

    Han Wenling, looking at Xu Jinnan’s cold, impassive face, her thoughts racing, then her gaze shifted to the person behind her.

    Cai Ying stepped forward, tears streaming down her face, her eyes red and swollen.

    She blinked, trying to hold back the tears, then stood directly in front of Han Wenling, her hand, still stinging from the slap, trembling slightly.

    She looked at Han Wenling for a long moment, her gaze unwavering, then lowered her head and tried to unclasp the bracelet on her wrist, the sparkling diamonds now like icy shackles, a cold weight on her skin.

    But she couldn’t unclasp it.

    Shen Shu reached out to help, but Cai Ying, with a sudden surge of anger, ripped the bracelet from her wrist, a single pink diamond, the most beautiful one on the delicate silver chain, flying off and disappearing into the crowd.

    “Han Wenling,” she said, her voice trembling, the name, both familiar and unfamiliar, a bitter taste on her tongue, “I was blind.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “From now on, I wouldn’t look at you even if you were a dog.”

    “I swear.”

    —

    Cai Ying turned and walked away, her head held high, the crowd parting slightly as she passed.

    Xu Jinnan glanced at Han Wenling, then, without another word, followed Shen Shu and Cai Ying.

    That single glance was enough for Chen Bo to sense the shift in the atmosphere.

    “This isn’t good…” he muttered, watching the three women leave, then turned to Han Wenling and He Qing. “Miss Han, that Miss Cai is the only daughter of the Cai family.”

    Not only was she the apple of her father’s eye, but Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu’s protectiveness towards her was also a clear sign that this wasn’t a trivial matter.

    And that look in Xu Jinnan’s eyes…

    While the Han family was almost equal in status to the Xu family, it wasn’t quite there yet.

    And Xu Jinnan’s own influence was considerable. If she decided to retaliate on Cai Ying’s behalf, combined with the Cai family’s own power, Han Wenling would be in serious trouble.

    He was certain of it.

    Han Wenling didn’t reply, her gaze following Cai Ying’s retreating figure, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

    “What just happened? I thought I was helping you avoid trouble, but now it seems like I’ve caused even more,” He Qing said, pulling her hand away from Han Wenling’s arm.

    —

    Outside the hotel, Cai Ying’s tears flowed freely, her face wet and streaked with mascara.

    Hearing Shen Shu call her name, she stopped, then turned and threw herself into Shen Shu’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

    Images of her time with Han Wenling flashed through her mind – their first meeting at the studio, their first tutoring session at the library, their first date at the mall, holding hands, their first kiss at the movie theater.

    Han Wenling had always been kind, gentle, and patient, her occasional moments of introspection only adding to her allure. Cai Ying had never suspected she was being deceived.

    Even her name was fake.

    Every word, every gesture, a carefully crafted lie.

    And she even had a fiancée… Did that make Cai Ying the “other woman”?

    The thought made her cry even harder, Han Wenling’s confession a knife twisting in her heart.

    She had been betrayed again.

    “Shu Shu, do I look that easy to fool? I’m so heartbroken…”

    Shen Shu’s heart ached, her anger flaring. She wanted to go back inside and slap Han Wenling again.

    “They’re the ones who are messed up,” she said, her voice tight with anger, gently patting Cai Ying’s back.

    Xu Jinnan stood beside them, sighing inwardly. While she usually enjoyed teasing Cai Ying, seeing her cry like this made her feel strangely protective, especially noticing Shen Shu’s worried expression.

    After a while, Cai Ying pulled away from Shen Shu’s embrace, her eyes meeting Shen Shu’s. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice choked with sobs. “It’s not like I haven’t dealt with scumbags before. I’ll be over it in a few days.”

    But her heart ached, a heavy, suffocating pain, like a balloon inflated to its bursting point.

    Giving your heart to someone, only to have it trampled and discarded…

    It was a disgusting feeling.

    She never wanted to see Han Wenling’s face again.

    Shen Shu’s heart ached even more, and she was about to turn around and go back inside when Xu Jinnan gently grasped her arm.

    “You two go wait in the car,” she said, her thumb gently caressing Shen Shu’s wrist. “I’ll handle this.”

    While Cai Ying and Han Wenling hadn’t been together for very long, Xu Jinnan could tell Cai Ying had been deeply invested in the relationship.

    Despite her claims of wanting to “seduce” her tutor, Cai Ying was a genuine and passionate person, the type to give her heart freely and without reservation.

    Shen Shu wouldn’t let this go.

    And besides their connection through Shen Shu, Xu Jinnan also considered Cai Ying a friend, almost a younger sister.

    “Where are you going?” Shen Shu asked.

    Xu Jinnan glanced at Cai Ying, whose eyes were still filled with tears, then said, “Mr. Cai is inside. He must have heard the commotion. You two shouldn’t get involved in this.”

    Cai Ying, wiping away her tears, seemed to realize the implications of slapping Han Wenling, the eldest daughter of the HP Group.

    “Did I cause trouble for my dad?” she asked, fresh tears streaming down her face, her heartbreak still raw.

    “You didn’t cause any trouble,” Shen Shu said softly.

    “Shu Shu’s right,” Xu Jinnan said, her fingers toying with the pearl and gold necklace, which suddenly felt too tight. “With me here, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

    She watched as they got into the car, telling Viola to stay with them, then turned and reentered the hotel.

    —

    Chen Bo, unsure if Xu Jinnan would return, had been waiting at the entrance after informing his father of her arrival.

    Seeing her now, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over to greet her.

    Without a word, Xu Jinnan had him lead her to the VIP area.

    It was a lavishly decorated room, filled with North City’s business elite. Chen Bo’s father, the guest of honor, sat at the head of the table.

    Xu Tao sat on one side, the Han family on the other.

    The remaining guests included the matriarch of the HL Group, Director Song, Han Fu’s mother, and a few other prominent figures.

    As Xu Jinnan entered, she saw Cai Ying’s father, his face grim, walking towards the exit.

    “Mr. Cai, please wait a moment,” she said, her voice calm and clear. “Shu Shu is waiting for her in the car.”

    Mr. Cai, his hair streaked with gray despite being only 48, his face pale, nodded at Xu Jinnan, his tone grateful. “I know you’re protecting her. Thank you.”

    “Now, now, Mr. Cai, don’t jump to conclusions. There might be a misunderstanding,” the matriarch of the HL Group said.

    Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “You’re right, Mrs. He. It was a misunderstanding. But the one who caused it was Miss Han.” She turned to the Han patriarch. “With your impending merger, I thought it best to clarify things, to avoid any unpleasant rumors.”

    She briefly explained the situation, starting with Han Wenling’s fake identity as a tutor.

    “I have to say, Miss Han’s deception was quite impressive. Even I was fooled,” she said, looking at CEO Han.

    Mr. Cai scoffed. “How dare she! I’ve heard about your daughter’s reputation, Mr. Han, but I never thought she would target my family. Does she think the Cai family is easy to bully?”

    “Mr. Han, you owe me an explanation! Or should I seek it myself?”

    “Mr. Cai, please calm down,” Xu Jinnan said, her voice soothing. “Cai Ying is Shu Shu’s friend, and my friend.”

    Her stance was clear.

    Xu Tao, who had been silent, finally spoke. “While it might seem like a trivial matter between children, Miss Han’s actions were inappropriate.”

    Xu Jinnan wasn’t surprised by his intervention. He enjoyed seeing the Han family lose face, and he always supported her in public, especially now.

    Chen Bo’s father, his attitude towards Xu Jinnan having changed considerably, also spoke up, despite his position as the host, wanting to maintain a neutral stance, but also wanting to show respect for Xu Jinnan and Xu Tao.

    “I think it’s best to clarify things. Why don’t we have Miss Han explain herself? Mrs. He, Mr. Han, what do you think? We’re all friends here. Let’s not let this create any unnecessary conflict.”

    Mrs. He was speechless. Most of the influential figures in the room were siding with Xu Jinnan. What could she do?

    She suddenly regretted agreeing to the engagement with Han Wenling, which had seemed like a strategic alliance, considering Han Wenling’s promising future. Now, she was trapped.

    The Xu family alone was a formidable opponent.

    What had Han Wenling done?!

    Mr. Han, his face pale and his breathing labored, slammed his hand on the table. “That ungrateful wretch! Bring her here!”

    Han Wenling was quickly summoned. She had a feeling she knew what this was about.

    Slap!

    Mr. Han, his hand trembling, stood up and slapped her hard across the face, her lip splitting at the impact.

    —

    Half an hour later, Xu Jinnan and Mr. Cai left the hotel and returned to the car.

    Mr. Cai woke Cai Ying, who, seeing his face, immediately clung to him, her voice choked with tears. “Dad…”

    He patted her back gently. “It’s okay. Daddy’s here.”

    Cai Ying tried to speak, but he stopped her. “It’s not your fault. It’s my fault. I didn’t even know you were dating. I’ve been too busy, too neglectful.”

    Seeing her tear-streaked face and red, swollen eyes, his heart ached, and he forced himself to calm down, soothing her before turning to Xu Jinnan and thanking her.

    Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu shook their heads. “It was nothing, Mr. Cai. You should take her home now,” Shen Shu said.

    “Indeed. There’s no need for further thanks,” Xu Jinnan added. Shen Shu had always been kind to Cai Ying, encouraging her and supporting her, even inspiring her to focus on her studies, along with Xu Jinnan’s own words of encouragement.

    Mr. Cai looked at Xu Jinnan. “Xiao Xu, words can’t express my gratitude. From now on, the Cai family is your ally. No matter what.” Xu Jinnan had risked offending both the Han and He families with her actions tonight.

    He could tell it wasn’t just a strategic move to gain the Cai family’s support; she genuinely cared about Cai Ying.

    Besides, after decades in the business world, he had a keen sense for these things – Xu Jinnan was a rising star, a force to be reckoned with.

    —

    Viola drove Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu back to Xingcheng International.

    Shen Shu remained silent during the drive, her calm demeanor masking her anger.

    Xu Jinnan moved closer to her, taking her hand, and didn’t speak until they were back in the apartment, then whispered, “I promised you, if it was Han Wenling, I would rip her head off.” While it was meant as a joke, there was a steely undertone to her voice.

    “Don’t worry, Han Wenling will be paying for this for a long time,” she continued.

    She had expected a fight, but Mr. Han, without even asking for an explanation, had publicly slapped his daughter, a clear message to everyone present.

    He had then announced that Han Wenling was being relieved of all her duties, further solidifying her downfall.

    Actions had consequences.

    Xu Jinnan briefly explained what had happened.

    Her calm, soothing voice, her warm breath, slightly tinged with alcohol, eased Shen Shu’s lingering anger.

    “Cai Ying has her own path to walk. Perhaps this is a necessary step in her growth,” Xu Jinnan said.

    “I’d rather she didn’t have to grow up,” Shen Shu replied softly, her voice full of a wistful longing for Cai Ying’s continued innocence.

    It was a selfish thought.

    She knew Cai Ying, as the sole heiress of the Cai family, would eventually have to face the harsh realities of the business world, even with professional managers to assist her.

    Cai Ying’s father, Shen Shu, and Xu Jinnan could protect her for now, but not forever.

    “At least not like this,” Shen Shu said.

    Xu Jinnan wasn’t sure how to comfort her. Life wasn’t fair, and she herself had experienced more in the past few months than most people did in a lifetime.

    You could only learn from your experiences and become more discerning.

    She gently stroked Shen Shu’s hair, her fingers brushing against the back of her neck, untangling a strand of hair caught in the lace of her dress.

    “I understand,” she murmured.

    The light touch on her neck, and the faint scent of alcohol on Xu Jinnan’s breath, drew Shen Shu’s attention.

    “Have you been drinking?”

    “A couple of glasses,” Xu Jinnan replied.

    Her lips, slightly dry from the alcohol, looked like parched leaves.

    With so many important figures present, especially Chen Bo’s father, who had shown her considerable respect, she had to make an effort.

    Achieving her goals sometimes required… social lubrication.

    But the thought was fleeting.

    She bent down to retrieve their slippers from the shoe rack, the fitted dress clinging to her slender frame.

    As she stood up, the pearls and gold chain around her neck swayed gently.

    “Aren’t you cold?” Shen Shu asked.

    “I didn’t notice until you mentioned it,” Xu Jinnan replied, rubbing her arms, a slight shiver running through her.

    “Go take a shower then,” Shen Shu said.

    Xu Jinnan, seeing Shen Shu’s insistence, nodded and retrieved a two-piece silk pajama set.

    —

    After their showers, neither of them felt like watching TV, so they sat on the bed, one with her phone, the other with a book.

    Xu Jinnan was typing on her phone, while Shen Shu was reading The Ferryman.

    Xu Jinnan scrolled through the messages in her work group chat. They were discussing the team-building event again.

    Designer Qi: [CEO Xu, about that camping trip with hot springs… should we start planning?]

    HR: [Raises hand emoji]

    Finance Director Nana: [Raises hand emoji]

    Admin Liu: [Hot springs!!!]

    The company had been performing well, exceeding their KPIs for the first half of the year in just two weeks, and after a period of intense work, they deserved a break.

    Xu Jinnan: [Okay.]

    Xu Jinnan: [@Admin Liu Look into it early next month. Find a suitable location and date.]

    Admin Liu: [Roger that! Thank you, boss!]

    Designer Qi: [Thank you, boss!]

    Finance Director Nana: [CEO Xu, we can bring our families, right? Grinning emoji]

    Xu Jinnan immediately replied, “Yes,” then, as they asked if she would be bringing her wife, she paused, glancing at Shen Shu.

    Shen Shu, her dark hair in a messy bun, looked up, sensing her gaze.

    “What?” she asked, her mood still slightly subdued after the Cai Ying incident.

    Xu Jinnan showed her the messages, then, after a moment, asked, “Are you going?”

    “Do you want me to go?”

    “Of course I want you to go,” Xu Jinnan replied without thinking.

    Then, she reconsidered. Camping and hot springs… both presented opportunities for… activities. She had thought about this when they had first suggested it, but she had completely forgotten just now.

    Shen Shu, a flicker of amusement in her eyes, nodded. “I’ll check my schedule,” she said, turning a page in her book, her voice calm. “I’ll try to make it.”

    Xu Jinnan’s ear tingled at her tone.

    “Is it good?” she asked. “The book, I mean.”

    Shen Shu closed the book, the cover showing a bright yellow sun breaking through dark purple clouds, its reflection shimmering on the surface of the ocean, a small boat silhouetted against the horizon.

    The title: If I Stay.

    “It’s good,” Shen Shu replied.

    “Dylan is sent to the afterlife by Tristan, but then she realizes what she truly wants and decides to return, despite the dangers. Tristan, however, is now like Dylan was at the beginning, cautious and afraid of breaking the rules… I haven’t finished it yet, but I think it has a happy ending,” she explained.

    Xu Jinnan, looking at the title, felt a pang of emotion. “It sounds… hopeful.”

    —

    Time passed, and at 11 p.m., Shen Shu put down her book. “Aren’t you going to sleep?”

    “Soon. You go ahead,” Xu Jinnan replied.

    She turned off the living room lights, leaving only the bedside lamp on.

    A few minutes later, hearing Shen Shu shift on the bed, she quickly finished replying to her messages and turned off the light.

    The room was plunged into darkness.

    Xu Jinnan lay down, feeling drowsy after only two glasses of wine. “Good night, Shu Shu,” she murmured.

    Shen Shu didn’t reply, and Xu Jinnan turned to her, her eyes still adjusting to the darkness, about to speak, when Shen Shu’s blanket shifted, the warmth of her body followed by a sudden coolness as she moved closer, then the warmth returned as she snuggled against Xu Jinnan, her arm wrapping around her waist.

    Xu Jinnan’s heart skipped a beat, a pleasant flutter in her chest.

    “Xu Jinnan.”

    “Yes?”

    “Your heart is racing.”

    “…It is,” Xu Jinnan replied, thinking, Because you’re holding me so tight, your ear pressed against my collarbone, that’s why my heart is racing.

    Shen Shu’s fingers gently poked her side.

    Xu Jinnan opened her eyes, chuckling softly. “Where did you learn that habit? Poking people’s sides?”

    “From you,” Shen Shu replied.

    Xu Jinnan’s throat tightened.

    …Touché.

    After a moment, she gently disentangled herself from Shen Shu’s embrace, cupping her face in her hands and kissing her softly.

    “Go to sleep,” she murmured, her breath warm against Shen Shu’s cheek, then took Shen Shu’s hand, her fingers interlaced with hers, as if afraid she would move again.

    Xu Jinnan’s skin was warm and clean, the faint scent of alcohol still lingering.

    A subtle, intoxicating fragrance.

    “Just one?” Shen Shu whispered.

    Xu Jinnan took a deep breath. Here we go again.

    Since that night, these… tests had become more frequent. And Shen Shu seemed bolder now, her touch more deliberate, her words more suggestive.

    It made Xu Jinnan feel strangely passive.

    Her eyes darkened as she leaned in, their foreheads touching.

    As they pulled away, their breathing slightly ragged, the only sound in the room the gentle rustling of the wind outside, like a soft melody accompanying their silent symphony.

    Xu Jinnan’s lips, no longer dry, glistened in the darkness.

    “Shu Shu, only puppies do that,” she murmured, her voice husky.

    Shen Shu’s face burned in the darkness, and she leaned in again, gently biting Xu Jinnan’s lower lip.

    Xu Jinnan winced, a soft hiss escaping her lips.

    Shen Shu pushed her away, then, when Xu Jinnan didn’t resist, simply lay back down, a chuckle escaping her lips. “See? I told you.”

    “You’re annoying,” she murmured.

    “Yes, I am,” Xu Jinnan replied, accepting the accusation with a smile.

    Shen Shu, hearing the amusement in her voice, playfully slapped her arm, the light touch a subtle caress.

    She turned over, her back to Xu Jinnan. “Go to sleep,” she said.

    Xu Jinnan also turned over, her gaze lingering on Shen Shu’s bare shoulder, then she pulled the blanket higher, covering her.

    “Good night,” she whispered.

    —

    The peaceful silence of early morning was shattered by a vibrating phone.

    Xu Jinnan reached for it, glancing at Shen Shu, who had also been woken by the noise. She picked up her own phone; it was Li Lan.

    Li Lan wouldn’t call at this hour unless it was important.

    Unless there had been a breakthrough in the stalker case.

    Xu Jinnan was instantly wide awake, sitting up in bed. “She confessed,” Li Lan said.

    Xu Jinnan waited for the name.

    “Zhou Pei.”

  • My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 68

    Chapter 68: Restless Without Xue

    The trio had dinner at Old Cat Noodle Shop again. This time, as soon as Xiao Luohan finished ordering, she went to compliment the owner’s cat.

    The owner had seen plenty of “cat-obsessed people.” She knew what Xiao Luohan wanted just from the first few words, chuckled, and stepped aside, watching as Xiao Luohan walked towards the still-pretending-to-be-asleep dairy cow cat.

    Xiao Luohan hadn’t expected that the first cat she petted in the new world wouldn’t be Xie Xitong’s Xixi.

    She cautiously extended her hand towards the dairy cow cat, slowly lowering it until it rested on the cat’s gently rising and falling back.

    A warm, fluffy sensation immediately spread through her palm. The dairy cow cat didn’t even open its eyes, just rolled over, turning its back to her, but its tail twitched.

    Xiao Luohan became bolder, spreading her fingers and stroking the cat from head to tail.

    The cat purred contentedly, but it still wasn’t as clingy as Xixi. It simply stood up, turned, and climbed to a higher level on the cat tree.

    Clearly enjoying it, yet still avoiding the kindness…

    This made Xiao Luohan want to touch it even more.

    She wanted to pull it down, hold it in her arms, and pet it until it meowed in protest, yet continued to snuggle against her contentedly.

    But just as she raised her hand, the dairy cow cat suddenly opened its eyes, its pale yellow eyes glaring at her warningly.

    Xiao Luohan hesitated, then wiggled her finger towards it and, as expected, saw the dairy cow cat hiss, its gaze turning fierce.

    “It’s not familiar with you yet. Come more often, and it’ll change its mind,” the owner said with a smile. “It’s always like this, but it doesn’t bite. If you get any closer, it’ll just run away.”

    Xiao Luohan withdrew her hand, looked at the slightly bristling dairy cow cat, and fell into thought.

    Should she bring some “cat treats” next time? She remembered seeing many cat treats in the videos she had watched: treat sticks, freeze-dried snacks, canned food…

    She mentally added this to her shopping list and continued thinking about it while eating her noodles.

    Seeing this, Jiang Xue couldn’t help but say, “Xiao Luo, if you have any problems, you can tell us, and we’ll help you find a solution. You…”

    She had wanted to say, “You’re not alone anymore,” but felt it was presumptuous, so she stopped there, putting down her chopsticks and looking at Xiao Luohan intently.

    “It’s not a problem, it’s just that I don’t know much about this,” Xiao Luohan finally looked at them. “It’s strange, that dairy cow cat clearly doesn’t like being close to people, but I want to gain its trust, hoping that one day it will come and rub against me.”

    Jiang Xue: …

    This was beyond her knowledge, so she looked at Xie Xitong for help.

    “So, I was thinking, should I bring some ‘cat treats’ next time?” Xiao Luohan continued. “But what kind of cat treats should I buy?”

    “Just ask me!” Xie Xitong said generously. “I have a cat, so I always have various treats at home, brands that Xixi has been eating for years. I probably have whatever you want to try.”

    “But the ‘lure’ of treats varies from cat to cat. Some cats can’t resist the smell of treat sticks, but some cats ignore even the most expensive canned food.”

    Hearing this, Jiang Xue whispered, “Then I’ll ask the owner what Mian Mian likes. It would be a waste to open the treats and have no cat eat them.”

    It wasn’t like they were trying to lure a stray cat. Mian Mian had been raised by the owner for many years, so it shouldn’t be difficult to cater to its tastes.

    The dairy cow cat, continuing to pretend to be asleep on the high perch of the cat tree, was completely unaware of the plans being made for it.

    After dinner, Xiao Luohan returned to the classroom to pack her bag and prepare to leave.

    Her health wasn’t good, and Jiang Xue didn’t want her to stay for evening self-study. At least for the next few months, Xiao Luohan would go home and rest at this time.

    Jiang Xue walked her to the school gate, familiarizing her with the route to and from school once again.

    “I’ve memorized it,” Xiao Luohan suddenly turned around before leaving the school gate. “There’s no need to see me off like this tomorrow.”

    Jiang Xue wasn’t surprised. After observing her for a day, she found that Xiao Luo was adapting to the new world much faster than she had expected.

    “So fast? That’s great!” she praised with a bright smile, then explained, “But I’m seeing you off because I want to, not just to show you the way.”

    She waved to Xiao Luo, watching as she walked towards Sister Cheng, who was standing tall and straight as always, and got into the silver car, slowly driving away.

    Xiao Luohan also watched her through the window, not turning away until she was out of sight. She then sat up straight, replaying Jiang Xue’s words in her mind.

    —”I’m seeing you off because I want to.”

    How could she say such things? Where did she learn them?

    “Third Miss, I’ve moved the plum blossoms to the rented apartment. You can see if you want to adjust their position later,” Sister Cheng said apologetically as they approached the apartment. “Madam Wei always says that plants should be placed where people can see them, and I agree, so I took the liberty.”

    “Not at all! I also think it’s a good idea!” Xiao Luohan quickly agreed. “Being able to see the buds bloom is truly a delight.”

    She and Jiang Xue hadn’t told Sister Cheng about Elder Sister’s soul being attached to the plum blossoms yet. Firstly, the buds hadn’t bloomed yet, and secondly… if these plum blossoms withered like ordinary flowers, it would only add to the sadness.

    The Sister Cheng of this world was similar to the Shizhu she knew in many ways. She seemed serious on the surface, but was easily moved and sentimental about such small, everyday things.

    When the car stopped near the rented apartment, it was already completely dark.

    Xiao Luohan followed Sister Cheng, watching as she turned on the lights on each floor, stomping her foot on a certain floor.

    “This is an old building. Some of the lights were installed later and are voice-activated. Clapping or shouting can also turn them on,” Sister Cheng explained as they walked. “This is the emergency exit. In case of a power outage or fire, use this, don’t take the elevator. Look, this black and green sign is for the emergency exit.”

    Xiao Luohan obediently agreed, but her mind started to wander.

    She remembered Jiang Xue saying that she usually took the elevator to and from the apartment, but as soon as she arrived, Sister Cheng had taken her through the emergency exit, and Sister Cheng had also mentioned “fire”… Could it be that the Sister Cheng of this world had also experienced a similar accident?

    Since Sister Cheng wasn’t the real Shizhu, she decided to wait until Jiang Xue returned to ask.

    Arriving at the rented apartment, and especially after entering Jiang Xue’s bedroom, Xiao Luohan felt a sense of familiarity.

    Last time, she had slept here, not very soundly, but fortunately, Jiang Xue had been with her. Returning here again, she felt like she was “returning to a familiar place.”

    Although it was dark, it wasn’t bedtime yet, so Xiao Luohan went to look at the plum blossom branches Sister Cheng had moved.

    Including the one Shizhu had initially given her, there were now four branches in total, all placed in a beautiful, transparent glass vase.

    She didn’t know if it was because it was the right season, or because it was warm here, but the buds seemed to be about to bloom, perhaps in the next few days.

    Thinking of this, Xiao Luohan’s already good mood brightened even more.

    After looking at the plum blossoms, she thought of the succulents she had liked today.

    She would arrange them on the sunny windowsill, or perhaps buy a shelf and arrange them like in the gardening club’s glass room.

    At the thought of “buying,” Xiao Luohan took out her phone, turned it on, opened the shopping app, and searched for shelves, then recorded the budget price in the notes app.

    She kept track of every expense since arriving in the new world, planning to repay them all after she had the ability to earn money.

    She also remembered Jiang Xue’s words today, knowing that she wasn’t doing this out of “obsession,” but setting main goals for each stage of her future.

    Both to integrate into the new world and to improve herself day by day, to reach a higher place and see the scenery of this new world.

    At 7:00 PM, feeling sleepy, Xiao Luohan said goodnight to Sister Cheng, washed up, and got into bed.

    After learning that she also wanted to sleep in the rented apartment, Sister Cheng had thoughtfully prepared a set of bedding, with her favorite pillowcases and duvet cover, placing them next to Jiang Xue’s.

    Xiao Luohan’s quilt was placed on the outside, but she moved it to the inside, closer to the wall, so that when Jiang Xue came back at night, she could lie down directly without having to climb over her.

    After doing all this, she turned off the lights and closed her eyes.

    She was surrounded by the familiar, comforting fragrance. In this peaceful atmosphere, she tried to fall asleep.

    But for some reason, when she woke up groggily and checked the time, she found that only half an hour had passed.

    Puzzled, she turned off her phone screen and tried to sleep again, but soon woke up again.

    After this happened three or four times, Xiao Luohan simply turned on the light, sat up in bed, and grabbed her phone.

    She first opened WeChat, skillfully navigating to her chat with Jiang Xue, but after typing a few words, she felt it was inappropriate, deleted them, and opened the notes app, creating a new, unnamed category.

    She recorded her situation tonight and added a preliminary guess:

    【Restless sleep in the new world, waking up repeatedly, feeling a sense of loss. Compared to the past, tonight, without Xue by my side… This conclusion needs further observation and confirmation.】

    Because she mentioned Jiang Xue, she password-protected this category and its contents.

    Since she couldn’t sleep, she needed to find something to do. Xiao Luohan hesitated between “reading textbooks” and “watching anime,” then chose anime.

    Textbooks could be read anytime during the day, but anime could only be enjoyed during free time.

    Since both her elder sister and Jiang Xue wanted her to learn to relax, she should do more relaxing things.

    So when Jiang Xue returned home from school, she found the bedroom light on as soon as she entered.

    “…Xiao Luo, you’re not asleep yet?” she asked in surprise, sitting down at the dining table and addressing Sister Cheng, who brought her a late-night snack.

    “She said goodnight to me around 7:00 PM,” Sister Cheng said, looking at the bedroom worriedly. “But for some reason, the light in her room turned on again around 9:00 PM and has been on since.”

    Jiang Xue was even more puzzled. After taking a couple of bites of her snack, still feeling uneasy, she carried the bowl and knocked on the bedroom door.

    “Xiao Luo? I’m back. Is it okay if I come in?”

    After waiting for a full ten seconds and receiving no response, Jiang Xue panicked, put the bowl on the cabinet beside her, and opened the door.

    Fortunately, Xiao Luohan was sitting on the bed, wearing earphones and staring intently at the screen. She must have turned up the volume and hadn’t heard the knocking.

    Jiang Xue breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, picked up the late-night snack, walked to the bedside, sat down, and handed her the bowl. “Do you want some? It’s sweet osmanthus fermented rice balls.”