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  • You’re Not Allowed to Kiss Me Anymore! [Quick Transmigration] 56p2

    Chapter 56 p2

    After thanking the crew for their kindness and support, Xin Yao, her spirits lifted, finally turned her attention to work.

    Director Gao, still worried about her, approached her, her gaze a mix of concern and affection.

    “Yao, are you really okay? Shouldn’t you rest for a few more days?”

    “I’m fine, Director,” Xin Yao smiled. “I can’t hold up the production any longer.”

    “Sigh,” Director Gao sat down beside her, her voice gentle. “You don’t have to be so considerate of others. Take care of yourself too.”

    Xin Yao, always putting others’ needs before her own, her kindness sometimes bordering on self-sacrificing, nodded earnestly.

    Director Gao, however, was still worried.

    “I’ve sent you the scripts for the next two scenes. They’re quite emotionally charged…”

    “Don’t worry, Director,” Xin Yao, knowing her concern, reassured her. “I’m fine. The past is behind me. I’m moving forward. My future is bright.”

    Director Gao, relieved, nodded.

    “That’s good.”

    But despite her words, she still treated Xin Yao with extra care.

    Considering her emotional state, she decided to film a few less intense scenes first, a gradual transition back into the story.

    Since their intimate moment on Wen Sigu’s birthday, Lu Duanjing and Wen Sigu’s love had blossomed, their desire for each other a constant, burning flame.

    They would steal moments together whenever they could.

    One winter evening, Wen Sigu, under the pretense of delivering something to Lu Duanjing, had waited outside her house in the cold, just for a brief glimpse of her beloved, their conversation stilted and formal due to the presence of others.

    But even a few stolen glances were enough.

    During the school holidays, Lu Duanjing would visit Wen Sigu’s home for her lessons, Wen Sigu waiting for her on the street, their umbrellas shielding them from the falling snow as they walked side by side, their hands almost touching, yet not quite, their unspoken desires a silent language.

    Their secret romance continued, the weather growing colder as winter deepened.

    The relationship between the Lu and Wen families also deepened, Lu’s father often taking Lu Duanjing with him on his visits to the Wen residence.

    Like today.

    In the Wen family’s living room, Lu Duanjing sat quietly on the sofa, listening as her father and Wen’s father discussed the recent incident in the slums, the government’s crackdown on suspected criminals.

    Lu Duanjing had witnessed the violence firsthand, the soldiers firing their guns indiscriminately, killing so many people. Who were they chasing?

    Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, “Did they ever catch him?”

    Wen’s father, his gaze gentle, shook his head.

    “No, they didn’t. Apparently, he was a drug dealer. Someone seems to be helping him. He’s still at large. But Duanjing, you were quite shaken by that incident, weren’t you?”

    Lu’s father, surprisingly, expressed his concern.

    “It was a traumatic experience for her. Thankfully, Ms. Wen was there to help her.”

    Wen’s father, his daughter praised, smiled.

    “She did the right thing.”

    Just then, the front door opened, and Wen Sigu entered the room, her clothes dusted with snow.

    Her father, seeing her, smiled.

    “Speaking of the devil…”

    Wen Sigu, still carrying the chill of the winter air, her shoulders covered in snow, her gaze immediately found Lu Duanjing.

    Lu Duanjing, sitting quietly on the sofa, also looked up at her.

    Their eyes met across the warm room, their gazes lingering, their unspoken love a silent language.

    And Xu Jingyu and Xin Yao, playing their roles, their own feelings mirroring their characters’, their gazes even more intense, more daring, the air between them crackling with unspoken desire.

    Even the crew, watching from the sidelines, felt a vicarious thrill, their hearts racing.

    But the professional actresses continued their performance.

    Wen Sigu sat down, exchanging pleasantries with their fathers, then, at an opportune moment, turned to Lu Duanjing.

    “Duanjing, I just remembered, I left the book I wanted to lend you in my room. Would you mind coming with me to get it?”

    Lu Duanjing’s eyes flickered, and she nodded softly.

    “Okay.”

    They entered Wen Sigu’s room.

    Without a word, their eyes meeting, they embraced, their lips finding each other in a hungry, passionate kiss.

    Like two flames merging, their bodies intertwined, their tongues tangling, their breaths mingling.

    It was a scene Xin Yao and Xu Jingyu had played out countless times in their own lives.

    Their performance was effortless, their chemistry undeniable, the heat of their passion almost tangible, even through the camera lens, making the crew blush, their throats tightening.

    Their connection was electric.

    But as the kiss ended, and they emerged from the room, they had to become Lu Duanjing and Wen Sigu again, their love a secret they had to keep hidden.

    Their forced separation only intensified their longing for each other.

    They would steal moments together whenever they could, their kisses stolen in the darkness of their rooms, or in the quiet solitude of a deserted garden.

    And now, in the twilight of a winter evening, in a secluded grove of trees, their bodies hidden from prying eyes, they met again.

    It had been days since they had last seen each other, and as they embraced, their lips found each other in a desperate, hungry kiss.

    Xin Yao, as Lu Duanjing, took the lead, pushing Xu Jingyu against a tree, her arms wrapping around her neck, her lips claiming Xu Jingyu’s.

    Xu Jingyu, her back against the rough bark of the tree, the cold snow falling on her neck, a stark contrast to the warmth of Xin Yao’s lips, her breath catching in her throat, her fingers instinctively gripping Xin Yao’s waist, was about to deepen the kiss when Xin Yao, distracted by a snowflake landing on Xu Jingyu’s neck, pulled away, her eyelashes fluttering, her gaze fixed on the delicate white crystal.

    Then, standing on tiptoe, she kissed the snowflake, her warm lips melting it against Xu Jingyu’s skin, the moisture trickling down her neck, a warm, sensual trail.

    Xin Yao’s eyes, half-closed, her gaze lingering on the glistening water droplet, she leaned closer, her tongue tracing the path of the melted snowflake on Xu Jingyu’s skin.

    “Hiss!”

    Even Xu Jingyu, her self-control usually so strong, couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran down her spine, her eyes darkening as she turned her head, capturing Xin Yao’s lips in a fierce, possessive kiss, her passion ignited by the unexpected intimacy of the moment.

    As they kissed, lost in their embrace, the crew, their attention focused on the monitor, didn’t notice the small heads popping up, one after another, like curious meerkats, from behind the wall near the brightly lit set.

    It was the zombie movie crew, of course.

    Led by Meng Wanqing, they had climbed the wall, eager to witness the kissing scene, their hushed whispers and excited squeals echoing through the quiet night.

    “Ooh!”

    “They’re kissing! They’re kissing!”

    “Oh my god, that’s hot!”

    Meng Wanqing, however, gritted her teeth, muttering under her breath, “Damn you, Xu Jingyu! You sneaky little…”

    They had come here specifically to watch the kissing scene.

    Their own set, filled with explosions, gunshots, and gruesome zombies, was unbearable.

    Hearing that the “Unseen Spring” crew was filming a kissing scene, they had decided to sneak over for a peek.

    Their excited chatter, however, had apparently been a bit too loud, coinciding with the end of the take.

    Xin Yao, lifting her head from Xu Jingyu’s embrace, her gaze drawn to the sound, had looked up and seen the row of heads peering over the wall, her eyes widening in surprise.

    Caught red-handed, the zombie crew, unfazed, started cheering.

    “Encore!”

    “Kiss again!”

    “One more time!”

    Meng Wanqing, however, pounded on the wall, her voice filled with mock outrage. “You scoundrel! How dare you kiss our Yaoyao! I’ll kill you!”

    Xin Yao, mortified by the sudden attention, her face burning, buried her face in Xu Jingyu’s embrace, too embarrassed to look up.

    Director Gao, noticing the intruders, rushed towards them, waving her script like a weapon.

    “Get back to your own set! Go be zombies! We don’t want you here!”

    The zombie crew, however, continued their cheering, their voices echoing through the night.

    “Director Gao is so scary! We’re so scared!”

    Director Gao: “Scared, my ass! Get out of here! Meng Wanqing, you first!”

    As the director chased them away, Xin Yao remained hidden in Xu Jingyu’s embrace, Xu Jingyu’s arm still around her, her hand gently stroking her hair.

    Then, as Xin Yao stirred, about to sit up, Xu Jingyu’s fingers tightened around the back of her head, pulling her closer, her other hand gently stroking Xin Yao’s hair, her gaze, cold and sharp like a blade, fixed on a figure lurking in the shadows near the wall.

    The figure, startled by her gaze, their hand trembling, froze.

    It was a paparazzi, who, after much effort, had finally managed to sneak onto the set, hiding in the bushes, braving the cold winter night.

    They hadn’t expected to be discovered by Xu Jingyu.

    And now, her gaze, cold and menacing, as she held Xin Yao close, was a clear warning: This is my wife. Touch her, and you die.

    The paparazzi, already freezing, now also terrified, their finger instinctively pressing the shutter button, capturing the intimate moment, the two women embracing in the moonlight, a photo that would soon be shared online.

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 255

    Chapter 255: The Last Supper

    In the afternoon, Afra and her team successfully reached the heavily guarded town of Portland. Without hesitation, Afra, empowered by Kailun, and Carol, charged through the town’s defenses.

    The entire process took only ten minutes, including the cleanup.

    One-third of the Empire’s forces were nothing but slightly larger ants in front of Afra and Carol, who were nearly at their peak strength.

    They quickly discovered the special magic formation in the town. After a brief attempt, they found that it couldn’t be destroyed or modified.

    At least not in the short term.

    Looking at the magic formation, Ottovia seemed to remember something. She shared her guess with Afra and the others.

    Afra immediately contacted Kailun and relayed the information.

    Kailun promptly provided a solution. He suggested adding new magic formations to the existing one, attempting to alter its original effects.

    This alteration didn’t need to be significant, just a slight change would suffice.

    Time was limited. Kailun wanted it done within a day.

    Fortunately, Carol and Ottovia were highly skilled in magic, making it possible for them to achieve this.

    Meanwhile, Fate sent another magic letter to Kailun, seemingly unconcerned about the loss of Portland.

    Kailun casually replied and then focused on his own task. He asked Bella to help him set up a magic formation in the valley outside the Royal City.

    For a sense of closure, Kailun planned to set up a modified magic formation with a “chaos” effect in that location.

    Its prototype came from the parchment scroll Winnie had given him. After months of research and analysis, Kailun had completely deciphered it.

    He combined his recent learnings and made new modifications. His powerful mental power was the foundation of his magic research.

    This modified magic formation was the culmination of Kailun’s months of study. Its performance would determine his “score.”

    Simply put, he had amplified the original “chaos” effect countless times, hoping to push events beyond Fate’s control.

    To ensure the magic formation could be activated properly, he had people transport all the magic crystals from the national treasury to the valley. The mountains of magic crystals were a spectacular sight.

    With the addition of his own mana, activating the formation shouldn’t be a problem.

    “I have a bad feeling. What’s going to happen?”

    Bella looked at the almost completed magic formation with unease, her hands clasped tightly.

    “Don’t worry, just stay by my side.”

    Kailun wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Alright, I’ll be done in an hour or two. I’ll take you to eat something delicious tonight. Don’t worry too much about your grandfather. Fate didn’t kill him.”

    Kailun didn’t tell the whole truth. Fate hadn’t killed the old Dragon King Bolton, but she had demanded that he bring Bella to meet her.

    No matter what, Kailun wouldn’t take such a risk.

    “I feel like something big is going to happen today, but I can’t explain it. My mind is in turmoil, a strange emotion is stirring within me. When I close my eyes, I see flashes of memories, like they’re mine, but I’ve never experienced them. It’s like a dream.”

    Bella spoke as she helped Kailun.

    “That’s a normal reaction. According to Illusion’s previous guess, the world has reached its limit.” Kailun chuckled.

    Even though everything now was an established fact, his existence was still a mistake.

    If only he knew about this mistake, it would have been fine. But Illusion knew, Fate knew, and Carol would know in the future. Then, the others would also know.

    Illusion had repeatedly emphasized the importance of observers to Kailun. Unless he eliminated Fate from the very beginning, everything that followed would be inevitable.

    From this perspective, Fate’s plan was simple. She intended to exploit the loophole and let the world correct itself.

    If she succeeded, even if she couldn’t kill Kailun directly, she could still strip him of his power. After all, at this point in time in his previous life, he wasn’t strong. More importantly, Carol wasn’t strong either.

    It was a move to cut off his lifeline, and Kailun had to prevent it with all his might.

    His method of prevention was incredibly bold, a surprise for Fate. He hoped she would like it.

    Time passed slowly as they chatted. By the time Kailun had finished all his preparations, it was completely dark.

    He took Bella back to the manor, leaving only a few knights to guard the valley where the magic formation was located.

    He could activate the formation even from within the manor, so there was no need to let Bella be bitten by mosquitoes in the wilderness.

    That night, he had a sumptuous dinner with everyone and then took a food box to the dungeon.

    If it weren’t for Phils’ reminder, he would have almost forgotten about the Queen imprisoned there.

    “Kailun, why are you here?!”

    Seeing Kailun, Rose, who was sitting at the desk, lost in thought, immediately stood up. Her eyes were filled with surprise and grievance.

    As days turned into nights, she had thought she would be imprisoned forever.

    No one spoke to her, and she would occasionally miss breakfast or lunch because the person delivering her meals had forgotten.

    Rose felt that if this continued, she might starve to death in this room one day.

    “Long time no see, Queen Rose. Have you figured it out yet? Oh, it’s too late to change your mind now.”

    Kailun walked into the room, carrying the food box, and placed it on the table. “Eat. This might be your last meal.”

    Rose shivered, her beautiful face turning pale. “!!!”

    Hearing his words, she thought she had lost her value and was about to be disposed of.

    Honestly, she wouldn’t have been so desperate before, but after a period of calm reflection, she couldn’t accept the thought of being eliminated.

    “I think we can talk again.” Rose said stiffly, sitting down beside Kailun.

    Kailun shook his head and continued teasing her. “There’s nothing to talk about. Eat first. If you’re unlucky, this might be your last meal. Cheer up. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll continue to deliver your meals, right?”

    These words weren’t entirely a joke. If things went wrong, this might indeed be the last supper, not only for Rose but for the entire world. Complete collapse was a possibility.

    Looking at the sincerity in his eyes, Rose felt the urge to cry.

    “Can I still turn back now?” She asked, biting her lip.

    Kailun opened the food box and took out the food and drinks. He propped his chin on his hand. “Let’s eat first. We can talk while we eat. Speaking of which, I do have something I need your help with.”

    Rose: “…”

    She wanted to ask if he was crazy, but her strong survival instinct made her calm down.

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c29

    29. Does This Even Work?

     

    “Name: Hilt of the Broken Steel Holy Sword.

    Item Grade: Immortal Artifact (Specific grade unknown)

    Attack Power: ?

    Defense Power: ?

    Other: Although the sword itself is rusted and unusable, this is the hilt. A divine brick is still divine, and a divine hilt is still divine.”

    The strange object was stained with fresh blood, clearly from the Flame Python.

    Gong Yiling stared at it for a long time, rereading the description several times, before finally understanding what happened.

    She had used the momentum from the bouncy net, combined with the Flame Python’s own venom, and wielded this hilt, which could bypass its defenses…

    To decapitate it?

    Nothing involved was hers, and yet… this worked?

    Ignoring her injuries, she rushed to the python’s corpse.

    This creature was truly unlucky.

    If she had struck anywhere else, the impact would have probably broken her arms again.

    But she hit its most vulnerable spot, its neck, severing its true lifeblood.

    She knew about this weakness, but the difference in their strength was so vast that she hadn’t even considered exploiting it.

    And yet… she not only hit it by accident, but also almost severed its head, killing it instantly.

    “I think I’ve lost the ability to speak.” Gong Yiling rubbed her forehead. “So, for this level-skipping kill, aren’t you going to give me a reward?”

    “The reputation reward has already been given. What else do you want?”

    “Don’t world bosses drop loot?” Gong Yiling pointed at the corpse. “Where’s my legendary gear? My crystals? My legendary weapons? My Breath of the Undying? My artifacts?”

    “Do you think this is a game?” The system interrupted impatiently. “Do you think a ferocious python’s stomach would be filled with legendary weapons and glowing crystals instead of half-digested food?”

    Gong Yiling thought about it.

    That was indeed impossible.

    She could only examine the corpse for anything valuable.

    The meat was definitely inedible. She didn’t know if it was more delicious than pufferfish, but it was definitely more poisonous.

    Then there were the scales. Although they looked valuable, impenetrable by ordinary weapons…

    Her sword hilt couldn’t even scratch them, so she gave up on skinning it.

    Then there was the demonic core.

    This was easy to find. Gong Yiling, sensing the venomous energy, found a purple core inside the python’s body. It contained the beast’s cultivation of millennia, more than enough to boost her own power.

    Finally, she returned to the rest of the python.

    After much effort, she severed its head and tossed it into her Universe Ring.

    As for the rest… she could only take some meat and leave the rest behind.

    “I killed a Flame Python, and this is all I get?”

    Feeling cheated, she walked back. Nearing the barrier, she suddenly remembered something.

    Strange, she had bumped into a bouncy net twice. What was that thing?

    Since it wasn’t far from the barrier, she reached out and felt around.

    She found an invisible, intangible, elastic net, feeling like dough but with incredible elasticity.

    “What is this?”

    “Since you’ve been wondering for so long, I’ll make an exception and tell you.” The system said, “This is a barrier set up by Gong Muzhi to trap the Flame Python.”

    “If the python tries to escape, it expands into an elastic net that can stretch for dozens of kilometers, flinging the python back.”

    “The reason you experienced the same thing earlier is because—”

    “Because I absorbed its venom, and the net mistook me for it?”

    “Precisely.”

    Gong Yiling’s lips twitched.

    Although she wanted to complain about her mother’s ridiculous design, only reacting to the venom…

    It was precisely because of this that she could injure the Flame Python the first time and kill it the second time.

    After learning this, she dispelled the remaining venom in her body. The net no longer affected her, and she easily returned to the outer area.

    The fresh air was a welcome change from the cloying sweetness of the central area. Miss Gong stretched and muttered,

    “I wonder how Qiu Shui and Xinyao are—”

    Just then, two people walked past, not noticing the disheveled girl, talking amongst themselves. “Is it true? Someone framed the First Prince?”

    “Yes, I heard it was a beautiful young lady, but what good is beauty? Truly, appearances can be deceiving.”

    “Let’s go and see. It seems the two are confronting each other.”

    “But didn’t you want to check out that sound earlier? Maybe the Flame Python was beaten to a pulp.”

    “Even a beaten Flame Python is still a Flame Python. Would you dare go near it? Better to watch the drama unfold up ahead.”

    “You’re right. We can’t miss this. We have time. We can collect number cards later.”

    Hearing their conversation, Gong Yiling’s heart sank.

    The only ones who would confront the First Prince here were Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao.

    So, that bastard went to find trouble with them while she was gone?

    Gong Yiling’s eyes turned cold.

    This was all the First Prince and Xuli’s fault. She wanted to see how they would try to twist the truth!

     

  • Back to Three Years Old: Crushing Scumbags on a Parenting Reality Show 140

    Chapter 140

    It was the fourth day of the “Where’s Baby Going” Season 3 live broadcast in Shudian.

    On the evening of the first day, they settled into the villa area near Shudian. On the morning of the second day, the babies visited the dance academy that Cheng Rongrong wanted to see, and in the evening, they went to the night market that Shen Zilin wanted to visit. On the afternoon of the third day, although the inflatable pool in the courtyard was a bit simple, Wen Dongyu, who wanted to go to a water park, still had a great time, and in the evening, at the amusement park that Wen Jiangyue wanted to visit, they created many beautiful memories and made promises for the future.

    The places the little babies wanted to go, they had visited them one by one.

    Now, it was Wang Zhizhi’s turn, he wanted to go to a laser tag arena.

    And finally, the smooth-sailing arrangements encountered an obstacle.

    “It’s not even the weekend, how is business so good!” Zeng Huanian said, his head starting to ache as he looked at the messages from the other staff members on his phone, all saying that the laser tag places nearby were fully booked.

    “Maybe they think our business is too small, only booking the smallest area. How about this, tell them to book a bigger area, the biggest, the more the merrier?” Jin Youliang said, offering a solution, then sighed. “Tell them to hurry up, the guests have already finished breakfast.”

    Zeng Huanian, his head lowered, frantically sent messages, then shook his head after a while. “No, even if we offer to book the entire place, it’s still not possible, they all said they’re fully booked.”

    “It’s just using water guns, just get them a few water guns and let them play in the courtyard, children don’t even know what laser tag is, right?” Jin Youliang said kindly.

    “But Wang Zhizhi…” Zeng Huanian said, glancing at Wang Zhizhi’s live broadcast window on the monitoring wall, the little boy was excitedly talking about laser tag with the other babies. “Yesterday’s water park, that was unavoidable, we couldn’t do a live broadcast in such a crowded place, and we couldn’t move it to midnight and clear the area, so we had to find a substitute. But turning Wang Zhizhi’s wish into a simple water gun fight is a bit too…”

    “Right, it’s a bit too disrespectful of the little baby’s wish. Our show is called ‘Where’s Baby Going,’ if we keep doing things so poorly, it’ll be like ‘Tricking the Babies.’” Jin Youliang said, subtly criticizing, then continued, “Then… how about moving the laser tag to tomorrow? We can rearrange tomorrow’s schedule.”

    Zeng Huanian shook his head even more vigorously. “We’re going to the fourth location the day after tomorrow, tomorrow’s activities need to be prepared today, we can’t swap them with today’s!”

    “Sigh, this is truly troublesome, we just need a room with many obstacles. But there’s nothing we can do without a suitable location, we can only disappoint Wang Zhizhi for now. We’ll see if there’s a chance to make it up to him at the fourth location, but I don’t think it’s likely, that place…” Jin Youliang said, secretly glancing at Zeng Huanian, whose face was becoming increasingly pale, he was annoyed that even after hinting so much, this guy was still clueless, but he softened his tone, subtly adding more persuasive words to his comfort. “So many babies’ wishes were fulfilled smoothly before, only Wang Zhizhi’s couldn’t be, there’s nothing we can do if he’s sad. It’s all about timing and fate, just consider it a lesson from reality, let him grow up early, life isn’t always smooth-sailing. Just look at you, those two projects you designed, the one about experiencing the entire process of making and selling snacks in Yinye Village, you spent a lot of time on it, right? But in the end, we didn’t even go to Yinye Village. And the treasure hunt in the air-raid shelter, it was originally scheduled for this afternoon, you even went scouting several times at night, cleaned it up, set it up, even found the camera positions, then, one notification the night before, and it was canceled. Wang Zhizhi’s little setback, compared to your wasted efforts, it’s nothing.”

    “Wang Zhizhi is still young, he… Mmm?” Zeng Huanian, who had been casually responding to Jin Youliang while frantically tapping on his phone, suddenly looked up.

    Jin Youliang, looking at the sudden spark of realization in Zeng Huanian’s eyes, chuckled inwardly, it seemed that repeatedly emphasizing certain keywords had finally knocked some sense into this blockhead.

    “That air-raid shelter…” Zeng Huanian said excitedly, looking at Jin Youliang. “If we remove the treasure chests and puzzles, and turn on the lights, then the air-raid shelter can be used as a laser tag arena! There are enough paths and obstacles, and I’ve already designed the camera positions, we can also cancel the cameramen following them, like at the actual laser tag place, to give the babies more freedom!”

    “Right! Why didn’t I think of that!” Jin Youliang exclaimed, slapping his hand. “I think we don’t even need to remove the treasure chests and puzzles, wouldn’t it be even more interesting to have them play laser tag while solving puzzles and finding treasures!”

    “But Director Shi canceled this project because he felt some of the paths were too dark, even with flashlights, it wasn’t safe enough…” Zeng Huanian said, his expression darkening again. “If we block off those paths, the space would be too small…”

    Jin Youliang smiled. “It’s because of Wei Maomao’s fall, right? Didn’t Director Qin already explain yesterday, it was probably an accident, or maybe some child was being mischievous. And to be mischievous, they would need to be in a familiar place, use familiar things, and plan in advance. A three-and-a-half-year-old brain, how could she possibly come up with a scheme in an unfamiliar place? And besides, there were no cameras in the bathroom, but in your air-raid shelter, wouldn’t there be cameras everywhere? How would she dare to do anything?”

    It had to be said that Jin Youliang’s words resonated with Zeng Huanian.

    “I’ll ask Director Shi…” Zeng Huanian said, his heart tempted, but he still didn’t dare to make such a big change to the project on his own.

    “Director Shi…” Jin Youliang said, handing his phone to Zeng Huanian with a troubled expression, he pointed at his private chat window with Xiao Wang. “Director Qin left to see Director Shi this morning, I just found out something happened.”

    [Jin: How’s Director Shi? Can he come back today? Will you guys come back on your own, or should we send a car to pick you up?]

    [Wang: He can’t come back! Help! ‘Link: Shi Dingshan’s wife causes a scene at the hospital, variety show director rushed to emergency again’! It’s trending! Why isn’t Director Qin here yet! Has he left? Director Shi’s wife is terrifying! If Director Qin doesn’t come soon, I can’t handle it anymore, I’m going to die, ahhh!]

    [Jin: … He’s already on his way, don’t worry about anyone else, just take good care of Director Shi! It’ll be fine once Director Qin arrives!]

    [Wang: I’ll try my best, I’m so scared! Crying!]

    …

    Zeng Huanian’s vision went black, he almost dropped Jin Youliang’s phone.

    “The situation over there isn’t good, it’s just the two of us now, we have to help Director Shi keep this show running.” Jin Youliang said, patting Zeng Huanian’s shoulder.

    The dads and babies had separate tasks today.

    The dads had to complete a mysterious task assigned by the program team, while the babies were going to play the laser tag that Wang Zhizhi had been looking forward to.

    Even though the host had made it clear that the baby version of laser tag used very safe water guns with weak force, small water balloons, and even demonstrated their safety in front of the dads, it still looked like a pretend play version for babies, but Wei Chengli… still didn’t want to be separated from his chubby baby!

    For this, Wei Chengli even broke the rules again, finding an opportunity to secretly remove his microphone and avoid the camera, he grabbed a staff member and asked if there was any way to change it.

    However… there wasn’t.

    The mysterious task for the dads was actually to go to Shudian for costume fittings and rehearsals for tomorrow’s live-action role-playing game… If he didn’t participate properly, he would become the worst dad tomorrow… directly affecting his adorable little chubby dumpling’s gaming experience tomorrow.

    In the end… they were still separated.

    The dads were taken to Shudian in a van first, the babies waited at the villa for almost an hour before they were also taken away.

    The car ride wasn’t long, but the destination was quite surprising.

    Wei Maomao looked at the dark entrance of the air-raid shelter ahead, like the gaping maw of an abyss, she had to use all her willpower to stop herself from pulling Cheng Tingyan and running back to chase the van that had just left.

    “Babies, don’t be afraid, it’s not completely dark inside, there are lights in many places!” The host said with a smile, looking at the little babies, their faces tense, he waved his hand behind him.

    Suddenly, lights turned on inside the cave-like structure.

    From the outside, it just looked like a simple tunnel, not scary at all.

    “Now, let’s talk about the rules of today’s game.” The host said, taking out a large piece of paper and starting to read. “This used to be an air-raid shelter, today, we’ve transformed it into a game area that combines live-action laser tag and a treasure hunt. Many areas have lights, some paths require you to find the light switches yourselves, and some areas have no lights at all. But don’t worry, babies, your equipment includes night vision goggles, you can see clearly in the darkness with them. And you’ll have a chance to get flashlights from the treasure chests inside. Besides the night vision goggles, each baby will also receive a water gun filled with water, two small water bottles for refilling, and five small water balloons. The water in the water guns, bottles, and balloons will be different colors for each baby. And before entering, you’ll also have to wear the white clothes we prepared, so we can see the colors clearly during the laser tag game.”

    As the host explained, the staff handed each baby a small box.

    Wei Maomao looked down at the water gun in her box, with a little bunny drawn on it, filled with orange water, then at the water gun in front of Cheng Tingyan, with a small flower drawn on it, filled with light green water.

    They were truly thoughtful, but she still felt resistant.

    “Next, let’s talk about the scoring rules for the laser tag game. For… mmm, let’s take our little friend Wang Zhizhi as an example, the purple water he has, whether it’s from the water gun or the water balloons, each hit on a baby earns him one point, but repeated hits on the same baby before they change their white clothes don’t count. And the white clothes you’re wearing, if you’re hit by all six other colors, then you’re out, you have to come to the entrance, change into a clean white shirt, and then you can continue playing. After an hour and a half, we’ll tally the number of colors on each baby’s clothes to determine the ranking for this laser tag game. The winner will get a priority clue for tomorrow’s mysterious activity. And one more important thing, besides the initial water and water balloons we provide, you’ll need to find ammo vouchers inside to refill your ammunition.” The host said, pointing at the air-raid shelter. “This air-raid shelter, besides being a laser tag arena, also has multiple hidden treasure chests, with various goodies inside, including ammo vouchers, flashlights, vouchers for redeeming various treasures, so besides attacking and hiding, everyone should also search carefully.”

    Wei Maomao secretly glanced around, the other babies’ faces were full of excitement. Especially Wang Zhizhi, he looked like he couldn’t wait to rush in.

    There would be dark areas, it didn’t sound very safe.

    Wei Maomao looked at Cheng Tingyan, who was also barely concealing her anticipation, hesitantly.

    At this moment, the host continued, “The treasures include various snacks and toys, considering that our babies can’t read yet, they’re all pictures, each one is a real photo of the actual item! And there are also multiple staff members inside who can provide clues to the treasure chests, the hidden treasure chests found through their clues will have even bigger rewards! A little hint for you, there are limited-edition dinosaur toys, an army of toy soldiers, a Sudoku set, a giant bunny plush taller than a baby, and many other goodies you’ll definitely love.”

    Okay…

    Wei Maomao understood what Cheng Tingyan’s suddenly brighter eyes meant.

    There was no air-raid shelter in the show in her previous life, no laser tag, no treasure hunt. Wei Maomao wasn’t sure if the accident in her previous life was the one in the bathroom, she also wasn’t sure if this place was safe… A dark place, it just sounded…

    “Maomao, do you want me to help you put them on?” Cheng Tingyan asked, picking up the night vision goggles that Wei Maomao had been holding.

    “It’s bright here, I’ll wear them when it gets dark.” Wei Maomao said, then asked tentatively, “Yan Yan, do you want to go in?”

    “Mmm?” Cheng Tingyan asked softly. “You don’t want to go in? Are you scared? We won’t go if you’re scared.”

    Cheng Tingyan’s decision was quick, so quick that Wei Maomao had to look closely to notice the fleeting disappointment in her eyes between her initial surprise and her gentle smile.

    Playing water guns with good friends, wearing cool equipment, plus a well-designed treasure hunt and truly interesting prizes… It was something even the six-year-old Yan Yan couldn’t resist.

    The little babies were led into the air-raid shelter one by one by the staff, starting at different locations.

    But Wei Maomao and Cheng Tingyan were the last to enter, and they insisted on staying together. To ensure fairness, Wei Maomao handed over her water gun and water balloons. This way, they wouldn’t create a bug where they couldn’t be hit by the other babies because they weren’t shooting at each other and didn’t have to change their clothes. Sharing one set of water gun and ammunition was also fair to the other babies.

    “Yan Yan, let’s hold hands and not separate, take small steps, don’t run, okay?” Wei Maomao said, confirming with Cheng Tingyan again, standing at the entrance of the air-raid shelter.

    Being hit a few times, how many times, it didn’t matter. It was all about… participation. Don’t take risks for the ranking, just have fun, the most important thing was safety… and staying away from Cheng Rongrong.

    “Mmm.” Cheng Tingyan nodded again, promising. “I won’t run, I’ll protect you, Maomao, don’t be afraid.”

    Taking small steps, stepping firmly, avoiding dark areas before finding a flashlight, it should… be safe, right?

    Wei Maomao, feeling a bit uneasy, took a small step forward and entered the air-raid shelter.

    Next to her, Cheng Tingyan also took a step, crossing…

    The boundary between two lifetimes.

  • The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine 69

    69: [The First Prince on Inspection]

    Prince Konrad, approaching my sister with a smile, looked at me.

    “…And Lady Adelheid, I never expected to meet you here as well.”

    While he used the same line, his tone was noticeably less enthusiastic.

    …This guy clearly had a thing for my sister.

    While I didn’t like him, I had to give him credit for his taste in women.

    “Indeed. I’m surprised as well. Are you alone?”

    “…Hardly.”

    Konrad chuckled wryly.

    “I have guards. Just like you.”

    If someone attempted to destabilize Eustasia, we would be among the most valuable targets.

    Objectively speaking, I, as the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals,” was probably the more important target, but once he became king, that would change.

    Since this was my own territory, the Vanderwaals’ “shadows” had established a three-dimensional security net, from the roads ahead and behind to the rooftops… though they were invisible.

    The royal family would also have tight security around the First Prince. ――We had no say in the matter.

    The use of our lives had already been decided.

    “If you’re returning to the lord’s mansion, I can offer you a ride.”

    Translated using a special dictionary, it meant, “I want to impress your sister. And I want to spend time with the girl I like in the same carriage.”

    Whether that was endearing or creepy depended on your opinion of him.

    “…We’ll accept your kind offer.”

    It was best to simply follow fate’s arrangements.

    As we reached the main street, Konrad raised his hand, and a carriage promptly arrived and stopped. I reflexively checked for a crest, but there wasn’t one.

    At first glance, it looked like an ordinary two-horse, four-passenger carriage for hire.

    However, the smooth ride, the quality of the horses… were far beyond what you’d expect from a hired carriage. ――And, more importantly, the coachman and the man sitting next to him were clearly skilled guards.

    While perhaps not on Ciel’s level, they both wore swords at their hips, and I wouldn’t be able to easily defeat them in a two-on-one fight, even with weapons.

    I wasn’t sure if my belief that Ciel could handle them stemmed from blind faith in my governess, who had served me since childhood… or from a purely objective assessment of her skills. The two were intertwined, inseparable.

    However, currently, relations between the Eustasia royal family and the Vanderwaals were amicable, so such calculations were merely a habit, not a necessity.

    While the prince and I didn’t get along, perhaps because he was interested in my sister, he seemed to be holding back on his usual barbs towards me, her older sister.

    Konrad boarded the carriage first and then offered his hand to Leticia with a smile.

    “Lady Leticia, may I?”

    “…Thank you, Your Highness.”

    Leticia politely took his hand, as etiquette dictated, and sat in the back.

    Konrad was about to sit next to her—

    “Your Highness.”

    “Yes?”

    —when Leticia spoke.

    “You offered me your hand, didn’t you?”

    “…Yes.”

    Konrad looked bewildered.

    While I found it amusing, I was also bewildered.

    I didn’t understand what my sister was getting at.

    “Please extend the same courtesy to my Elder Sister.”

    I exchanged a look with Konrad.

    That was unexpected—however, there was nothing wrong with her request.

    Long ago, only men could become kings or heads of families. Women’s rights were more restricted than men’s.

    During times of war, women, who didn’t fight on the battlefield, were looked down upon.

    However, with wars of attrition demanding all available resources, and a severe shortage of soldiers, some countries began to employ female soldiers, albeit in limited roles, and opened knighthood to women.

    Furthermore, when a male head of family died in battle and there were no male heirs in the direct line, many countries chose the closest blood relative, regardless of gender, when deciding who should inherit the family.

    And those who made that choice won.

    They became the victors, the ones who wrote history.

    It was because of that historical trend that I now held the position of family head.

    It might not have been complete equality. Even now, most soldiers and knights were men, with few women serving in the military, even fewer as knights.

    While female heads of families weren’t unheard of, they were still a minority.

    …I imagined some families probably had their husbands handle such troublesome duties.

    In any case, the etiquette between men and women, and vice versa, still remained.

    Such customs would likely never disappear completely, and if they did, romance novelists might struggle to find sources of conflict.

    Well, that was irrelevant.

    The problem now was…

    …neither of us wanted to show the other such courtesy.

    In public, of course, we would both tolerate it… but this wasn’t a public setting.

    However, our interests aligned—Konrad didn’t want to offend the older sister and risk alienating the younger sister, and I didn’t want to set a bad example by disregarding the manners I had taught her—so we ended the silent standoff.

    “…Please, Lady Adelheid.”

    “Yes, thank you, Your Highness.”

    We exchanged insincere smiles.

    Outwardly, at least, our graceful gestures were textbook examples of proper etiquette. I took his hand and boarded the carriage.

    We both looked at my sister, who nodded in satisfaction, and I was relieved.

    Konrad probably felt the same.

    He was still the First Prince, after all. And I was the head of a ducal family.

    Even if our relationship was a strained one, not quite deserving of the term ‘childhood friends,’ we weren’t in a position to disregard etiquette.

    Leticia wasn’t a noble by birth and hadn’t received a noble upbringing from a young age.

    However, seeing her awareness of such manners, I was reminded of the power of education and the benefits it bestowed upon those who were receptive to it.

    …If the situation were reversed, and my sister had been treated disrespectfully, I would have been furious.

    Konrad seemed to want to sit next to my sister, but I used my position, having been escorted in, to push him to the far side and then gracefully settled into the seat next to the door, securing my position.

    While I also wanted to sit next to my sister, I didn’t have the courage.

    Ciel boarded the carriage and sat next to Leticia, then closed the door.

    Apparently, there was once a rule that servants didn’t ride in the same carriage as their masters, but it had gradually become less strict due to the inconvenience of using multiple carriages and the inability to hold meetings during travel… The custom had eroded over time.

    That aside, this was actually my first time riding in a carriage with this prince.

    He had been the first in line to the throne since birth.

    I had been the first in line to inherit my title since birth.

    Both our families had their own carriages, and there had never been a need for us to travel together.

    Since conversations inside a moving carriage were unlikely to be overheard, they were sometimes used for confidential discussions, but in such cases, they wouldn’t bring children along.

    Furthermore, as someone accustomed to using her own family’s carriage, it felt strange to be in a royal carriage—even a disguised one—with Prince Konrad.

    I addressed the prince, sitting next to me.

    “Your Highness, what brings you here?”

    I knew, but I asked anyway.

    He also knew that I knew, but I asked anyway.

    “His Majesty tasked me with inspecting Vandergant. I was just walking through the city.”

    “I see. You’ve been entrusted with a position of great responsibility.”

    The Kingdom of Eustasia wouldn’t be a kingdom without the territories of the great nobles.

    It was an important task, essential for the survival of the royal family, to ensure that those territories were being properly managed… Specifically, to check for any signs of rebellion or tax evasion.

    Well, our territory was… beginner-level for inspections.

    Judith always prepared meticulous reports, with no inconsistencies, and we had always passed the “shadows’” inspections.

    With an Acting Lord like her, it would take an idiot to mismanage the territory.

    Of course, the head of the family had to make the final decisions, but with her and Ciel offering their well-considered opinions, I sometimes felt… a bit spoiled.

    …This position was a heavy burden. It came with great responsibility.

    I didn’t think just anyone could be the head of the Vanderwaals.

    However, I had the foundation built by my predecessors and the support of capable individuals.

    I wasn’t the only one who could sit in the seat of the family head.

    “…Elder Sister, what’s the difference between an inspection and… an… in-spec-tion?”

    Leticia’s hesitant question brought my attention back to her.

    “They’re similar, but in this case, I’m patrolling my own territory, while His Highness is here to confirm that his vassal’s territory is being properly managed.”

    “I see…”

    Someday, Leticia would sit in the seat of the family head.

    And Judith would support her then… hopefully.

    And so would her chosen partner.

    “…Lady Adelheid, while this is unofficial, I’d like to speak with you, as the lord, and with the Acting Lord. Would you be willing to receive me?”

    “Certainly.”

    I nodded curtly.

    The ‘unofficial’ part was a bit concerning, but his inspection itself was unofficial.

    If necessary, I could simply pretend he had never visited. It was unofficial, after all.

    While I couldn’t physically harm the First Prince, the first in line to the throne, I could probably get away with a few threats.

    Just then, Konrad wrapped his arms around himself and shivered.

    “Your Highness? Are you alright?”

    “It’s… nothing. It happens whenever I’m with your sister.”

    Konrad answered my sister’s question with a smile, shaking his head as if to dispel something.

    I felt like I had just been grossly insulted, but I couldn’t retaliate without proof.

    If he weren’t the First Prince, I would have elbowed him in the ribs.

  • Second Time Around, the Villainous Daughter Decides to Indulge First 66

    Chapter 66: Word Spirit Magic

    The initial members of the Dove’s Flock were mostly decided during the return trip.

    Besides Young Master Caramy, the professional lackey planted beside the princess, the rest were carefully selected by Lena.

    The two sisters from the Crimson Nunnery, the future Saintess of the Holy Inquisition…

    And Mines, the enigmatic master of firearms, her background and profession shrouded in mystery.

    The Dove’s Flock was beginning to take shape.

    New blood would surely join their ranks, perhaps the bookish Vanessa, or the arrogant little princess. Lena would personally vet these two important candidates.

    This was the part Lena enjoyed the most, like opening a blind box, an opportunity not to be missed.

    Hmm, who should she start with…

    Entering the classroom and finding a quiet spot, Lena saw a familiar face.

    Her nose held high, the petite princess always walked in this childish and ridiculous manner, showcasing her royal demeanor, often tripping and falling in the process.

    Fortunately, she didn’t need to watch where she was going; her attendants cleared the path, pushing aside the eager crowd.

    “Make way, make way! Her Highness the Princess is here, everyone step aside!”

    Caramy struggled to manage the enthusiastic students.

    They all dreamed of joining the princess’s faction, so Diana’s arrival was like a feast for hungry wolves, their eyes gleaming.

    Imagine having the backing of the imperial family, their future success guaranteed!

    At least a minor official position would be within their grasp!

    Any position would do!

    The students held up their family heirlooms and magic tools, vying for Diana’s attention.

    After all, a good impression meant a better chance, not necessarily to stand out, but just to be better than their competitors.

    “Incompetent weaklings, how did things go?”

    “Your Highness, I adore you!!”

    “…” Diana ignored the outstretched hand, raising an eyebrow, her lips moving as if chanting a spell.

    The owner of the hand suddenly clutched his crotch, his face contorted in pain. A foul smell filled the hallway, a murky mixture of liquids and solids dripping down his leg.

    “Ugh!”

    “Disgusting! How can someone relieve themselves in a world-class magic academy?! So uncivilized!”

    “I can’t take it anymore, I’m leaving!”

    The crowd parted around the man, their faces filled with disgust.

    Caramy and Diana, who had clearly enjoyed the show, had already left, inwardly shocked by the word-spirit magic. If used on him, he would probably kill himself before it even took effect…

    “Vanessa agreed to cooperate. We’ve reached an agreement. We’ll meet near the abandoned Necromancy Department building after school. Lena will be there too.”

    “Oh, the weakling did a good job.”

    Diana yawned, chuckling. “But what does Vanessa’s cooperation have to do with my plan against Lena?”

    “Of course, it’s related, my dear princess.”

    Caramy never forgot to flatter her.

    In his eyes, Diana was no longer that arrogant little devil. The power she had casually displayed, the magic that controlled his body, was comparable to any elemental mage, almost as terrifying as Lena!

    After all, the ability to control others’ actions was incredibly powerful in a one-on-one situation, practically unstoppable unless countered by a specific profession. Otherwise, the entire academy could become this little devil’s playground.

    “Centaurs are known for their virility, and the Centaur King’s member is over two meters long. The incense made from its dried and ground genitals is colorless, odorless, and insoluble in water. Making Lena consume it won’t be easy, but with Vanessa’s spatial magic, we can transfer the incense directly into Lena’s stomach. She’ll be consumed by lust, unable to use magic, and that’s when Your Highness can strike.”

    Seize the opportunity! Control Lena!

    Spring the trap! Crush the little devil!

    Perfect!

    Caramy elaborated on the plan, not noticing Diana’s furrowed brows and pursed lips, a hint of disdain in her expression. “What if it fails? Have you considered the consequences? Can you withstand Lena’s wrath? Or did you not even consider the cost of failure…”

    “Failure?” Caramy’s heart tightened, and he quickly forced a smile. “I have complete confidence in my incense, Your Highness, please…”

    Diana raised her chin, interrupting him. “Lena is a rank six professional. With our current strength, challenging her head-on would only result in our deaths. Even if she doesn’t dare touch me, what if she humiliates me?”

    Diana would rather die than be humiliated.

    Her innate pride made her fearless against any enemy, but she couldn’t bear the shame of defeat, preferring death.

    “Rest assured, Your Highness, I will defend your honor with my life!” Caramy declared.

    Diana’s ponytail twitched. “Idiot! Are you hoping I’ll be captured and tortured by Lena?! Weakling, idiot!!”

    “No, no…”

    “Then come up with a better plan, or your family will receive your dismembered corpse!”

    A sweet, childish voice delivered a deadly threat.

    Caramy panicked.

    He was trapped, doomed either way. Lena had given him an impossible task…

    “Ah… ah, I’ve got it!”

    Desperate, Caramy disregarded the risks, prioritizing his own survival.

    “Your Highness can bring the Imperial Guard! With such powerful backup, how would Lena dare touch you? If she did, it would be an act of defiance against the empire! Disrespecting the Empress! She would be sentenced to death!”

    “No, the Imperial Guard can’t be mobilized so easily! Even I need a valid reason.” Diana pouted, her ponytail bouncing. “And she can’t die, she’s my toy, my dog. How can I have fun if she’s dead?!”

    Diana only wanted revenge for the arena incident, not to take a life.

    She wasn’t as cruel as Lena; she was quite lenient with her subordinates.

    No beatings, no punishments, just a quiet disposal, feeding them to monsters, a valuable death, a clean end.

    The more beautiful the toy, the more valuable it was. And someone like Lena, a walking disaster, it would be a waste to let her die.

    If she could break Lena’s spirit and then conquer her physically, the sense of accomplishment would be immense.

    Diana sighed dreamily, a smile playing on her lips, lost in her fantasy.

    The humiliation would be exquisite! Such humiliation was only worthwhile when inflicted on the right person!

    Senior Weakling~ don’t you agree?~

  • Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss 48

    Chapter 48: “Is it… a Heat Cycle?”

    Ming Fei was a little puzzled by the sudden apology, but she didn’t urge Zhu Yiqiao to explain immediately, just waiting quietly like a wind chime flower in the corner of a garden.

    Her curious and puzzled look, in Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes, was like a lively and gentle snow deer.

    At the same time, the persistent blizzard in her heart gradually began to subside.

    Since taking office as Chief Judge of the Trial Court, Zhu Yiqiao had rarely experienced such a moment of indecision.

    She pursed her lips and repeated in a low voice,

    “…Ming Fei, I’m sorry.”

    The recipient of the apology was even more puzzled: “Why are you saying this?”

    Zhu Yiqiao: “Initially, because of the gene theft incident, my impression of you was unfair. When Lubai said you were excellent, I called you a bookworm, an… incompetent bookworm.”

    “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have judged you with prejudice before understanding the situation clearly.”

    Finally, when she spoke again, there was a rare gentleness in Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes.

    “You are like the Zolan Green Dream, you don’t need anyone’s judgment.”

    The Zolan Green Dream was the star of the Tri-National Gem Appreciation Exhibition last year. It was hailed as the most beautiful natural green diamond of this century, like a dream of boating on a vast expanse of blue waves. Because it was extremely rare, it wasn’t put up for auction. After consultation between high-ranking officials, it was finally stored in the National Treasure Museum of the Independent State of Yi Meng.

    Ming Fei understood the metaphorical compliment in Zhu Yiqiao’s words.

    —You are as brilliant and dazzling as a diamond.

    Receiving both an apology and a compliment in such a short time, Ming Fei smiled shyly, the small dimple on her right cheek appearing.

    “Thank you, Jiejie.”

    She said, “It’s okay, because I also secretly thought Chief Judge Zhu was…”

    Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Chief Judge Zhu was what?”

    Ming Fei’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she confessed honestly, deliberately exaggerating some of the facts to lighten the atmosphere.

    “I thought Chief Judge Zhu was so mean, pointing a gun at my head, arresting me and putting me in detention, and even after the suspicion was cleared, you still wouldn’t let me go.” Ming Fei stopped there. “So, we both had emotional issues at the time, it’s really okay, Jiejie.”

    “I didn’t take these things to heart, especially since Jiejie helped me a lot later.”

    Just as she finished speaking, there was a sudden noise from the door. Through the display screen connected to the system, Ming Fei saw that it was Ming Zaozao standing outside.

    They exchanged a look and walked towards the intelligent security door at the same time. The security door automatically opened after receiving the command. Ming Fei squatted down and picked up the small Ming Zaozao, softly asking her why she had come upstairs after waking up.

    Ming Zaozao leaned against Ming Fei’s shoulder and mumbled, “Baby had a dream, and when Baby woke up and didn’t see Mommy, Baby asked Flower, and Flower said it didn’t know, so Baby was worried about Mommy and took the elevator upstairs, wanting Auntie to help Baby find Mommy.”

    Having come upstairs in a hurry tonight, Ming Fei hadn’t brought her phone, so she didn’t receive Ming Zaozao’s call.

    She softly explained to Ming Zaozao and praised her for being a brave baby.

    Ming Zaozao, no longer sleepy, was delighted by Ming Fei’s praise, her round black eyes blinking.

    This was her first time in Zhu Yiqiao’s bedroom. She didn’t look around curiously, nor did she act mischievously. She just suddenly reached out to Zhu Yiqiao, wanting to be held.

    As soon as Zhu Yiqiao picked up Ming Zaozao, Ming Zaozao asked hopefully,

    “Auntie, can Baby sleep with you?”

    Zhu Yiqiao didn’t hesitate: “Okay.”

    Ming Zaozao smiled happily: “Then can Mommy sleep with us too?”

    “Baby likes Auntie very much, and Mommy also likes Auntie. The little bears in the forest sleep together, the little rabbits sleep together, and the kittens and puppies sleep together too. Baby will sleep in the middle, and Auntie and Mommy will sleep on both sides~”

    Ming Fei, like a rabbit whose tail had been pulled, hurriedly tried to find an excuse to avoid the topic, but Zhu Yiqiao’s voice rang out first.

    “Okay.”

    Instantly, Ming Zaozao’s smile was brighter than a flower: “Yay! Thank you, Auntie!”

    After reaching an agreement, the adult and child started chatting about other topics.

    Leaving the embarrassed rabbit to pace back and forth, dizzy and seeing stars.

    Finally, when it was time for bed, the soft little one lay down between them, Ming Fei sleeping on the right side, faintly sensing the woody fragrance emanating from the other side, but it would quickly dissipate the moment she noticed it.

    She felt it was a little strange, but given the current situation, she didn’t ask any further questions, telling Ming Zaozao the bedtime story she had long memorized.

    “The little bear built a wooden bridge, and the swans in the river…”

    Unlike usual, tonight’s story had another listener, Zhu Yiqiao. This made Ming Fei a little shy, lowering her voice and not adding her usual vivid shadow puppet show.

    No matter when or where, Ming Zaozao was Ming Fei’s best audience. After listening to the bedtime story, Ming Zaozao first asked two questions about the story, then praised Ming Fei for telling it so well!

    After chattering for a while, Ming Zaozao obediently said goodnight to the two adults.

    Ming Fei responded gently: “Goodnight.”

    The heavy snow outside showed no signs of stopping. After Ming Zaozao, lying in the middle, fell asleep, Ming Fei originally thought she probably wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.

    Because this wasn’t just an unfamiliar environment like the hotel in Taiya, but Zhu Yiqiao’s private domain.

    But in reality, amidst the faintly fragrant pillows and blankets, she quickly fell asleep and had a good night’s sleep.

    Mid-November in the Independent State of Yi Meng, early winter had already arrived.

    The vast expanse of snow couldn’t suppress the rising sun. As the sky turned a fish-belly white, Ming Fei in the master bedroom on the third floor of the villa gradually woke up.

    She sat up, confirming that Ming Zaozao was sleeping soundly in the middle, and that she and Zhu Yiqiao were still peacefully separated, without any accidental close contact. Her worried heart finally settled down.

    The statutory public holiday in the Independent State had ended, and Q University’s class schedule was slightly adjusted for odd and even weeks. For Ming Fei, she could still rest for another day.

    She didn’t make any noise that might wake the other two, quietly getting out of bed and putting on her shoes. After washing up on the second floor, she went down to the first floor and encountered Xue Xun, who was also up early, in the living room.

    “Good morning, Teacher Xiao Fei.”

    “Morning, Xue Xun Jiejie.”

    Xue Xun casually asked, “Is Zaozao still asleep?”

    “Mm,” Ming Fei replied, “They’re still sleeping.”

    Xue Xun stopped, a smile gradually appearing on her face: “They?”

    Faced with Xue Xun’s pointed question, Ming Fei’s mind raced and quickly came up with an excuse.

    “Mm, Zaozao is still asleep, and I didn’t see Chief Judge Zhu when I came downstairs, so I guessed they were both still sleeping.”

    Having survived for many years in the apocalypse, Xue Xun had met all kinds of people and had a deep understanding of the horrors of human nature.

    Hearing such a clumsy excuse, she felt that this little alpha in her friend’s house was… a bit too naive. Such a personality was indeed more suitable for being a university teacher and doing research. If she were in the world of fame and fortune, or in the business or political world, she would probably be a rabbit surrounded by wolves, tigers, and leopards.

    And these thoughts were based on her not knowing about Ming Fei’s decisiveness and skill when firing a gun.

    She looked at Ming Fei with interest, recalling her friend’s words again and again, but couldn’t find any evidence that the person in front of her was like an alpha.

    The balance in her heart tilted a little more.

    She didn’t tease Ming Fei any further, as if she believed her words: “I see.”

    “Mm.”

    Ming Fei said goodbye to her and turned towards the kitchen.

    The villa’s new chef for the day had already arrived and was a little surprised to see her. Ming Fei politely greeted the chef and briefly explained a few things.

    In the following time, the chef, wearing a white chef’s hat, occasionally helped Ming Fei, even giving her some pointers. By the time Zhu Yiqiao and Ming Zaozao came downstairs, Ming Fei had already cooked the sweet jujube porridge that Ming Zaozao wanted.

    This was Ming Zaozao’s favorite porridge, a nutritious porridge specially formulated by Ming Fei according to her taste.

    Sweet and soft.

    It had the sweetness of dates and the original flavor of seven other ingredients.

    Ming Zaozao ate until her belly was round, occasionally praising Ming Fei’s cooking skills. Xue Xun, sitting next to her, would also join in the praise from time to time.

    After breakfast, Ming Fei went back to her study and worked for two hours.

    She originally wanted to use the remaining free time to continue working on the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum for Zhu Yiqiao, but thinking that she hadn’t spent much time with Ming Zaozao since returning from the business trip, she closed the door of the craft room and went to the living room on the first floor.

    It was just eleven o’clock. Ming Zaozao was playing with building blocks by the French window, like a quiet little mushroom. Just as she was about to ask 008 next to her when the snow outside would stop, she saw Ming Fei coming downstairs towards her.

    Ming Zaozao’s eyes lit up, and she immediately put down the building blocks, forgetting her question and answer.

    “Mommy~”

    “Mm, have you finished building, Zaozao?”

    Ming Zaozao shook her head: “Not yet, will Mommy play with Baby?”

    “Okay.”

    Ming Fei started playing with building blocks with Ming Zaozao. As usual, they started a competition, and the slower one would be punished.

    And Teacher Xiao Fei, who taught at the best university in the Independent State of Yi Meng at such a young age, almost always lost.

    This time was no exception.

    Ming Zaozao finished building the little tiger Lego first. Seeing that Ming Fei had lost again, she proposed a cute punishment.

    “Then Mommy will be the little tiger, and Baby will be the little kitten Mommy built.”

    Ming Fei smiled: “Okay.”

    So—

    Zhu Yiqiao, who had returned home for some reason, happened to see this scene as she passed by the French window from the garden.

    Ming Zaozao, wearing a light orange fluffy outfit, had a few whiskers drawn on her face and a cat-ear headband on her head. When she curled her fingers, she really looked like a little orange cat baring its claws. And Ming Fei, opposite her, also had whiskers drawn on her face, and there was even a black character “王” (king) written on her forehead. When Ming Zaozao pounced on her, she pretended to be a ferocious tiger.

    But the moment she caught Ming Zaozao, Ming Fei’s ferocious act was broken, and she smiled brightly, amused by the little one in her arms.

    It was a bright, happy smile, without any worries.

    Full of vitality, like a vibrant spring.

    Zhu Yiqiao paused, and only after the wind and snow brushed past her shoulders did she take another path back to the living room.

    After the building block game, Ming Fei played hide-and-seek with Ming Zaozao at her request. The game was limited to the main area of the living room, with Ming Fei hiding first.

    Before the game officially started, Ming Fei reminded Ming Zaozao not to run outside, because it was snowing and very cold.

    Ming Zaozao promised to be obedient.

    Ming Fei put on a blindfold, and after the countdown, announced with a smile, “Here we go.”

    Then, Ming Fei heard Ming Zaozao’s childish reply.

    “Okay!”

    Unwittingly revealing her hiding spot.

    The smile on Ming Fei’s lips deepened. She deliberately didn’t walk towards Ming Zaozao, letting Ming Zaozao have more fun by completely throwing the game.

    And the reason she was playing building blocks and hide-and-seek in the living room was entirely because Zhu Yiqiao wasn’t home.

    After breakfast, Zhu Yiqiao and Xue Xun had left. Before they left, Ming Zaozao asked Zhu Yiqiao when she would be back, and Zhu Yiqiao’s answer was “tonight.”

    Therefore, Ming Fei played the game without any worries, walking in the opposite direction of Ming Zaozao, acting as if she was seriously searching.

    Because she was immersed in the game and overly at ease, Ming Fei ignored some subtle sounds. When she reached the edge of the sofa, she actually knew that Ming Zaozao had hidden in another direction, but still pretended to hug the air in front of her.

    “I caught you!”

    Then—

    The kitten turned into a big cat.

    She happened to hug Zhu Yiqiao, who had appeared in the living room at some point.

    After hugging Zhu Yiqiao, Ming Fei realized something was wrong. She didn’t let go with her left hand, but quickly removed the blindfold with her right hand.

    Their eyes met, and a sudden surge of pheromones filled the air, enveloping Ming Fei.

    Zhu Yiqiao, in her arms, was wearing her Trial Court uniform, as if she would take out a pair of handcuffs at any moment and completely restrain Ming Fei, who was already surrounded by pheromones.

    Ming Fei asked softly, “Jiejie, what’s wrong?”

    Zhu Yiqiao didn’t say a word.

    The increasingly rich woody scent clearly indicated something unusual, like a final warning before a hunt, clearly signaling that the differentiated individual’s heat cycle seemed to have suddenly arrived.

    But Ming Fei firmly believed in the person’s alpha identity.

    She didn’t even consider why Colonel Zhu, once hailed as the backbone of the Victory Column, who had broken the world sniping distance record and many other military records, would allow this situation to happen.

    Why approach?

    Why not avoid her?

    Why let herself be hugged?

    From beginning to end, she naturally treated this big cat, usually dormant in the snowy highlands, like a kitten basking in the sun.

    She asked worriedly, tentatively, “Is it… a heat cycle?”

  • Captivating Beauty 69p2

    Chapter 69 p2

    Before getting back into the van, Xu Jinnan removed her bloodstained trench coat.

    Tong Jia was sitting beside Shen Shu, who seemed calmer now, her trembling having subsided, though she was still leaning against the window, her eyes closed.

    Tong Jia got out and went to the driver’s seat, giving Xu Jinnan her place.

    Xu Jinnan took Shen Shu’s cold hands in hers. “It’s okay. She won’t ever hurt you again,” she said softly.

    Shen Shu’s fingers twitched. She had heard the screams and knew what Xu Jinnan had done.

    But she didn’t want to think about it, didn’t even want to picture the woman’s face.

    “Don’t think about it,” Xu Jinnan said, putting her arm around Shen Shu and pulling her into a hug. “Don’t think about anything. I’m here.”

    They drove back to Xingcheng International in silence.

    The journey, usually forty minutes, took longer, Xu Jinnan driving slowly.

    As they arrived, Xu Jinnan got out of the car and helped Shen Shu out.

    Shen Shu’s legs were still weak, and she stumbled slightly as she stepped onto the pavement.

    Then, she was lifted off the ground.

    Xu Jinnan had scooped her up into her arms. She turned to Tong Jia, who had gotten out of the van. “Go home. Don’t worry about this. Drive safely,” she said.

    “I’m sorry,” Tong Jia whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

    It was the second time she had apologized.

    “Jia Jia,” Shen Shu said, her voice hoarse, wanting to reassure her.

    It wasn’t Tong Jia’s fault; she had been careless.

    “Don’t. I know you don’t blame me, but I can’t forgive myself, Shu Shu. I’m so sorry,” Tong Jia said, unable to look at the red marks on Shen Shu’s neck.

    “I’ll handle things at the studio. Get some rest. I’ll go now,” she said, not wanting to prolong Shen Shu’s distress. She could tell Shen Shu was forcing herself to be strong.

    She got back into the van and drove away.

    Xu Jinnan carried Shen Shu into the apartment building, her pace quickening as she noticed people staring. She held Shen Shu closer, shielding her.

    Inside the apartment, she carried her to the bedroom.

    “I need to take a shower,” Shen Shu said, her voice barely a whisper.

    “Okay.”

    As Xu Jinnan bent down to help her remove her shoes, Shen Shu’s hand tightened around her arm.

    She didn’t want Xu Jinnan to do this for her.

    Xu Jinnan gently removed Shen Shu’s hand and took off her shoes.

    Shen Shu was wearing a light purple dress and flat, cream-colored shoes, her legs still sore from horseback riding.

    As she placed the shoes on the floor, Xu Jinnan noticed a small tear in the fabric near Shen Shu’s knee. “Can I take a look?” she asked, her hand gently touching the fabric.

    Shen Shu nodded.

    Xu Jinnan lifted the hem of the dress, revealing a small, red scrape on Shen Shu’s knee. It wasn’t bleeding.

    She checked Shen Shu’s elbow, which was also slightly red, but protected by her jacket.

    The most serious injury was the one on her neck.

    Xu Jinnan clenched her jaw, hearing Shen Shu’s soft voice. “I’m going to take a shower.” She couldn’t stand the Alpha’s scent on her any longer; it made her nauseous.

    “I’ll get your pajamas,” Xu Jinnan said.

    The apartment was silent. She opened the wardrobe and took out the strawberry-print pajama set.

    “Will these do?”

    Shen Shu nodded.

    Xu Jinnan helped her stand.

    “I’m fine now. I can manage,” Shen Shu said, her voice still hoarse, but calmer now, her composure returning, though it was clearly a forced composure.

    Xu Jinnan looked at her for a moment. “Take your time.”

    Shen Shu nodded, her demeanor calm and collected, her usual aloofness returning.

    Xu Jinnan watched as she walked towards the bathroom, her heart aching.

    She knew Shen Shu was just pretending to be strong.

    She didn’t want to push her, to make her even more withdrawn. Shen Shu might seem strong, but she was incredibly vulnerable right now.

    And Xu Jinnan knew that with Shen Shu’s personality, she needed space, time to process everything on her own.

    She sat on the sofa, waiting.

    Waiting for Shen Shu to emerge from the bathroom, her mind racing, unable to focus on anything else.

    After half an hour, just as she was about to knock on the door, the sound of the shower stopped.

    She heard the sliding glass door open, then the sound of Shen Shu’s footsteps… She deliberately focused on other things, trying to distract herself.

    The bathroom door opened, and Shen Shu slowly emerged, her face, ears, neck, and hands flushed from the hot water, her skin almost glowing.

    Shen Shu, seeing Xu Jinnan at the doorway, murmured, “I’m going to bed.”

    “Shu Shu,” Xu Jinnan said, taking her hand, which was burning hot.

    “I’m fine. I just need some sleep,” Shen Shu said, her voice calm, as if nothing had happened.

    Xu Jinnan paused, then nodded. “Okay.”

    She watched as Shen Shu went into her bedroom, lay down on the bed, then, after turning off the lights, closed the door.

    —

    Shen Shu lay curled up in bed, her hands clutched to her chest, her body trembling despite her attempts to calm down, her heart pounding.

    She was reminded of the time after her grandmother’s death.

    She had heard Wei Wuqing was going to burn all of her grandmother’s belongings, and when she called, Wei Wuqing had said, She’s gone. What good are dead people’s things? If you want them, come and pick them out of the fire yourself.

    She had hung up and run towards the Shen residence, her mind reeling, the city shrouded in a gray mist, the buildings like ghostly figures, the world feeling dirty and polluted.

    It was the kind of weather that felt like death, the finality of her grandmother’s passing a heavy weight on her heart.

    She had felt like the world was ending.

    She had waited for a taxi, but none came, the usually readily available cars nowhere to be seen.

    Perhaps it hadn’t been that long, but she couldn’t bear the wait.

    She had run towards the bus stop, the drizzle soaking her hair and clothes.

    Wanting to save time, she had taken a shortcut through a narrow alleyway.

    Halfway through, she had noticed a woman behind her, wearing a silver mirrored visor and a dark blue coat.

    The woman had smiled at her, a seemingly kind and gentle smile.

    She had continued walking, quickening her pace.

    The dark clouds overhead made the alleyway even darker, and the bad weather meant there were few people around.

    The woman had covered her mouth and nose from behind, dragging her into a side alley.

    Then, the repulsive scent of cheap Alpha pheromones had filled the air, suffocating her, triggering a wave of panic…

    It was as if she was back in that alleyway, back in the parking garage just a few hours ago.

    She opened her eyes, gasping for breath.

    Then, the bedroom door opened, the light from the living room spilling in. She closed her eyes again, then heard the soft click of the door closing, and Xu Jinnan’s quiet footsteps approaching.

    She smelled the familiar, sunny scent of Xu Jinnan’s pheromones, the cool touch of her hand on her forehead a welcome contrast to the burning heat of her own skin, the faint fragrance of milk from Xu Jinnan’s shower gel lingering in the air.

    For some reason, her eyes started to sting.

    The mattress dipped beside her, and she felt Xu Jinnan lie down.

    Xu Jinnan turned on her side, facing Shen Shu, her voice soft and gentle in the dim light. “Shu Shu, can I hold you?”

    Shen Shu’s eyes welled up, and she opened them, meeting Xu Jinnan’s gaze, though she couldn’t see her expression clearly. Xu Jinnan’s hand gently grasped her arm through the blanket, her touch firm and reassuring.

    Shen Shu couldn’t resist, letting Xu Jinnan pull her closer, her own hand reaching out to rest on Xu Jinnan’s back, her burning cheek pressed against Xu Jinnan’s shoulder.

    It was a close, almost desperate embrace.

    Xu Jinnan’s breath hitched, her throat tightening, her hand gently stroking Shen Shu’s hair. “Shu Shu,” she whispered, her voice husky, “I told you, you don’t have to hide anything from me. You don’t have to be strong.”

    Shen Shu’s voice, muffled against Xu Jinnan’s shoulder, was hoarse and broken, unlike her usual cool composure.

    “I don’t want to…” she whispered, the unfinished sentence a reflection of her inner turmoil.

    She didn’t want to be vulnerable in front of Xu Jinnan.

    She didn’t want Xu Jinnan to think she needed her.

    She had simply realized, suddenly and unexpectedly, that she cared, more than she had anticipated, both physically and emotionally.

    And she didn’t like it.

    She wanted Xu Jinnan to need her too, an equal exchange of vulnerability and dependence.

    As Xu Jinnan was about to ask what she meant, Shen Shu lifted her head, her hair brushing against Xu Jinnan’s chin, the tingling sensation lingering on her skin.

    Then, a warm softness replaced the tingling as Shen Shu’s lips brushed against her chin, then moved upwards to her mouth.

    A soft, urgent kiss, like a kitten lapping up milk.

    Xu Jinnan froze for a moment, then her arms tightened around Shen Shu, her body responding to the kiss, her own desire flaring, her response seemingly pleasing Shen Shu, who shifted slightly, her hand resting on Xu Jinnan’s shoulder blade, her position precarious.

    Xu Jinnan, worried about her elbow, tried to roll over, but Shen Shu’s fingers tightened on her arm, a silent protest.

    Xu Jinnan sighed inwardly, letting Shen Shu take the lead.

    But Shen Shu’s movements were clumsy, and Xu Jinnan winced several times.

    She gently pushed Shen Shu back down, and Shen Shu, her head tilted back, met Xu Jinnan’s gaze, her lips slightly parted. Xu Jinnan’s hand moved to the back of Shen Shu’s head, cradling it gently as she leaned in closer.

    Shen Shu’s hands gripped Xu Jinnan’s shoulders as she was pushed back against the bed.

    Afraid she would fall, Xu Jinnan shifted, pulling Shen Shu closer.

    She briefly broke the kiss, her gaze lingering on Shen Shu’s flushed cheeks, her chin, her earlobe, then finally resting on the red marks on her neck.

    Her gentle gaze was like a soothing balm, a silent promise of protection.

    At that moment, she felt a sharp sting in her scent gland, more intense than before.

    But it was fleeting, and she dismissed it, clinging to the hope that it was just a minor fluctuation.

    But she couldn’t let her desire consume her. She forced herself to slow down, her movements gentler, giving Shen Shu time to catch her breath.

    Her voice, as hoarse as Shen Shu’s, whispered a question in Shen Shu’s ear.

    In the darkness, Shen Shu’s face, flushed like a sunset, responded.

    —

    After a while, Shen Shu said, “It’s raining. The flowers are still on the balcony.” It was a pot of roses, blooming despite the autumn weather, which Xu Jinnan had brought home from the office.

    “I’ll go get them,” Xu Jinnan said.

  • Female Lead Was Coaxed Away by the Villain Again [Quick Transmigration] 129

    Chapter 129: Money Is Really Tempting (2)

    The woman who had just spent a fortune returned, carrying a luxurious movie snack combo. She handed one of the baskets to Jiang Zhiyan: “There’s an auction tomorrow.”

    “Oh?” Jiang Zhiyan was taken aback.

    “No need to go, it’s online, just call someone and have them bid for you, we’ll see if there’s anything good tomorrow.”

    “Okay,” Jiang Zhiyan smiled. “I’m so sorry to trouble you.”

    “It’s no trouble at all,” Jin Shuang beckoned her. “Let’s go, the movie’s about to start.”

    Since it wasn’t a holiday, and it was late at night, they were the only two people in the theater.

    The movie was worse than average. Jiang Zhiyan glanced at it a few times and lost interest, but perhaps because the person watching the movie with her was Xie Liaoyi, it wasn’t that unbearable.

    Jin Shuang, on the other hand, watched attentively, as if conducting academic research. When the movie ended, she still looked confused.

    “Was that a romance movie?” Jin Shuang asked, puzzled.

    “Yes,” Jiang Zhiyan nodded.

    “What was it about?”

    Jiang Zhiyan: …

    Jiang Zhiyan’s mouth opened slightly; she had been too focused on Jin Shuang’s hand resting beside hers and had only watched the first few minutes of the movie.

    “A love story,” Jiang Zhiyan said seriously.

    She could have asked the System to search for the correct answer, but she felt it was unnecessary, recounting or not recounting the plot would only make her look stupid.

    Jin Shuang pursed her lips: “The more I watched, the more it felt like some kind of conspiracy. The male lead was a master manipulator, and the female lead actually believed him, giving him half of her assets as a ‘love fund,’ and it’s strange, she even funded his ventures, supported his dreams, and in the end, after he succeeded, everyone acted like the female lead didn’t contribute at all, saying she was reaching above her station… I thought it was a story about a group of people scamming someone.”

    Jiang Zhiyan was certain now, Jin Shuang definitely wasn’t lovestruck, she was very clear-headed, not lovestruck at all.

    She suddenly felt that this movie wasn’t completely useless.

    “You’re right,” Jiang Zhiyan nodded and immediately praised her. “That makes perfect sense, you’re so insightful, unlike me, I just watch movies for entertainment, and then I forget everything.”

    “Thank you,” Jin Shuang said, looking pleasantly surprised. “Where are we going now?”

    “Let’s go back and rest, aren’t you going out tomorrow?”

    “Okay, did you drive? I can take you home if you didn’t.”

    “I didn’t,” Jiang Zhiyan shook her head firmly, she actually did drive, but in this situation, wouldn’t it be stupid to admit it?

    However, when they returned to the underground parking lot of the restaurant, Jiang Zhiyan immediately saw her own car parked nearby. She calmly moved to Jin Shuang’s other side, trying to block her view.

    But… she hated that she wasn’t tall enough in this world, she couldn’t block it completely.

    Jin Shuang glanced at the car, and Jiang Zhiyan had already prepared an excuse, but Jin Shuang didn’t say anything.

    Jiang Zhiyan breathed a sigh of relief.

    “She saw it, but she didn’t say anything, what does this mean? It means she also wants to spend more time with me,” Jiang Zhiyan deduced rationally.

    “Host, truly, you’re the biggest lovestruck fool in the world,” the System said. Cold-blooded and ruthless when Xie Liaoyi wasn’t around, but like a marshmallow cake when she was, it didn’t know what kind of creature could change faces so quickly.

    Jiang Zhiyan ignored it and happily got into the passenger seat of Jin Shuang’s car. If she hadn’t already acted so foolishly, she would have pretended she didn’t know how to fasten her seatbelt.

    “Where do you live?” Jin Shuang asked.

    “I’ll send you the location,” Jiang Zhiyan sent her the coordinates.

    Jin Shuang glanced at it: “It’s very close to the place I was planning to stay tonight.”

    “That’s great, if you always stay there, we can hang out together,” Jiang Zhiyan was very satisfied with this location, it was clearly arranged for them to develop their relationship, the perfect time, place, and people.

    Jiang Zhiyan glanced at Jin Shuang a few times, she was fiddling with her seatbelt, her hesitant expression making the System want to hit her.

    “Why don’t you stay at my place tonight? I have guest rooms, many rooms, it’s late, and it’s not safe going back alone, it’s so dark.”

    Jin Shuang frowned: “I’ve never stayed overnight at someone else’s place before.”

    “It’s fine, I don’t have any rules, you can choose the guest room furthest away from mine,” Jiang Zhiyan said. “Even if you have a party in your room at night, I won’t hear anything.”

    Jin Shuang chuckled softly: “Okay, then I’ll have to impose.”

    “It’s no imposition at all, after today, we’re practically comrades in arms, why be so polite?” Jiang Zhiyan said with a chuckle.

    “I didn’t realize you were so… interesting before.”

    “No need to dwell on the past me, just focus on the future me, the past me and the current me aren’t the same person.”

    “I agree.”

    Jiang Zhiyan’s eyes lit up: “That’s good.”

    She paused, then continued: “Remember to turn on sleep mode tonight, or put a certain someone’s number on Do Not Disturb, or you’ll be woken up early tomorrow morning.”

    “Okay, thanks for the reminder,” Jin Shuang nodded.

    Although it wasn’t quite the “sharing a room” scenario she had hoped for, being in the same house was already very good for Jiang Zhiyan.

    Jiang Zhiyan prepared new toiletries and clothes for her, then reluctantly returned to her room.

    “Host, don’t you think you’re acting like a pervert?”

    “I’m being so considerate, how can I be a pervert?”

    “No, when you asked her if the water was too hot outside, you really sounded like one.”

    “I really suggest you learn the art of communication, or I really won’t take you with me.”

    System: ???

    “You know, you’re my System, my wife can only make suggestions, I also have my own opinions.”

    “Host, you’re threatening me now.”

    “Haven’t I always been good at threats?” Jiang Zhiyan asked, puzzled.

    She lay in bed, pulled the blanket up, and stared at the ceiling. Having just woken up in the afternoon, she couldn’t sleep at all.

    “Check on the male lead, is he dead?” Jiang Zhiyan asked calmly.

    “No, his vital signs are stable.”

    “Tsk,” Jiang Zhiyan twitched the corner of her mouth.

    “Why would you even think he’s dead?”

    “It’s possible to choke on your own vomit after drinking too much.”

    “But the male lead of a CEO novel definitely won’t die like that, the image of him lying on the floor right now is perfect for a photo card.”

    “Tsk.”

    Jiang Zhiyan closed her eyes.

    The next morning, Mu Chen woke up with a splitting headache, looked at his phone beside him, and being extremely sensitive about money, his first thought was about the money spent last night, not why he was still on the floor.

    He opened his phone and scrolled through the transaction notifications one by one.

    Mu Chen: ???

    What did she even buy? A building?

    He looked around, realized where he was, struggled to stand up, and called out for Jin Shuang a couple of times.

    But Jin Shuang didn’t appear. A housekeeper hurried out of her room.

    “Sir?” she asked, her eyes widening slightly. “Why are you here?”

    “Where’s Jin Shuang?”

    “Missus didn’t seem to come back last night,” she said with a nervous laugh.

    Mu Chen glanced at her and quickly calmed down: “Make me some hangover soup.”

    He was about to call Jin Shuang when he saw the message she had sent him.

    [Jin Shuang: I spent the money. Don’t call me. I’ll be sleeping until ten.]

    Mu Chen stared at the cold and heartless message, either stunned or simply slow to react from the alcohol, he didn’t move for a long time.

    He took a deep breath, looked at the amount spent last night again, and called Jin Shuang again, refusing to believe it.

    Jin Shuang didn’t answer. He called three times in a row, and she didn’t answer, which was completely unheard of.

    He frowned, his face darkening.

    He went upstairs, intending to take a shower in the master bedroom, but the door was locked.

    Mu Chen laughed angrily, took out his phone, and complained: “This woman, what is she playing at?”

    “She’s just playing hard to get, let her spend, she’ll pay you back anyway,” his friend said jokingly. “She’ll be begging you to come home for dinner in three days, tops.”

    “Probably less than three days, the day after tomorrow is when we’re supposed to go back to the Jin family,” Mu Chen said casually, his expression cold.

    “Alright, Sister-in-law is quite pitiful, don’t be too harsh on her.”

    Mu Chen put his phone aside, took a quick shower in the guest bathroom, then, wrapped in a bathrobe, searched for a long time before finding his clothes stuffed in a corner.

    He frowned.

    He remembered that when he came here a month ago, his clothes were neatly placed in the walk-in closet.

    Was Jin Shuang now putting on a full performance?

    He shook out his suit, called his assistant, and asked him to bring two sets of clothes, then sat on the sofa, put his phone aside, and waited for Jin Shuang’s call to explain.

    Jiang Zhiyan slept soundly until 9:30. As soon as she woke up, she put on her clothes and went downstairs to prepare breakfast. Jin Shuang came down less than three minutes later.

    “I was going to make breakfast,” Jin Shuang said, gathering her hair. “I can do it.”

    “Do you even do this kind of work at home?” Jiang Zhiyan asked, frowning.

    Jin Shuang thought for a few seconds: “I might have before.”

    “No need, you go wash up, I’ll do it, you’re a guest here,” Jiang Zhiyan said, gently pushing Jin Shuang towards the bathroom, then quickly retracting her hand.

    She hadn’t meant anything by it, but she felt strangely guilty.

    “Then I’ll have to impose.”

    “I told you, no need to be so polite,” Jiang Zhiyan said helplessly.

    She now wanted to dismember the male lead even more.

    Jin Shuang’s character profile mentioned that she used to be a bit spoiled before falling for Mu Chen, after all, she was from a wealthy family, her current cautious behavior was clearly developed after marrying that scumbag.

    Jiang Zhiyan carefully sliced the bacon, the System feeling like each slice was a cut on the male lead’s bones.

  • I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets! 219

    Chapter 219: Lian Xing Attacks the Water Soul World??

    “Bang!!!”

    Under everyone’s gaze, Legendary Moonlight Rabbit Dao Yao’s sleeve was torn, her paw pulverized.

    Silence fell over the arena.

    Sumeru and Mountains and Seas, observing the battle, felt a chill run down their spines.

    That was Dao Yao…

    How could she be injured by a mere Moonlight Rabbit!?

    Tai Yin’s eyes narrowed, realization dawning.

    “So that’s how Lotus Concubine Tai Sui was injured…”

    “And the final participant in the Lunar Divine Festival…”

    “It seems a remarkable individual has emerged during my absence…”

    As Dao Yao stared at the two Moonlight Rabbits in stunned silence, Lian Xing, sitting on the massive, colorful phoenix, activated Unbreakable Heaven’s Ring, quickly analyzing the data of the Legendary Moonlight Rabbit and all other beings within the Tai Yin Kingdom.

    [Legendary Overlord · Biological · Dao Yao LV20400]

    [Legendary Overlord · Elemental · Tai Yin LV19900]

    [Legendary Emperor · Viral · Sumeru LV11217]

    [Legendary Emperor · Mechanical · Mountains and Seas LV9400]

    Seeing the four Pet Beasts’ stats, sorted by level, Lian Xing’s heart skipped a beat.

    As expected, the Moonlight Rabbit hadn’t looked like Tai Yin.

    It was Dao Yao, the fifth-ranked Legend, renowned for her unparalleled combat prowess.

    Tai Yin was likely observing from behind the scenes…

    Dao Yao, Mountains and Seas, and Sumeru were likely Tai Yin’s protectors, rarely appearing alone in the Moon Soul World.

    Legends were as difficult to level as Ancient Species, yet Dao Yao had surpassed level twenty thousand. She was a true monster!

    Lian Xing stroked Death Sentence and White Silk Weaver Girl’s heads, praising them.

    “You fought her in your unequipped state?”

    “Impressive! You’ve grown stronger~~~”

    “Death Sentence has become an Emperor, and the little phoenix has become a true Fallen Species. You three did well~~~”

    Lian Xing had noticed that despite Moon-Severing Decapitation Song and White Silk Weaver Girl being Weapon Species, Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan hadn’t equipped them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have struggled so much.

    The little phoenix’s obsession with cleanliness was truly severe. Since Death Sentence was the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit’s weapon, she refused to merge with it.

    Tears welled up in Death Sentence and White Silk Weaver Girl’s eyes as they heard Lian Xing’s praise. The smooth white silk stocking wrapped around Lian Xing’s leg like a snake as they asked the question that had been worrying them: “Mommy, is there still a place for us in your lineup?”

    “Not sure right now, but Mommy won’t abandon you!!”

    “We’ll figure out the lineup later. Let’s go home first~~~”

    “Hmph—” Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan snorted, then flicked her tail, scooping up the two falling Moonlight Rabbits and placing them gently on her back.

    The Ancient Rabbit stumbled, and Death Sentence quickly floated over to support her.

    As Lian Xing reunited with her former Pet Beasts, Tai Yin’s Legends exchanged uneasy glances.

    Sumeru narrowed its eyes. “Should we help Dao Yao? The enemy’s numbers have increased…”

    But Tai Yin remained silent, frowning.

    Suddenly, Mountains and Seas trembled, its voice filled with terror.

    “Tai Yin, let’s retreat! The enemy’s lineup is… unsettling!”

    “Retreat? Why? This is my world!” Sumeru retorted, confused.

    But upon receiving Mountains and Seas’ analysis, it froze.

    [Legendary Overlord · Mechanical · Divine Machine LV17190]

    [Legendary Commander · Elemental · Star Sand LV100]

    [Emperor-Tier · Weapon Species · White Silk Weaver Girl LV4650]

    [Fallen Species · Emperor-Tier · Nether Leaf Dark King’s Court LV4500 (One of the Four Great Calamities, Avalanche)]

    [Ancient Species · Myriad-Level Emperor · Back-Tailed Moon-Chasing Demon Rabbit LV14999]

    What!?

    Six Legends, a Fallen Calamity, and a Myriad-Level Ancient Species! How was this possible!?

    Who was this woman!?

    Tai Yin and Dao Yao also received the analysis, their initial reaction disbelief.

    With Lotus Concubine Tai Sui around, how could an Ancient Species reach Myriad-Level, even approaching Overlord…?

    And a human Beast Tamer couldn’t possibly have so many powerful Pet Beasts…

    But if this were true… few in the entire Moon Soul World could stop her…

    Like Lotus Concubine Tai Sui’s recent injury…

    Should they continue fighting?

    After a moment of silence, Tai Yin’s cold voice echoed across the Tai Yin Kingdom.

    “Divine Machine, what are you doing?”

    “How did a Beast Tamer capture you!?”

    “Why are you causing trouble in my territory!!”

    “…”

    “…”

    “Uh, I wasn’t captured! I’m just taking a stroll with my boss!”

    “And this is all a misunderstanding! Let’s just forget about it, okay? Give me some face!!” the brass chip replied innocently.

    Seeing the Divine Machine’s meekness, Tai Yin hesitated.

    She suspected the Divine Machine had tampered with Mountains and Seas’ analysis.

    As a fellow Mechanical species, the second-ranked Divine Machine could easily do that.

    This woman’s lineup probably wasn’t as powerful as the data suggested…

    Then, Lian Xing spoke.

    “Tai Yin, want to join me?”

    “I actually came here for you…”

    Tai Yin, Dao Yao, Mountains and Seas, and Sumeru were all stunned.

    What was this woman saying?

    She wanted to capture Tai Yin, the First Legend?

    Was she insane?

    Tai Yin governed over a dozen Soul Worlds, a god-like being to trillions of beings. How could a mere human capture her!?

    Even Lian Xing’s own Pet Beasts were outraged, especially Death Sentence and White Silk Weaver Girl, who weren’t currently in her lineup. Death Sentence rolled around in Lian Xing’s arms, while White Silk Weaver Girl wriggled under her skirt, their jealousy evident.

    However, after a long silence, Tai Yin smiled.

    She descended, landing before Lian Xing and her Pet Beasts.

    “Oh, you want me?”

    “Not impossible~~~”

    “But we’ll have a competition. If you lose, your three uncontracted Pet Beasts are mine~~~”

    “If you win, I’ll willingly become your Pet Beast~~~”

    “No, Tai Yin, absolutely not!!!” Mountains and Seas and Sumeru shrieked, while Dao Yao frowned.

    However, Lian Xing, looking at the beautiful, silver-haired woman, narrowed her eyes and refused.

    “No, I won’t gamble my Pet Beasts.”

    “How about this: if I lose, I’ll forfeit the Lunar Divine Festival and even send a Pet Beast to help you win.”

    “After all, you’re also a participant, right?”

    “…”

    “…”

    “Fine, it’s a deal.” Tai Yin smiled, glancing at the white silk stocking peeking from beneath Lian Xing’s skirt.

    A pity…

    She had wondered whose descendant this woman was.

    Clearly, Lian Xing didn’t know the stocking’s true value. But Beast Tamers who wouldn’t abandon their Pet Beasts were the most difficult to negotiate with; it was their core belief, their chosen path.

    “So, what’s the competition?” Lian Xing asked casually.

    With her well-rounded, powerful lineup, she was confident she wouldn’t lose, no matter the challenge.

    However, she hadn’t anticipated Tai Yin’s next words.

    The silver-haired woman on the moon phantom smiled, glancing at the Pet Beasts around them before looking at Lian Xing.

    “Let’s compare our… fertility.”

    “…”

    “…”

    “…”

    “?”

    Lian Xing was stunned.

    Tai Yin had seen through her facade.

    The two Moonlight Rabbits on the phoenix’s back also froze. As Lian Xing’s Married Pet Beasts, they knew her weakness in this area.

    “No, I’m a Beast Tamer. How can I compete with a Pet Beast in fertility? It should be Pet Beast vs. Pet Beast!”

    “I’ll send one of mine to compete with you!”

    Lian Xing had a malicious plan.

    If Tai Yin agreed, she would send Golden Leaf, crushing her with the Fallen Species’ power.

    However, Tai Yin simply lifted her skirt slightly, revealing a smooth, white leg.

    “But I’m still a virgin~”

    “You want to capture me? Is it wise to… cripple yourself beforehand?”

    “Isn’t it a master’s duty to… enjoy their Pet Beast first?”

    “Gulp…”

    As Tai Yin spoke, everyone saw Lian Xing swallow nervously.

    She was tempted!

    The Shining and Ancient Rabbits exchanged exasperated glances.

    This woman was hopeless…

    Had she forgotten the horrors of the past month?

    Some habits never changed…

    “Let’s… choose another competition~~~” Lian Xing finally said, waving her hand dismissively.

    Though losing meant forfeiting the Lunar Divine Festival and gaining a free… experience with Tai Yin, she couldn’t agree so shamelessly before her Married Pet Beasts. They would definitely retaliate.

    And if Moonwalker found out…

    Just then, Dao Yao, who had been observing silently, stepped forward.

    “I’ll challenge your two Moonlight Rabbits in a one-versus-two fertility contest. If I lose, I’ll join your lineup!”

    “…”

    “…”

    Uh, was she just trying to freeload…?

    Not only Tai Yin, but even Lian Xing’s Pet Beasts glared at Dao Yao.

    Tai Yin might not lose much, but Dao Yao would definitely win, regardless of the outcome.

    This wasn’t entirely Dao Yao’s fault. At their level, it was rare to find a worthy opponent, let alone the chance to sample both a Shining and an Ancient Species. Such a dream was beyond even their wildest fantasies.

    To prevent Dao Yao’s defection, Tai Yin sighed.

    “Let’s decide this with our Beast Taming abilities.”

    “You know there are many independent subordinate Soul Worlds outside the Moon Soul World. Since they’re not part of the main True Spirit Worlds, their inhabitants’ realms are severely suppressed.”

    “Our subordinate Soul Worlds are currently at war with another True Spirit World’s subordinates. Let’s each send a reinforcement and see who wins.”

    A translucent sand table appeared before Tai Yin, displaying the detailed battle situations of over a dozen Soul Worlds, including Cloud Soul World, Water Soul World, Snow Soul World, and Rain Soul World.

    The sand table showed the combat power data of each Soul World. The Water Soul World was the weakest, its strongest being barely Emperor-Tier, the others stuck at the peak of Monarch-Tier.

    The Rain Soul World, however, possessed terrifyingly powerful beings, their data nearing the level of Moon Soul World Guardians.

    “You can choose any of my Pet Beasts and any Soul World to attack. I’ll do the same. Since you’re unfamiliar with the situation, you choose first…”

    Lian Xing studied the data carefully.

    The Water Soul World was clearly the weakest. If she sent one of Tai Yin’s Emperor-Tier Pet Beasts from the Star Soul World, it would be a guaranteed victory.

    However, Lian Xing noticed something strange.

    There was a [Back-Tailed Moon-Chasing Demon Rabbit] in the Water Soul World. Though sharing the same name as her Ancient Rabbit, it wasn’t an Ancient Species, its aura more akin to a Fallen Species.

    Was this due to the different evolutionary system rules?

    Lian Xing studied the data further.

    The Water Soul World’s sand table showed no enemy Emperor-Tier beings, only a neutral Emperor, [Time and Space]. But their side had a sleeping Emperor-Tier Pet Beast, [Nine Extinguished Divine Courts].

    Even without reinforcements, they should be able to win easily.

    Lian Xing nodded.

    “I choose first?”

    “Yes~~~” Tai Yin stepped back, gesturing for Lian Xing to proceed.

    Lian Xing chose to attack the Water Soul World without hesitation.

    Tai Yin smiled.

    She had infiltrated the Water Soul World before and knew it well. It was one of the Sea Soul World’s Divine Ruins, a place where strange things happened, and the realms of its inhabitants were severely suppressed. Even Emperors would be reduced to Monarch-Tier, unless it was a top Legend like herself, who would be suppressed to ordinary Emperor-Tier.

    Or like Nine Extinguished Divine Courts, which had adapted to the Water Soul World’s system after a long stay, reaching Emperor-Tier through a different path.

    It was Lian Xing’s turn to choose her “troops.”

    Without much thought, she sent [Heavenly Fire Rabbit], a member of the Moonlight Rabbit evolutionary line. Though not Emperor-Tier, it possessed a Shining-like aura.

    Tai Yin was slightly surprised, then glanced at Lian Xing meaningfully.

    Had this woman realized the realm suppression in the Water Soul World?

    If she sent an Emperor, it would be suppressed to Monarch-Tier, useless. But she had chosen a powerful Monarch-Tier Moonlight Rabbit. This was intriguing.

    Lian Xing returned the sand table to Tai Yin.

    Tai Yin, instead of choosing the weakest Soul World, chose the mid-tier Stream Soul World, sending a top Emperor there.

    “The time flow in our True Spirit World is different from these subordinate worlds. One year for us is ten years for them. Though this is a war, we’ll have the results in a few hours~~~”

    Tai Yin enlarged the sand table, displaying it for all Pet Beasts to see.

    However, to Lian Xing’s surprise, her Heavenly Fire Rabbit hadn’t made any progress in the past half hour, seemingly stalled by the Water Soul World’s natives.

    Minutes later, Tai Yin’s Emperor Pet Beast conquered the Stream Soul World.

    Lian Xing had lost…

    She fell silent.

    Tai Yin, to ensure fairness, also remained silent, observing the situation in the Water Soul World.

    The situation worsened. First, Heavenly Fire Rabbit was defeated. Then, even Nine Extinguished Divine Courts, the only Emperor-Tier Pet Beast, struggled, until finally…

    Just as it was about to achieve victory, a blue question mark appeared on the sand table.

    A chill ran down everyone’s spines.

    “Pfft!!!”

    Tai Yin, the sand table’s controller, vomited blood, her Pet Essence fluctuating wildly, just from seeing the blue question mark.

    Then, all Flame Soul World Pet Beasts on the sand table vanished, including Nine Extinguished Divine Courts, as if they had never existed.

    Lian Xing had been utterly defeated…

    But she showed no sign of discouragement, staring at the residual aura of the blue question mark.

    “Is this… a being like the Eleventh Zodiac…?”

    “How could such a weak battlefield attract such a powerful being!?”

    “I don’t know, but you lost… As agreed, you can’t participate in the Lunar Divine Festival, and you have to send a Pet Beast to help me!” Tai Yin said, a triumphant smile on her face despite her disheveled appearance.

    But seeing the change in Lian Xing’s expression, Tai Yin felt a sudden unease.

    “When did I agree to that?” Lian Xing asked innocently.

    “I was just playing with your sand table~~~”

    “Check the previous conversation~~~”

    “…”

    “…”

    “As a Beast Tamer, how could you!?” Tai Yin exclaimed, incredulous. In her millions of years, she had never encountered such shamelessness. Especially from someone who had reached this level. Everyone honored their agreements.

    Lian Xing’s expression became even more innocent, like a pure white lotus.

    “What did I do? I never said I was serious. I told you to check the conversation. Why are you so insistent?”

    “I’m leaving. See you at the Lunar Divine Festival~~”

    “Next time, I’ll defeat you all~~~”

    Lian Xing patted the white phoenix beneath her.

    As Dao Yao looked on with reluctance, and Mountains and Seas, Sumeru, and the stunned Tai Yin glared angrily, Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan soared into the sky, leaving the Tai Yin Kingdom.

    Sumeru instinctively reached out to stop them, but remembering the terrifying lineup, it hesitated and withdrew its hand.

    Minutes later, the white phoenix and Lian Xing’s Pet Beasts were far from the Tai Yin Kingdom.

    The golden-haired woman, her face flushed, sat on the white feathers, her expression complex.

    She was still thinking about the blue question mark.

    A True Spirit…

    Was this the Eleventh Zodiac’s level?

    Even a mere observation from such a being could inflict serious injuries, even on Tai Yin, the First Guardian. It was an existence she couldn’t currently challenge.

    Would she encounter such beings during the Lunar Divine Festival?

    Just then, White Silk Weaver Girl’s pleading voice interrupted her thoughts.

    “Mommy, Mommy, add me to your lineup! You have a free contract slot!!!”

    “Mommy, choose me! I’m more obedient!” Death Sentence chimed in.

    The two Emperor-Tier Pet Beasts bickered.

    Lian Xing sighed, stroking their heads affectionately.

    “As planned, I’ll contract Death Sentence first. Weaver Girl, you can use my Pet Essence for Awakening. My body is different now. I can provide you with the necessary power even without a contract.”

    Death Sentence spun excitedly in the air. As the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit’s dedicated weapon, it could only reach its full potential within the lineup.

    Though slightly envious of Death Sentence, White Silk Weaver Girl was also happy. She could be trampled by her master’s delicate feet again.

    However, after their initial excitement, Death Sentence, White Silk Weaver Girl, and the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit looked at the phoenix.

    Though it said nothing, its rapidly flapping wings spoke volumes.

    Lian Xing was now an Emperor-Tier Beast Tamer. Her final contract opportunity was when the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit reached level fifteen thousand and became an Overlord.

    As explained before, Overlord wasn’t a separate rank, but more like an Emperor’s ultimate form.

    But that final contract slot… probably wouldn’t be used on Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan, right?

    Lian Xing’s lineup was already overflowing with power. Her priority should be solving her lifespan issue.

    Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan’s addition wouldn’t change anything…

    However…

    Just as the white phoenix’s eyes dimmed slightly, a pair of delicate arms wrapped around its neck, the golden-haired girl climbing onto its back.

    Lian Xing leaned close to the phoenix’s ear, whispering, “Little Phoenix, want to experience the perks of being a Married Pet Beast… early?”

    Hearing her former master’s soft whisper, Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan felt a shiver run down its spine, its flight becoming unsteady.

    After a long silence, it finally conveyed its true desire to Lian Xing.

    “I want it… very hard… very intensely…”

    “…”

    “…”

    “No problem. I can’t die now anyway~~~” Lian Xing smiled, a look of relief on her face.