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  • Second Time Around, the Villainous Daughter Decides to Indulge First 56

    Chapter 56: Fatal

    “I’m going out for a bit.”

    On a rainy night, Mines whispered.

    Although no one answered, she still spoke, her gaze fixed on the old wooden door rattling in the wind.

    Rain lashed against the house, seeping through the cracks in the door. The floor was damp, the air thick with the humid heat of evaporating rainwater.

    This summer storm had arrived unexpectedly.

    One moment, cicadas and frogs chirped, the next, it was as if a dark knight riding through a storm had blessed them with a downpour.

    Mines hadn’t even had time to exchange her winnings from the deathmatch for a spacious cabin from the hat-wearing merchants before the sudden storm forced her into their cramped, cheap shack.

    She huddled with her twelve younger siblings.

    In the pitch-black darkness, familiar breathing sounds rose and fell.

    Listening to her siblings’ murmurs in their sleep, Mines comforted herself, promising to find a better shelter tomorrow, so they wouldn’t have to suffer with her anymore…

    “Master must be waiting.”

    Mines hugged her legs, as if to encourage herself. Yes, she would rush out and return Master’s ring.

    “It’s beautiful, but it doesn’t belong to me.”

    With this thought in mind, the frail girl, like a small dove, stood up, quietly opened the door a crack, and slipped out into the rainy night.

    Pitter-patter—

    Her boots splashed through the water, her footsteps fading into the distance.

    The receding night scene flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern. The closed doors and windows of the shops and the dark, deep alleys seemed like gaping maws, waiting to devour their prey.

    The rain blurred Mines’s vision.

    The stinging sensation made her blink back tears, but it wasn’t sadness she felt, but a bitterness spreading through her mouth…

    She could have kept the ring, sold it, and secured her family’s livelihood.

    But such a decision would be foolish. The Falmouth family was one of the most powerful forces in the city. Keeping or selling the ring would be illegal, and Mines didn’t want to sell it anyway, she simply wanted to return it to its rightful owner…

    “Will Master be happy to have it back?”

    Master would probably arrest her as a thief, but she hadn’t stolen it, it was just because…

    Well, who would believe the words of a stranger? She was already grateful that Master hadn’t rejected her…

    “Forgive me, Master, but I can’t tell you my profession. You’ll be scared…”

    Thinking of her secret, Mines bit her lip.

    She had already decided, hadn’t she? To keep it hidden forever, to pretend it didn’t exist, to avoid the burden, to avoid facing it.

    It would only bring disaster…

    “Cough, cough…” Following the directions to the mansion she remembered, Mines started coughing violently halfway there, the heavy rain soaking her red feather dress, slowing her down.

    Like a drenched dove, Mines found shelter, waiting for the rain to subside before continuing.

    “Master’s dress… it’s dirty…”

    The wet fabric clung to her skin, the warmth rapidly dissipating. Even her boots were filled with water. Mines felt cold, but she had to return the ring to Master.

    Wringing out the feather decorations on her skirt, she removed her boots, pouring out the rainwater mixed with the citrus scent of her sweat, then tucked a strand of wet hair behind her ear, a faint blush appearing on her pale cheeks.

    “Master…”

    She whispered, her voice filled with unspoken emotions, a mixture of suppressed grief and sorrow, released in the rain. Mines murmured to the falling raindrops, “It’s so late, Master, you must be asleep. Can… can I disturb you…?”

    …

    Sleep was impossible, absolutely impossible. Lena tossed and turned, staring at the empty brocade box, sighing… she had only herself to blame.

    Knock, knock, knock.

    Someone was knocking at the door.

    Knock, knock, knock…

    The knocking continued, repeating at intervals.

    Who the hell was disturbing her sleep at this hour?!

    Lena’s mood soured, her footsteps echoing as she walked towards the door, her tall figure swaying in the dim light, her gray eyes burning with anger.

    “I won’t forgive anyone who disturbs my sleep.”

    If it was Ling Ling, she would scold her and send her away. If it was Angel… hmph, then she had no one to blame but herself!

    The door opened.

    A drenched little dove stood before her, her eyes downcast, still wearing the red feather dress Lena had given her, water dripping from her short black hair, the burn scars on her back starkly visible, her usual suit jacket missing.

    “You came alone?”

    Lena didn’t ask why Mines was at her door, simply pulling her inside and closing it.

    Like a feather gently falling, a citrus fragrance filled the air.

    Mines’s long eyelashes tickled Lena’s cheek, but it was her heart that truly pounded.

    “A journey of a thousand miles shouldn’t end with just a kiss.”

    Lena seemed to savor the lingering citrus fragrance of the kiss, a light, feathery sensation that made her heart flutter, like ants crawling beneath her skin.

    Mines whispered, “Does Master also like feathers?”

    “Why do you ask?”

    “You sometimes resemble them… languid, slow, I can’t grasp you, hoping you’ll stay, but the next moment you’re gone, without a trace…”

    Damn, why did she have to be so alluring?!

  • My Evil God Girlfriend (gl) 97

    Chapter 97: Scorched Earth

    That helicopter gradually became a beacon of hope for what remained of human society.

    On blood-soaked battlefields, at the epicenter of monstrous outbreaks, no matter the location, no matter how powerful the enemy, as long as that mysterious helicopter appeared…

    A miracle would follow.

    A miracle, embodied by the girl in the white dress inside the helicopter.

    She was so frail, her slender body seemingly about to collapse in the downdraft of the helicopter blades.

    Yet, before the monsters, she was invincible. Wind, fire, lightning, even the unnatural distortions of space, all were useless against her.

    The helicopter was protected by the most elite investigators, and even if it crashed, they would ensure the girl in white reached the monster.

    And the monsters, no matter how they struggled, how they attacked, how ferocious they were… the moment they touched her…

    They would vanish, like smoke, absorbed into her body.

    Countless people had witnessed this, their SAN values plummeting as they trembled and knelt, their eyes wide, their voices raised in prayer.

    She was the Evil God’s sole emissary on Earth!

    The sole bearer of the god’s power!

    Humanity’s last, best hope!

    As the black slime swirled and pulsed on her pale skin, as the stars and the oceans trembled, as the dawn faded… only the girl in white remained.

    Only the girl in white, risking her life, fighting for humanity’s survival!

    Within a week, the girl in white, her power and her image, became known throughout the world, and the number of Class S and Class S+ monsters, the level of pollution, rapidly decreased.

    Humanity had found hope! They composed songs in her honor, praising her, loving her, adoring her, blessing her, praying for her continued strength and power!

    The girl in white, of course, was Xiang Er.

    For an entire week, she had barely slept, having absorbed countless powerful monsters, destroyed dozens of state-of-the-art helicopters, and even lost a few of the investigators protecting her.

    But… her heart was a stone, her resolve unwavering, always searching for the next monster, always rushing towards the greatest danger.

    She had wanted to be alone, but An Yue and the higher-ups had refused.

    An Yue, her expression grim, had looked at her and said:

    “If you go alone, and something happens to you, when she returns, she’ll devour the entire planet.”

    Xiang Er, taking a bite of her emergency rations, a meat bun, had smiled faintly:

    “You’re right, then we’ll do it your way. When she returns, I’ll put in a good word for you.”

    An Yue had nodded, her heart heavy. Those who knew the truth understood that this was a gamble, with only two possible outcomes: either humanity, clinging to this sliver of hope, would witness the planet’s destruction, or… as Xiang Er had suggested, a new Evil God would be born from the remaining black slime.

    But even the second outcome… it would take time. And time was what humanity needed most.

    Xiang Er, flying around, absorbing monsters, was like trying to extinguish a volcanic eruption with buckets of water, it might have a temporary effect, but… it couldn’t stop the inevitable.

    But for now, this sliver of hope, this fragile hope, was enough. An Yue thought, her gaze resting on Xiang Er.

    Xiang Er insisted on wearing light clothing, to facilitate the absorption of the monsters. She ate constantly, forcing down the most nutritious food, even when her stomach couldn’t handle it. She often touched her neck, her arm, her wrist, her gaze lingering, as if she could see the black slime beneath her skin.

    She even whispered to the slime sometimes, her words a mystery.

    An Yue often wondered, if they measured Xiang Er’s SAN value now, would it break the scale, a negative number?

    What would a negative SAN value even mean?

    And… was Xiang Er even human anymore?

    Perhaps, she had already become the most powerful, the most terrifying monster, that’s why she could devour the others.

    But if Akhe only loved the human Xiang Er, if she returned and saw this monstrous Xiang Er… would she, in her rage, destroy the entire planet?

    Who knew… the more An Yue thought about it, the more bleak the future seemed.

    A new recruit, his voice hesitant, asked:

    “Um… Miss Xiang, are you sure this will… bring back the Evil God?”

    The moment he spoke, another investigator’s hand clamped over his mouth, everyone holding their breath, their gazes fixed on Xiang Er.

    Didn’t he know! This kind of question… it was taboo!

    This newbie, his days were numbered… would Xiang Er devour him?

    But Xiang Er, hearing this, smiled, a slow, almost cruel smile.

    She caressed the smooth skin of her wrist. Although exhausted, she had been eating well, and her skin had regained some of its healthy glow.

    Her gaze fixed on her wrist, not looking at anyone, she suddenly spoke, her voice soft:

    “Of course. And if it doesn’t, I won’t live either.”

    Silence fell upon the helicopter cabin, no one daring to speak, they all carefully avoided her gaze, giving her space.

    Soon, the helicopter, its rotors whirring, arrived at a large city. This city, the nation’s economic heart, was now in ruins, ravaged by three Class S+ monsters.

    The once bustling shopping malls and residential areas were now a jumbled mess.

    People screamed and ran, the military and police forces overwhelmed, even the specialized anti-monster weapons useless against these powerful creatures.

    An investigator in the helicopter, her face grim, said:

    “According to our intel, these three Class S+ monsters have developed… unprecedented intelligence. They’ve organized hundreds of lower-level monsters and are attacking the less defended areas of the city, their goal seems to be… taking over the entire city!”

    Looking down, they saw swarms of small monsters roaming the streets, picking off fleeing humans, the monsters’ growls, the humans’ screams, the sounds of gunfire and explosions, a scene of utter chaos.

    An Yue said:

    “It’s a complicated situation here, you should wait…”

    But Xiang Er had already leaned forward, a faint smile on her lips:

    “Just… drop me into the middle of them.”

    An Yue grabbed her clothes:

    “No!!! Absolutely not!!!”

    But the helicopter door was open, and Xiang Er, with a soft click, unfastened her safety harness.

    She glanced back at the investigators, her colleagues, a faint smile on her lips, and said softly:

    “It’s okay.”

    Her voice, light and airy, was barely audible amidst the chaos.

    Then, she stepped out, her body falling.

    The others, caught off guard, An Yue screaming, lunged towards the open door, but all she saw was a piece of white fabric, Xiang Er’s dress, fluttering in the wind.

    And Xiang Er, like a beautiful, defiant butterfly…

    Fell.

    A flicker of light, the black slime shimmering, a fleeting glimpse.

    Then she landed, swallowed by the swarm of monsters, disappearing from sight.

    Xiang Er hadn’t gone mad, she knew what others thought of her, she knew what she thought of herself.

    She told herself, over and over again, that she would return. But in her dreams, she saw herself dead, gone, completely consumed. She searched high and low, but she couldn’t find her, anywhere.

    And yet, Xiang Er couldn’t die.

    Akhe was gone, but she couldn’t die.

    It was a fate worse than the most terrifying nightmare, and a new thought took root in her mind: What if I die?

    What if I die, will it all be over?

    To die. It became her new mission.

    So she had jumped, without hesitation, without a thought for the consequences, only the roar of the wind in her ears, the sight of the snarling monsters below.

    She landed amidst the swarm, the black slime on her body erupting, spreading… and just then…

    The sky suddenly brightened.

    Countless fiery meteors streaked across the sky, their burning trails illuminating the world, a blinding light, day and night.

    Like a volcano erupting in the upper atmosphere, a giant, fiery object, trailing a long tail of flames, plummeted towards earth.

    Xiang Er, standing amongst the monsters, suddenly realized… the black slime was gone.

    Yes, all of it, in an instant, as if sensing something, had vanished.

    And she, in her white dress, unarmed, defenseless, surrounded by monsters, their jaws open, their attacks imminent…

    Xiang Er thought, is this it? Is this how I die?

    Will I see Akhe after I die? In the gentle embrace of death, will I finally see her again?

    Xiang Er smiled faintly, the stench of the monsters, their hot breath against her skin, a stinging sensation, and she looked up, wanting to see the sky one last time, the sky Akhe had protected…

    But she didn’t die.

    A thick tentacle wrapped around her, shielding her.

    And suddenly, a giant, mountain-like, black monster appeared before her.

    The other monsters, with howls and shrieks of terror, scattered, then vanished completely.

    The thick tentacle, trailing endless black slime, rose into the sky, wildly absorbing the other monsters, silently and efficiently cleaning up the mess.

    And Xiang Er, still dazed, looked at the tentacle that held her.

    She stared at the thick, black and red tentacle, its suckers, its spines, its grainy surface, everything exactly as she remembered.

    Was this… a dream? Or the afterlife?

    And then, a voice, clear and distinct, echoed in her mind, sending shivers down her spine:

    “It’s me, I’m back… Little Ears, you’ve suffered.”

    And the thick tentacle, its movements swift yet gentle, lifted her and carried her to the helicopter still hovering above, carefully placing her inside, closing the door.

    Xiang Er looked down through the window.

    The giant, expanding, all-consuming, silent, and powerful black tentacle monster. It was her, the one she knew so well, that presence, that voice.

    “Akhe… is back?”

  • Captivating Beauty 63

    Chapter 63

    Shen Shu’s voice, as she said Xu Jinnan’s name, was soft, almost a murmur, but her fingers, gripping Xu Jinnan’s dress, tightened like a kitten’s claws.

    Her beautiful eyes, wide and sparkling, held a hint of playful affection, like a kitten’s meow.

    Seeing this vulnerable side of Shen Shu, Xu Jinnan’s throat tightened.

    This stark contrast to her usual aloof demeanor was both surprising and endearing.

    She leaned closer, their noses brushing against each other, and felt Shen Shu’s grip tighten on her dress.

    She reached out and gently grasped Shen Shu’s wrist, intending to close the distance between them…

    Then, the sound of approaching tires and the glare of headlights startled them.

    Xu Jinnan paused, her nose touching Shen Shu’s, a husky chuckle escaping her lips. “Shu Shu, let’s go home,” she whispered, having almost forgotten they were in a public place.

    —

    They drove back to the apartment in silence, the few kilometers passing quickly.

    But it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. A shared sense of ease and happiness, a subtle intimacy, lingered in the air.

    Like the first buds of spring, a promise of new beginnings, their hearts filled with a quiet joy.

    As they got out of the car and walked towards the elevator, Xu Jinnan suddenly stopped.

    “What’s wrong?” Shen Shu asked, puzzled.

    Xu Jinnan smiled ruefully. “Shu Shu, what did we go out for?” She had taken the bag with the intention of discarding it, but the kiss in the car had completely erased it from her mind.

    Shen Shu’s lips curved into a smile as she realized what Xu Jinnan meant. “Are you going back now?”

    Xu Jinnan shook her head, sighing. “It’s almost midnight.”

    She returned to the car, retrieved the bag, and they went upstairs.

    —

    Back at the apartment, Xu Jinnan poured them each a glass of water, and they stood in silence for a few minutes, sipping their drinks.

    Finally, Xu Jinnan broke the silence. “What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?”

    Shen Shu took a sip of water. “You don’t have to always ask what I want. What do you want?”

    “I’m not picky. Anything is fine,” Xu Jinnan replied.

    “Porridge then,” Shen Shu said. “Oh, right, Lin Wei sent a video of Little Crescent Moon.” She took out her phone and opened the video.

    Xu Jinnan leaned closer, her hand gently brushing against Shen Shu’s as she adjusted the phone slightly.

    Shen Shu’s palm was warmer than she had expected, almost as warm as it had been in the car.

    She tried to maintain her composure, to ignore the memory of their almost-kiss, but the clean, sunny scent of Xu Jinnan’s pheromones was intoxicating.

    Xu Jinnan watched the video.

    It seemed to be from a National Day celebration. Little Crescent Moon, wearing a white tutu, was dancing, a bright smile on her face.

    Her movements weren’t perfect, but she was clearly trying her best, her small body occasionally wobbling.

    Then, a short video of Little Crescent Moon waving at the camera.

    “Auntie Nannan, Auntie Shen Shu, how are you? I miss you!” she chirped, then giggled, hiding her face shyly, less bold than during their previous visits.

    Children were like that; they warmed up quickly, but a little distance, a lack of contact, could create a sense of unfamiliarity.

    “Let’s visit her again sometime,” Shen Shu said.

    “Okay, next month. You’ll be busy this month,” Xu Jinnan replied, nodding. She had checked Shen Shu’s schedule with Tong Jia; besides the day after tomorrow, she was booked solid for the next two weeks.

    Xu Jinnan herself was also busy this month, barely able to spare a day, a quick trip there and back.

    She pulled her hand away from Shen Shu’s, her palm slightly damp, a cool breeze dispelling the lingering warmth.

    “Okay,” Shen Shu replied, the conversation ending.

    Xu Jinnan poured the remaining water from her glass into the sink, then turned to Shen Shu, a smile playing on her lips. “You really like children, don’t you?”

    “Don’t you?”

    “I do, but I’m not very good with them,” Xu Jinnan admitted.

    She had been a bit clumsy taking care of Little Crescent Moon.

    “Children are easy. They’re easy to please,” Shen Shu said.

    Xu Jinnan washed her glass and placed it on the drying rack, then raised an eyebrow. “Definitely easier to please than adults,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

    Shen Shu looked at her. “What are you trying to say?”

    “I’m trying to say…” Xu Jinnan paused. “It’s getting late. Let’s go to bed.”

    Let’s go to bed.

    The words, seemingly innocent, held a certain suggestive undertone.

    Shen Shu’s breath hitched, her heart racing slightly.

    Xu Jinnan hadn’t intended it that way; she often said such things casually. But tonight, it felt different.

    She was considering whether to clarify her meaning when Shen Shu picked up her glass. “Okay, good night,” she said softly.

    Xu Jinnan’s gaze lingered on Shen Shu’s flushed earlobes, her heart skipping a beat.

    “Good night, Shu Shu,” she replied.

    She didn’t look away until Shen Shu had closed the bedroom door behind her.

    If Shen Shu had glanced back, she would have seen the desire in Xu Jinnan’s eyes, the carefully controlled longing.

    –In her bedroom, the cool white light of the bedside lamp was still on.

    Shen Shu lay in bed, the blanket pulled up to her chest, then turned over, her gaze falling on the base of the lamp.

    The shadow it cast on the table… reminded her of Xu Jinnan leaning over her, her lips cool against Shen Shu’s, the initial contact like a soft jelly, tempting her to…

    The thought was embarrassing.

    She bit her lip, remembering the moment Xu Jinnan had pulled away, and felt a strange pang of regret…

    She pulled the blanket higher, exhaling slowly, trying to push the thoughts aside.

    She felt like a lovesick fool around Xu Jinnan.

    —

    The next morning, Xu Jinnan hadn’t slept well.

    She had spent the night tossing and turning, plagued by a restless desire, a frustrating dream where she was reaching for someone, but couldn’t quite grasp them.

    A night of wasted effort.

    But she felt surprisingly alert, despite the lack of sleep.

    As if on cue, just as she opened her door, Shen Shu emerged from her bedroom.

    “Morning,” they said simultaneously.

    “You go wash up. I’ll make some porridge,” Xu Jinnan said, heading towards the kitchen island.

    Shen Shu took a couple of steps, rubbing her eyes. “I’ll just have toast. I’m running late,” she said.

    Xu Jinnan looked at her. “You didn’t sleep well either?”

    Either.

    The word, seemingly insignificant, changed the tone of the sentence, creating a subtle connection between them.

    “…Not really,” Shen Shu replied.

    She hadn’t slept well.

    She had been dreaming all night and felt exhausted.

    The dream… the physical intimacy had felt so real that her heart was still racing.

    Thinking about it, the cool autumn air suddenly felt warmer.

    Her body temperature had risen slightly.

    —

    After washing up, they sat down at the table for breakfast.

    Xu Jinnan had a mango cream bread, Shen Shu a plain multigrain toast, each with a glass of milk and a boiled egg.

    Xu Jinnan pushed the blueberry jam towards Shen Shu. “I can’t drive you today. I have to go to the North District,” she said.

    “It’s fine. I’ll take a taxi,” Shen Shu replied, nodding.

    “I wouldn’t dream of letting you take a taxi,” Xu Jinnan said, swallowing her bread and smiling faintly. “I’ll have Zhou Pei drive you.”

    “What about you?” Shen Shu asked, looking up just as Xu Jinnan licked a smear of cream from her lip, the gesture strangely sensual.

    Shen Shu took a large gulp of milk.

    “Viola will drive me,” Xu Jinnan replied.

    Shen Shu looked away, her voice calm. “Viola is also very busy, driving back and forth between the North District and the city center, and now she has to be your chauffeur too.”

    “You make me sound like a terrible boss,” Xu Jinnan said with a laugh. “It’s in her contract. Besides, I’ve only asked her to drive me twice this week. And she’s compensated accordingly.”

    Shen Shu paused. “Oh, so I’m supposed to praise you now?”

    Xu Jinnan: “Hmm?”

    —

    Xu Jinnan went to the North District.

    The construction workers were already hard at work. It was just a routine inspection, but even with Viola overseeing the project, she still had to make regular appearances.

    Otherwise, they might get complacent.

    There was no such thing as a minor detail in construction; a small oversight now could become a major problem later.

    She walked around the site, dressed in a black tracksuit and a red hard hat, her white sneakers quickly covered in dust, but she didn’t mind.

    As she was leaving, she saw Xu Li arriving.

    They saw each other, but neither of them acknowledged the other.

    Back in the car, Xu Jinnan asked Viola, “How often does Xu Li come here?”

    “Every other day. Like you, she reviews the daily construction reports, and she’s very meticulous. She asked for our reports as well… but as you instructed, I haven’t given them to her.”

    Xu Jinnan nodded, not asking any further questions.

    She had underestimated Xu Li. Initially, she had seen her as just another spoiled brat, resentful of the original Xu Jinnan because of the inheritance.

    Based on their previous interactions, Xu Li had seemed impulsive and easily angered.

    But now, she saw a different side to her.

    A woman who was meticulous about her work, even willing to visit the construction site, couldn’t be simply dismissed as a fool.

    It was possible, but unlikely.

    And no one in the Xu family was simple.

    Just then, a phone call interrupted her thoughts.

    —

    After visiting Meilai Jewelry and having lunch, she went to the 16th floor, where the “Show” live streaming studio was located.

    Since the live stream exposé, the app’s downloads had skyrocketed, and she had dedicated an entire floor to the project, even converting some of the spaces downstairs into studios.

    She planned to recruit some streamers, focusing on individual talents – singing, dancing, even playing mahjong. Anything unique and entertaining.

    “We can also consider collaborating with popular influencers and celebrities. Prepare a few budget proposals for this,” she said to Viola as they entered the elevator.

    “Certainly. I’ll inform the team downstairs,” Viola replied.

    She thought Shen Shu would be a good fit, considering her recent popularity and her relationship with Xu Jinnan.

    It could be even more effective than collaborating with other celebrities.

    But the plan wasn’t finalized yet, so there was no rush.

    —

    It was a little past 2 p.m.

    As Xu Jinnan and Viola stepped out of the elevator, Xu Jinnan paused, instinctively glancing towards the film crew’s office area across the hall.

    She didn’t see Shen Shu.

    But as she turned around, she saw Tan Jie walking towards them from the pantry.

    She quickly looked away.

    Tan Jie, however, called out to her. “CEO Xu, are you going to the Chen family banquet next week?”

    Xu Jinnan had seen Chen Bo mention it in the group chat. It was his father’s birthday party, and most of North City’s elite would be there.

    The Xu family would receive an invitation as well.

    Chen Bo had asked if she was going, but she hadn’t given him a definite answer.

    She didn’t want to engage with Tan Jie, who continued, smiling, “I’ll be there too.”

    While the business world and the entertainment industry seemed like separate spheres, there was some overlap. Like the Han family banquet, which had been attended by Xia Chun.

    But someone of Tan Jie’s status wouldn’t have been invited by the Han family.

    Xu Jinnan wasn’t interested.

    “Is that so?” she replied dismissively.

    “I rarely attend such events, but Young Master Chen said you’re a friend, so I assumed you would be there,” Tan Jie said, her words carrying a subtle, suggestive undertone.

    Xu Jinnan frowned.

    Tan Jie smiled, waiting.

    “Did you enjoy the green tea pastries?” Xu Jinnan asked.

    Tan Jie: “…”

    —

    Inside the film crew’s office, the director yelled “Cut!”, and Shen Shu emerged from the back room, Tong Jia handing her a glass of water.

    “Are you tired?”

    Shen Shu’s expression turned serious. “Was there something wrong with my performance?”

    “No,” Tong Jia reassured her, patting her back. “You just seem a little… out of it.”

    Shen Shu relaxed slightly. “Yes, I’m a little tired.”

    Tong Jia leaned closer, a playful glint in her eyes. “Tired, maybe, but you seem happy.”

    Shen Shu, understanding the innuendo, her thoughts drifting to Xu Jinnan, was about to ask Tong Jia for her phone when her gaze stopped on something outside the window.

    Xu Jinnan’s back was turned, and Viola and Tan Jie were standing beside her, almost flanking her.

    Perhaps sensing her silence, Tong Jia followed her gaze.

    “What’s Tan Jie doing?” she asked, lowering her voice, mindful of the crew members around them. “Is your wife some kind of irresistible magnet?”

    “She’s not exactly avoiding her, is she?” Shen Shu retorted, turning away and walking towards her resting area.

    Tong Jia followed her. “No, CEO Xu isn’t even talking to her. And she sent her those green tea pastries last time. Besides, would CEO Xu even be interested in her? You two are ridiculous, getting jealous over everything.”

    “…I’m not jealous,” Shen Shu said, though she wasn’t sure why she felt like a petulant child.

    “Sure, you’re not. Oh, look, they’re hugging now!” Tong Jia exclaimed.

    Shen Shu whirled around, her gaze fixed on the people outside the window.

    They were still just standing there.

    Tong Jia chuckled, poking Shen Shu’s shoulder. “Still saying you’re not jealous? Shu Shu, you’re so cute.”

    “Tong Jia!”

    Tong Jia, amused by Shen Shu’s flustered reaction, smiled and reached out to pat her back.

    “Sorry, sorry, I was wrong. Don’t be mad.”

    —

    Just then, Viola, having noticed Tong Jia’s playful gesture, was about to alert Xu Jinnan when Tan Jie spoke again.

    “CEO Xu, you seem to have misunderstood. I rarely attend these kinds of events. If you and Miss Shen were going, I would at least know someone there,” she explained.

    “Misunderstood what?” Xu Jinnan asked, noticing people looking at them. She turned away, her voice cold. “We’re not exactly close.”

    She walked back to her office, Viola following her. Viola, hesitating, then said sincerely, “CEO Xu, Miss Shen might be upset.”

    Xu Jinnan looked at her, puzzled, then, after hearing her explanation, smiled faintly. “I doubt it.” She had already told Shen Shu about the lunch box incident; there was nothing between her and Tan Jie.

    Shen Shu wouldn’t overthink it, would she?

    Viola didn’t say anything more. It was a personal matter; she could offer a suggestion, but not interfere.

    —

    Back in her office, Xu Jinnan sat down on the sofa, the earlier encounter briefly distracting her, then she remembered something.

    The video.

    The recording Chen Yue had taken in Qucheng.

    She put on her Bluetooth earbuds and opened the video.

    The town, located near the Xu family’s ancestral home, was called Xiao Qu Town.

    The hidden camera, attached to Chen Yue’s chest, had recorded two hours of footage, starting from the moment they arrived.

    Xu Jinnan watched the video at normal speed, as if retracing their steps, her attention still drawn to the “XU” logos. She had investigated after returning; the Xu Corporation had investments in the town.

    To be precise, they had a stake in almost every business there.

    They had even funded the construction of most of the buildings on that street.

    She watched the video for over an hour, focusing on Chen Yue’s perspective, but didn’t notice anything unusual.

    Then, the video showed Xu Lian and her wife approaching.

    Her wife’s name was Li Laijia, a sophisticated woman in her mid-thirties.

    Xu Jinnan watched the scene again, feeling like she had missed something, then rewound it and played it in slow motion.

    Her gaze fixed on Li Laijia, and as she had suspected, Li Laijia’s expression had flickered for a brief moment upon seeing her, a subtle shift that suggested recognition, not animosity.

    But it had been fleeting.

    She continued watching. At the end of the video, as they were about to get into the car, the camera, still recording, captured Xu Lian and Li Laijia in the background.

    She saw Xu Lian grab Li Laijia’s hair, yank her head back, then roughly shove her into the car.

    It was a violent gesture.

    Xu Jinnan frowned, the scene reminding her of the dream, the one where she had seen Xu Lian abusing a little girl in the courtyard…

    And Xu Tao was also abusive.

    Was it a coincidence?

    She refocused on the video.

    It would be difficult to investigate Xiao Qu Town on her own. Xu Lian was definitely involved, and perhaps Li Laijia could be a breakthrough.

    Meaning she might have to return to Qucheng.

    But so far, progress had been slow. She needed more clues.

    Just then, her phone vibrated, startling her, and she instinctively tensed.

    It was Chen Yue.

    “CEO Xu, I found it,” he said, his voice raspy, the sound of exhaling smoke audible. “You were right. My friend kept an eye on Wang Zheng. He was staying at a hotel at first, then, after making sure no one was following him, he went to his… girlfriend’s place. That’s where it is.”

    “His girlfriend?”

    Chen Yue chuckled. “You’re so smart! My friend approached her. She said she has two documents, but she wants fifty thousand yuan for them.” His tone was dismissive, as if he thought the woman was foolish for asking for so little.

    Xu Jinnan’s lips curved into a smile, but she remained cautious. “Go get them personally,” she instructed.

    “Don’t worry, I’m already buying a ticket. But it’s late. I probably won’t be back until tonight,” he replied.

    “No matter how late it is, come to me as soon as you have them,” Xu Jinnan said.

    The last time, Wang Zheng had run, delaying everything. She couldn’t afford another setback.

    “Certainly.”

    Xu Jinnan hung up, exhaling slowly. What secrets had Wang Zheng been hiding?

    She felt a surge of nervous anticipation, like the ripples on a still pond before a tsunami.

    Unable to relax, she stood by the window for a long time, her mind racing.

    She was one step closer to the truth, but her relationship with Shen Shu had just started to improve, and she was worried.

    Just then, as if on cue, her phone buzzed with a message from Tong Jia.

    Tong Jia: [CEO Xu, a word of advice, since you’re the sugar momma – prepare a foot bath. Your wife is jealous!]

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    She hadn’t taken Viola’s words seriously earlier.

    But now… she knew she shouldn’t feel this way, but she couldn’t deny the surge of happiness.

    Shen Shu was jealous.

    —

    That evening, she waited for Shen Shu to finish filming and drove her home herself.

    Shen Shu was quiet during the drive, her responses brief and noncommittal, her emotions hidden.

    Xu Jinnan didn’t press her, and once they were home, she told Shen Shu to take a shower while she finished reading the reports she hadn’t had time for at the office.

    Half an hour later, Shen Shu emerged from the bathroom, wearing her strawberry-print pajamas.

    Her dark hair was wrapped in a soft, pink towel, a few damp strands escaping and curling around her face, a single droplet of water sliding down her neck and disappearing beneath the fabric of her top.

    Xu Jinnan’s gaze followed the droplet.

    “You can go now,” Shen Shu said, wiping her hair with the towel.

    “Aren’t you going to dry your hair?” Xu Jinnan asked.

    She had noticed Shen Shu rarely dried her hair after showering.

    “I don’t like it,” Shen Shu replied.

    She found it too much trouble, a waste of time, and since she usually stayed up late, her hair would be dry by the time she went to bed.

    Xu Jinnan stood up and walked over to her, gently squeezing the damp strands of hair with the towel.

    “You should dry your hair. You’ll catch a cold in this weather,” she said softly.

    Shen Shu’s skin, still warm from the shower, felt hot against Xu Jinnan’s hand as she brushed her neck, and Shen Shu instinctively flinched.

    “No, I don’t want to,” she said, her voice flat, her gaze averted.

    While her tone was normal, her averted gaze told Xu Jinnan she was still upset about the Tan Jie incident.

    And she was also insecure.

    As Shen Shu turned to walk away, Xu Jinnan gently grasped her wrist. “I’ll dry it for you,” she said, then, without waiting for a response, led her to the bathroom.

    She plugged in the hairdryer and gently pushed Shen Shu towards the counter, then stood behind her.

    Shen Shu looked up at Xu Jinnan’s reflection in the mirror, the warm air from the hairdryer a comforting presence on her scalp, her back tingling despite the distance between them.

    Xu Jinnan’s eyes met hers in the mirror, then she quickly looked away, focusing on Shen Shu’s hair.

    Her hands, slender and pale, were like something out of a manga.

    Beautiful.

    Her touch was gentle as she ran her fingers through Shen Shu’s soft hair, the familiar scent of her pheromones filling the air with each pass of the hairdryer.

    The hairdryer clicked off, the warmth fading.

    Xu Jinnan touched Shen Shu’s hair, placing the hairdryer on the counter, then, instead of stepping away, leaned closer, her face inches from Shen Shu’s ear.

    “I won’t talk to her again, okay?” she whispered, her voice soft and coaxing.

    Shen Shu didn’t want to be difficult; it had been a minor incident, but her words still carried a hint of resentment. “You can talk to whoever you want,” she said, annoyed by her own pettiness, and turned to leave.

    Xu Jinnan’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a gentle embrace.

    “Will this make you feel better?” she whispered.

  • Female Lead Was Coaxed Away by the Villain Again [Quick Transmigration] 119

    Chapter 119: My Guardian Spirit is Dead (5)

    Xie Yunzhi felt like Jiang Zhiyan was getting back at her, but she had no proof. She decided to stay put, sat down in the living room, and called her mother, recounting the day’s events.

    She didn’t even have to mention going to the Xie family estate; her mother offered to take her.

    “Is she with you right now?”

    “Mm,” Xie Yunzhi replied.

    “Don’t be afraid.”

    “I’m not afraid. According to that person, this vengeful spirit has been following me for a long time, I just couldn’t see her, and nothing has happened to me all these years,” Xie Yunzhi said, looking at Jiang Zhiyan not far away.

    “I’ll take you to the Xie family estate tomorrow.”

    “The day after tomorrow, I don’t have class then,” Xie Yunzhi said. “They haven’t been able to solve this for so long, one day sooner or later won’t make a difference.”

    Her mother was a bit exasperated, but couldn’t refute her, it was true, but it also made her even more anxious, didn’t that mean there was no way to solve this?

    “Life and death are predestined, wealth and honor are in the hands of heaven,” Xie Yunzhi said.

    “Then you have to defy fate for me!” Her mother said angrily and hung up.

    Xie Yunzhi blinked, put down her phone, looked at Jiang Zhiyan, leaned back on the sofa, and sighed softly.

    The takeout arrived. Xie Yunzhi got up to open the door. Worried Jiang Zhiyan wouldn’t have enough, she ordered a lot.

    She observed Jiang Zhiyan, who was sitting in front of a pile of barbecue, not chewing, just sniffing.

    Xie Yunzhi, a seasoned horror movie viewer, picked up a skewer, took a bite, then quickly spat it into the trash can, her face contorted in disgust.

    Jiang Zhiyan glanced at Xie Yunzhi, a bit speechless: “Isn’t there food for you over there?”

    “Just curious,” Xie Yunzhi took a sip of water. “The texture is strange.”

    “I don’t know, I haven’t tasted it,” Jiang Zhiyan said, asking Xie Yunzhi to pour her a glass of juice. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been this full.”

    Xie Yunzhi glanced at her: “Don’t you eat people?”

    “I don’t, I don’t know about the previous one.”

    Xie Yunzhi stared at Jiang Zhiyan: “This is the first time I’ve heard of a vengeful spirit having a split personality.”

    “The world is a vast and wondrous place,” Jiang Zhiyan replied.

    Xie Yunzhi twitched her lips; she didn’t understand why Jiang Zhiyan always had so many illogical retorts.

    She had originally planned to eat less tonight, but the aroma of the barbecue was too tempting, and she ate quite a bit.

    The next morning, while taking out the trash, she felt like the other person taking out the trash was looking at her with a judgmental gaze.

    She calmly threw the trash into the bin and quickly left.

    Without Song Zhili, today was a particularly peaceful day, although more people were gossiping about her and avoiding her.

    Early Friday morning, Xie Yunzhi’s mother came to pick her up and take her to the Xie family estate.

    “Is she with you?” her mother asked.

    “Mm,” Xie Yunzhi pointed diagonally in front of her. “Over there.”

    Her mother’s face paled.

    “I can open her eyes,” Jiang Zhiyan offered.

    “Mom, she said she can let you see her,” Xie Yunzhi said.

    Her mother: ?

    “You’re communicating with her?”

    “She’s very noisy,” Xie Yunzhi said with a hint of disgust.

    Her mother’s eyes widened in alarm, but thankfully, nothing happened.

    “Then, let me see…” Her mother took a deep breath, and just as she was about to tell Xie Yunzhi to prepare herself, a translucent figure appeared next to her daughter, and she stumbled back in fright. “H-Hello.”

    “Hello, no need to be so polite, we’re family now,” Jiang Zhiyan said with a smile.

    Her mother’s face paled even further, and she gave a couple of dry laughs: “Are you coming with us too?”

    “Of course, why wouldn’t I?” Jiang Zhiyan floated into the car.

    Xie Yunzhi and her mother got in the car and shivered from the cold, there was no need for air conditioning.

    The Xie family estate was in City D, and they had to take a plane. Jiang Zhiyan followed them, floating around the plane. Xie Yunzhi was used to it, but her mother wasn’t, her face pale. The flight attendant asked her several times if she needed anything.

    “I’m not going to do anything to you, why are you so scared?” Jiang Zhiyan asked.

    Her mother shook her head: “I have a weak heart, why do you insist on following my daughter?”

    “I like her.”

    Her mother’s eyes widened. If Xie Yunzhi hadn’t been holding her, she would have probably fainted.

    “Mom, just ignore her,” Xie Yunzhi said, giving Jiang Zhiyan an annoyed look.

    Xie Yunzhi’s mother had contacted the Xie family in advance, and they sent a car to pick them up. They seemed fully prepared, but Jiang Zhiyan still managed to get into the car, their preparations seemingly useless against her.

    The Xie family members could clearly see Jiang Zhiyan, and seeing that their preparations were ineffective, their expressions turned grim, but there was nothing they could do, they could only drive on.

    Everyone in the car was silent, their expressions equally unpleasant, the calmest one was Xie Yunzhi, who was being stared at by Jiang Zhiyan.

    Xie Yunzhi felt increasingly skeptical of these people, if she had been considering whether to listen to the Xie family before, she was now leaning towards Jiang Zhiyan.

    Although making a deal with a vengeful spirit was risky, at least there was hope, and her life was already in Jiang Zhiyan’s hands.

    After so many years, these people hadn’t made any progress at all.

    Xie Yunzhi felt a hint of disdain, she felt like she had some talent, the talisman she drew yesterday had worked on her first try… She suddenly realized something, was it possible that she had to save herself?

    Xie Yunzhi looked at Jiang Zhiyan, who was floating on the car roof, forget it, she would leave it at that for now, she couldn’t bring herself to attack Jiang Zhiyan, she would figure something out when Jiang Zhiyan actually tried to take her life.

    The Xie family estate, after hundreds of years, was still in its original location, occupying a large area. From afar, you could see bamboo shoots emerging from behind the walls.

    They got out of the car. The Xie family member leading them wanted to explain the rules of the estate, but Jiang Zhiyan had already floated inside.

    “So many rules, so little skill,” Jiang Zhiyan said, annoyed.

    The Xie family member’s expression darkened, but he still explained the rules.

    Jiang Zhiyan looked down at the estate, arms crossed, the resentment of a vengeful spirit instantly spreading throughout every corner of the Xie family estate.

    She heard screams, and the person who had just said “no loud noises,” his face grim, looked up and glared at Jiang Zhiyan.

    Someone boldly threw talismans at her, which Jiang Zhiyan collected and stacked neatly on the ground, the Xie family members’ expressions turning even uglier.

    This was no different from slapping the Xie family in the face, but they couldn’t do anything to Jiang Zhiyan.

    The Xie family went to have a meeting. Jiang Zhiyan didn’t follow, just floated in the air, eyes closed.

    As expected, the Xie family had Xie Yunzhi undergo a series of tests. After confirming her talent, their eyes lit up with delight.

    “It seems like you’ll have to rely on yourself to solve this,” the Xie Family Head said to Xie Yunzhi, his tone serious.

    Xie Yunzhi nodded: As expected.

    Xie Yunzhi’s mother frowned, dissatisfied, but there was nothing she could do.

    Xie Yunzhi sighed softly, the Xie family gave her a few books to read, all on the list Jiang Zhiyan had given her, they weren’t valuable books, you could buy them online.

    A wasted trip. The Xie family wanted her to stay, but how could she? She still had scholarships to earn and awards to win, she couldn’t possibly not attend school, so they switched to online classes, she could come and get the books after she finished reading them, and stay at the Xie family estate during summer and winter vacations.

    Just thinking about it was troublesome.

    The Xie family members talked to Xie Yunzhi for a long time. Xie Yunzhi, looking at Jiang Zhiyan floating outside, watching her, felt like she was being gloated at.

    And she felt like the Xie family was in decline, because they kept implying that the future of the Xie family rested on her shoulders.

    “Can you memorize the contents of their books? I don’t want to keep coming back here,” Xie Yunzhi said, annoyed just thinking about it, the plane tickets weren’t even reimbursed, a round trip cost two thousand, her entire monthly allowance.

    Jiang Zhiyan: ?

    “You’ve lived for so long, and you haven’t memorized anything?” Xie Yunzhi continued to ask.

    “I’m a vengeful spirit, your request is unreasonable,” Jiang Zhiyan paused. “Although I do know what’s in those books.”

    Xie Yunzhi looked at Jiang Zhiyan: “You’re much more reliable than the Xie family.”

    “Then why did you even bring me here?” Xie Yunzhi didn’t understand.

    “To block the Song family.”

    “Oh, I forgot.”

    Xie Yunzhi wanted to leave that afternoon, but she was forced to attend an afternoon of basic lessons, although she had already drawn the talismans Jiang Zhiyan taught her yesterday, in the Xie family’s eyes, her talisman drawing didn’t conform to their standards at all.

    Her mother left first, and Xie Yunzhi was scheduled to leave on Sunday afternoon.

    Hearing this, Xie Yunzhi felt terrible. Sleeping in the guest room of the Xie family estate at night, she felt very uncomfortable.

    “I feel like I’m incompatible with this place,” Xie Yunzhi said, staring at the ceiling. “I have to wake up at six tomorrow.”

    “Six o’clock,” Xie Yunzhi emphasized again, this went against her biological clock, ever since starting university, she woke up at seven and slept at midnight, this disruption of her routine made her extremely unhappy.

    “You figured that out after just one afternoon of lessons?” Jiang Zhiyan asked.

    Xie Yunzhi hugged her blanket and turned to Jiang Zhiyan: “I don’t need to calculate to know that, most people here don’t like me, their looks make me uncomfortable.”

    “A bunch of idiots who could barely get by, and now a genius like you appears, making them look even more foolish, and you’re so hardworking, of course, you’ll be ostracized, after all, even though the Xie family is in decline now, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse,” Jiang Zhiyan said with disdain.

    “I don’t care,” Xie Yunzhi said, twitching the corner of her mouth. “Am I really a genius?”

    “Mm,” Jiang Zhiyan responded.

    “So can I really get rid of you?”

    “No,” Jiang Zhiyan said, looking at Xie Yunzhi with dissatisfaction. “Don’t you think it’s a bit much to discuss this in front of me?”

    “Isn’t telling you directly proof that I don’t have such intentions?”

    “Who knows, you’re very cunning,” Jiang Zhiyan grumbled.

    “Then isn’t it strange? You said I have to learn these things to become a god, but even after becoming a god, I still can’t defeat you? What are you? Isn’t this logic strange?”

    Jiang Zhiyan floated to Xie Yunzhi, reached out, and poked her chest: “You won’t attack me.”

    Although Jiang Zhiyan shouldn’t be able to touch her, Xie Yunzhi still felt the poke in her chest, she smiled: “You’re very confident.”

    “What’s the conflict between you and the Xie family?” Xie Yunzhi asked.

    “I don’t know, I told you, I’m not the same ghost as the last one.”

    “If there’s no grudge, why are you following me?”

    “Because I like you.”

    Xie Yunzhi looked at Jiang Zhiyan and suddenly felt exasperated, the conversation always circled back to this. “I’m going to sleep, wake me up at six tomorrow morning.”

  • The Vicious Female Lead Doesn’t Want to Do It Anymore 81

    Chapter 81: More Please – I’m Shipping This So Hard

    Wen Tianzi was an idol who debuted through a talent show. During her time in a temporary group, due to her company’s limited resources and her overlapping image with another member, she was often sidelined. But even so, she still worked hard.

    After the temporary group disbanded, she was placed in a new group with other idols by her company, and she was the main vocalist and dancer.

    Wen Tianzi felt that the other three members in the group were actually quite talented and also worked hard, but just like her experience in the temporary group, without resources and exposure, it was very difficult to stand out in this industry, their group was extremely unpopular.

    But Wen Tianzi wasn’t particularly ambitious, and the other members also had a peaceful mindset, operating on the principle of taking whatever jobs came their way, whether shows or commercial performances, and when there was no work, practicing or staying home was also fine. They were all very content, out of sync with the turbulent entertainment industry.

    But their persistence paid off, at least the group, including her, had some loyal fans, and her fans even praised her professionalism, saying that although she was an unpopular, eighteenth-tier idol, she didn’t date and had no scandals or gossip.

    Wen Tianzi felt a little offended, but the main reason she didn’t date was… she was a lesbian.

    She cautiously kept her sexual orientation a secret, afraid to date, her daily joy was shipping CPs. She did have a type, but she didn’t have any intention of pursuing anyone.

    She liked Dong Ling, CEO of Canghai Entertainment, but she liked Dong Ling and Song Mingzhi together even more, the Song Zhong CP was her ultimate OTP! (One True Pairing)

    If she revealed her alternate Weibo account ID, the Song Zhong sisters would all know her as “PleaseSendMeOffToMyGrave”!

    So when the invitation to “Cloud Travels” arrived, her first thought was that it was a joke.

    Although she was in the industry, she had never wanted to interact with Dong Ling and Song Mingzhi, firstly, because they were too famous, she couldn’t reach them, and secondly, a true CP fan wouldn’t bother the stars, and she knew that sometimes, seeing the stars in person and knowing the distance between them might ruin the illusion.

    But even so, when the opportunity actually presented itself, she immediately packed her bags and was ready to go.

    For both her career and her CP, she had to go.

    She posted on Weibo, thanking the fans who recommended her under the official announcement, and also those who liked and supported her comment, allowing her to be noticed by the program team, and on the appointed day, she set off for the filming location of the first episode.

    The guests met at the airport. Wen Tianzi first saw Yun Jie and another senior from the industry. After greeting them politely, she sat down, eagerly waiting.

    When Dong Ling, wearing sunglasses, appeared in front of her, she instantly and confidently thought “My wife!” then seeing Song Mingzhi beside Dong Ling, she immediately retreated, no, someone else’s wife.

    CEO Dong was truly thinner than she appeared on camera, thin and fair, probably half a head shorter than Song Mingzhi beside her.

    As a CP fan, Wen Tianzi knew that Song Mingzhi was around 176cm tall, a true older sister figure, Dong Ling wasn’t short at 168cm, she was a long-legged beauty on her own, but next to Song Mingzhi, she seemed a bit petite.

    Wen Tianzi screamed inwardly, if this wasn’t a perfect match, then what was?!

    Dong Ling noticed the burning gaze from the side and looked towards its source, it was a sweet-looking girl, one of the guests for this variety show.

    Dong Ling wasn’t very picky about the guests, whether they were famous or not didn’t matter, as long as they weren’t difficult and had decent characters.

    So, regardless of their fame, the invited guests were all easy to get along with, each with their own personality, but not the troublemaking type.

    The girl noticed her gaze and greeted her nervously, Dong Ling smiled politely at her and sat down beside Song Mingzhi.

    “We’ll be boarding in about ten minutes, it might be a bumpy ride, that village is in the mountains, please let me know if you have any requests.”

    The speaker was the general director in charge of this program, the production team and other staff members were waiting nearby.

    Dong Ling, not short of money, had chartered a plane for the entire crew, all she wanted was a comfortable experience.

    “Do you want a frozen pear? Xiao Tan just brought me a few.”

    Song Mingzhi looked at the fruit in her bag and turned to ask her little girlfriend.

    Dong Ling nodded and took a pear from Song Mingzhi’s hand, the purple-black frozen pear had thin skin and was full of juice, Dong Ling sucked on it, feeling very content.

    But Dong Ling didn’t have much of an appetite and couldn’t finish the whole pear, so she gave it to her girlfriend, this was one of the perks of being in a relationship.

    Song Mingzhi took the pear from Dong Ling, gave her a wet wipe, and took a small bite.

    Their actions were intimate and natural, seemingly very close.

    Yun Jie, who had seen all sorts of situations, maintained a polite smile, Long Ji was calm and indifferent, not paying much attention to other people’s relationships.

    Tang Nuo was now a moderately famous supporting actress, and the person with her was Ran Lin, a more popular actress from the same company, who recently played a female lead.

    They were veteran employees of Canghai Entertainment, having joined since the company was founded, and were very familiar with Song Mingzhi’s nickname, “Empress,” they even used it privately, after all, CEO Dong’s favoritism was obvious, the top actress was the top actress.

    Wen Tianzi looked around, shocked, feeling like she had been directly fed a handful of sugar by her idols, and they even asked if it was enough, offering more if it wasn’t.

    Sharing a pear! The same pear!

    How could people who weren’t in a relationship do this? Even close friends wouldn’t do this.

    And look at everyone around them, their calm and unsurprised expressions, this definitely wasn’t the first time!

    Wen Tianzi was so excited she wanted to run laps around the airport, then grab a loudspeaker and tell all her sisters, no need to analyze and speculate anymore! We’re shipping real people!

    This variety show was worth it, she had to thank her fans later, she would work hard and give a good performance.

    Song Mingzhi, who was eating the pear, paused slightly, she was sensitive to other people’s gazes, so she noticed that one of the guests was staring at them, but there was no malice in that gaze, more excitement, especially when looking at her and Dong Ling, thinking of the girl’s status, Song Mingzhi figured she must be grateful to Dong Ling for this opportunity, and perhaps a fan of hers?

    Song Mingzhi didn’t think too much about it, as long as it wasn’t negativity, it was fine. She dismissed the thought and focused on Dong Ling.

    The journey to the filming location was quite long, they had to take a bus after getting off the plane, she had to let Dong Ling sleep for a while on the plane, Dong Ling hadn’t had enough sleep, she had wanted her to go to bed early last night, but the desensitized girl, with her sweet tooth, insisted she was fine, so she had to wake up early today and was already drowsy.

    Dong Ling was truly sleepy and fell asleep as soon as she boarded the plane.

    She shouldn’t have gotten carried away last night, but Song Mingzhi seemed to have learned new tricks, making her a little unrestrained, even begging her.

    Dong Ling slept for a very long time and only woke up when the plane landed.

    Then came the long bus ride, everyone, both guests and crew members, were exhausted after a day of travel.

    But upon arriving at the small village in the mountains, their fatigue seemed to vanish.

    This was indeed a beautiful place, the air fresh and clean, the climate mild, it felt comfortable even in the cold November weather.

    The mountain path had railings, the small village only had a dozen or so families, mostly elderly people, there were many empty houses. The program team had already contacted the villagers and arranged accommodation, compensating them accordingly. The villagers had already cleaned the houses.

    Dong Ling and Song Mingzhi stayed in a small house, with two bamboo beds in the same room, it was previously occupied by two sisters, after they started middle school, they left the village, then went to high school and university, rarely returning.

    Song Mingzhi pushed the two bamboo beds together, sprayed them with disinfectant, and then put on clean sheets.

    Dong Ling stood outside, watching the sunset, the house happened to be on the edge of the village, offering an unobstructed view, a cliff just a few hundred meters away. Dong Ling, afraid of heights, didn’t dare stand too close, just at the edge of the house.

    Although this place was like a hidden paradise, its disadvantages were also obvious, poor signal, practically no internet, making modern people, heavily reliant on their phones, very uncomfortable.

    Dong Ling was also a little frustrated seeing her phone with no signal, although this was within her expectations, it was still a little unsettling not being able to send messages.

    Only a few people were indifferent to this, Yun Jie, not far away, leisurely watched a downloaded TV series, even inviting others to join her, Long Ji was mesmerized by the beautiful sunset, her fingers moving slightly beside her, as if playing music.

    Song Mingzhi, after making the bed, took out the telescope she had prepared and started assembling and adjusting it in an open space.

    “Wow, Mingzhi, why did you bring this?”

    Since Song Mingzhi packed their luggage, Dong Ling didn’t know what she had brought.

    “The terrain here is high, the clouds are thin, we can see the stars clearly at night.”

    “Mingzhi, you’re amazing.”

    Dong Ling knew Song Mingzhi was an astronomy enthusiast, she leaned closer to watch Song Mingzhi adjust the equipment, admiration in her eyes.

    Song Mingzhi smiled and replied: “It’s very simple.”

    “In my eyes, you’re amazing.”

    Dong Ling put on a “I don’t care what others say” expression, my wife is the best in the world.

    This made Song Mingzhi chuckle, the setting sun casting their shadows on the wall, a warm and cozy scene.

    Dong Ling looked at her and Song Mingzhi’s shadows, glanced around, the crew members were a certain distance away, and there were no cameras rolling.

    She and Song Mingzhi subtly adjusted their positions, making their shadows merge, they weren’t actually close to each other, but their shadows seemed to be kissing.

    A mischievous smile appeared on Dong Ling’s face, she moved her shadow, making it sway from side to side next to Song Mingzhi’s, intertwining and separating.

    After finishing adjusting the telescope, Song Mingzhi saw her girlfriend’s strange behavior, and only after turning her head to look at the shadows on the wall did she realize what she was doing, she also moved slightly, making her shadow lean forward, as if kissing Dong Ling’s shadow.

    Dong Ling, seeing her little trick discovered, smiled at Song Mingzhi.

    Wen Tianzi, who had been intently watching her CP, was grinning from ear to ear, was this something she could watch for free?!

  • I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets! 209

    Chapter 209: The Mass Transmigration Incident of Beast Taming Evolution Duel Players

    —Moon Soul World—

    Suddenly, Sharp Edge Seven King Mother on Sharp Edge Mountain sensed something, her gaze shifting towards the distance.

    Seconds later, her silver eyebrows furrowed, her eyes dimming slightly.

    At the same time, the remaining three of the Four Great Calamities—Storm, Volcano, and Flood—all looked towards a distant point.

    And on the virtual map accessible to all beings…

    A red arrow, marking a Calamity, began to fade from the Cold Moon Palace region.

    It was replaced by…

    A mixed white, gold, and red light spot.

    [Star Concubine · Lian Xing]

    From this moment on, Lian Xing, along with the six Guardians, the Four Great Calamities, and the Shining Bipoles, was marked on the virtual map.

    This meant her every action would have a significant impact on the Moon Soul World’s landscape and power structure.

    Meanwhile, in Cold Moon Palace…

    Under everyone’s gaze, Drought’s Life Crystal turned to smoke and vanished.

    The era of the Four Great Calamities had ended.

    Only three remained.

    Then, three Black combat skills and one Shining combat skill dropped.

    Lian Xing examined them briefly. The three Black combat skills were for Biological species, not suitable for her lineup. But the Shining combat skill was universal.

    [Shining Combat Skill · Mountain Haze]

    [Mountain Haze: Automatically forms armor from aura, suitable for large Pet Beasts.]

    [Greatly increases defense in Mountain Haze armor state, raising defense cap to 500 (from 50), randomly generating 10 five-stage defensive Arcane Arts from Biological species.]

    [Negates stiffness, knockback, stun, bleeding, dismemberment, and other negative effects.]

    [Doubles Pet Essence consumption in Mountain Haze form.]

    Lian Xing was slightly surprised.

    Had Drought not used this combat skill in the end…?

    No, not just the Shining combat skill, but also her Bloodline and Black combat skills!

    It was like being called away for dinner mid-game and quickly forfeiting…

    Was she… in a hurry to reincarnate…?

    Though Lian Xing couldn’t understand Drought’s actions, it was clear she had held back in their final battle.

    After a moment of silence, Lian Xing equipped the Shining combat skill on the Fallen Golden Leaf, Nether Leaf Dark King’s Court.

    Now, all three of her special evolution Pet Beasts possessed Shining combat skills.

    Lian Xing was now powerful enough to dominate the entire Moon Soul World.

    [Ancient Species—Back-Tailed Moon-Chasing Demon Rabbit]

    [Emperor-Tier—Fallen Species—Nether Leaf Dark King’s Court]

    [Monarch-Tier—Shining Species—Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal]

    [Monarch-Tier—Weapon Species—Neverending Tower]

    [Monarch-Tier—Elemental Species—Ice Attendant Snow Youluo]

    [Royal-Tier—Viral Species—Cloud and Dream’s Promise]

    [Commander-Tier—Elemental Species—Celestial Bride’s Starry Sea]

    Having become an Emperor-Tier Beast Tamer, Lian Xing now had eight contract slots.

    Excluding the bugged Ancient Rabbit, she could contract one more Pet Beast.

    She had two options: first, to find her past life’s Legend, the unique, rule-type Weapon Species, Death Sentence.

    Death Sentence, despite having no combat abilities, was ranked similarly to Calamity Sun.

    Its initial ability was to kill a Pet Beast in its own lineup, permanently removing one of its evolution requirements…

    Of course, she couldn’t just kill her Ancient, Shining, or Fallen Species. But Mist Colt and Star Sand were expendable; their levels were low, and their revival cooldowns were short. Killing them a few times would trigger their evolutions.

    However, Lian Xing didn’t know Death Sentence’s current location.

    Her second option was Tai Yin, the enigmatic, immortal Legend ranked first among the seventy-two Legends.

    Tai Yin could grant a Beast Tamer immortality.

    Only the First Emperor had supposedly seen it.

    This information was readily available online in the Moon Soul World.

    But Tai Yin hadn’t been seen in a long time…

    To find Tai Yin, she would likely have to confront the First Emperor, Lotus Concubine Tai Sui.

    “Whoosh—!!!”

    As Lian Xing pondered, three figures landed behind her.

    Moonwalker, the Third Guardian, a deer woman in a white wedding dress, surrounded by swirling clouds.

    Cold Moon, the Fourth Guardian, a blue-haired woman in an icy blue evening gown.

    And Inverse Time, the Second Guardian, a purple-haired woman in a long court dress, a clock face in her eyes.

    Lian Xing turned around with a smile, sensing their powerful auras.

    She had witnessed the strength of a Myriad-Level Ancient Species, the terrifying aura of a molted Fallen Species, and the dazzling brilliance of a Shining Species’ eruption, but she had yet to face a high-ranking Guardian.

    However, she had heard from Moonwalker that in Star Goddess’s lineup, Seven King Mother was first, Inverse Time second, the Ancient Species third, and Drought only fourth.

    She was quite interested in the Guardians’ strength…

    And the fact that all three were mature, attractive women made her even more excited, though they seemed to harbor no hostility towards her.

    Cold Moon frowned, asking, “Lian Xing, you have a Fallen Species in your lineup. Have you noticed any conflicts?”

    “For example, has your Shining Rabbit’s aura weakened…?”

    Lian Xing blinked in surprise.

    Cold Moon had hit the mark.

    After Golden Leaf’s Fallen evolution, the Shining Rabbit’s Triple Awakening had become unstable, as if it might vanish at any moment.

    The Eleventh Zodiac’s residual aura had also weakened.

    “Lian Xing, be careful. Your Shining Moonlight Rabbit might regress during battle.”

    “After Drought fell, Sharp Edge Seven King Mother’s Triple Awakening was instantly shattered.”

    “Oh…” Lian Xing replied indifferently.

    Seeing her casual attitude, Inverse Time and Cold Moon were taken aback.

    Did she not believe them?

    Lian Xing waved her hand dismissively.

    “If Triple Awakening vanishes, I’ll just evolve the Shining Moonlight Rabbit to Emperor-Tier to compensate.”

    “I never intended to rely on external power. Triple Awakening isn’t mine to begin with. If it’s gone, it’s gone~~~”

    “…”

    “…”

    Silence fell.

    Inverse Time and Cold Moon exchanged shocked glances.

    Since Lian Xing’s arrival, many had considered her a replacement for Star Goddess. After all, her appearance and style were more fitting than Heavenly Maiden’s.

    Though her twin buns were a bit… frivolous…

    Star Goddess wouldn’t have such a silly hairstyle.

    However, in this moment—

    Lian Xing’s casual words deeply moved Inverse Time.

    Could Star Goddess, if she were alive, speak so casually?

    Could she so easily abandon the immense power of Triple Awakening?

    Probably not…

    Lian Xing’s unintentional display of aptitude as a Beast Tamer was perhaps even more dazzling and impressive than Star Goddess’s.

    Even with her complex emotions, Inverse Time had to acknowledge Lian Xing’s brilliance.

    Glancing at the equally stunned Cold Moon and the beaming Moonwalker, Inverse Time sighed and turned to leave.

    Cold Moon was likely comparing Lian Xing to her former master, Ice Queen…

    Seconds later, Inverse Time vanished.

    Cold Moon, snapping out of her daze, shook her head silently, then left with the perpetually dazed Heavenly Maiden.

    The battlefield became quiet.

    As Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal controlled the falling Cold Moon Palace, Lian Xing snapped her fingers, restoring the trillions of beings and their Pet Essence.

    With Drought defeated and its Fallen Pet Essence dissipated, Unbreakable Heaven’s Ring effortlessly restored Cold Moon Palace to its original state, gaining a massive amount of experience.

    Then, Lian Xing met Moonwalker’s tender, suggestive gaze.

    After this battle, Lian Xing had fulfilled multiple Married Pet Beast agreements.

    The Shining Rabbit reaching Monarch-Tier.

    The Shining Rabbit’s revival, allowing a fair 1v4 “scoring.”

    Herself becoming an Emperor-Tier Beast Tamer.

    Now, at the pinnacle of the Pet Beast World, she could finally focus on producing heirs.

    Though only seventeen, Lian Xing was curious about the forbidden fruit.

    Having reached Emperor-Tier, she had nothing to fear!

    She couldn’t wait to use her flawless body to “teach” her Married Pet Beasts a lesson, establishing the proper hierarchy.

    However…

    Just as Moonwalker was about to carry Lian Xing home, her phone rang.

    “Hello!?”

    “…”

    “…”

    Seconds later, Moonwalker’s expression turned serious.

    ***

    Earth, Beast Taming Evolution Duel.

    With Snow Flower and Golden Leaf’s rampage, the Divine Machine, hidden within the server, was on the verge of collapse.

    Maps, dungeons, rewards, UI, the server itself—all data was vanishing, her four years of hard work about to be undone.

    When Storm had accidentally entered the game, destroying a major city, it had taken the Divine Machine six months to repair the damage.

    Now, Snow Flower and Golden Leaf’s destruction was even more devastating, nearly flattening the entire Beast Taming Evolution Duel.

    “What’s happening!? Why!?”

    “My players can’t defeat a Fallen Species!”

    “This is only the fourth anniversary. How can they possibly defeat a Fallen Emperor? According to my calculations, they should only reach that level by the tenth anniversary!”

    “Even the NPCs can’t win!!!”

    “No choice. I have to activate the final measure…”

    After a frantic internal monologue, the near-insane Divine Machine finally decided to go all out.

    But this action was irreversible.

    And it would reveal a critical bug.

    The three main evolutionary paths, and some of the Legends, within Beast Taming Evolution Duel were fake!

    Yes, the other Pet Beasts were real.

    But Shining Species, Ancient Species, and some of the seventy-two Legends were fake.

    The Divine Machine had orchestrated their evolution, making players believe they could truly evolve Ancient and Shining Species.

    But in reality, they were just lines of code…

    If all players’ Pet Beasts were brought into reality, the Ancient and Shining Species would regress.

    And over half of the Legends wouldn’t even exist.

    However, for some reason, about a year ago, a player had evolved a true Ancient Species.

    The Divine Machine had immediately removed it from the game to maintain balance.

    With the First Emperor in the Moon Soul World, that Ancient Species wouldn’t have caused much trouble anyway.

    “No choice. I have to use the final measure—”

    “Beast Taming Evolution Duel, activate!!!”

    With the Divine Machine’s cry, all players, online or offline, anyone registered in the game, vanished from Earth.

    Chaos erupted!

    Meanwhile, in a region of Cloud Mist Sea in the Moon Soul World, players began to appear out of thin air.

    As they opened their eyes, the game UI was gone, only their Pet Beast panels remaining.

    99.9999% of the Beast Tamers’ lineups were unchanged. Only those with Ancient and Shining Species, and most Legend Beast Tamers, saw their lineups incomplete.

    Billions of female players looked around the massive crowd in confusion.

    What… the hell?

    Another bug?

    Why was the UI gone?

    It was as if they had truly entered the game world from the holographic simulation.

    Of course, most were horrified.

    A bug?

    Bug my ass!!!

    Being dragged into a game while shopping or attending school… what kind of bug could do that?

    Some had even quit the game years ago! Could they still be pulled back in?

    As everyone panicked, a girl opened the few remaining maps in the system.

    A large map with various markings appeared.

    She clicked on the prominent mixed light spot in the Cold Moon Palace region.

    [Star Concubine · Lian Xing]

    [Coordinates—Cold Moon Palace]

    [Cold Moon Palace: Territory of the Fourth Guardian, Cold Moon.]

    The girl froze.

    “Huh!?”

    “Lian Xing…?”

    “Isn’t that the streamer who died a year ago!?”

  • Shion’s Notes 131

    Chapter 131: A Visit

    The awards ceremony concluded, and the editorial department was likely still reeling from the unexpected victory of another newcomer. Following Air’s success last year, a new superstar had emerged: Shion.

    It was a surprise to everyone.

    Even Yu Linna herself was stunned upon learning she had won. She had hoped for an honorable mention, a chance to publish, but winning first place was beyond her wildest dreams.

    “Chen Xi from the editorial department wants to sign you. I’ll bring her over now. Is that okay?”

    “I’ve almost finished my current manuscript. I have time.”

    “That’s good. Nana, though a bit late, congratulations.”

    “…Thank you.”

    Yu Linna’s emotions were complex, but excitement dominated.

    It had been a long and arduous journey, filled with failures and setbacks. The constant rejections had almost crushed her spirit, making her believe she was destined for mediocrity. But she had persevered, rising through sheer willpower and determination.

    She had once thought her journey would never begin, but now, she was finally setting sail.

    She remembered Tang Yumeng’s words, how the word “dream” had kept her going in the seemingly hopeless entertainment industry. It had been a key factor in Yu Linna rekindling her own aspirations.

    This time, her persistence had paid off.

    Effort might not always yield results, but without effort, there were no results.

    Perseverance might not always bring hope, but without perseverance, there was no hope.

    Yu Linna could finally proudly declare that she was no longer a nobody. From this day forward, she was a novelist.

    “Wuu…”

    She covered her face, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.

    She was happy.

    After so much hardship, so many failures, this feeling of triumph was overwhelming.

    She was grateful to be alive.

    Grateful she hadn’t jumped in front of that train.

    She had survived. She had found her worth.

    Yu Linna was finally on her way.

    When Chen Xi arrived with Ye Zhiyun, her face was etched with disbelief, especially when the door opened, revealing Yu Linna standing in the doorway. She wasn’t foolish; she understood Ye Zhiyun’s intentions.

    “You’re… Shion?”

    “If you mean the pen name, then yes.”

    Honestly, Chen Xi still struggled to accept this reality.

    Yu Linna was so young, barely eighteen. Zhao Yuyan had won the New Talent Awards at nineteen. Now, Yu Linna had broken the record for the youngest winner, just a year later.

    She had imagined Shion as a world-weary, middle-aged man, a literary type with a beard. This petite, adorable girl with blonde hair… the contrast was jarring.

    If Shion was indeed a woman, it explained the emotionally charged ending, the delicate portrayal of feelings, which didn’t seem like a man’s writing style. But the world-building, the narrative tension… it was still hard to believe Yu Linna was the author.

    “Nana, this is for you. You deserve it.”

    Ye Zhiyun handed Yu Linna the trophy and the check, the symbol of Wenqing’s highest honor.

    Yu Linna accepted them, her face still etched with disbelief, but her expression gradually softened as she looked at the trophy and the check, a sense of calm settling over her. Having finally achieved her dream, she couldn’t describe the feeling. She was usually obsessed with money, so seeing the three-million-yuan check should have sent her into a frenzy, but she was surprisingly calm.

    Yes, she was happy, but not ecstatic.

    She accepted her honor with quiet grace.

    Perhaps it was the countless failures, the numerous setbacks, that had tempered her emotions, allowing her to receive this victory with unexpected composure. She was suddenly grateful for those difficult times, the struggles that had shaped her, the experiences that had paved the way for her success.

    God was fair. If she had succeeded easily, she wouldn’t appreciate it as much. Perhaps she would have become like Nangong Ying.

    “Shion, would you mind discussing your novel?”

    After a long pause, Chen Xi finally addressed the matter at hand.

    Having won the Gold Award, Yu Linna had earned the title of “Shion-sensei” from Chen Xi, a sign of respect.

    “Yes, of course. Come in.”

    Yu Linna wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, forcing a smile, and invited them in. Now that she had made a name for herself, she would be a priority for Wenqing; they wouldn’t let such a promising talent slip away.

    Ballad of the Enchantress, though not a perfect commercial novel, with its melancholic ending and lack of lightheartedness, was still a good book. And this year, the competition had been weak; if not Shion, who else would have won?

    “Shion-sensei, do you remember blocking me? When are you going to unblock me?”

    “Ah? You’re… Chen Xi?”

    “Who else would I be?”

    “Uh… I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to…”

    “Just unblock me. I want to be your editor, in charge of your manuscripts. Is that okay?”

    “That’s fine with me.”

    Chen Xi was Wenqing’s top talent scout, second only to the chief editor in authority. Authors she took under her wing usually achieved success. Even Luo Nan, who had left for Qidian, had initially been Chen Xi’s target.

    Chen Xi rarely misjudged talent.

    Except for Yu Linna.

    She had almost overlooked her, almost lost a promising author, a potential loss for the literary world. Fortunately, Yu Linna had ultimately chosen this path.

    “Before we discuss the contract, Shion-sensei, there’s something I’d like to know. You said you weren’t interested in becoming a novelist and even rejected my offer. What made you change your mind? And you gave me such a pleasant surprise.”

    Yu Linna struggled to find an explanation.

    She had been so adamant, so resolute, and yet… she had eaten her words. She couldn’t bring herself to admit it.

    “Let’s not talk about that…”

    “Alright. One more question. When did you write this manuscript? I recall you rejecting my offer only two weeks before the deadline. You finished it that quickly?”

    Her question was understandable. For a typical author, writing a one-hundred-thousand-word novel in two weeks was incredibly rushed, often compromising quality. But Yu Linna’s work was well-written, the prose flowing smoothly.

    “Well… it took me a week. Seven days and six nights.”

    “…Are you human?”

    Chen Xi wanted to facepalm.

    One week, seven days and six nights, to write Ballad of the Enchantress. That was insane. And the quality hadn’t suffered.

    A complete novel in such a short time. It was unimaginable. She had assumed it was a carefully crafted work, the plot logically sound.

    “Okay, let’s move on to the contract. Rabbit Princess already mentioned that we want to sign you, to publish five novels within three years.”

    Yu Linna frowned.

    She didn’t like the sound of that.

    Ye Zhiyun, standing beside her, also looked displeased. The terms weren’t favorable to Yu Linna.

    “Miss Chen, is this your standard contract for newcomers?”

    “You could say that.”

    “Five novels in three years is a bit much. Even the fastest writers can’t produce five full-length novels in that time.”

    “In that case, I can revise the terms. Five books in three years, with novel volumes not counting towards the total. You can write both short stories and novels during this period, but you can’t simply pad your novel with multiple volumes, and you can’t submit only short stories.”

    Yu Linna’s expression softened slightly.

    These terms were acceptable. Three years; she could manage that.

    “And regarding royalties…”

    Chen Xi’s brow furrowed as she observed Yu Linna’s calm demeanor. She slowly revealed the terms.

    “8%. What do you think?”

    This was much more reasonable than the 4% offered earlier by Rabbit Princess, which Yu Linna had rejected.

    Having won the Gold Award, Yu Linna’s status had risen; they couldn’t offer her such a low rate. This new figure was more befitting a champion.

    “Okay.”

    “Also, we want the animation and manga adaptation rights for your novel.”

    “…What does that entail?”

    “If your work is adapted, we’ll pay you for the rights. We can discuss the specifics later. Shion-sensei, you’d like to see your work adapted into anime or film one day, wouldn’t you?”

    It was true. Every author dreamed of seeing their work adapted, reaching a wider audience.

    Ye Zhiyun, sitting beside her, frowned but remained silent.

    “And since you won the Gold Award, in addition to your novel publishing contract, you also have the opportunity to publish a collection of short stories. Can you write one soon?”

    “…I don’t have any short stories ready, but I’ve been working on a new novel. Would you like to take a look? Perhaps it’s suitable for publication.”

    Chen Xi’s brow furrowed.

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! v2c27

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    Chapter 27: A Power Boost

    The morning sun shone on Luo Yuxi’s face as she opened her eyes, staring blankly at the familiar ceiling. Her arms, freed from their bindings, were now being used as pillows by the two adorable loli witches. Luo Yuxi looked at them and thought,

    “What am I doing…?”

    The major event was about to happen, yet she was here, cuddling with beautiful girls, enjoying the pleasures of life. Although countless witches would gladly jump into her bed at a moment’s notice, this was clearly not the time for such indulgences.

    “I can’t keep wallowing like this. I have to find a way to stop the war, or the Church will be crushed again…”

    Luo Yuxi carefully extracted her arms from beneath their heads, replacing them with pillows, and then retrieved her trusty nun’s habit. Why wear a nun’s habit in the Witch Kingdom? Because it was a bold statement.

    “Alright, let’s do this. Where do I even begin…?”

    Luo Yuxi scratched her head, feeling like she had forgotten something. She opened The History of Witches, hoping to find some clues, but the information on the Time Witch was vague, and the dense text about the Legion Witch made her sleepy.

    “I could just capture another Deadly Sin Witch and seduce her…”

    Luo Yuxi immediately dismissed the idea. Seducing the remaining five witches would only bring her trouble. Not every witch had simple preferences like Doris, who loved lolis.

    “I need to find another way… Speaking of which, where’s Doris?”

    Luo Yuxi changed her clothes and tiptoed out of the room, leaving the sleeping lolis. She had gone to bed early last night, not by choice, of course. The two witches, with their coordinated attacks, had “worn her out” in just an hour.

    “My back still hurts…”

    Luo Yuxi closed the door. Unbeknownst to her, the green mark on Yun Keke’s stomach glowed brighter.

    “Where’s Doris? She set me up and then disappeared. I almost couldn’t explain myself to Mother-in-law…”

    Luo Yuxi searched the castle, opening every door, but Doris was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Doris had entered a room with only a bed and some simple decorations. She looked at the blue-haired girl lying on the bed.

    “Poor thing, abandoned by your sister~”

    Doris gently touched the girl’s cheek. It was Ling Shuang, who had been injured by Doris, now sleeping peacefully like a princess. Doris felt a pang of regret.

    “I was so focused on your sister, but you’re quite cute too~”

    Doris stroked Ling Shuang’s smooth skin, feeling a stirring of desire. If it weren’t for Luo Yuxi’s adorable loli form, she might have been tempted to “indulge.”

    “Since your sister abandoned you, I’ll take care of you~”

    As Doris spoke, she felt a strange sensation on her finger. She quickly pulled it back and saw frost forming on it. Even her 2nd Order body, resistant to most attacks, had been frostbitten.

    “Even without any defense, to be injured by a newly awakened witch…?”

    Doris looked at her frostbitten finger in disbelief, the pain a constant reminder.

    “Interesting~”

    Doris smiled and looked at Ling Shuang, who was now glowing with a blue light, ice forming around her, as if to encase her in a coffin.

    “So she awakened a deeper understanding of ice magic after being injured? What a terrifying talent~”

    Suddenly, to Doris’s surprise, Ling Shuang’s small body began to grow, her cute loli features transforming into those of an ice princess.

    “Wait, why is she growing?!”

    Doris panicked. She had wanted to enjoy Ling Shuang’s loli form for a bit, since Luo Yuxi was “off-limits” for now, but now she was turning into an onee-san. It was torture.

    “Should I break the ice coffin? No, that might kill her…”

    Doris decided against it. Injuring Luo Yuxi’s sister would only worsen their relationship. She could only watch as Ling Shuang’s small body and flat chest grew, her size now rivaling Luo Yuxi’s.

    “There’s no point in staying here. Tch, what bad luck…”

    Doris, resuming her butler persona, looked at the now mature Ling Shuang, her icy blue hair and eyelashes, her fair skin like a snow elf’s, her long, slender legs incredibly alluring. If Luo Yuxi were here, she would recognize Ling Shuang’s appearance as the same as when she had gone berserk after awakening as a witch.

    “My Master should be awake by now…”

    Doris checked her pocket watch and left the room, not a single glance back. The only things that interested her were battles and lolis.

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! v2c26

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    Chapter 26

    Luo Yuxi lay on the bed, enjoying Yun Keke’s massage. The small, light loli felt weightless as her stocking-clad feet kneaded Luo Yuxi’s back. Luo Yuxi finally understood the meaning of bliss: a dark chocolate fairy massaging her back while playing with a white chocolate one.

    “Weakling big sister, you like this? Feeling good being stepped on? You’re such a pervert~”

    “Big sister, stop playing with my feet, it’s ticklish…”

    Yu Keke, unlike Yun Keke, shyly pulled back her foot. She had intended to offer a “reward,” but Luo Yuxi had been playing with her foot for half an hour, like a precious trinket, without any further “developments.”

    “Hehe, as expected, lolis are full of treasures. Let me see how developed you are~”

    Luo Yuxi grabbed Yu Keke’s ankle and pulled. Yu Keke, who had only extended her left foot, was light as a feather and easily pulled into Luo Yuxi’s embrace. Caught off guard, she blushed, relaxing in Luo Yuxi’s arms.

    “So soft, like a cute little pillow~”

    Luo Yuxi nuzzled the petite witch, the perfect size for cuddling, her skin smooth as a pearl, her stocking-clad feet occasionally brushing against Luo Yuxi’s leg.

    “Little Yu is the cutest. You should be my pillow every night~”

    “But will that trouble big sister…?”

    “I don’t mind, I—”

    A stocking-clad foot pressed against Luo Yuxi’s face. She looked at Yun Keke, who was standing on the bed, pouting like a hamster whose food had been stolen.

    “Li-Little Yun…?”

    “Weakling big sister, you like this, don’t you? Then enjoy it! Hmph~!”

    Yun Keke crossed her arms and turned away, clearly jealous of Luo Yuxi’s attention towards Yu Keke. However, after waiting for a while, seeing no reaction from Luo Yuxi, she worriedly removed her foot.

    “I’m sorry, big sister, I was just—”

    “More~”

    “Eh?!”

    “Give me more! Look at me like I’m trash and step on me!”

    “Hmm???!”

    Yun Keke was taken aback by Luo Yuxi’s sudden masochistic tendencies. She tentatively stepped on Luo Yuxi’s stomach. Seeing Luo Yuxi’s pleased expression, a devilish smile appeared on her face.

    “So weakling big sister is a pervert after all~ Feeling pleasure from being stepped on by a loli witch~?”

    “Little Yun, is this really okay?”

    “It’s fine, Little Yu, look at big sister’s happy expression, this is her reward~”

    Yu Keke looked at Luo Yuxi, then, as if making up her mind, stood up, removed her stockings, and presented her bare feet to Luo Yuxi.

    “If big sister likes it, then I’ll…”

    “Little Yun, you’re better at this than me~”

    Before Luo Yuxi could react, her hands were tied to the headboard with Yu Keke’s stockings. Yu Keke apologized as she stepped onto Luo Yuxi’s body.

    “This is how it should be. But be careful, we don’t want to hurt big sister~”

    “I’ll be gentle…”

    “Me too~”

    Yun Keke also removed her stockings. Luo Yuxi, just recovering from the previous sensation, realized things were escalating. Before she could speak, Yun Keke gagged her.

    “We’re not stopping, no matter what you say, big sister~”

    “I’m sorry, big sister, I-I’ll… I’ll be gentle…”

    “What gentleness, Little Yu? Big sister’s body is so alluring. Which part do you want to taste tonight~?”

    “I… I want to try everything…”

    Luo Yuxi watched in dismay as the two lolis discussed how to “divide” her. She struggled, regretting indulging in her fantasies, but her resistance only fueled their excitement.

    “Don’t struggle, big sister, just enjoy it~”

    “I… I’ll take off my clothes!”

    Thus, Luo Yuxi experienced another round of “crossfire,” a tag-team battle, and a “pincer attack,” losing herself in a haze of pleasure and exhaustion, blurring the lines between dreams and reality.

    Meanwhile, in a luxurious room in the distant Church, a silver-haired girl with an angelic face sat on the bed. If Luo Yuxi were here, she would recognize her as the protagonist she had been searching for.

    “Eat something. Tomorrow is the succession ceremony, you don’t want to faint from hunger…”

    “I don’t want to be the Saintess, I just want to go home…”

    “That’s not up to you. You’re destined to be the Saintess, it’s the Goddess’s will…”

    The silver-haired girl curled up, tears rolling down her cheeks, the golden chain on her ankle a symbol of her captivity.

    “Someone, please save me…“

  • Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c11

    Witch’s Night: Chapter 11 Siren’s Song

    Luo Yan, who was mixing drinks by herself, suddenly looked up and towards a certain direction.

    In that direction, she detected a strange, familiar aura, as if she had encountered it before.

    But this aura faded away in an extremely short time, at an astonishing speed, until it vanished without a trace, as if everything before had been an illusion.

    “What aura is this…”

    Luo Yan frowned slightly, but ultimately didn’t pursue it further.

    This was Lannister, not Yan City. As a special guest, it was best for her not to get too involved in Lannister’s affairs.

    However, mixing drinks was quite fun.

    Luo Yan seemed to have found enjoyment, happily following the cocktail recipes on the bar counter.

    Unconsciously, she had already drunk seven or eight cocktails.

    A slight blush appeared on Luo Yan’s face. Fortunately, the mental strength brought by “Envy” kept her conscious.

    She was drunk, but not completely drunk.

    The banquet in the distance finally began, slightly piquing Luo Yan’s interest, but she still didn’t leave her seat.

    Since she had promised Norian that she wouldn’t wander around, Luo Yan wouldn’t break her promise.

    Just then, a cold but polite voice sounded beside Luo Yan,

    “Excuse me, may I sit here?”

    Luo Yan looked up and saw a very beautiful, unfamiliar woman. Her tall figure, although not comparable to the unusually tall Hua Qiling and Qin Wen, was still outstanding.

    A simple suit dress looked plain and unadorned, and the expression on her face was as cold as ice, but it still couldn’t conceal her striking beauty.

    If this ice-cold woman appeared in the middle of the banquet, she would surely attract everyone’s attention.

    But she didn’t; she walked to the most inconspicuous bar counter at the banquet.

    “Please.”

    Luo Yan nodded indifferently.

    After the ice-cold woman sat down, she directly picked up a glass of high-proof base liquor from the bar counter and drank it on her own, making Luo Yan stare blankly.

    Noticing Luo Yan watching her, she forced a smile on her cold face,

    “I prefer something pure.”

    “Oh…”

    Luo Yan hadn’t tried that before; pure base liquor was still a bit too stimulating for her.

    “Young man, you shouldn’t have come alone, right?” The ice-cold woman put down the glass in her hand and glanced at Luo Yan seemingly casually. “Where is your companion?”

    “Sister Qingling? She’s attending the banquet.” Luo Yan pointed to the lively banquet, a stark contrast to the desolate bar counter. “Due to some special reasons, I can’t move around freely.”

    “…That’s a pity.”

    The ice-cold woman seemed to have just asked casually and didn’t pursue it further.

    “What about you?”

    Out of politeness, Luo Yan returned the question.

    “I…” The ice-cold woman didn’t expect Luo Yan to ask back. She hesitated for a moment before saying, “I came with my family, but I don’t want to attract too much attention, so I’m hiding here.”

    “What a coincidence, me too.”

    Luo Yan suddenly sighed in sympathy.

    “Since that’s the case, and we’ve met by chance, it wouldn’t hurt to get to know each other.” The ice-cold woman extended her hand. “My name is Tina Enar Easton Lequista. You can just call me Tina.”

    “I… Luo Yan.”

    Luo Yan extended her hand, very unaccustomed to this, and shook Tina’s hand briefly.

    Tina’s hand was icy cold… as cold as her appearance.

    But after this short exchange, it could be seen that her personality wasn’t actually cold; she was even quite talkative.

    However, when Tina heard Luo Yan say her name, her eyelids couldn’t help but twitch.

    You’re really just using your real name…

    Then what was the point of this disguise?

    Although Luo Yan’s disguise was very effective, the cognitive distortion of “Envy” was almost seamless, Tina recognized her true identity at a glance.

    Tina couldn’t see through Luo Yan’s disguise, but like the waiter before the banquet, she deduced the black-haired young man’s true identity from various details.

    “Mr. Luo Yan… it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

    Although Tina complained inwardly, she didn’t show any unusual expression on the surface. It was just that making her icy face smile was still a bit forced.

    It could only be said that it was better if she didn’t smile…

    “However, Ms. Tina, your name sounds familiar.” Luo Yan touched her chin. “Such a long name…”

    “Only ‘Tina’ is my name,” Tina interrupted. “Enar and Easton are my father and mother respectively, and Lequista represents my family heritage.”

    “Ah, just like Miss Chris?” Luo Yan remembered. “Both are divided into several parts and are particularly long. Speaking of which, the last names are both Lequista… Could you be her older sister? No, wait…”

    What was Miss Chris’s full name again?

    Chris… Tina…

    Tina?

    “It seems you’ve already met my daughter, Chris,” Tina turned her chair slightly and looked towards the banquet. “However, I’m surprised she told you her full name.”

    Still not cautious enough, Chris… Sometimes, it’s very dangerous for certain beings to know your name.

    However, it could now be confirmed that Miss Luo Yan herself wasn’t dangerous.

    In fact, in the eyes of Lannister and Tina, Luo Yan’s danger almost entirely stemmed from the demonic power she carried, and she herself wasn’t that important in this regard.

    Whether she was kind or evil wouldn’t change the dangerous nature of the demonic power.

    “…Wait, in that case, should I address you as Mrs. Lequista?”

    To Tina’s surprise, this was what Luo Yan was struggling about, and her expression didn’t seem like she was joking.

    “No, the head of the Lequista family has always been a woman. My husband, Mr. Easton, married into the Lequista family.” Tina explained with a faint smile.

    “So, there’s no problem with you calling me Ms. Tina. If you like, you can just call me Tina. I don’t value the cumbersome etiquette of nobles.”

    “That’s rare…”

    Luo Yan sighed. Even in stories, it was rare for nobles to choose a woman as their heir, let alone the Lequista family, one of the three great families of Noah.

    “Because the ability passed down in our family can only be inherited by women,” Tina said softly. “Although this ability is like a curse flowing in our bloodline, it has also brought endless glory to the Lequista family for nearly a thousand years.”

    “What ability?” Luo Yan asked curiously, but as soon as she asked, she realized it was inappropriate and quickly covered her mouth. “So-, Sorry… I’ve overstepped.”

    “Don’t worry, it’s not an overstep, Miss Luo Yan. The Lequista family’s inherited ability is not a secret.”

    Tina was somewhat amused by Luo Yan’s reaction. She then raised an eyebrow and gestured for Luo Yan to look towards the banquet,

    “Chris’s performance is about to begin. This is a rare opportunity, even I haven’t seen it in person for a long time.”

    Luo Yan followed Tina’s gaze towards the center of the banquet.

    A young woman in a Lolita-style dress stood in the very center of the banquet hall. There was no stage beneath her feet, but all the nobles had made way for her.

    Therefore, Luo Yan finally saw Chris’s true appearance—when they met before, Chris had been bundled up tightly, afraid of being recognized.

    Now, her long, orange-red hair cascaded down slightly, the ends in front of her chest cut short in a style known as “hime cut.”

    Her features, upon closer inspection, resembled Tina’s, but lacked the icy temperament, replaced by a lightness and vitality unique to young women.

    Although Luo Yan’s sense of aesthetics was as bad as ever, if there was a point of comparison, she could still judge beauty and ugliness.

    “She seems to be prettier than Hua Qingling…”

    Luo Yan sighed, then took a sip of the cocktail she had just mixed, nodded, and continued,

    “But she still seems a bit less beautiful than the Witch of Envy… Ah, the Witch of Envy seems to look like Mrs. Natalie.”

    Hearing Luo Yan’s comments, Tina almost crushed the bottle in her hand.

    Although it was indeed a very happy thing to hear others praise her daughter, Miss, were these words of praise… actually praise?

    She even casually mentioned the “Witch of Envy”…

    This was an existence that even the Twelve Saints didn’t dare to touch lightly. Even though they knew that casually mentioning Her wouldn’t be noticed, it still made people nervous every time.

    And weren’t you trying to disguise your identity, Miss?

    Why did you bring this up so easily?

    Tina suppressed the urge to retort that kept welling up inside her, maintaining her icy composure on the surface, although she was almost at her breaking point.

    “By the way, what kind of performance is it?”

    Luo Yan turned her head and asked.

    “Singing. Although Chris’s singing is slightly inferior to mine, it’s still enough to make her famous throughout the Free Federation,” Tina said indifferently, but with a hint of pride in her expression. “You’ll fall in love with her voice after just one listen.”

    “Singing… I can sing too.”

    Luo Yan recalled the nursery rhyme she heard on the way to Lannister. She still remembered the melody and lyrics very clearly and found it very interesting.

    It was just that Hua Qingling hadn’t let her sing it, so she hadn’t hummed it these days.

    “No, Miss Luo Yan, Chris’s and my songs… are not ordinary songs.” Tina said in a low voice. “The women of our family, the Lequista family, have another name.

    “—’Siren’.”

    Chris, in the center of the hall, finally began to sing. There were no lyrics, no accompaniment, only a soft hum echoing through the hall.

    In an instant, all other sounds in the hall disappeared, whether it was the chaotic noise or the whispers, all drowned out by this mesmerizing voice, feeling the comfort it brought to their minds and souls.

    The nobles closed their eyes, using their whole beings to experience this singing.

    But at this time, Luo Yan frowned. “There seems to be a strange mental force field around.”

    “Mr. Luo Yan is a mental ability user, right?” Tina asked knowingly. “This is the mental ability passed down through the Lequista family for a thousand years. My title is ‘Siren’s Song,’ and I specialize in using singing to cast various mental abilities.

    “There was a legend in the Old Era, about an extremely dangerous place called the ‘Ocean’ in the depths of the Endless Wasteland. At that time, humanity still had the ability to challenge such dangerous places.

    “There was a terrifying creature called a ‘Siren’ in the Ocean. They used their beautiful singing to lure humans who challenged the Ocean into losing their way… Indeed, the Lequista family, crowned with the name ‘Siren,’ can also do this. This is our ability.”

    The melodious singing spread from the banquet hall, even birds and beasts stopped for this singing, immersed in it and unable to extricate themselves.

    Almost only Luo Yan and Tina weren’t affected. The latter possessed this ability herself, and a stronger version at that. Luo Yan, however, could only sense the presence of the mental force field, but wasn’t affected by it.

    Seeing this, Tina’s heart sank even further.

    The demonic power “Envy” possessed by the Witch of Envy was indeed the pinnacle of all mental abilities. Even “Siren’s Song,” which was considered top-tier among mental abilities, couldn’t affect her in the slightest.

    “Of course, this singing is still very pleasant,” Luo Yan nodded, agreeing with Tina. “However, I should also be able to… try it?”

    Unfortunately, before the eager Luo Yan could start humming, Tina quickly changed the subject,

    “By the way, Mr. Luo Yan, how did you and Hua Qingling meet?”

    Just a random topic…

    Who knew what would happen if this girl, who possessed the demonic power “Envy,” started singing? The singing of a mental ability user could be very terrifying, especially when singing with their soul.

    To stop Luo Yan from singing, Tina decisively started making small talk.

    “Sister Qingling… I actually met her younger sister first,” Luo Yan was still very polite, answering Tina’s questions seriously. “A lot of things happened, but in short, her younger sister saved me, and then I met Sister Qingling.”

    Tina: “…”

    She answered, but not completely.

    It wasn’t that Luo Yan deliberately concealed the Ghost Town incident; it was just that the incident was too complicated to explain in a few words, so she just skipped it.

    Not to mention the many things she wanted to retort about the omitted parts, Tina was also relieved that she hadn’t let Miss Luo Yan sing.

    At this time, Chris’s singing finally ended. The nobles opened their eyes, and warm applause filled the entire hall. Even Norian nodded with satisfaction.

    His fatigue from the past few days was swept away after listening to Chris’s singing; he even had the illusion that he could continue working for another seventy-eight hours.

    Chris rarely used this kind of a cappella singing to use her ability, because it consumed too much mental energy. After each time she sang, she had to rest for a long time and couldn’t use her ability.

    Correspondingly to its preciousness, Chris’s “Siren’s Song” not only had a healing effect on the mind that surpassed most mental potions, but also had no side effects.