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  • You’re Not Allowed to Kiss Me Anymore! [Quick Transmigration] 60p2

    Chapter 60 p2

    The illusion was almost over, and Xin Yao, still holding Li Xu’s photo, was about to speak when a tear rolled down her cheek.

    She felt a sudden wave of sadness, but she knew it wasn’t her own.

    Those who paid with their souls to make a wish, their attachments were strong, their emotions raw and unfiltered.

    To better serve these clients, the Bright World allowed a fragment of their consciousness to accompany the host during their missions, allowing them to witness the events unfolding.

    It was the original owner who was crying now, her sadness, her grief, transmitted through that fragment of her soul, making Xin Yao’s own tears flow.

    She was crying for her past suffering, for the years of abuse and neglect, for Li Xu’s belated apology, an apology she had waited a lifetime for.

    She had suffered so much, her life a constant struggle, everyone taking from her, no one offering comfort or kindness, let alone an apology.

    Until Xin Yao.

    Seeing Xin Yao’s strength, her determination, her unwavering commitment to fulfilling her wish, she had realized what she had missed, the life she could have had.

    And she had finally realized that she owed herself an apology.

    I’m sorry, she thought. I’m sorry for letting you suffer so much.

    But there were no second chances, no do-overs. She had her revenge now, and that was enough.

    She wouldn’t dwell on the past. She would remember this, and in her next life, she would live for herself.

    If she had a next life. If she remembered.

    Sensing the original owner’s gradual acceptance, her release from the pain of the past, Xin Yao didn’t move, letting her tears flow freely, her silent grief a comfort to the other soul.

    Let it go.

    And remember, in your next life, to love yourself, to live for yourself.

    Xin Yao, her heart filled with a genuine happiness for the original owner’s newfound peace, had been so engrossed in her emotions that she had forgotten where she was.

    She was sitting on the bathroom sink, in the middle of the night, staring at a photo of Li Xu, her face streaked with tears.

    And just then…

    The bathroom door creaked open.

    The bright light spilled out into the hallway, illuminating Xu Jingyu, standing there in her nightgown, her gaze fixed on Xin Yao’s tearful face, the photo of Li Xu clutched in her hand.

    Xu Jingyu’s eyes flickered like candle flames, her mind racing.

    She had been a light sleeper, and she had been awake when Xin Yao got out of bed.

    Assuming she was just using the restroom, she hadn’t disturbed her.

    And Xin Yao had even tucked her in, a sweet gesture that had warmed Xu Jingyu’s heart.

    But Xin Yao had been gone for a long time, and Xu Jingyu, worried, had come to check on her.

    She hadn’t expected to find her like this, crying over a photo of her ex-boyfriend, in the middle of the night.

    Xu Jingyu was insecure.

    Especially when it came to Xin Yao.

    She had a nagging feeling that Xin Yao was like the wind, a fleeting presence she couldn’t hold onto, that one day, she would leave, just as she had in a distant, forgotten past.

    And everyone knew how much Xin Yao had loved Li Xu, her six-year relationship a testament to her devotion, her sacrifices for him countless.

    Even Xue Ning had expressed her surprise, her disbelief that Xin Yao could have loved such a man.

    Didn’t Xu Jingyu care?

    She had never asked about Xin Yao’s past relationship with Li Xu.

    She hadn’t asked about the scar on her wrist.

    She hadn’t asked about the engagement party.

    Wasn’t she curious?

    No.

    She cared, deeply.

    She was jealous, possessive, wanting to erase Li Xu from Xin Yao’s life, from her memories, especially after what he had done to her.

    But she hadn’t asked.

    Because she had been afraid.

    Afraid that Xin Yao still had feelings for him.

    After all, it had only been a couple of months since their breakup, and Xin Yao had started dating Xu Jingyu almost immediately.

    Could she really forget someone she had loved so deeply, so quickly?

    Six years with Li Xu, and just a few months with her, not even long enough to film a movie.

    Did Xin Yao truly like her?

    It wasn’t Xin Yao’s fault. It was Xu Jingyu’s own insecurity, her fear of losing Xin Yao, her love so intense that it made her cautious, her touch hesitant.

    She had never asked, had been afraid to ask.

    Afraid of hearing the words she dreaded most: I don’t like you.

    And then what? Would Xin Yao leave her?

    And if she did, could Xu Jingyu let her go?

    Impossible.

    So, she had kept her silence, her anxieties bottled up, the sight of the scar on Xin Yao’s wrist a constant reminder of her pain, a wound that refused to heal.

    She had wanted to marry Xin Yao, to bind her to her, no matter the cost, no matter the method.

    And now, seeing Xin Yao crying over Li Xu’s photo, her worst fears had been realized.

    Xin Yao didn’t love her.

    Xin Yao was going to leave her.

    Xin Yao, startled by Xu Jingyu’s sudden appearance, realized how incriminating the scene looked, like she was mourning her ex-boyfriend.

    And judging by Xu Jingyu’s expression, she had clearly misunderstood!

    Xin Yao quickly put away her phone, wiping her tears, and tried to explain.

    “It’s not what you think…”

    But Xu Jingyu didn’t listen, her mind a whirlwind of emotions, the last thread of her control snapping.

    She walked towards Xin Yao, her movements slow and deliberate, her presence a dark cloud, her gaze intense and unreadable.

    Xin Yao couldn’t decipher her expression, but she felt a flicker of fear.

    Xu Jingyu’s gaze lingered on Xin Yao’s face for a moment, then she gently wiped away her tears, her touch surprisingly tender, before capturing her lips in a fierce, almost brutal kiss.

    It was different from her usual passionate kisses, this one colder, harder, more desperate.

    It was a kiss filled with possessiveness, with a desperate, almost frantic love, like a thorny vine wrapping around Xin Yao, refusing to let her go.

    Like a cage, its bars closing around her, trapping her forever.

    And yet, her hands, cupping Xin Yao’s face, were trembling.

    Xin Yao understood her emotions.

    She knew her lover was different, her initial inability to understand love now replaced by a fierce, almost overwhelming devotion, her jealousy and possessiveness a constant reminder of her insecurity.

    Seeing Xin Yao crying over another man’s photo, it was understandable that she would be upset.

    Xin Yao had wanted to wait, to let Xu Jingyu vent her emotions, then explain.

    But Xu Jingyu’s kiss deepened, her passion escalating, her desire for Xin Yao a consuming fire, unlike her usual tenderness, her touch now hard and demanding, as if wanting to brand Xin Yao with her mark, to claim her as her own.

    And then, before Xin Yao could even protest, Xu Jingyu’s hand was between her legs, her touch insistent, her body pressing against Xin Yao’s.

    How could she do this now, before they had even talked?

    But Xu Jingyu, lost in her passion, her desire for Xin Yao overwhelming her, didn’t wait for an answer, her body moving against Xin Yao’s.

    Xin Yao almost cried out, her legs weakening, her eyes, filled with tears, looking up at Xu Jingyu’s face, inches from hers.

    Xu Jingyu’s eyes, in the bright light, were terrifying, their dark depths swirling with a dangerous intensity, her emotions raw and unfiltered.

    For a moment, Xin Yao was afraid.

    She saw a flash of the beast she had known in her previous life, Pei Yu, her eyes, during her possessive phase, narrowing into reptilian slits, her gaze cold and predatory.

    Pei Yu’s eyes and Xu Jingyu’s were different, yet they evoked the same primal fear.

    And both of them, in those moments, had been lost to their instincts, their rationality consumed by their desires.

    And Xu Jingyu, in this life, was even more possessive than Pei Yu had ever been.

    Xin Yao wanted to explain, to push her away, to calm her down, to resolve the misunderstanding.

    “Stop… listen to me…”

    But Xu Jingyu’s lips silenced her, her kiss deepening.

    Xin Yao, finally losing her patience, pushed her away, her voice sharp.

    “Pei Yu, are you crazy?!”

    Her words, echoing through the quiet room, made Xu Jingyu freeze.

    She stood there, motionless, for a long moment.

    Then, slowly, she lowered her gaze, her eyes, dark and unreadable, fixed on Xin Yao’s face, her voice a husky whisper.

    “Yaoyao, who is Pei Yu?”

    Xin Yao froze.

    Oh my god!

    Had she just said Pei Yu’s name?!

    She had been thinking about Pei Yu!

    As her heart pounded in her chest, Xu Jingyu repeated the question, her voice soft yet insistent.

    “Who is Pei Yu?”

    Xin Yao looked into Xu Jingyu’s dark eyes, her throat tightening as she swallowed nervously.

    Well, this was awkward.

    It seemed her little white lie had backfired spectacularly.

    This wasn’t just a simple misunderstanding that could be resolved with a few apologies and a passionate embrace.

    Xu Jingyu looked like she was about to lose it.

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c43

    43. What a Slacker!

     

    Since they were causing trouble, they might as well go all out. This was Miss Gong’s plan for Lu Xinyao, also known as Shangguan Ziyuan.

    And she had made ample preparations for the girl’s grand entrance.

    Shortly after they entered, the tournament officially began.

    Twenty participants, ten matches on the first day, to narrow it down to ten.

    Emperor Shangguan Long personally oversaw the drawing of lots. He gave Gong Yiling, Qiu Shui, and Lu Xinyao the strangest matchups.

    Lu Xinyao vs. Bao Qijin, and Qiu Shui vs. one of the twin sisters.

    The other matchups were normal, without the awkwardness of teammates fighting each other.

    However… this was exactly what Miss Gong wanted.

    She only participated to protect the two girls from being targeted. She could have withdrawn during the second round.

    After all, the demonic core she obtained contained enough energy to last her a while, and she didn’t need the treasures from the secret realm, which she might not even be able to open.

    Even if they lost today, the top twenty could stay in the palace for another day and watch the remaining matches.

    So, the first match of the tournament presented a rather dramatic scene.

    “Ahem.”

    After stepping onto the arena, Gong Yiling took out her loudspeaker and coughed loudly.

    “I have an announcement.” She declared, “I admit I can’t defeat this young lady, so I’ll just give a motivational speech instead!”

    Shangguan Long: “Who is this?”

    Grand Elder: “Is this allowed?”

    Shangguan Yaochang: “Huh?”

    Shangguan Lingyue: “I shouldn’t have given her any points! This is outrageous!”

    Qiu Shui: “Master, you…”

    Lu Xinyao: “Pfft.”

    Other contestants: “Is there an… idiot among us?”

    Officials: “What kind of cultivator is this?”

    Everyone looked at Gong Yiling as if she were an idiot.

    But Miss Gong, unfazed, began her speech, “Listen up, everyone! We must unite, use the double cheese strategy, apply the vector addition method, and then—”

    And then there was nothing.

    Before she could say anything more, two guards dragged her away.

    They didn’t even kick her out of the palace. That was considered lenient.

    “See? You guys don’t understand humor.”

    Gong Yiling shook off the guards’ hands, crossed her arms, and returned to her seat, sulking.

    Then, she winked at Lu Xinyao, who was still standing on the arena, dumbfounded.

    “So…” Shangguan Lingyue, the referee, sighed, “The first match, Lu Xinyao wins.”

    Qiu Shui’s match was even simpler.

    Although her opponent, controlled by a demonic cultivator, was much stronger than she appeared, there was a problem.

    A problem even the demonic cultivator hadn’t anticipated.

    When Qiu Shui’s technique affected her…

    The girl became unresponsive.

    Yes, completely unresponsive.

    Her reactions were slow, and her movements sluggish.

    —This was the biggest weakness of that demonic technique.

    When it encountered the Cloud Rainbow Sect’s unique technique, it became ineffective.

    Like a puppet with its strings cut.

    If the puppet could even move, it would be considered a miracle.

    On the first day, only Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao’s matches ended within ten seconds. The others at least lasted a minute before being defeated.

    That evening, Emperor Shangguan Long hosted a banquet for all the participants.

    He even asked if they still had their number cards from the first round.

    Strangely, although these cards were used for scoring, Shangguan Yaochang didn’t collect them after the first round.

    According to the Emperor, these cards were spoils of war for the victors and would have another use in the final round, within the royal secret realm. Only those who lost would forfeit their right to the treasures, meaning they lost their cards—this rule only applied to the first two rounds.

    Later that night, back in her assigned quarters, Gong Yiling took out the number cards, intrigued.

    They still couldn’t be stored in her Universe Ring.

    “If they can’t be stored, they must be spiritual objects.”

    Gong Yiling stared at the three cards on the table, lost in thought.

    She carefully recalled the details from the book, especially those related to wooden objects.

    Finally, she listed over a dozen special creatures on her talisman paper.

    Like the Woodcarving Worm, which inhabited wood and imbued it with wind spiritual energy.

    Or the Bark Bug, which looked like bark but was actually an insect, crispy and delicious. (A reference to a popular internet meme.)

    Or the Fire-Starting Worm, which could make any wood spontaneously combust.

    These were all insects, a reflection of the author’s peculiar taste—or perhaps a form of revenge for childhood trauma involving falling out of a tree after being startled by a worm while picking bayberries.

    Then there were the rarer demonic spirits.

    Unlike demonic beasts, demonic spirits usually didn’t have physical bodies. In the book, they were described as either mist-like entities or taking the form of objects they possessed.

    Although they could only possess objects and didn’t seem threatening, their powers were often troublesome.

    For example:

    There was a demonic spirit that could inhabit trees and hypnotize everyone nearby, making them run around naked and spout nonsense like, “Officer, you have to believe me! We’re just learning English! The money on the bed is for tuition, not for any illegal activities! You have to believe me!”

    Ahem.

    Regardless of what they were actually doing, if someone overheard that, it would be a social death scene.

    However…

    Gong Yiling compared the cards to several possible demonic spirits, but they all had one thing in common: a detectable spiritual energy presence.

    Even the most elusive spirits would leave some traces.

    But she couldn’t sense any true essence from these cards.

    “Unless…”

    “Unless the demonic spirits in your hand are just fragments of a complete spirit.”

     

     

     

  • The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v2c75p1

    Chapter 75: She Died  p1

    Before the fireplace, three figures stood in silence.

    Philosopher, Educator, Historian.

    A rare moment with all three Harbinger leaders gathered, but their expressions were somber, the atmosphere heavy.

    The Harbingers were facing a grave situation.

    “Performer… is confirmed dead,” Educator said softly, his gaze fixed on the fireplace, watching the dancing flames. His childish face was expressionless.

    At the same time, Philosopher, perched on his small stool by the cabin wall, shakily reached out and removed a photograph of a stern-looking woman from the second row.

    The woman in the photograph wore a suit and a grey fedora, holding a conductor’s baton, elegant and mysterious.

    But… she was dead.

    The photograph in Philosopher’s hand crumbled into fragments, scattering across the floor.

    The floor was already littered with similar fragments, one tiny corner showing a faint, dark gold vertical pupil.

    Several spaces were now empty on the wall where the photographs had been.

    The Company directors had gone completely mad, wanting to tear apart the chessboard, as all their pieces had been taken, while the Harbingers had yet to lose a single one.

    To contain the Harbingers as much as possible, the Old Man had abandoned maintaining the barrier that enveloped and monitored Victoria, diverting all his power to locating the Harbingers within the city.

    The deceased Performer wasn’t the first casualty of this storm of madness. Five other Harbingers had already perished.

    But Performer… was one of the few Ninth-Order Awakened Ones on the Oneiric Path. Even Artist had been slightly weaker than him, yet he still hadn’t been able to withstand the Company’s assault.

    There was only one reason.

    …The attacker was the Boy, one of the three directors.

    This berserker, known for his bloodlust, belonged to the Judgment Path and was the most formidable combatant among all known Awakened Ones.

    Even the Old Man and Philosopher, the strongest figures in Victoria, didn’t dare face his assault head-on. His brute force would tear apart any obstacle in his path.

    Performer was indeed powerful. If it had been the other two directors, killing him wouldn’t have been so swift and decisive. Unfortunately, he had encountered a madman, all his Oneiric abilities useless against the enraged Boy.

    Before he could even use his Taboo secret technique as a last resort, Performer was cut in half, literally bisected by a single blow.

    Historian, still just a shadow, remained silent, seemingly lost in thought or contemplating a decision.

    Philosopher, his face wrinkled and covered in age spots, managed a smile, a hint of amusement in his aged features.

    “This isn’t entirely bad news, comrades. The directors’ reckless actions mean their plan has failed.

    “Although the Harbingers have suffered heavy losses, it doesn’t matter. Soon… it will be our moment of victory—as long as the path to godhood proceeds smoothly.”

    “That’s true, I know,” Educator sighed. “But the losses are too heavy. Six top-tier Harbingers died at the Boy’s hands. It’s not worth it.”

    They could die, but their deaths had to be meaningful.

    But the problem was… the Boy hadn’t even expended much effort killing them. The Old Man located their positions, the Boy attacked, one strike, or two at most.

    Few could withstand two blows from him, not even Silent Demise Grotesqueries. They would die countless times at his hands until they were truly extinguished.

    Dead beyond any possibility of revival.

    “The other Harbingers have gone completely silent, but that doesn’t mean the Old Man won’t find them. There’s nowhere safe in Victoria now, not even here,” Educator said gravely. “If we can’t stop the Boy’s killing spree, even if the path to godhood succeeds… we might not have enough Harbingers left to lead humanity in the new world.”

    Hearing Educator’s concern, Philosopher nodded thoughtfully.

    “This… is indeed a problem.”

    Their ultimate goal was still to save humanity, even if the process involved considerable sacrifices.

    Even if the Harbingers ultimately won, they had to consider their responsibilities afterwards.

    Just Philosophy, Education, and History weren’t enough. Humanity in the new world would need more knowledge.

    “You encountered the Boy recently. What are your chances of winning against him?” the Old Man asked, turning to Educator.

    “Mmm… it depends. In a surprise encounter, twenty percent. In a direct confrontation, about forty percent. But with the characteristics of my Authority, Ember, if I have enough time and space to prepare… seventy percent. I have a seventy percent chance of making him pay a fatal price.”

    Educator was always calm and collected, never arrogant. If he said he could win, he could. If he said he would lose, he would.

    His answer was carefully considered and wouldn’t be far from the truth.

    Philosopher pondered for a moment. “So… under certain circumstances, you’re confident you can kill the Boy?”

    “Killing him is uncertain; he definitely has some life-saving methods,” Educator said gravely. “But inflicting irreversible injuries… I’m somewhat confident.” He paused, then continued,

    “But the problem is, the Boy always strikes swiftly and decisively, not giving me much time to prepare. And his movements are unpredictable. We don’t know when or who he will target next—we can’t wait until only one Harbinger is left before setting a trap, can we?”

    Having all the Harbingers gather was even more unrealistic. They were scattered and hidden throughout Victoria. Gathering would make them easier for the Old Man to locate. They might all be killed by the Boy before they could even assemble.

    “If we knew who the Boy’s next target was, could we prepare in advance?”

    Historian, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, their voice still emotionless, raspy and unreal.

    “Hmm?”

    Philosopher and Educator looked up at the shadow clinging to the wall, their gazes sharp.

    Was Historian… finally making their decision?

    “Please elaborate, Historian,” Educator said softly.

    “The Company’s greatest fear is the White Witch, who can collapse Victoria at any time, and the Grotesquery that can annihilate Boundaries during a collapse, rendering all their efforts meaningless,” Historian said calmly. “We don’t know the specifics of the latter yet, but the former…”

    “I understand,” Educator nodded slightly.

    The words didn’t need to be explicit. The general idea was enough. He knew what to do.

    “Use the Church of Light’s cathedral as the base for the barrier. When the barrier is complete… it’s time to set the bait and cast the net.” The tension in Educator’s expression eased slightly as his eyes flickered. “At that time…”

    He didn’t continue, instead staring intently at Historian.

    So, was Historian the Boy?

    If so, this was a blatant declaration of war.

    Or perhaps, they could now rule out the Boy. The Old Man’s probability was also low… Was it the Woman?

    Although unclear, at least now, they had an opportunity to confront the Boy… or perhaps Historian.

    And this was the opportunity Educator needed.

    He didn’t waste any time, his figure dissipating within the cabin, leaving only a pool of blood on the sofa, which quickly evaporated under the fireplace’s warmth.

    In the blink of an eye, Historian also vanished, leaving only Philosopher alone in the cabin.

    The aged Philosopher remained silent, lost in thought, contemplating his next move.

    “Hmph.”

    He chuckled softly, a hint of disdain and mockery in his voice.

    ……

    On a bustling street, a handsome young man walked through the crowded masses.

    Besides his striking appearance and distinctive black hair, he seemed like any ordinary person in Victoria.

    Perhaps only a few young women would spare him a second glance, but that was all.

    The young man carried a large, rectangular cloth bag, taller than himself, bulging with unknown contents. But it seemed light, as he carried it effortlessly, his expression unchanged, not even breaking a sweat.

    He walked casually through the crowd, listening to the familiar noise of the market, a hint of reminiscence in his cold eyes.

    Long ago, he had also been just another face in the crowd, repeating his mundane, ignorant routine.

    Until he saw the true face of the world.

    Until he shouldered the responsibility he had to bear.

    Until… he became a Company director.

    The street was packed with people heading to the cathedral for the ceremony, but the young man moved through the crowd like a fish in water.

    He saw the towering spire of the cathedral in the distance, solemn hymns drifting on the wind, as if all of Victoria was bathed in God’s glory, heading towards a future of peace and happiness.

    “Nice weather,” the young man said softly, looking up at the sun hanging high in the sky. “A good day for killing.”

    He untied the large cloth bag on his back and gave a thumbs-up towards the cathedral’s entrance, seemingly aiming at the pulpit.

    The next moment, a bloody storm erupted. The crowded street instantly cleared—a powerful gust of wind pulverized a large swathe of people, flesh and organs mixing together, forming a river of blood that flowed slowly across the ground.

    The onlookers witnessing this gruesome scene were terrified, scrambling to escape this hellish landscape, panic spreading rapidly.

    But the people at the back, unaware of what had happened, continued to push forward, until the thick, nauseating stench of blood drifted on the wind, the crowd losing control and erupting into chaos.

  • Captivating Beauty 74

    Chapter 74

    Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu were both wearing pearl-colored gowns. Xu Jinnan’s was a slip dress with two thin pearl strands draped around her neck, the largest pearl dangling between her breasts, swaying gently with her movements.

    Shen Shu’s dress, custom-made to match Xu Jinnan’s, had a similar neckline, but with lace and sequins covering most of her chest, as she preferred not to show too much skin. However, the elegant lines of her bare back were still a captivating sight.

    As they stepped out of the car, arm in arm, they drew all eyes, like celebrities on a red carpet.

    Tan Jie, arriving at the same time, felt a pang of jealousy as she watched them approach. Even her meticulously chosen designer gown seemed to pale in comparison to Shen Shu’s effortless elegance.

    And it was all because of Xu Jinnan.

    Without Xu Jinnan, Shen Shu wouldn’t be anyone.

    She maintained a polite smile, then, seeing Chen Bo at the entrance, assumed he was waiting for her, and walked towards him, her head held high.

    Before she could reach the steps, she heard Chen Bo’s voice call out, “Nan-jie! I’ve been waiting for you! My father’s waiting too. Sister-in-law…” His voice softened considerably on the last word.

    They were walking ahead, not noticing Tan Jie behind them.

    After a moment, Chen Bo glanced back, then smiled. “Miss Tan, you’re here too.”

    Tan Jie’s expression softened slightly as she walked over, greeting Chen Bo before turning to Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu.

    “CEO Xu, Shu Shu, it seems we’re destined to meet,” she said warmly.

    Xu Jinnan smiled faintly, not replying, and Shen Shu simply nodded. “Teacher Tan.”

    Tan Jie seemed to have a particular interest in Xu Jinnan, perhaps because of Xu Jinnan’s earlier flirtatious behavior, constantly seeking her attention.

    Xu Jinnan felt Shen Shu’s arm tense slightly, as if she was about to pull away, and instinctively tightened her grip, their skin brushing against each other.

    Shen Shu didn’t move again.

    Just as they were about to enter the hotel, Chen Bo turned to Tan Jie. “Miss Tan, why don’t you go inside first? I’ll find you later,” he said.

    Tan Jie: “…”

    He continued chatting with Xu Jinnan, oblivious to her displeasure.

    While Tan Jie was a relatively well-known actress, to him, she was just a slightly more prestigious version of an internet celebrity.

    Just another Omega to flirt with when he was bored.

    With Xu Jinnan here, he had no interest in other women. His father was waiting to speak to her, and Xu Jinnan’s status had changed considerably.

    It might sound exaggerated, but his father had actually intended to greet her personally.

    However, having already welcomed Xu Tao earlier, it would have been inappropriate to show Xu Jinnan the same level of deference.

    “Nan-jie, about that land you suggested I use for the online platform, the one for the live streaming company… my father didn’t understand at first, he was even a little skeptical, but after meeting you the other day…” He paused as someone greeted him, then continued, “Especially with your recent successful investments, he’s practically begging me to join your team.”

    Xu Jinnan thought Chen Bo, despite his playboy ways, had a good eye for opportunities and a wide network of connections. He would be a valuable asset in this industry.

    His father, worried about Xu Jinnan’s influence on his son, had even invited her to dinner.

    The conversation had been pleasant, and she had even shared some of her insights and resources.

    The Chen family’s businesses were mostly traditional, recently expanding into real estate and catering, but with limited success. Her advice, forward-thinking and innovative, had impressed Mr. Chen.

    Besides discussing investment strategies, she had also shared her views on the current stock market trends and other financial matters.

    By the end of the dinner, Mr. Chen, after a glass of baijiu(Traditional Chinese liquor), had asked her to mentor his son.

    Since he had made the request, she would grant him the favor.

    “As long as he doesn’t cause any trouble,” she had said.

    Chen Bo had a sort of hero worship for the original Xu Jinnan, often imitating her behavior, but Xu Jinnan wasn’t interested in being anyone’s savior.

    This was a business transaction, a mutually beneficial exchange of favors.

    In the business world, it was all about profit and connections.

    Chen Bo had promised to be on his best behavior, to follow her instructions without question.

    He led them towards the VIP area, where North City’s business elite were gathered. In the past, she wouldn’t have been allowed in this exclusive circle.

    It was a world of sharks, and as a junior, she hadn’t been worthy of their attention.

    But now, she was.

    She wasn’t particularly interested, but she still had to make an appearance – whether she enjoyed it or not, gaining access to this elite circle was one of her goals.

    Shen Shu definitely wouldn’t be joining them, so she turned to her, intending to discuss it, then noticed Shen Shu was looking down at her phone. “Isn’t Cai Ying here yet?” she asked.

    “I’ll call her,” Shen Shu replied.

    Cai Ying had said she would be waiting at the entrance, but they hadn’t seen her, and she hadn’t replied to their messages.

    “Who are you looking for? I can help,” Chen Bo offered.

    Xu Jinnan, her chin lifting slightly, said, “Over there.”

    Shen Shu followed her gaze and saw a figure in a lilac dress, standing alone like a solitary lily in a crowded garden.

    Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu walked towards her, telling Chen Bo to go ahead and greet his father.

    He agreed, but lingered, intending to escort them to the VIP area after they found Cai Ying.

    As they approached, they saw Cai Ying still searching for someone, her movements slightly frantic.

    She had been looking for Han Ling, whom she thought she had seen earlier, but the figure had disappeared.

    She had been scanning the crowd for a while, but hadn’t seen her again.

    Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned around to see Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu, realizing she had forgotten about them.

    “What are you looking at? We called you, but you didn’t even hear us,” Shen Shu said.

    Cai Ying, embarrassed, stuck out her tongue. She had been too preoccupied, even ignoring her phone.

    “I thought I saw Teacher Han. It startled me,” she explained.

    A waiter approached, and Xu Jinnan ordered two glasses of orange juice, one for Shen Shu, one for herself.

    As Shen Shu took the juice, she said to Cai Ying, “Didn’t she say she also had a banquet to attend? Did you ask where it was?”

    “You can ask her,” Xu Jinnan said, gesturing towards Cai Ying’s phone.

    Cai Ying’s smile faltered. “It’s probably not her,” she said quickly. The person she had seen had been with another woman.

    Perhaps she had been mistaken.

    “Okay,” Xu Jinnan said, shrugging and taking a sip of her juice. She turned to Shen Shu. “You two can chat. I’ll be back in a bit.” She just needed to make a brief appearance; she wasn’t staying long, and she had already eaten.

    “Okay,” Shen Shu replied, nodding.

    The crowd was getting larger, and people were staring, so Xu Jinnan suggested they find a quieter spot to sit and wait for her.

    “Don’t worry, I can handle this. I’ll protect Shu Shu,” Cai Ying said, puffing out her chest.

    They started walking, but before they could even take two steps, someone stopped Xu Jinnan, wanting to chat.

    Cai Ying and Shen Shu exchanged a look, stepping aside. “Your wife is quite popular now, isn’t she?” Cai Ying commented.

    Shen Shu glanced at Xu Jinnan, her long, wavy brown hair cascading over her shoulders, the delicate lines of her collarbone and the pearl and gold necklace accentuating the elegant curve of her décolletage, the most striking feature of her dress.

    “She is,” Shen Shu replied.

    Popular.

    Actually, Shen Shu and Cai Ying, standing beside Xu Jinnan, were also attracting attention.

    Everyone knew Shen Shu was Xu Jinnan’s wife, the one she had pursued so relentlessly.

    And Cai Ying, who rarely attended such events, wasn’t widely recognized.

    Xu Jinnan introduced Cai Ying, and the people she was talking to, surprised, realized she was the Cai family heiress. They had heard about the mixed-race daughter of the Cai family CEO, but they hadn’t expected her to be so beautiful.

    Cai Ying mumbled a few polite responses, then looked away, bored. She disliked these social gatherings; they were too superficial, everyone putting on a facade of politeness and propriety, their true thoughts and intentions hidden.

    She hated pretense.

    It was too complicated.

    She linked arms with Shen Shu, scanning the room, a strange unease settling over her. Just as she was about to suggest they find a quieter spot, her eyes widened, as if she had just seen something incredibly shocking.

    A familiar figure, a woman with alluring fox-like eyes, her arm linked with another woman in a white dress, emerged from a nearby doorway.

    Perhaps drawn by the commotion, or having heard something, the woman’s gaze suddenly shifted towards Cai Ying—

    Across the room, through the crowd, their eyes met, and Cai Ying saw a flicker of surprise in Han Ling’s eyes, her own breath catching in her throat.

    She blinked slowly, her heart pounding.

    She hadn’t been mistaken. It was Han Ling.

    Just then, Chen Bo’s voice came from behind her.

    “Miss Cai, do you know Miss Han?”

    Cai Ying, her gaze still fixed on Han Wenling, her voice slightly dazed, asked, “Miss Han?”

    “Han Wenling,” Chen Bo clarified, his tone suggestive. Han Wenling, with her beauty and charisma, was the type to attract younger women, similar to Xu Jinnan.

    Shen Shu felt Cai Ying’s hand tighten around her arm, the grip almost painful, and she instinctively tensed, sensing something was wrong.

    “Cai Ying?”

    Cai Ying, snapping out of her trance, turned to Chen Bo. “What did you say her name was?”

    Chen Bo, puzzled, repeated the name.

    Han Wenling.

    Cai Ying’s voice rose slightly, drawing Xu Jinnan’s attention, who saw her hurrying towards the other woman, her pace so quick she almost bumped into a waiter.

    It all happened so fast.

    Shen Shu followed Cai Ying, exchanging a brief look with Xu Jinnan as they went, both of them realizing, with a sudden jolt of understanding, what this meant.

    Han Wenling…

    Within seconds, Cai Ying reached Han Wenling.

    Her hurried approach made her stumble slightly, and Han Wenling instinctively reached out to steady her, then withdrew her hand as Cai Ying regained her balance.

    Cai Ying looked up at Han Wenling, her voice trembling slightly, her eyes searching.

    “Is there something you want to tell me?”

    Her tone was calm, but her voice betrayed her, like a branch trembling in the wind.

    Han Wenling’s hand returned to her side, her fingers fidgeting slightly.

    She felt a strange mix of emotions, something she had never experienced before. Using a fake identity had been a whim, a spur-of-the-moment decision, but after meeting Cai Ying a few times, she had found her intriguing, her innocent cheerfulness a welcome distraction from the complexities of her own world.

    Even without any physical intimacy, she had enjoyed spending time with Cai Ying.

    If there was one thing she regretted, it was Cai Ying’s apparent lack of interest in material possessions.

    She had offered her a black card, her car keys, but Cai Ying had been more delighted with the bracelet, a relatively inexpensive gift.

    She had occasionally considered the possibility of Cai Ying discovering the truth about her identity, but she hadn’t dwelled on it. Besides power and profit, she rarely cared about anything deeply.

    She had even rationalized it, thinking, So what if she finds out? We’ll just break up. It’s not like I’m desperate.

    But now, looking at Cai Ying’s reddened, tear-filled eyes, she felt a pang of guilt, a strange nervousness she had never experienced with another woman.

    “Ling Ling, who is this?” the woman beside her asked, leaning in close.

    Han Wenling frowned, not at the question itself, but at the way Cai Ying’s eyes darkened at the woman’s words.

    “Ying Ying,” Shen Shu said, arriving just then and standing beside Cai Ying. It was clear now.

    Han Wenling was Han Ling.

    Cai Ying’s tutor.

    Xu Jinnan joined them, her expression grim. “She’s asking who you are,” she heard Cai Ying say, her voice choked with emotion.

    Cai Ying didn’t look at the woman beside Han Wenling, her gaze fixed on Han Ling, waiting for an answer.

    Han Wenling looked at Cai Ying, her eyes flickering towards Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu, then around the room, aware of the curious stares.

    What could she say? Explain herself?

    Tell Cai Ying about her agreement with the He family heiress, the fake engagement meant to benefit both their families?

    For a moment, looking at Cai Ying’s heartbroken expression, she almost did. Then, she decided against it. It seemed pointless.

    It was her own fault.

    She had never imagined Cai Ying would be connected to Xu Jinnan. She usually investigated anyone she got involved with, but with Cai Ying, she hadn’t bothered. She had seemed so innocent, so pure.

    After a brief hesitation, she said, “I’m her fiancée.”

    Cai Ying heard the words, not from Han Ling, but from a stranger.

    Tears streamed down her face, her lips trembling, and Shen Shu, her heart aching, reached for her hand, but Cai Ying pulled away, taking a step closer to Han Wenling.

    “Really?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

    She always avoided trouble, and anyone connected to Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu was trouble.

    Or so she thought.

    She didn’t notice the conflicting emotions stirring within her, the hesitation that belied her usual decisiveness.

    And she didn’t realize the weight of that single word, the way it would change the course of her life.

    “Yes,” Han Wenling replied.

    Slap!

    Cai Ying slapped her.

  • The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine 73

    73: The Predetermined Path

    An invitation from Konrad.

    If my sister accepted, she would undoubtedly become closer to him. Though I wasn’t sure if it was part of the [Official Scenario].

    I couldn’t help but gulp.

    I tried to be discreet, but I wondered if they noticed.

    Leticia smiled.

    “We’re here on inspection… and Your Highness is here for an investigation, right? Please, focus on your work.”

    And with that smile, she flatly rejected Konrad’s invitation.

    ――Well, I could make time for him if he asked.

    Or rather, I was here partly for the [Event].

    Was this the protagonist? Was this a true noble?

    I was stunned by my sister, who prioritized her duties over a spontaneous invitation from the First Prince, the future king.

    While it was possible she wasn’t interested in Konrad, considering the pleasant atmosphere between them earlier, she could have at least consulted me.

    …No, this might be proof that my plan to be disliked by my sister, as the villainous sister, was proceeding smoothly. If that were the case, she wouldn’t casually consult me.

    I decided to think positively.

    While his invitation wasn’t accepted, Konrad, having also received encouragement, smiled and thanked her.

    “…Yes, thank you.”

    I could tell. While he was smiling, he was clearly dejected.

    Prince Konrad, whose carefully planned invitation, squeezed into his limited free time, had been unceremoniously rejected, was pitiful.

    I felt a twinge of sympathy for him.

    ――My sister turned to me, her entire body facing me, and smiled. While it was my subjective opinion, it was a brighter smile than the one she had given Prince Konrad.

    “Elder Sister, thank you in advance for your guidance on the inspection starting tomorrow.”

    Konrad glared at me, a resentful look that was as intense as his position as First Prince allowed, as if to say, I’ll be joining you on the inspection. Don’t look at me.

    And while I had been thinking positively just now, She’s starting to dislike me, just like in the scenario, I was now thinking negatively.

    …It would be easier if she hated me.

    My sister wouldn’t choose me.

    And I couldn’t be the ideal older sister she wanted.

    I would walk the path of the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”

    Even for my beloved sister, that was one thing I couldn’t change.

    “…Yes. You would do well to learn from Elder Sister. She’s a capable lord.”

    Despite the slight barb, it was rare praise.

    However…

    “…I simply inherited it.”

    “Lady Adelheid?”

    Perhaps noticing the dejection in my voice, Konrad spoke.

    His continued use of my former title, despite me being the head of the family now, showed his pettiness.

    I wasn’t a ‘lady’ anymore.

    Not just because of my age, but, more importantly, because I was the ‘head of the family.’

    …But perhaps, as the title ‘villainous sister’ suggested, I was still just a child.

    “The territory, and the way of managing it, cultivated by the previous generations of the Vanderwaals…”

    ――I only knew this way.

    Was I wrong?

    Had my predecessors, including my father, been wrong?

    Had the previous heads of the family struggled with such thoughts?

    I couldn’t ask them anymore.

    My father had passed away before I was ready.

    …Why was I… confiding in this man, of all people?

    “…Can you really manage it just by inheriting it?”

    I thought Konrad would take advantage of my vulnerability and make a sarcastic remark, but, surprisingly, he didn’t.

    “If an amateur gardener with no knowledge inherited a beautiful garden, could they maintain its beauty? —I believe I told you excessive modesty is a form of arrogance, Adelheid von Vanderwaals.”

    …Ah, I see.

    “You are the head of the Vanderwaals family. You are admirably… yes, admirably… maintaining everything you inherited from the previous generation.”

    The reason Konrad was being unusually kind to me…

    “I don’t approve of your methods. But I cannot deny the results.”

    …was because he was the same.

    We couldn’t create something from nothing.

    We were ‘blessed by birth.’ We hadn’t chosen it.

    I was the eldest child of a ducal family, and he was the eldest child of the royal family.

    The right to inherit a title, or the throne, followed birth order, unless there were serious doubts about one’s qualifications.

    That was how our futures had been decided.

    Our paths were determined by the blood flowing through our veins, even before we were born.

    We were only allowed to deviate from that path if we were deemed incompetent—if we were told, “We don’t need someone like you, a failure.”

    And we… were competent. Competent enough to stay on the path.

    I disliked him, and he likely disliked me.

    Perhaps we were… too similar.

    “…It’s an honor to receive such praise from the future king, Your Highness.”

    We weren’t allowed to wallow in self-pity.

    That wasn’t the role we were given.

    Even so…

    “When you become king, you will rule the country in your own way. And I will serve you as your vassal, in my own way.”

    I could at least offer him that small courtesy.

    Of course, I had no intention of keeping that promise, since I was scheduled for the guillotine.

    Let him suffer.

    I would pave the way for my adorable sister Leticia, but beyond that… I didn’t know.

    “Duty and loyalty, Your Highness.”

    “Yes, duty and loyalty, Lady Adelheid.”

    Leticia, seeing Konrad and me exchange a rare, genuine smile, murmured,

    “You two get along well…”

    “We don’t.”

    “We don’t.”

    There was no truth to that.

  • Second Time Around, the Villainous Daughter Decides to Indulge First 73

    Chapter 73: Strolling Through the Night Market

    “Lena Falmouth.”

    “Correct! Here’s a little red flower for you, sweetie!”

    Lena plucked a wildflower and tucked it into Diana’s hair, her voice gentle. “But I still prefer the unruly you, please revert back.”

    “Ugh… waaaah…”

    “Oh?”

    Tears streamed down Diana’s face like broken pearls. She turned to Lena, showing her tear-stained face.

    “Why are you crying?” Lena was taken aback, then amused. “I wasn’t even angry after you bullied me, and now you’re playing the victim.”

    Seriously, she had met a real drama queen today.

    “I couldn’t help it…”

    Diana’s voice was hoarse, and she wiped her tears, but they were quickly replaced by new ones, blurring her vision.

    “What else could I do?!”

    She wailed, burying her face in Lena’s chest, soaking Lena’s clothes with her tears.

    “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bully you, I just, just…”

    Regret washed over her. Perhaps Diana just wanted attention, hence her attention-seeking behavior.

    It was related to her upbringing and her environment.

    Diana’s apology to Lena showed her inherent goodness, but her status meant she was surrounded by sycophants, shaping her into the little devil she was now.

    “This is so unlike you, I’m not used to it.”

    Lena chuckled awkwardly, unsure how to comfort her.

    So, she took the tearful princess for a walk, a change of scenery.

    Two enemies from her past life now in this awkward situation, was this a test for Lena?

    This was turning into a comedy…

    “There’s a goblin selling fireworks up ahead, want to take a look?” Lena’s gaze focused on the orange glow in the distance, where a small goblin was peddling prohibited “firework bombs.”

    The small but intelligent goblins possessed the most advanced brains and magic technology, always coming up with innovative inventions. The “firework bomb” was one of them.

    “Mm…”

    Diana sniffled, agreeing.

    Her docile demeanor was a stark contrast to her usual arrogant self.

    Lena almost rolled her eyes.

    Forget it.

    Rubbing her temples, Lena reluctantly took on the role of the princess’s babysitter…

    She would definitely charge Diana for this later. Wait, what was she originally planning to do?

    Uh…

    She couldn’t say.

    Plans never survived contact with reality, just like Diana’s tears, a rare sight, a form of punishment for the arrogant little devil.

    It wasn’t a true victory, but there would be plenty of opportunities later.

    Lena was still curious about Diana’s death in her past life, determined to find the answer herself.

    …

    The night market bustled with activity, the crowds adding to the lively atmosphere.

    Located on an island in the middle of a famous scenic lake, the night market was a prime location for merchants, who flocked here, paying their stall fees for the right to… well, do business.

    “Take a look, have a look, guaranteed no fakes, come, come, make your money work for you.”

    A foreign merchant with a clay teapot on his head shouted enthusiastically, his stall displaying rows of colorful pottery jars.

    It was said that lucky people could find valuable treasures inside. Lena hadn’t tried it; it was probably a scam.

    But Diana seemed fascinated, her tears forgotten, her beautiful violet eyes sparkling in the light of the night market.

    “What’s that? And that, and that!” She excitedly tugged at Lena’s hand, pointing at everything, her eyes filled with curiosity. “So many things I’ve never seen before, this place is amazing!”

    “All night markets are the same, don’t be so surprised.”

    Lena briefly educated the sheltered princess, then approached a stall, asking casually, “Any scrolls?”

    “Virility Scrolls, guaranteed to keep your lover going all night long!”

    “Do I look like someone with kidney deficiency?” Lena pointed at herself, her eyes narrowing.

    “Quack?”

    A long beak quacked in confusion, the stall owner paddling in a square pool, his body rotating like a fish out of water.

    His gaze landed on Diana, then on their linked arms. “Ah! I know what you need!”

    He quickly dove underwater.

    The clever walrus-man retrieved a popular item for human women from a giant clam shell.

    As he proudly presented it to Lena, Diana suddenly reacted, kicking the pink, phallic object back into the water, her face flushing. “Let’s go! This person is weird! Huff, huff, huff—”

    “Quack? Is it too small, quack?”

    The walrus-man scratched his head, not bothering to persuade them.

    Strange female humans, male humans were much easier to fool, buying Virility Scrolls in bulk…

    “Senior, why did you take me to that stall?!”

    Diana pulled away from Lena, embarrassed and annoyed. “Idiot, Senior, you big idiot.”

    “Not calling me ‘weakling’ anymore? Senior Weakling? Hmm?”

    Lena deliberately teased her, enjoying Diana’s flustered expression.

    Diana, of course, wouldn’t back down, giggling. “Weakling, weakling~ Do I have to use this tone for Senior Weakling to listen?~ You’re such a pervert~ how disgusting~”

    “…” That’s the spirit.

    This was how Diana had taunted her every day in her past life. It had been so long, she almost had PTSD…

    However, the little devil’s taunts went unanswered, and she became annoyed.

    “Boring! I hate you!”

    Diana bit her lip, her violet eyes shimmering.

    Why, oh why, was this person so impervious to her teasing?!

    It was like stopping midway through, like someone getting interrupted during a private moment.

    Diana felt frustrated, like she had been played by Lena.

    “How are we getting home?”

    Hand in hand, Diana strolled through the night market, looking at Lena’s profile with concern.

    Her features were soft and gentle. Lena was the most beautiful person Diana had ever met, and also the most enigmatic.

    “We’re not going to be stuck here, are we? Do you have a glass bird? Hey, Lena…”

    Her voice trailed off, unanswered.

    Lena seemed to be ignoring her, leading her through the various stalls, like a background actor going through the motions.

  • Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss 54

    Chapter 54: Holding Zhu Yiqiao, Not Letting Her Leave

    Ming Fei’s ears turned crimson.

    Realizing what had happened last night, she pieced everything together.

    First, she had drunk the beverage 0619 brought her, and because she couldn’t hold her liquor, she became completely drunk. Zhu Yiqiao, returning from the Trial Court, happened to see her in this state.

    Then, for some reason… she had suddenly grabbed Zhu Yiqiao and pulled her onto her lap, holding her and not letting her leave.

    Perhaps because their relationship had eased and changed during their time together, Zhu Yiqiao didn’t pull out her gun and point it at her head. In response to her subsequent questions, Zhu Yiqiao even affirmed that they were friends.

    Most importantly—

    Zhu Yiqiao confessed honestly that she was One Raccoon Hill.

    Her first friend, whom she had known long ago and cherished deeply.

    Finally, after confirming, she, overjoyed by this long-awaited reunion, held onto Zhu Yiqiao, not letting go, not only calling Zhu Yiqiao “Kitten,” but also… pressing her right cheek against Zhu Yiqiao’s left cheek. Before falling asleep, drowsy and her eyelids heavy, she said to Zhu Yiqiao with reluctance,

    “I’m going to sleep, Kitten, don’t go away.”

    Every single one of these things made Ming Fei so embarrassed that she wanted to run back to the bedroom and only come out after sorting out her chaotic thoughts.

    But she didn’t have the chance.

    Because at this moment, the person she had clung to last night was standing in front of her, calmly observing her, watching as the blush on her ears spread to the corners of her eyes, her cheeks, and even her neck.

    Just as she was about to overheat, Zhu Yiqiao, who had been on the offensive, took a step back.

    “Remember to drink the hangover soup.”

    After saying that, she turned and left, leaving only 0619, holding the hangover soup, standing there. A smiling emoji floated on 0619’s display screen. Noticing Ming Fei’s flushed cheeks and dazed expression, it automatically activated care mode and asked with concern,

    “Teacher Xiao Fei, what’s wrong?”

    The lively and playful robotic voice rang out, bringing Ming Fei back to her senses. She asked,

    “I’m fine. Was the drink you brought me last night alcohol?”

    0619 said, “It was juice, but it did contain alcohol. But I checked, the alcohol content was very low.”

    Ming Fei didn’t say anything. There wouldn’t be a next time anyway. She finished the hangover soup in one gulp and was about to go back to the bedroom to calm down when 0619 timely reminded her,

    “Teacher Xiao Fei, Chief Judge Zhu asked you to come downstairs for breakfast in fifteen minutes.”

    “…Mm.”

    0619’s round eyes turned into two question marks: “Teacher Xiao Fei, why is your face so red? Is the temperature control in the villa set too high?”

    Ming Fei shook her head and entered a command into 0619. 0619, receiving the command, immediately went downstairs to play with 008.

    The corridor became quiet again. Ming Fei closed the door and buried her face in the sofa pillows. She was both happy and shocked, happy about reuniting with her old friend in this different space-time, and shocked, embarrassed, even at a loss because of her actions last night.

    Zhu Yiqiao was One Raccoon Hill.

    This truth made her think of the eternal green rose gift. She lifted her head and stood up, going to the display case in the study and carefully examining the bionic green roses under the sun, moon, and Milky Way.

    She thought, it wasn’t a coincidence after all.

    It was because One Raccoon Hill still remembered the book “Roses and Stars” she had shared.

    Besides “Roses and Stars,” there were also the repeated questions after seeing the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum, all of which were unusual.

    She should have realized it sooner. She had been too slow.

    Starlight flowed on the petals of the rose in the center. Ming Fei couldn’t describe how she felt at this moment, but undeniably, she was happy that Zhu Yiqiao was One Raccoon Hill. She leaned against the wall, took out her phone, clicked on the chat page with Zhu Yiqiao, and after a brief hesitation, sent two emojis.

    [[Kitten saying sorry.gif]]

    [[Kitten offering a big fish.gif]]

    [Jiejie, I remember everything from last night. I’m sorry, I didn’t know that drink contained alcohol. I apologize for everything I did after getting drunk.]

    Ming Fei felt inexplicably nervous, her gaze fixed on the display screen.

    A new message notification popped up, and Zhu Yiqiao’s reply arrived instantly.

    [Why are you apologizing?]

    Ming Fei didn’t really want to recall those transgressive actions, but she still recounted everything from last night. As she typed and deleted, deleted and typed again, Zhu Yiqiao’s message arrived first.

    [You were very well-behaved last night.]

    [Come downstairs for breakfast.]

    Ming Fei’s heart rate accelerated.

    Well-behaved?

    Not at all.

    She had even been clingy and unreasonable.

    She blinked, deciding to avoid this topic for now. After deleting the typed message, she only replied with a simple emoji.

    [[Kitten running fast.jpg]]

    This was a key point mentioned in the best-selling book on social skills—when you don’t know how to reply but have to reply, use a universal emoji.

    Ming Fei remembered this point very well and put it into practice perfectly.

    Every step from the study on the second floor to the dining room made Ming Fei’s heart rate gradually increase.

    She glanced at her pheromone bracelet and, seeing that her heart rate was about to exceed the limit, stopped and took a few deep breaths.

    She felt it was a little strange, because she wasn’t that nervous. If she had to use a percentage to describe it, her nervousness only accounted for 10%, 70% was happiness, and the remaining 20% was embarrassment from her drunken behavior last night.

    And, besides her almost exceeding heart rate, the pheromone bracelet also detected fluctuations in her pheromones.

    It was probably a small fluctuation caused by not having fully mastered pheromone control yet, Ming Fei thought to herself.

    Because there were more important things, she didn’t pay attention to this negligible fluctuation.

    When she arrived at the dining room, breakfast had just been served. Ming Fei didn’t look at Zhu Yiqiao, who was sitting at the head of the table, but quickly walked to her seat and sat down.

    The snow outside was almost stopping.

    After 008 left, Ming Fei looked up at Zhu Yiqiao, and Zhu Yiqiao happened to be looking at her as well. As their eyes met, a gust of wind carrying snowflakes swept past, making the flowers in the garden sway.

    Ming Fei’s voice was low, tinged with embarrassment.

    “…Jiejie.”

    “Mm.”

    Ming Fei gave a shy and light smile: “I’m very happy to finally see you.”

    If she were still a teenager, even though she was shy and introverted, she would probably have given One Raccoon Hill a hug when they finally met. But now she was twenty-five years old, and all the happiness, surprise, and excitement at this reunion turned into a simple sentence—I’m very happy to see you.

    She was truly happy.

    In the past, she would have written this day in her diary, and she would now as well.

    Hearing this, Zhu Yiqiao looked at her intently.

    “Aren’t you going to ask me why I deleted my account without saying anything?”

    Ming Fei smiled: “It doesn’t matter anymore, and I’ve never blamed Jiejie.”

    She explained, “Jiejie was a member of the royal family and also a supporter of the Mehertaer faction. There must have been times when you couldn’t help yourself. And, I’ve already received the answer I wanted most. The green rose you gave me also hinted at your thoughts.”

    The world was too vast, and it was already fortunate enough that they could meet again, especially since neither of them had forgotten each other.

    A faint light shone through the inky sky, indicating that the snow that had been falling all night might soon stop.

    Just as Ming Fei was about to eat her porridge, a video call invitation from Ming Zaozao popped up.

    She answered the call, and Ming Zaozao’s small, round face appeared on the display screen, her voice following.

    “Mommy!”

    “Mm.” Ming Fei asked softly, “Have you had breakfast, Zaozao?”

    “Baby has eaten!”

    Ming Zaozao then chattered, “Mommy, will you come pick up Baby later?”

    “Okay.” Ming Fei asked, “What time?”

    “Eleven o’clock!”

    “Then see you at eleven.”

    “Mm-hmm!”

    After Ming Zaozao hung up, Zhu Yiqiao suddenly said, “I’ll go with you to pick up Zaozao.”

    “Okay.”

    Just as Ming Fei was about to change the subject, she noticed that Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromone bracelet suddenly lit up. She wanted to ask why, but Zhu Yiqiao stood up.

    “I still have some unfinished business. You finish your breakfast and rest for a while.”

    Ming Fei nodded: “Mm, then go ahead, Jiejie.”

    Only Ming Fei was left in the spacious dining room. She admired the scenery in the garden, her gaze frequently returning to the newly transplanted Blue Fia lilies.

    Half an hour later, the snow stopped.

    Ming Fei slept for forty minutes.

    At 10:10 am, after receiving the location from Lan Lubai, she went to the cloakroom to change her clothes, sent a message to Zhu Yiqiao, and prepared to go pick up Ming Zaozao together.

    She originally thought Zhu Yiqiao was on the third floor, but after receiving a reply, she learned that Zhu Yiqiao was already waiting on the first floor. So, she hurried downstairs and saw Zhu Yiqiao by the French window on the first floor.

    “Jiejie.”

    The warm sunlight shone on Zhu Yiqiao, even softening the usually frosty blue in her eyes.

    Ming Fei smiled at her: “Let’s go.”

    “Mm.”

    They left in the hovercar. Zhu Yiqiao worked on official business during the journey, and Ming Fei didn’t interrupt, quietly reading for fifteen minutes.

    The hovercar arrived at its destination. Ming Fei got out of the car first and held Zhu Yiqiao’s hand after she got out. Because they were in public now, they needed to maintain a semblance of intimacy.

    Entering Dejade, Ming Fei felt a stinging sensation in her gland. This stinging was exactly the same as the one before she developed pheromones, and it also lasted for a very short time.

    But since they were in public, Ming Fei didn’t show any outward sign of abnormality, holding Zhu Yiqiao’s hand and taking the elevator directly to the nineteenth floor. Just as they reached a hanging painting, Lan Lubai happened to come out, holding Ming Zaozao’s hand.

    Seeing them, Ming Zaozao immediately let go of Lan Lubai’s hand and ran towards them.

    “Mommy! Pretty Auntie!”

    Ming Fei caught her and patted her little head.

    Lan Lubai teased with a smile: “Oh, you’re letting go of Auntie Lulu just like that?”

    Because they were close to the elevator, when it dinged, Ming Fei noticed Xue Xun, dressed in red, stepping out.

    She originally thought Xue Xun was here to find Lan Lubai, but Xue Xun, who usually had a bright and flamboyant smile, now had a cold expression, her eyes tinged with red, not even noticing the four of them, and walked directly in another direction.

    Even though Ming Fei hadn’t interacted much with Xue Xun, she could tell at a glance that something was wrong with her.

    Lan Lubai noticed Xue Xun: “What’s wrong with her? Should we go check?”

    Zhu Yiqiao: “Mm.”

    Ming Fei was also a little worried, following closely behind with Ming Zaozao. When they followed Xue Xun’s path to the end of the corridor, the sound of shattering glass came from a room.

    Ming Fei subconsciously covered Ming Zaozao’s ears.

    Xue Xun’s voice rang out.

    “Miss Pei, please leave first, I have something to discuss with President Xu.”

    The door to the room was open. Besides Xue Xun, Ming Fei saw an unfamiliar woman in a long purple dress and the head of the Luci Group, whom she had just met at the academy lab.

    Because the academy was likely to reach a cooperation agreement with the Luci Group, Ming Fei had logged onto the public network on her way back last night and checked the Luci Group’s official website.

    In the Luci Group’s official profile, Ming Fei focused on President Xu in the center of the group photo and learned that her name was Xu Zhou, twenty-five years old this year, who had started from scratch three years ago and quickly become a rising star in the business world of the Independent State of Yi Meng.

    The atmosphere in the room was strange. Compared to Xue Xun, the other two were calm and composed. Xu Zhou looked at Xue Xun as if she were a stranger.

    Even stranger was—

    President Xu of the Luci Group, today, had her usually shoulder-length black hair tucked behind her ears. From Ming Fei’s current angle, the pattern behind Xu Zhou’s ear, revealed when she turned her head, was extremely similar to the one behind her own ear.

    Both were a subtle lotus pink, both located behind the right ear, easily hidden by hair, and even the shape and size were the same, like a half-fingernail-sized petal.

    They were identical in every aspect.

    Ming Fei froze in place, stunned.

    But… this was a birthmark she had had since birth. Why did Xu Zhou have the exact same birthmark?

  • Female Lead Was Coaxed Away by the Villain Again [Quick Transmigration] 136

    Chapter 136: Money Is Really Tempting (9)

    The divorce party Jiang Zhiyan envisioned—a private setting for two, a heartfelt confession, followed by a kiss.

    The actual divorce party—a crowd of people, with Jiang Zhiyan having to be vigilant and prevent anyone from trying to set Jin Shuang up with someone new.

    “They’re too eager, she just got divorced today,” Jiang Zhiyan grumbled.

    “They’re not as eager as you, you were already making plans before she even divorced,” the System said dryly.

    Jiang Zhiyan: …

    “She’s my wife!” Jiang Zhiyan said indignantly.

    “They don’t know that, and neither does Jin Shuang.”

    Jiang Zhiyan forcibly silenced the System and followed closely behind Jin Shuang, catching sight of Jin Shuang’s mother not far away, their eyes met.

    She suspected Jin Shuang’s mother might be one of the reasons why so many people were trying to set Jin Shuang up.

    “Shuangshuang, you have to be careful when choosing your next partner,” Jiang Zhiyan said, holding Jin Shuang’s arm. “You have to find someone who knows your preferences, shares your values, doesn’t make you angry, isn’t stingy, and it would be even better if they can cook.”

    “Oh, and they have to be ambitious, someone who can strive with you, not hinder your career,” Jiang Zhiyan continued. “And definitely no bad habits.”

    “That sounds difficult to find.”

    “Indeed, it is,” Jiang Zhiyan nodded. “So if you find someone like that, hold on tight.”

    System: This shameless self-promotion is unbearable, absolutely unbearable.

    Jin Shuang looked at Jiang Zhiyan and, after a few seconds of silence, asked, “Why do I feel like you’re hinting at something?”

    Jiang Zhiyan didn’t answer, just looked into Jin Shuang’s eyes.

    Jin Shuang’s cheeks flushed, and she coughed, a bit embarrassed.

    The System sighed softly: “I thought you would just kiss her.”

    “It’s not the right time yet.”

    “I think you’ve laid enough groundwork,” the System said.

    Jiang Zhiyan stayed at the Jin residence that night. As one of the few remaining guests, she was in a good mood. Her room was next to Jin Shuang’s.

    Jiang Zhiyan hugged her blanket and poked the soul fragments floating in the air: “She’s right next door, can’t you just awaken her?”

    As soon as she finished speaking, the soul fragments flew towards the window.

    Jiang Zhiyan: ???

    Jiang Zhiyan jumped out of bed and rushed to the balcony, thinking they would fly to the next room, but they flew out of the villa. Jiang Zhiyan was about to climb over the railing when she heard Jin Shuang’s voice.

    “What are you doing?”

    Jiang Zhiyan: …

    “Nothing,” Jiang Zhiyan lowered her leg and looked at Jin Shuang.

    “Are you about to do something dangerous again?”

    “No, my legs are a bit stiff, so I wanted to stretch them, this railing is just the right height,” Jiang Zhiyan said, feigning surprise. “You don’t think I was going to climb over it, do you? How is that possible? We’re on the second floor!”

    Jin Shuang also found it absurd, although when she came out, Jiang Zhiyan did look like she was about to climb over the railing.

    Jiang Zhiyan frowned, looking into the distance, hoping nothing bad had happened, hoping the fragments were just summoned by another Xie Liaoyi, otherwise… they hadn’t had any problems before.

    “What’s wrong? Your expression looks strange,” Jin Shuang said. This was the first time she had seen such an expression on Jiang Zhiyan’s face.

    Jiang Zhiyan shook her head: “Nothing.”

    She took a deep breath and looked at Jin Shuang: “Why didn’t you dry your hair?”

    “I did, I just don’t want it to be too dry,” Jin Shuang said, leaning against the railing. “Weren’t you stretching your legs? Why did you stop?”

    Jiang Zhiyan suspected Jin Shuang was doing this on purpose, but she had no proof.

    “My legs don’t feel stiff anymore seeing you,” Jiang Zhiyan also leaned against the railing, looking into the distance.

    Jin Shuang stared at Jiang Zhiyan for a while, then looked away: “I’m planning to go back to the company tomorrow, it’s been years, I don’t know if I can still adapt.”

    “Of course you can,” Jiang Zhiyan immediately said. “I have faith in your adaptability, are you going to the Jin family’s company? I thought you would have other plans.”

    “My parents aren’t in good health, they want me to take over soon… but returning to the company doesn’t mean I can’t do what I want,” Jin Shuang said, leaning against the railing.

    “You can do it,” Jiang Zhiyan said.

    Jin Shuang looked at Jiang Zhiyan: “Didn’t you say you were coming to help me? Don’t your parents have any objections?”

    “No,” Jiang Zhiyan waved her hand dismissively. “They’ll be grateful if I’m willing to work and not cause trouble.”

    Jin Shuang laughed: “You do seem like the type to cause trouble.”

    Jiang Zhiyan: ?

    Jiang Zhiyan snorted softly and placed her hand over Jin Shuang’s on the railing: “So will you back me up?”

    “I will,” Jin Shuang said, covering Jiang Zhiyan’s hand with hers.

    Jiang Zhiyan looked at Jin Shuang, for a moment, she felt like she had awakened.

    The System, looking at Jin Shuang, could only say that Xie Liaoyi and Jiang Zhiyan’s lovestruck nature were perfectly matched.

    Jin Shuang’s mother, standing on the balcony of the third floor, was lost in thought, wondering if it was a good idea to have Jin Shuang return to the company… but Jiang Zhiyan being able to obtain that video meant she wasn’t completely incompetent.

    But it was still worrying.

    Jin Shuang’s mother quietly retreated, why was it so difficult to retire?

    The next morning, Jiang Zhiyan went to the company with Jin Shuang and was quickly hired as her assistant.

    Many were dissatisfied with Jin Shuang, who had been parachuted into the company, and seeing her bring her “best friend” to work, they were even more dissatisfied, speculating that the company was about to go bankrupt.

    Other members of the Jin family who were eyeing a share of the profits were quite happy; if Jin Shuang made a mistake, it would be easier for them to take her place.

    Many senior executives tried to give Jin Shuang a hard time during the handover, providing disorganized documents, speaking vaguely, and withholding information.

    Jiang Zhiyan organized the documents, then handed them to Jin Shuang, directly pointing out the withheld information as negligence and the vague language as incompetence, calling out the offenders in the group chat.

    After all, she was young, a pampered young lady, it was normal for her to be aggressive, and she wasn’t the one being embarrassed.

    By the end of the day, most people had become more cooperative.

    Although Jin Shuang hadn’t worked for a long time, with Jiang Zhiyan’s assistance, she quickly got back on track, handling most of her work efficiently and effectively dealing with various emergencies.

    She quickly shone, when the two first divorced, some thought Jin Shuang had lost her mind, thinking she would become even more miserable after the divorce, but now, most people thought Mu Chen was probably holding Jin Shuang back, which was why she had been so quiet for so long – of course, this was also partly due to Jiang Zhiyan’s influence.

    When Jin Shuang attended banquets before, she was mostly alone, and even when she wasn’t, people were just mocking her, but now, more people gathered around her than around Mu Chen, her vision and decision-making earning her admiration.

    If Jiang Zhiyan checked the protagonist halo now, she would find that the female lead’s halo was firmly suppressing the male lead’s, dimming his light.

    This was the correct way to use the protagonist halo. And Mu Chen, perhaps because his protagonist halo was weakening, had also become increasingly unlucky recently, with problems arising in two major projects, and Jiang Zhiyan even profited from his misfortune.

    Mu Chen, looking at Jin Shuang from afar, felt regret, but a nuisance quickly blocked his view, no matter how he tried, he couldn’t see Jin Shuang anymore.

    Jiang Zhiyan discreetly moved, smiling and socializing with the people around her, feeling a bit down.

    It had been a month since the fragments flew away, and even with her cheat abilities, Jiang Zhiyan couldn’t find them. There were only two possibilities: first, the soul fragments had already merged with Xie Liaoyi, so they no longer existed as “fragments,” and thus, couldn’t be seen; second, the soul fragments were no longer in this world.

    But logically, since Xie Liaoyi had been able to retrieve the fragment she had, it meant she should have collected the other fragments as well, but why hadn’t she come? Was she hiding somewhere, watching her?

    “Let’s go,” Jin Shuang said, poking Jiang Zhiyan’s arm. “You seem distracted lately, is work too tiring? Do you need a few days off?”

    Jiang Zhiyan shook her head: “I just lost something very important to me.”

    “What is it? Can you buy another one?” Jin Shuang asked.

    “I can’t,” Jiang Zhiyan said, sighing softly, her tone seemingly joking, but she was actually being serious. “I lost my love.”

    Jin Shuang was stunned for a second, looking at Jiang Zhiyan, her expression strange. Jiang Zhiyan, seeing her expression, belatedly realized what she was thinking.

    “Not that kind of thing! What are you thinking about?!” Jiang Zhiyan punched Jin Shuang’s arm twice.

    “Then when did you even get a lover? Why don’t I know about this?” Jin Shuang looked at Jiang Zhiyan. “You’re with me every day, do you even have time to find another lover?”

    Jiang Zhiyan narrowed her eyes, staring at Jin Shuang: “What do you mean by ‘another’?”

    Jin Shuang paused, then didn’t say anything.

    “Something’s wrong with you,” Jiang Zhiyan said, holding Jin Shuang’s arm, wanting to ask something, but another group of people came over to greet them.

    Jiang Zhiyan followed Jin Shuang, looking at her profile. Jin Shuang could feel the increasing pressure from Jiang Zhiyan, but her smile remained unchanged.

    “I suddenly realized something,” Jiang Zhiyan said.

    “What is it?” the System asked.

    “Xie Liaoyi has already ascended to godhood, I can’t casually detect her presence like before, so if she has already merged with Jin Shuang’s fragment, I wouldn’t even know,” Jiang Zhiyan said seriously.

    The System thought for a few seconds: “Then why hasn’t she contacted you? Is it some kind of game?”

    “Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Jiang Zhiyan looked away from Jin Shuang’s profile. “She better have some kind of surprise prepared, or she’s doomed.”

    System: ?

  • The Saintess Has A Showdown 201-202

    Chapter 201: Battle of Legends

    [Question: The Water Element’s true name?]

    [Answer: My spirit beast.]

    […]

    […]

    [Confirmed. Reward: 100 million exchange points.]

    [Exchange: Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake.]

    Frozen in time, Gong Lianyue’s consciousness drifted through what felt like an eternity, a single moment stretching into a lifetime.

    The icy grip on her mind loosened, a warmth spreading through her, a gentle embrace, as if someone was holding her close.

    Her frozen spirit energy began to flow again, color returning to the world.

    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

    The next second, a powerful aura erupted, shattering the ice.

    A woman with long black hair, her features exquisitely beautiful, sat cross-legged in the air.

    Her eyes were closed, her expression serene, a terrifying aura, like a dark ocean, flowing around her.

    Beneath her short robe, her long, smooth, white legs, devoid of muscle, were… distractingly alluring.

    The Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake, a legendary-rank spirit beast!

    A biological, combat-type spirit beast, ruler of the Waterfall Lake Wonderland, the Martial Empress, her legendary feats countless.

    It was said that no one had ever seen the Jade Concubine open its eyes, a being considered the closest to a titled legendary among all spirit beasts.

    And yet, at this moment, the Jade Concubine opened her eyes slightly, glancing down at the blue-haired girl before quickly closing them again.

    “…”
    “…”

    Well, rumors were just rumors.

    Meanwhile, the six teardrops on the blue-haired girl’s face shimmered, her emotions unreadable.

    After the Water Element’s rampage in the Wind Realm, the Sorrowful Saintess had awakened another legendary being!

    Witnessing this, the spectators on the Water Heart Stage were speechless, their gazes fixed on the scene, unable to look away.

    The situation, once utterly hopeless, had turned around…

    Whether the Nether Empress of the Pool of Hidden Secrets or the ordinary Spirit Masters watching, they would never forget this moment.

    Within a day, not just the Wind Realm and the Cangsheng Palace near the Sea Region, but even the distant Endless Swamp, hundreds of realms even, would know the name of the Sorrowful Saintess.

    Gong Lianyue, a true legend!

    Within the White Velvet Snow Forest secret realm, the Snow Monarch and the Jade Concubine faced each other.

    The Jade Concubine’s eyes were closed, and the Snow Monarch’s face was hidden behind her veil. It was unclear what they were looking at.

    The Snow Monarch, an elemental, all-purpose type.

    The Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake, a biological, combat type.

    Boom!!!

    The next second, their terrifying auras clashed, a destructive force threatening to annihilate everything within the secret realm.

    Black and white energies intertwined, dividing the world into two, like heaven and hell.

    Icy blizzards, dark tides.

    No one had ever witnessed a battle between legendary beings and lived to tell the tale. And this battle… was being broadcast live throughout the Sea Region, millions of Spirit Masters watching, a scene that would be recorded in history.

    Although their powers were suppressed to the Dead Sea Stage, this clash still defied their understanding of what a “living being” could be.

    This… was beyond the realm of mortals…

    Clang!

    Suddenly, time stopped.

    Without warning, the spirit energy in the air solidified, the world frozen, covered in frost.

    Both the Jade Concubine and Gong Lianyue behind it ceased all movement, their breathing, their heartbeats, all signs of life extinguished, as if frozen in time.

    Ice-cold snowflakes fell, a beautiful, snowy funeral.

    A single, long, white hair drifted down from the Snow Monarch as it began to walk forward, its pace slow and steady, like a village woman going to market.

    As the Snow Monarch entered the dark, watery domain, the Jade Concubine didn’t react, the black water spirit energy around it frozen solid.

    No, time itself within the secret realm had been stopped…

    The Snow Monarch, as if existing in a separate dimension, its body moving freely, its spirit energy flowing unimpeded, walked forward.

    With each step, ice flowers bloomed beneath its delicate, white feet, lifting it slightly above the ground.

    A few seconds later, the Snow Monarch reached the Jade Concubine.

    The black-haired woman, a fellow legendary being, offered no resistance, as helpless as an infant.

    Crack—

    A chilling aura condensed, forming a sharp ice spike that pierced the Jade Concubine’s chest.

    Even titled, ice-type legendary beings occasionally used basic attacks like this, but the density of this ice spike was beyond human comprehension, far denser and sharper than the ice that had trapped Gong Lianyue, perfect for piercing through a Saint-rank’s defenses.

    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

    A deafening explosion, the earth shattering, spirit energy dissipating.

    A white figure, like a meteor, was sent flying, trailing flames, crashing into the edge of the secret realm hundreds of kilometers away, leveling a mountain.

    The Snow Monarch… had been sent flying…

    As the dust settled, the Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake was revealed, unharmed, its long black hair whipping wildly behind it.

    A dark, swirling water spirit energy erupted, a faint image of the character [Waterfall] appearing behind it.

    The black-haired woman, still sitting cross-legged, shifted slightly, her delicate fingers clenching into fists.

    Her expression calm, her eyes still closed, she spoke, her voice slightly strained,

    “Terrifying. A single strand of hair, freezing the world. Is this the legendary ‘one hair falls, one realm is destroyed’?”

    In that instant, the Jade Concubine had indeed been completely powerless.

    But the moment its skin was touched, its consciousness had snapped back.

    And its speed… was beyond measurement, even by the smallest unit of time in the spirit world…

    The battle of legends had begun!!!

    Chapter 202: The End of a Legend

    The spectators on the Water Heart Stage couldn’t comprehend what they had just witnessed. Like a skipped frame in a video, the Snow Monarch had been sent flying.

    And the Jade Concubine was enveloped in a swirling cloud of water vapor, like a miniature mushroom cloud.

    Since the live broadcast was powered by spirit energy, it had also been momentarily frozen by the Snow Monarch, so no one had seen the actual exchange.

    Clang!

    In the blink of an eye, the Snow Monarch returned to its original position, as if teleporting.

    Its wedding dress billowing, its long hair like snow, a picturesque figure.

    Although her face was hidden behind her veil, she was undoubtedly glaring at the black-haired woman, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

    The Jade Concubine, its eyes still closed, its beautiful face radiating an almost regal aura, like an ancient empress.

    The pure white snow and the dark water, their auras clashing once more, seemingly ready for another round.

    Gong Lianyue simply stood there, dazed, unable to participate, not even understanding what had just happened.

    Whoosh—

    The swirling snowflakes began to converge, flowing like an icy river around the Snow Monarch.

    With graceful movements, it shaped the flowing ice, forming a massive snowflake pattern in the sky.

    Each intricate detail of the snowflake was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, a chilling mist, like shimmering ice feathers, emanating from its base.

    Enveloped by the snowflake’s aura, Gong Lianyue’s pupils constricted, a chilling premonition of death washing over her.

    Although, wearing the black crown, she couldn’t sense the external auras, she knew that without the Jade Concubine’s protection, she would have been instantly killed.

    This was a legendary-rank battle technique, a devastating attack only used against those of the same level.

    At the same time, the Jade Concubine’s body trembled, each movement accompanied by a low hum.

    Its delicate fingers twitched almost imperceptibly, a flurry of black fists, invisible to the naked eye, clashing with the snowflake’s aura.

    Countless punches, yet its posture remained unchanged, still sitting cross-legged, its eyes still closed.

    Although it wasn’t using a named battle technique, this must be the self-created Waterfall Lake Immortal Fist, worth 1 million exchange points.

    Those below the Nether Traverse Stage watched in awe, while the Sun and Moon Realm experts observed with serious expressions.

    This was the first time they had witnessed a battle between legendary beings. Perhaps they could finally understand why humans couldn’t compete.

    Boom!!!

    A few seconds later, a shockwave erupted.

    The Snow Monarch was thrown back by a powerful gust of wind, her veil almost lifted, revealing a glimpse of her face, a small tear appearing in the delicate fabric.

    The Jade Concubine’s beautiful face remained calm, though a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of its mouth, a minor injury.

    Her veil still down, its eyes still closed, the two legendary beings faced each other in this strange standoff.

    Then, their auras faded, the terrifying spirit energy that had filled the secret realm subsiding.

    Eh? Was it over…?

    Who won?

    Gong Lianyue was confused, a sentiment shared by the spectators outside, who desperately wanted to know the outcome.

    Silence filled the arena for several minutes, the scene frozen. If it weren’t for the Sorrowful Saintess inside the secret realm, occasionally fidgeting, blinking, and looking around, they would have thought time itself had been frozen by the Snow Monarch.

    Were the two legendary spirit beasts communicating in some way they couldn’t comprehend?

    After a while, the Jade Concubine suddenly sighed.

    Whoosh—

    A massive black vortex of water appeared behind it, pulling it inwards, as if preparing to retreat.

    Ah, this… Gong Lianyue’s heart sank. Had even the Jade Concubine been defeated, forced to concede?

    Although their auras and their earlier clash had seemed evenly matched, this was within the confines of the Dead Sea Stage. The Snow Monarch, a titled legendary being, surely had more powerful techniques it hadn’t used yet.

    Her heart heavy, she watched as the Jade Concubine vanished, its legendary aura fading.

    She was alone again…

    As despair filled Gong Lianyue, the Snow Monarch, clad in her white wedding dress, descended from the sky, slowly approaching, the chilling aura intensifying, the two about to meet face to face.

    A swirling blizzard, like a frozen hell, painted the world white.

    At this moment, not only Gong Lianyue, but all the Spirit Masters outside, held their breath, their gazes fixed on the crystal screen.

    The Snow Monarch reached the blue-haired girl, stopping less than half a meter away. As its white sleeve lifted, Gong Lianyue froze, her mind and body turning to ice, unable to move.

    A terrifying chill seeped into her skin, flowing through her blood, her bones, her very core, a single thought from this being enough to annihilate her.

    “So cold… I can’t…”

    “I’m dying…”

    Just as despair consumed the blue-haired girl, a pale, slender hand emerged from the Snow Monarch’s sleeve and gently lifted her arm.

    The next second, Gong Lianyue’s mind froze, time seeming to stop.

    The outside world also fell silent, everyone stunned, their hearts pounding.

    The scene displayed on the spirit energy crystal, a breathtakingly beautiful image, would be forever etched in the history of the Sea Region, a legend for the ages.

    Within the White Velvet Snow Forest secret realm, amidst the falling snow…

    The Snow Monarch gently placed a pure white ring, carved with an ice flower pattern, on the blue-haired girl’s ring finger…

  • I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets! 224p2

    Chapter 224: Sea Soul World, Eight Emperor Tears! p2

    ***

    “I won?”

    “I actually won?”

    “How is that possible…?”

    Meanwhile, on the twelfth step, less than a few hundred meters from the blank True Spirit, the golden-bunned girl’s expression shifted from calm to shock.

    A wave of disbelief washed over her.

    Even Lian Xing herself couldn’t comprehend her inexplicable victory.

    One of the Twelve Moons, an unobservable True Spirit…

    Had been suppressed by Star Sand and the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit!!!

    Lian Xing had intended a desperate gamble, but she never expected to win so easily, without even a hint of resistance.

    “Is this not an illusion?”

    “Could it be that I’m already dead?”

    “Is this… fantasy time?”

    “…”

    “…”

    “Lian Xing, there’s no need to doubt. You won…” the Divine Machine, residing within Mist Colt’s viral space, said, its voice slightly trembling.

    Though it still couldn’t fathom what Lian Xing had encountered in that false tenth-anniversary map, it had finally understood something else.

    It realized who had granted Lian Xing eligibility at the start of the Lunar Divine Festival…

    And who had allowed her to ascend the staircase.

    Though it had guessed, the Divine Machine couldn’t hide its shock.

    Why would a True Spirit of that rank pay attention to the Lunar Divine Festival…?

    And now, the miracle had been used four times.

    Once for eligibility, once for Mist Colt’s evolution, once for Star Sand’s seal, and once for the Moonlight Rabbit.

    Three chances remained…

    As someone observed by the [Seventh Moon], could Lian Xing reach the end of the Lunar Divine Festival, touching the pinnacle of this era?

    As Lian Xing basked in the spotlight at the finish line, Star Goddess and Ice Queen, still enduring their ordeal, felt a pang of dejection.

    They were each the pinnacle of their respective eras. In their time, all rivals and obstacles were fleeting illusions. They had walked a lonely path to the top, surpassing all Emperors, overlooking the world.

    Yet, they had been surpassed by someone from millennia later…

    And the fact that this woman was the romantic partner of her great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter’s online social media account made Ice Queen even more speechless.

    Star Goddess felt similarly disheartened.

    When she first awakened, Sharp Edge Seven King Mother had mentioned this woman.

    Since Lian Xing’s rise to fame, many had speculated she was Star Goddess reincarnated or her illegitimate daughter, even calling her “Little Star Goddess.”

    Yet, she had been defeated by her own substitute, a humiliation beyond words.

    Outsiders could spread rumors, but Star Goddess knew whether she had descendants or not.

    She hadn’t even been touched by her Married Pet Beast, having entered the contract solely to strengthen it.

    It was this purity and innocence that had brought her this far.

    Gradually…

    Star Goddess reached her limit.

    She stood midway up the twelfth step, unable to move, paralyzed by the True Spirit’s pressure.

    Ice Queen followed close behind, sighing dejectedly.

    White Abode was nearing its limit as well…

    As for attacking a True Spirit?

    Such a preposterous notion had never crossed her mind.

    Lian Xing had done it because she wasn’t normal. Normal people wouldn’t even consider it.

    It was like hearing a voice telling you to commit suicide to be reborn in the past. Would you do it?

    Likely not.

    And even if someone did, they’d probably find themselves in heaven, realizing they’d hallucinated.

    Star Goddess and Ice Queen faced the same dilemma.

    Helpless against the True Spirit’s pressure, they couldn’t bring themselves to attack it.

    Thus, they could only stop here…

    ***

    In the Ice Soul World, Sorrowful Saintess and the water elemental had remained silent since Mist Colt’s dash.

    After a long while, the water elemental realized the Pet Essence within her had stopped flowing.

    She gasped, exclaiming in alarm, “Attacking a True Spirit…?”

    “So this woman isn’t a Beast Tamer from the Moon Soul World, but a transmigrator…”

    “Transmigrator? I’m not a transmigrator! Don’t spout nonsense!!” Sorrowful Saintess, with her blue mermaid hair, retorted defensively.

    But she couldn’t deny her unease.

    After thirty years in this world, this was the first time she’d heard the term “transmigrator.”

    The water elemental rolled her eyes.

    “Do you need to announce it? Any deity could tell, but they’d just assume you’re a Saintess candidate descended upon the Sea Soul World. Only a companion Pet Beast born within you, like me, would know you came from a shattered world.”

    “So what if I’m from a shattered world? Are things more exciting there? Are people more attractive?”

    “Besides, aren’t you a transmigrator to the Ice Soul World now? What’s the big deal?”

    “Oh, okay…” Sorrowful Saintess nodded innocently.

    If any other Pet Beast spoke to her like this, she’d scold them and make them copy the Soul World Pet Beast Ethics Manual a thousand times.

    But this water elemental was her recently born companion, claiming to be the mother of her first Married Pet Beast, Nether Spring Narcissus, a claim Narcissus herself had confirmed.

    Thus, Sorrowful Saintess dared not disrespect her mother-in-law.

    After her reprimand, the water elemental explained, “My point is, this woman is also from a shattered world outside the Moon Soul World. That’s why she could attack a True Spirit. Natives of the True Spirit World cultivate using the residual aura of True Spirits. They wouldn’t dream of attacking the source of their evolution.”

    “The fact that she conceived of and acted upon such a notion proves she isn’t from the Moon Soul World!”

    “But this golden-haired woman is truly absurd. Perhaps even the eight Saintesses of the Sea Soul World combined wouldn’t be a match for her. It seems even our flourishing Sea Soul World will face some challenges…”

    “More importantly, the Seventh Moon of the Moon Soul World, Seven-Stringed Lyre Star, has opened its eyes after two hundred million years. We must inform the Sea Soul World immediately.”

    The water elemental rambled on, but Sorrowful Saintess didn’t quite understand.

    She felt her mother-in-law was acting like a brainwashed devotee of the Sea Soul World.

    “Our Sea Soul World”? She was practically speaking on behalf of God…

    “Our Water Soul World” would be more accurate…

    Sorrowful Saintess’s teardrop eyes narrowed, glancing meaningfully at the golden-haired girl in the projected image.

    This woman was strong…

    And her path of Beast Taming was the complete opposite of her own.

    Lian Xing treated her own experience and knowledge as absolute truth, forging the strongest Pet Beasts based on the fundamentals of Beast evolution, remaining undefeated.

    Undoubtedly, she was blessed with extraordinary miracles…

    Sorrowful Saintess, on the other hand, simply focused on producing offspring.

    If she encountered an unbeatable enemy, her Pet Beasts would evolve on their own.

    What, they wouldn’t evolve?

    Then she had plenty of other Pet Beasts eager to!

    She let her Pet Beasts’ instincts guide her, viewing everything else as insignificant dust, like a clear spring or gentle rain, letting nature take its course.

    Suddenly, Sorrowful Saintess asked curiously, “By the way, old lady, you mentioned the Eight Emperor Tears of the Sea Soul World. The Moon Soul World has Twelve Moons. Does that mean they’re stronger than the Sea Soul World…?”

    “…”

    “…”

    “Heh, you’ll understand eventually,” the water elemental replied with a cryptic chuckle, dodging the question.

    While her mother-in-law was distracted, Sorrowful Saintess rolled her eyes like a slot machine, finally settling on a blank stare devoid of focus or irises.

    Other humans could roll their eyes easily, like pressing a key on a keyboard.

    But for her, selecting a blank stare from hundreds of patterns was like using the mouse wheel to switch weapons in a first-person shooter: difficult and slightly clumsy.

    ***

    Under the countless gazes, time passed.

    Several days later, the other four participants reached their limits.

    They stood before the final stretch of the staircase, enduring the solidified pressure of the blank True Spirit, crawling forward at a snail’s pace.

    Besides Lian Xing, Star Goddess was decisively in the lead.

    Ice Queen and Tai Yin followed closely, neck and neck.

    Only Nether Concubine trailed behind, seemingly resigned to her fate.

    Finally, the first round concluded.

    “Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!”

    Four flashes of light.

    When Star Goddess and the others opened their eyes, they stood on the final platform, alongside the golden-haired girl, who sat leisurely, eating snacks and drinking.

    Lian Xing, startled, straightened up, abandoning her casual posture and feigning seriousness.

    Unbeknownst to her, her reclining position over the past few days had been broadcast to trillions of viewers, revealing even the delicate curves of her thighs above her knee-high stockings.

    While this level of exposure was insignificant to true exhibitionists and professionals, Lian Xing’s status amplified every action.

    Even the shape of her slender hand exposed beyond her sleeve was enough to make hearts race and noses bleed.

    This meager fan service was enough to make many impressionable young girls swoon.

    Now, even Silver Dragon, Lian Xing’s first romantic partner, felt a strange excitement. She had bathed with Lian Xing before, but it paled in comparison to this feeling.

    Indeed, the title of “Strongest Beast Tamer” made even a dog feel aroused…

    It evoked the image of the world’s strongest woman bowing before her, wagging her tail in submission.

    The mere thought made their scalps tingle with pleasure.

    Of course, fantasies were just fantasies.

    They were self-aware.

    Since ancient times, only Married Pet Beasts could accompany a Beast Tamer to the end of their evolutionary journey and their life.

    Human relationships were merely fleeting diversions.

    Back to the main topic.

    As the timer ended, the other competitors materialized one after another.

    Seeing this, the golden-bunned girl in white stockings adopted a serious posture, as if she held her opponents in high regard…

    Yet, she hadn’t even wiped the snack crumbs from her lips.

    The first round of the Lunar Divine Festival didn’t provide specific rankings.

    However, the True Spirit had likely witnessed every participant’s performance.

    In both progress and actions, Lian Xing’s dazzling performance was overwhelmingly first, an unprecedented, unmatched display.

    Based on the first round alone, her victory seemed assured.

    But…

    The others hadn’t given up.

    This was just the first round; three more remained.

    Especially the third round, the fertility test, a nightmare for all Shining Species Beast Tamers!

    If nothing unexpected happened, the currently triumphant Lian Xing would likely face an unprecedented Waterloo in the third round…

    Seconds later, under everyone’s watchful eyes, the blank True Spirit blocking the entrance dissipated like a gentle breeze, vanishing without a trace.

    The second round was about to begin…

    Star Goddess, Nether Concubine, Ice Queen, Tai Yin, and even the dazzling Star Concubine Lian Xing held their breath, their expressions turning serious.

    The second round, the Aptitude Test…

    The term “aptitude” seemed similar to “talent.”

    However, according to the previous rules, the Talent Test assessed their abilities as Beast Tamers, while the Aptitude Test assessed their resistance to True Spirit corruption.

    Likely another True Spirit-related test?

    The specific rules were unknown, not only to Lian Xing and the other Beast Tamers but even to Tai Yin, a previous participant.

    After all, each Lunar Divine Festival was different.

    After a tense silence of several seconds, the Lunar Divine Festival arena changed once more.

    “…”

    “…”

    “Whoosh—”

    First, the starry staircase connecting the meteorite platforms collapsed and vanished.

    Then, cryptic rules materialized as lines of text, like bubbles in water, appearing in the minds of all participants and spectators.

    Gradually, with the flow of invisible Pet Essence, the text became clear.

    And in that instant, upon seeing these words, a strange atmosphere descended upon the Moon Soul World.

    Simultaneously, the same chilling silence gripped the beings of Star Soul World, Flame Soul World, and other subordinate regions.

    The world fell silent, like an empty, lifeless realm.

    Trillions of beings watched, their expressions grim.

    The very first sentence made Tai Yin’s pupils constrict, a chilling shiver running down her spine.

    “…”

    “…”

    [Eyes that make the heavens weep, a single tear turns myriad worlds into a vast ocean.]

    [Eight True Spirits reside in the Sea Soul World, named the Eight Emperor Tears, high and mighty, viewing all beings as insignificant dust and ants, seeking to unite all evolutionary systems under a single banner.]

    [The second round of the Lunar Divine Festival, Aptitude, tests your resistance to the corruption of a True Spirit’s dimensional descent.]

    [After an hour’s rest, you will be randomly transported to a subordinate Soul World of the Sea Soul World. Find a way to resist and decipher the True Spirit’s corruption, adapting to the Sea Soul World’s evolutionary system.]

    [Time limit: one month. Good luck.]